Concealment Sweet Spot Guide
There are three key components to appendix carry concealment, and they all work together to produce the desired result: getting enough grip tuck, grip rotation and finding your concealment sweet spot. To get good concealment and reduce printing, it’s important to start with finding your concealment sweet spot.
This article is part of our Basic Concealment Mechanics guide. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to get good concealment: how to find the best carry position for your body, how (and why) to use wings and wedges, and how to asses and improve your concealment with any holster.
The most practical and popular method of carrying a concealed firearm is inside the waistband, or IWB. The carry positions are described using clock face positions as a reference. 12:00 is directly in front of you, and 6:00 is behind.
Every body type has natural peaks and valleys. In order to find your concealment sweet spot you’ll want to explore your bodies natural landscape between 10-2 o’clock. Keep an eye out for areas where your stomach protrudes away from your body. Even a very slight protrusion would be considered a peak, whereas everything else would be considered a valley. Your concealment sweet spot lies somewhere in your landscapes valleys. Start there.
For further guidance on discovering your concealment sweet spot you can watch this video:
Before we jump into this guide for finding your concealment sweet spot it’s also important to mention that the relative size of the gun in comparison to your body’s concealment sweet spot is also going to play a role here. If your gun exceeds your available concealment space then you’re going to face more challenges than you otherwise would. The Concealment Percentage Principle tells us that if a gun exceeds 40% of your hip to hip distance then you’re in for a greater challenge. In order to determine your concealment percentage with your specific firearm you can refer to this video:
This model has a petite female frame, and is carrying a Springfield Hellcat on an OS-Enigma, with her belt attachment placed on the inner most top holes. Since this model is very thin and petite, her peaks are not very pronounced, and therefore her valleys don’t offer her a lot of natural concealment space.
Her concealment sweet spot lies between 11-1 o’clock with the rear sight being just an inch or two above her navel.
Concealment percentage estimate: 45-50%
This female model has a pear shape with a peak at 12 o’clock. This model has an established valley between 10-11 o’clock and 1-2 o’clock.
Since she is left handed she has chosen to take advantage of her valley space 10 o’clock, with the rear sight of her P365 riding about 2-3 inches above her navel. She is using the Enigma Express.
Concealment percentage estimate: 38-43%
This female model has an apple shaped midsection with a peak at 12 o’clock and the equator of her abdomen. This model has an established valley between 10-11 o’clock and 1-2 o’clock.
Since she is right handed (mirrored in the image), she has chosen to take advantage of her valley space 2 o’clock, with the rear sight of her Glock 48 about 2 inches above her navel. She is using an OS-Enigma, with her belt attachment placed on the inner most top holes.
Concealment percentage estimate: 45-50%
This female model has an hourglass shape and is carrying a Sig P365 on an Enigma Express.
This model does not have very pronounced peaks or valleys, but she has found her concealment sweet spot above her navel between 12-1 o’clock (this model is right handed).
Notice that this model is carrying their firearm up higher on their waist in order to take advantage of the fabric drape coming from her chest.
Concealment percentage estimate: 50-55%
This model has a petite hourglass female frame, and is carrying a Sig P365 on an Enigma Express in the stock configuration.
This model has a very narrow frame with small peaks and valleys that do not lend her a lot of natural concealment space.
Her concealment sweet spot lies between 12-1 o’clock with the rear sight being directly in line with her navel.
Concealment percentage estimate: 50-55%
This model has is a tall man with a large frame, carrying a Glock 19 with an extended magazine on an Enigma Express.
His torso shape has peaks at 2:30, 12:00, and 10:30, with valleys in between.
His concealment sweet spot is at 1:00 o’clock with his rear sight above his navel and above the equator of his stomach.
Concealment percentage estimate: 35-40%
This model is a tall and slender male carrying a P365XL in an Enigma Express.
His torso shape has a very slight peak at 12 o’clock, with valleys on either side.
His concealment sweet spot is between 12:30 and 1 o’clock with his rear sight in line with his navel.
Concealment percentage estimate: 40-45%
This model is a shorter male with a Y-shaped build that is broad at the shoulders and narrows to the waist.
His torso has a peak at 12 o’clock that tapers to his hip bones.
Here, he is carrying a Sig P365 with a red dot slightly low, with the beavertail in line with his navel.
Concealment percentage estimate: 40-45%
This model is an average height male carrying a Sig P365XL with an extended magazine.
He has a very slight peak at 12 o’clock, with small gradual valleys on either side. His concealment sweet spot is at 12:30. He’s able to use the small peak he has at 12 o’clock to act as a slide side wedge, which offers him more grip tuck.
Concealment percentage estimate: 48-55%
This model is an average height male with a lean frame carrying a P365XL.
Although not all lean body types lack peaks, his particular body type does not have any obvious peaks or valleys to take advantage of. As a result he’s positioned the gun at 12:30 (biased off to his strong side) and is carrying the grip just above his waistband but below his navel.
Concealment percentage estimate: 45-50%
