small of back and cross draw holsters

heavenIsAlie

heavenIsAlie

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im curious as to why these types of holsters are not really mentioned as an option, or looked down on compared to a hip holster.

i can see why they arent the best choice for a range carry (points to the side, you turn and sweep everyone with your muzzle) but as a real life carry option im curious as to there problems. here are my thoughts

cons: farther from where your hands naturally rest. small of back could be easier for someone to grab your gun from your holster, small of back also wouldnt be very comfy for sitting. also they take longer to get into position to engage the threat

pros: cross draw seems like it would be better for draw while sitting, more comfortable while driving ect. small of back would be less obtrusive to draw than a hip if the threat is infront of you and already has a weapon drawn.

im new to all this so please ad insite and correct my thought ( i wont get offended)
 
I think that small of the back holsters could contribute to back injuries in the case of a fall. As for cross draw, I prefer it to a strong side carry under some conditions. Cross draw has been criticized in the LEO community because the position presents the gun conveniently for a bad guy to snatch.
 
We, in Canada, are guilty of having a range mentality.

And IPSC won't allow otherwise.
 
I tend to carry strong side at 3:00 whether it is inside the waist or a belt holster. It is a position I have became used to as reaching behind to grab a handgun was unnatural to me. Regards, Richard:D
 
Type of gun, type of body shape(of the shooter), purpose/type of carry....

these are all things to consider for how one would carry a pistol.

Strong side at the 3:00 is obviously the most popular and puts the pistol in line with target as you bring it up on the draw.

For CCW and comfort reasons, some may prefer the Behind The Hip carry. Obviously this won't make it ultra comfy either but for some body shapes it works better.

Small of back is a common CCW method of carry and rather popular with women since women's hips are often flared out(well women's figure), which make the above two types of carry awkward. Small of back also aids in concealment in some circumstances for petite women(when wearing the right clothes).
 
You answered your own questions. Cross draw is often referred to as a "dead man's draw". The draw stroke is highly telegraphed and requires far too much time to execute when compared to strong side carry. It is the best compromise for someone who may be sitting/driving for extended periods of time. SOB holsters can be comfortable but again, they require more time to draw from and are less than ideal when seated or otherwise pressed against something. SOB also fails to allow drawing your pistol with your non-dominant hand, should the need arise.

For our purposes(in Canada) both SOB and cross draw as well as shoulder holsters are unsafe for range conditions and thus are deemed less than ideal/safe for duty work as well.

TDC
 
heavenIsAlie said:
pros: cross draw seems like it would be better for draw while sitting, more comfortable while driving ect. small of back would be less obtrusive to draw than a hip if the threat is infront of you and already has a weapon drawn.
Click to expand...

Just noticed your comment on drawing while in a vehicle.

I invite you to try that. (I assume you would be the driver too).

In all likelihood, you'll get caught up in the seat belt with your arms on either side of the belt if you believe you don't have to undo your harness. This means that if you were someone who were in the situation, you'll also have problems getting out of the vehicle.

If you decide to unbuckle first, you hands are going to the right side and then swinging to the left(ok, I assume you are right handed) to draw (while trying to make sure the belt is cleared from you) and finally presenting the gun.
 
Drawing from a vehicle isn't overly difficult with a cross draw holster. If you take some care to direct the seatbelt under/behind your holster there is no need remove the belt before presenting your pistol. The other option is to not wear your seatbelt. A shoulder holster is a better choice. Ultimately a centre console mounted holster would be ideal.

TDC
 
I really wanted to like shoulder holsters. For a tall skinny guy they seem to work, but I'm thick through the chest and arms and as a result I can't reach the gun butt when it is positioned at the base of my rib cage. I thought Kirkpatricks "Gambler" holster would resolve the problem as it positions the gun closer to the front, and it did, but the trade off was the uncomfortable straps, and no retention strap as issued. Now it is just one of a pile of many holsters that I have used for a short period of time and dismissed as unsuitable.

I like strong-side behind the hip carry, but it gets in the way when driving. My current ATC holsters are a modified pancake design from Simply Rugged that allow for strong-side or cross draw carry. The holster I've liked the best thus far is Bianche's discontinued "Cyclone" model. It had thumb-snap retention, both the hammer and trigger guard were covered, had an open muzzle, and could be worn strong side or cross draw.
 
i just dissmised shoulder holsters as impractical, might be great while driving but not going to provide a quick draw when you get out. i can see them being a good choice for carry when having something on your belt would be inappropriate, like wearing a nice suit or for a bear defense gun when wearing heavy clothes
 
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