Cool Carry Gun: Should You Customize It?

In 2016, a man in Arizona was spotted with a firearm at a hotel, and law enforcement responded accordingly. During the officer’s attempts to detain both the man and the woman he was with, the man ended up being shot. Now, we’re not going to get into the many furtive movements the man made or the numerous warnings he received from law enforcement. Instead, it’s the rifle belonging to the officer who shot him we’re looking at, because it had two words engraved on the dust cover: “You’re F****d.” This led to an uphill legal battle for the officer in question, and although he was eventually acquitted, it was quite a process. Using this as an example—although it involved law enforcement—do you think you should customize your carry gun? Let’s consider the reality of what that could mean for you.

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Talking about customizing firearms invites a lot of speculation over what you’re discussing. Many truck guns and home defense rifles are AR-15s. That might mean changing the dust cover, finding custom magazines, or mounting various lights, lasers, and grips. On handguns, it might be swapping out the trigger, getting a custom Cerakote finish, or simply dropping new night sights on. And for concealed carry guns—our focus here—those custom touches extend to things like the holster and belt. So what’s okay and what strays close to the line of “A Very Bad Idea”? We have some thoughts on that.

As a bit of a self-professed trigger snob, I understand the desire to customize your gun’s trigger. But when we’re talking about carry guns, it becomes a gray area. The general rule of thumb is yes, you can certainly get an aftermarket trigger. However, it’s wise not to get one with a lighter pull weight than what the factory sets the original trigger at. For something like a Glock, that means you generally don’t want to get an aftermarket trigger with a pull weight below 5 pounds, 5 ounces. It’s easy to find the factory pull weight on the manufacturer’s website or, if need be, by calling customer service.

Avoiding ultra-light triggers doesn’t mean you can’t improve the quality of the pull. A lot of factory triggers have stacking, grit, and lousy breaks. Changing to an aftermarket model can smooth all that out and improve trigger control, which, in turn, boosts accuracy. Don’t be let down by pull weight restrictions. There’s a lot more to a good trigger than its pull weight alone.

Whether we’re talking stamping, dyeing, painting, or whatever, there are endless custom holsters for your carry gun on the market. Some are a better idea than others. First, your holster should be good quality and provide the proper retention, cover the trigger, and have a mouth that remains open for safe re-holstering. Second, you can consider aesthetics (if you care).

When it comes to holster designs—and we’re not talking about those floppy sock-like holsters, we’re talking colors and images—things like basket weave and floral patterns aren’t a problem. If you like a nice steerhide basketweave stamped holster, go for it. However, there are other designs out there like Punisher skulls, Molon Labe-inspired slogans, and all manner of posturing and political statements. Before you go for that black Kydex holster with the silver horned skull on its public-facing side, stop and think. How’s it going to look when you use your carry gun in self-defense and the responding officer comes to find some dude with a shiny skull holster standing there? It’s a smart plan not to wear holsters with designs or words that could be perceived as threatening, dark, or gory.

Surprise, handgun mags can be customized, too—that isn’t limited to AR-15s alone. It’s becoming increasingly common for magazines to be laser-engraved with designs. Granted, those are aftermarket models, but they’re still out there. The base plate is another common part of the magazine that gets customized. Sometimes it’s as simple as a caliber designation, but others it’s something like a skull, Molon Labe, or the Gadsden flag. When it comes to customized mags with those types of designs, just…don’t. Don’t do it. Keep plain, unembellished magazines for your carry gun.

Factory guns often come with useless iron sights, although the standard three-dot sights seem to be less common over time. Even so, the irons your pistol ships with aren’t likely to be what you prefer. Maybe you want to customize your carry gun with a red dot, or perhaps you just want different night sights than the manufacturer offered. Yes, you can swap out your sights for something better suited to your needs. Making it possible to aim with greater precision is a good thing if you find yourself defending your use of force, because better aim means far less risk to innocent bystanders.

As for lights and lasers, they have their place on carry guns as well. If you want to use one or both, go for it. Just make sure the holster you’re using fits them, and if it doesn’t, get a new holster. Any legitimate device that helps you visualize your target or hone in on aim is a great idea.

READ MORE HERE: SIG P365 AXG LUXE – The Softest Shooting Concealed Carry Pistol Ever?

The bottom line of customizing your carry gun is that it might not land you in jail, but it is likely to force you to add a zero to the check you write your attorney. It costs more to defend these bad choices, and that’s reality. Why make it harder, more costly, and more time-consuming to get through court? And before you try to say that any shoot you’re involved in would be righteous, let me stop you. It doesn’t matter. What matters is the perception of those investigating the case. Try not to make it easier for them to paint you as the bad guy by using a Punisher end plate on your Glock or a Confederate flag holster. Be smart. Do smart things. And carry every day.

Want a good carry holster? Check out Galco here.

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