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Concealment Basics

Concealment Basics

Overview Definitions Three principles Common problems Troubleshooting loop

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Concealment Basics

Your goal is to keep the pistol’s angular shapes from disrupting your clothing silhouette. This page gives you the basic concepts for achieving concealment success with your Enigma.

You’re managing angles

Printing happens when angular shapes disrupt your silhouette. Fixes change how angles meet fabric.

Make changes repeatable

Change one lever at a time, test standing/sitting/walking, and note what improves or worsens the shape.

Fast path: Identify the problem shape → pick one lever → make a small change → test → keep notes.

Definitions

Printing: Printing is when the gun’s angular shapes show through clothing and disrupt your silhouette.

Telling: Telling is when context cues make the bulge obviously a gun.

Concealed: Concealed means the angles aren’t noticeable through clothing; confirming it would typically require socially abnormal scrutiny (getting too close, staring, or touching).

Want to go deeper?

Download our free concealment ebook for a comprehensive guide to concealment mechanics and body-type-specific tips.

Download Ebook →

Three principles

Good concealment is a skill—not just a gear purchase. The Enigma gives you the tools, but understanding a few core principles will help you get there faster with less trial and error. While the details are different for each person, the principles apply equally to men and women, tall or short, whether you’re skinny or have a belly.

1) Sweet spot

Your body has natural “peaks” and “valleys.” You will notice natural fabric drape where you have natural valleys. The goal is to place your gun in a valley, and keep it off of your peaks.

2) Grip rotation

We want the gun to sit as close to the body as possible. One of the ways we achieve this is by using a wing combined with belt pressure to rotate the grip into the body. You may find that you need more or less grip rotation. Use your small or large wing insert to reach your desired level of rotation.

3) Grip tuck

Sometimes we have enough grip rotation, but the top side of the grip or rear sight/optic still print. This means we need more grip tuck. We can often achieve this by using a holster wedge.

Common problems (what they mean + what usually fixes them)

“Muffin top” / waistline pinch

Often means the system is interacting with the waistline in a way that creates a hard transition line. Placement and support changes often solve this without excessive belt tension.

Common solutions →

Sharp Grip Angle Printing

Grip printing can be caused a number of different ways, and thus the solutions may look different depending on the root cause. First, revisit your concealment sweet spot, then use the poke and check method to determine whether or not you need a larger size wing insert or a wedge.

Learn more →

Printing below the belt line

Below the belt printing is when the outline of your gun shows through your pants. It’s also called muzzle printing, because it’s usually caused by the muzzle of the gun poking out against the fabric.

Learn more →

Looks fine standing but prints sitting

Sitting changes how your torso and clothing interact with the grip and beltline. If printing appears only when seated, you may need to move your gun up, add a wedge or consider how your pants may be interacting with the muzzle of holster.

Learn more →

Troubleshooting loop

Concealment improves fastest when you refer back to the basics. Try not to overcomplicate it.

By identifying peaks and valleys, locate your sweet spot
Identify the printing problem area (where is the gun protruding?)
Before moving on to adding new concealment features try making small changes to gun placement (revisit sweet spot)
Use Poke and Check to determine whether or not you need a wedge or larger wing insert
Test standing + sitting + walking (30–60 seconds)
Repeat if necessary

How we can help

We are dedicated to your concealment success. Here are some ways we can help:

Enigma Tune Up classes: Free live classes twice a month to help you optimize your carry setup. Sign up here
Customer support: Our support team is ready to help with any questions. Contact us
AI assistant: Get instant answers to concealment, comfort, and compatibility questions right on our site.