How to Draw from an Inside the Waistband (IWB) Holster

When drawing a firearm from a durable and concealed IWB holster, there are a few things we all need to know.

The first thing you should do before you even reach for your firearm:

Step #1. Analyze the situation

Ask yourself, “Does this conflict require the brandishing of a firearm”? If no, deescalate the situation as calmly and quickly as possible.

If yes….

Step #2. Get your shirt out of the way!

Using your weak hand, yank your shirt up high enough to not hinder the speed or accuracy of your draw.

Whether tucked or untucked, a shirt being snagged on your weapon, as you draw, means it is getting in the way. You can’t afford to lose precious seconds when you need to draw your pistol in a self-defense situation.

Step #3. Grip it firmly!

Now that your shirt is out of the way, take a firm grasp of the pistol grip. Ensure that the way that you are gripping your weapon, is your intended firing grip.

You should not have to readjust your grip once the weapon is drawn.

Step #4. Bring it in tight!

As you draw from an IWB holster, be sure that your muzzle does not cross your body. Create the shortest arc possible from holster to ready position.

As you are drawing, if it has a manual safety, place it into the FIRE position.

Bring the firearm in tight and close to your body, pointed downwards at the low-ready position. DO NOT place your finger on the trigger yet! This is intended to prevent any unwanted discharge, a negligent discharge could harm an innocent bystander.

Practice using your preferred stance

There are three main shooting stances when you draw from an inside waistband holster: Isosceles vs Weaver vs Chapman. Figure out which one works best for you and stick with it. When are ready to shoot, you’ll push your pistol out away from your body to finish out your stance.

If you need a visual, we at Clinger Holsters love this article by PoliceOne that teaches you each of the three stances.

If you must fire your weapon, shoot center of mass quickly until the threat is stopped.

checkout the cz p01 holster for this.

Practice re-holstering your weapon

After the threat is confidently stopped, assess the environment as a whole.

Are there any more threats close by? Some criminals bring accomplices with them. Ensure there isn’t another armed bad guy nearby before you reholster your weapon.

Place the weapon back in the safe position, if you carry that way. Re-holster your weapon with the smallest arc possible (DO NOT LET THE MUZZLE CROSS YOUR BODY). Ensure that you have a firm, steady grip on your weapon, keeping finger off the trigger.

Again, using your weak hand, lift your shirt.

Re-holster slowly and carefully. When you re-holster, watch your gun go into the IWB holster until it is fully seated. Luckily, you might have a pocket holster that clings securely to your side to keep you a peace of mind.

Practice makes perfect

Be sure to practice drawing and re-holstering your weapon from an IWB holster so you’re ready if you ever need to be. Having muscle memory is the only way to draw your firearm quickly and efficiently under stress. It takes a ton of practice to develop muscle memory.

We all pray that we will never need to draw our weapon for self-defense.

However, because predators exist in our society, having a firearm on your hip can be very comforting. We hope that you learned how to draw from an IWB holster in an effective manner. Stay safe.