Concealed-Carry Options for Women: Pros vs. Cons

Learn how to simplify your concealed-carry choices in this latest video from Smith & Wesson's GUNSMARTS series.

posted on August 3, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Smith & Wesson's Julie Golob may have been carrying concealed (not to mention winning shooting competitions) for years, but she does remember what it was like trying to figure out how to carry a concealed gun comfortably. Women who choose to carry a firearm for personal defense have some choices to make about how to do that ... and every choice you'll make has both pros and cons.

In this video from S&W's GUNSMARTS series, Golob takes the gun-industry jargon ("on-body carry" and "off-body carry") and boils it down to its component parts. Is it better for a beginner to carry a concealed gun in a purse or backpack, or does it make more sense to wear the gun directly on the body? The answers are different for everyone, but you won't know what your answer is until you ask the right questions. Watch this video for some very simple tips that will lead you to the right concealed-carry solution for you!

Latest

NRA ILA Gun Bus Lede
NRA ILA Gun Bus Lede

NRA-ILA Launches National "Gun Bus Battleground Tour"

A first for NRA-ILA, the cross-country tour is expected to mobilize gun owners for the 2026 midterms.

In Defense of Social Media Hunting Influencers

Everyone drags influencers, but there are really two categories: Those who do it right and those who…well, deserve to get dragged. The good ones are actually really good for hunting in general.

Fiocchi's Dianna Muller and Lanny Barnes to Represent Team USA at 2026 IPSC Shotgun World Shoot

The championship, to be held in Corinth, Greece, represents IPSC's highest level of shotgun competition and will feature competitors representing nations from around the world.

Shoot Like A Girl Experience Comes to PBR Thunder Days in Ridgedale, MO

Shoot Like A Girl will offer women, men and families an opportunity to experience firearms, archery and a variety of outdoor products in a welcoming, hands-on environment.

9 mm Ultra: The Forgotten 9

Of the five different 9 mm cartridges that can be encountered in brick-and-mortar stores, online and at gun shows, one seems to lead the list of “forgotten cartridges.” Read about it here.

Team Hornady Shooter Jessie Harrison Wins USPSA Race Gun Nationals

The victory marks Harrison's 26th USPSA Ladies National Title.

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.