Concealed Carry on a Budget

Kahr CW40

From time to time I run into people who tell me that they want to carry a concealed firearm, but only have X amount to spend on equipment. Getting set up for concealed carry on a budget is easier than the gun shop guru would have you believe. This is how:

The pistol is the biggest expense. There are several pistols currently on the market that fit the bill for the novice concealed carrier. Once of those pistols is the Kahr CW9/40. The Kahr CW9/40 is a solid reliable pistol that fits the role of entry level concealed carry pistol nicely. The recoil of the pistols can be stout, especially the .40. If the carrier has access to premium defense ammunition, I would recommend the 9mm version. Price: $392 with tax.

Minotaur MTAC

A quality holster is the backbone of concealed carry. Without a quality
holster concealed carry is either impossible or very uncomfortable. A new carrier needs to feel secure and confident in his holster. I recommend the Comp-Tac MTAC holster. The MTAC is a very secure and concealable holster. It is comfortable to wear for long periods of time and is user adjustable. The MTAC was my very first concealed carry holster. Price: $100 with shipping.

A good belt is always nice to have when carrying three pounds of metal around on one hip all day. Belts can go from $10 to $300 depending on the material, decoration, etc... I just switched to a 1.75 inch 5.11 Tactical Double Duty Belt. The belt is a very stable double thickness nylon web with five horizontal stitches holding the two pieces of nylon together. I am able to carry a full size M&P 40 all day outside the waistband with no discomfort. The belt is made in 1.5 inches and 1.75 inches. Price: $25 with tax.

Ammunition is the last part of the equation. A scan of the latest gun forum would have a person thinking that anything but HST, Ranger T, Gold Dot, or the likes is nothing more than a less lethal round. Older designs and "budget" hollow points still do a fine job. Remington UMC, Federal Hi-Shok, and Federal Hydra-Shok all come to mind.

My 9mm load of choice is the Winchester 124 grain PDX1 +P. I imagine the recoil of that round in the CW9 will be stout. I have some trigger time on a CW40 with full power 180 grain loads and it was a handful. Kahr pistols can be picky about ammunition. I would recommend trying a few boxes of a particular load to test for function.

Since there is a plethora of ammunition choices I will use an average price for a 50 round box of premium defense ammunition. Price: $50 with tax or shipping.

Itemized list:
Kahr CW9/40- $392
Comp-Tac MTAC- $100
5.11 Double Duty Belt- $25
Premium Defense Ammunition- $50

Total: $567

For all of the items I have listed there are alternatives. I have also not considered regular range ammunition into this equation. The above information is just one way to get into concealed carry when on a budget.