Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at how to find the perfect carry gun for you. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a look at some of the biggest mistakes both new and experienced concealed carriers make when they choose certain gear for their guns and carrying equipment. Let's take a closer look at the biggest carry mistakes.Buying A Universal HolsterOne of the most dangerous carry mistakes is deciding to carry one of the affordable universal holsters that allow for movement or flexing when your firearm is inside the holster. Universal holsters on the surface seem like a fantastic idea. They are a quick fix for someone buying a new handgun and wanting to be able to carry it immediately but can't find a specific model holster for their new gun. While I completely understand why people may choose this route in the short term, the main problem is that they don't end up ordering a specific holster for their gun because the universal holster does a good enough job, so they just continue using it. The biggest issue with these universal holsters is how quickly they lose their structural integrity, which leads to flexing and that flexing can cause accidental discharges over time from the material flexing so much it puts pressure on the trigger. There are several examples online of people using worn-out universal holsters that end up shooting themselves when they go to sit down and pressure is applied to the trigger inside the holster. While these may seem like a great choice in a tough spot, I would avoid these holsters at all costs. All Gear, No Training The biggest misconception I see when it comes to new shooters and even experienced shooters is the idea that better gear will drastically improve your shooting ability. I cannot tell you how many people say they want to start carrying a Staccato rather than something else or put every aftermarket part on their Glock19 in order to be a faster shooter and more accurately put rounds on target. The best example of training beats gear I have ever seen was when I watched Jerry Miculek shoot a dueling tree against another competitive shooter. The competitive shooter had his Jersey and race gun with his competitive belt on, while Jerry had a flannel and work pants on. He didn't have a gun on him, so he picked up a stock Glock 17 Gen 5 from the table and proceeded to put on a Fobus polymer OWB holster before saying he was ready. At the buzzer, both shooters drew and Jerry cleaned the plate rack before the other competitive shooter could even hit the second plate on the rack. The Glock did not have a red dot and was a bone stock pistol with iron sights. This was a perfect example of training and skill versus gun upgrades. If you put the time in at the range and get proper training, you will excel further than putting a red dot or a lighter trigger into your gun. There are no shortcuts to building your fundamental skills and creating muscle memory from repetitions. I fully understand how fun it can be to build out a new carry pistol, but at the end of the day, that's not what ultimately makes you a better shooter. The Wrong BeltOne of the lessons I had to learn the hard way personally is not using a sturdy carry belt but rather a flimsy dress belt that can easily flex or allow your handgun to shift when moving. Having a flimsy belt can also create stretching and cause hot spotting on your other hip, creating a really uncomfortable situation. While some believe you shouldn't be comfortable while carrying a gun because the weight of a handgun should be comforting rather than comfortable, the hot spotting caused by a bad belt can be downright painful after a while. Carry belts should be roughly 1.5” and be made of sturdy leather that doesn't allow any flex on the edges. If you can bend the belt so the edges touch each other, it's too flimsy and you need a sturdier belt. Having a thicker leather belt will not only break in and be supportive of a handgun that's heavier than you normally carry, but will also outlast the cheaper belts that allow flexing. There are other fantastic concealed carry-minded non-leather belts from certain companies like Blue Alpha that support your carry gun while also allowing for fine adjustments to have the perfect fit throughout the day. Whether it's leather or canvas, the key to a good carry belt is making sure it gives you the support and rigidity needed for a consistent carry every single day. Ball Ammo One of the most common mistakes I see, especially from beginners, is the idea that carrying ball range ammo is perfectly acceptable rather than carrying ammo specifically designed for self-defense. Now the only caliber I understand carrying ball ammo in is 45 ACP due to feeding issues, but there are now rounded self-defense rounds which solve that original problem, so even that isn't applicable now. The big issue with ball ammo is it isn't designed to transfer the round's energy into the target but rather puts a clean hole into paper and targets for the most economical price. As a result, ball rounds punch right through targets and continue sailing downrange after they've gone through what you intended to shoot. That situation is a huge risk and you're putting innocent bystanders at risk. It's important to remember that every round that leaves your barrel, you are liable for if it accidentally hits a bystander. For this reason, it's important to carry self-defense ammunition designed to stop in your target and fully transfer that energy rather than poking a hole in someone and letting that round fly. Having the right ammunition not only keeps you safer but keeps the general public safe as well. Overall ThoughtsThese are just some of the big mistakes I see people make, but they certainly aren't the only ones. If you have other mistakes you see individuals make, be sure to comment them down below and I may include some of them in the second part that goes live next week. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK