Should holster carry?

[Frank53]

Was wondering, for those that use a should holster, how high up or how low the holster is? I've tried adjusting the Miami Classic II that I have so the holster hangs a bit lower. Just seems to move around too much. Then put it up higher and seems a bit tight, but cuts down on the movement. Any thoughts?

[mc5aw]

Depends on numerous factors ... vertical or horizontal cant, individual's height/weight, type of pistol, etc.

I regularly carry an Andrews shoulder rig with a Centennial, butt down at roughly 8 o'clock. Positioning should provide quick and smooth draw, which for me is between pectoral muscle and rib cage height. My Andrews rig has a strap system that significantly cuts down/eliminates holster flop. Any shoulder holster takes some time to adjust and get properly acclimated to, but ultimately if it doesn't fit correctly, it won't function correctly.

[sipowicz]

Yes...you should holster carry...

[oldman45]

I have the Miami Classic as well. It took me about six months before I got an adjustment that was comfortable. Mostly it is trial and error on your part.

Once you get a comfortable fit, then you will spend another 30 days getting used to the feel of it.

I went a long time wearing a shoulder rig and have a few around here for my 1911 as well as a 66. About two years ago I began alternating between the shoulder holster during the winter and a side holster the rest of the time. Part of the decision to do so was after a car wreck where my right shoulder was broken and my rotator cuff totally severed. After that, the holster was sort of painful to wear.

[27145]

If you want to successfully carry with a Miami carry, you cannot wear socks.

[Aubie]

And only shave twice a week...

[safearm]

And you can only wear a T-shirt under your Armani jacket.

[cjtraining]

and wear an 18k gold day-date Rolex watch w/ a presidential bracelet.

[squidsix]

And drive a Vette made to look Italian.

[cjtraining]

I think we have to much time on our hands.

[photoman]

Originally Posted by cjtraining

I think we have to much time on our hands.

I don't think, I know!

[flagaman1950]

Either that or watching WAY to many Sonny Crockett reruns!

[Kavinsky]

Thread should have been called Sholder holster carry method by the way

and I think it when it comes to large .45 caliber pistols a good sholder holster is the only way your going to be able to carry the thing comfortably, hip carry kind of bugs you after awhile with a series 80, although that was probably more my gut doing that than the gun.

however I wouldnt go with a horizontal holster like Crockett on principal, having the gun pointed at the guy behind me worries me and I'd rather go for a vertical sholder holster like the George Lawrence #7 variant bt Ted Blocker

The way I look at its better to have a AD in the side of my leg than the poor guy behind me or in my private region if I Bogarted it or in my butt if I used a middle of the back holster.

[squidsix]

S-H-O-U-L-D-E-R carry is really only useful in the car for long drives. I still think the ankle is better in that case, but whatever works for you.
If you go to a local IDPA match, you'll see exactly zero shoulder holsters.

[venomballistics]

Originally Posted by squidsix

S-H-O-U-L-D-E-R carry is really only useful in the car for long drives. I still think the ankle is better in that case, but whatever works for you.
If you go to a local IDPA match, you'll see exactly zero shoulder holsters.

agreed ... a shoulder rig is one of the most practical arrangements for car travel with the only fly in the ointment being in the heat of summer where a jacket just sucks.
I alternate between shoulder and IWB holsters as the season and situation dictates.

[Kavinsky]

Originally Posted by squidsix

S-H-O-U-L-D-E-R carry is really only useful in the car for long drives. I still think the ankle is better in that case, but whatever works for you.
If you go to a local IDPA match, you'll see exactly zero shoulder holsters.

and the reason for that is what I already said, they dont want the gun pointed at people behind them during the competition where live ammo is being used but unfortunately its all sholder holsters, not just the Crockett like ones although I kind of see the logic behind the sholder holster ban because of the ammo thing, even the vertical ones because of the potental of AD going back into the holster with the 1911, atleast with that one hip holster theres no chance of it hitting someone else besides the guy pulling the trigger whist putting in back in the holster with the safeties off.


and they also have a ban on useful gun cailbers like the .380 and the .32 which I dont see the logic of. I mean hell can you just imagine how interesting the competitions of pocket guns would be like and how much fun it would be to shoot one of their courses with a vintage 60's PPK .32 ACP?

[Silversmok3]

I have the Miami Classic II you speak of.I bought it 3 months ago because it allows me to carry my carry weapon and two spare mags discreetly AND comfortably.

Now, the hard part about shoulder rigs is sizing them properly so that you can draw from them properly.If the gun is too low or too far back good luck getting it out when the flag flies.I can get my full size PT99 in action just as quickly as my waistband holster now-which I couldn't do when I initially sized it.


Here's some lessons ive learned the hard way- The way Sonny Crockett and Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs wears the holster-with the gun about mid-ribs height-is very wrong. Looks good on TV, but its very difficult to get the gun out from concealment quickly from that low of a height.And Hollywood actors never had to worry about concealing a metal bulge at mid rib height under a jacket in public either.

For an idea of what I mean,hold your carry gun at about mid-rib height sometime and try to reach across your shoulder to grab it.Since your hand has to be BELOW the gun to engage the snap and grab the grip it means your hand basically has to arc toward the waist to get to the weapon. No Bueno, at least for quickly drawing it.

The proper way to place the holster is with the gun as close to your armpit as can be comfortably done, with the thumbsnap about 2 " in front of your arm at rest. It wont look very Miami Vice, but that's the best way to be able to get to the weapon as your hand can just naturally cross over your chest, versus needing to angle toward your waist to get to the gun.

Once the weapon-and mag holders-are balanced right, the next step is practice. I laugh at detractors of the shoulder holster who say "its slower than waistband carry", expecting to just throw on the shoulder rig and beat the timed draw of their favorite IWB holster that said critic has been drawing from for years beforehand.
I can confidently say that drawing from a shoulder rig under concealment for me is equal to the time it takes me to get to my IWB holster for the same gun.Being a beginner at both my draw not lightning fast, but I disagree with the common wisdom that shoulder rigs are inherently slower than waistband carry.Both methods require extensive practice.


As far as sweeping people behind me goes..yet another myth IMHO.As long as my finger and other foreign objects are not in the trigger well the weapon will not discharge.Where it is pointed must be considered when handing it of course but once holstered it is going to be pointing SOMEWHERE valuable.

Examples:cross-draw points the weapon at your leg.Small of back carry points the gun at the back of your behind/tailbone.OWB stong side canted points the weapon at the legs of the person behind you. And what of the armed citizen who works and lives above someone's ceiling and below someone else's floor?Why, then in that case the shoulder rig is the ONLY responsible form of carry then isn't it!

Safety is paramount, but lets not get absurd about it.

Size it right, practice with it, and you'll be golden.
Yes it works wonders in the car, but in certain situations its great for standard concealed carry too.

When youre moving and boxes and crates bang into your holstered strong side gun its not fun.
Neither is reaching over your head and realizing that you've just brandished your firearm to the public in the Wally World beer aisle.
Or getting out of your car and and flashing your steel to the soccer mom in the parking lot because your covering garment got hung up.
Ever had your car malfunction because of a cracked hose in a public lot? Or need to do on-the-spot maintenance to get home?Good luck reaching into the hood without exposing the weapon.Ive learned that lesson the hard way.

Perhaps the best reason-You also can reach behind your pockets if youre pulled over without freaking the deputy and yourself out.Getting shot because you were reaching for your wallet that's located behind your right-hand waistband concealed firearm is an awful way to die, and its a concern that generated a lot of sweat for me when I got pulled over last time with my CCW.

This reply has kinda gone off the rails a wee bit, but im sick of people saying mistruths about this method of carry because of myths and TV programs showing improper form.
[ /End rant].

[84Carrera]

Originally Posted by Silversmok3

I have the Miami Classic II you speak of.I bought it 3 months ago because it allows me to carry my carry weapon and two spare mags discreetly AND comfortably.

Now, the hard part about shoulder rigs is sizing them properly so that you can draw from them properly.If the gun is too low or too far back good luck getting it out when the flag flies.I can get my full size PT99 in action just as quickly as my waistband holster now-which I couldn't do when I initially sized it.


Here's some lessons ive learned the hard way- The way Sonny Crockett and Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs wears the holster-with the gun about mid-ribs height-is very wrong. Looks good on TV, but its very difficult to get the gun out from concealment quickly from that low of a height.And Hollywood actors never had to worry about concealing a metal bulge at mid rib height under a jacket in public either.

For an idea of what I mean,hold your carry gun at about mid-rib height sometime and try to reach across your shoulder to grab it.Since your hand has to be BELOW the gun to engage the snap and grab the grip it means your hand basically has to arc toward the waist to get to the weapon. No Bueno, at least for quickly drawing it.

The proper way to place the holster is with the gun as close to your armpit as can be comfortably done, with the thumbsnap about 2 " in front of your arm at rest. It wont look very Miami Vice, but that's the best way to be able to get to the weapon as your hand can just naturally cross over your chest, versus needing to angle toward your waist to get to the gun.

Once the weapon-and mag holders-are balanced right, the next step is practice. I laugh at detractors of the shoulder holster who say "its slower than waistband carry", expecting to just throw on the shoulder rig and beat the timed draw of their favorite IWB holster that said critic has been drawing from for years beforehand.
I can confidently say that drawing from a shoulder rig under concealment for me is equal to the time it takes me to get to my IWB holster for the same gun.Being a beginner at both my draw not lightning fast, but I disagree with the common wisdom that shoulder rigs are inherently slower than waistband carry.Both methods require extensive practice.


As far as sweeping people behind me goes..yet another myth IMHO.As long as my finger and other foreign objects are not in the trigger well the weapon will not discharge.Where it is pointed must be considered when handing it of course but once holstered it is going to be pointing SOMEWHERE valuable.

Examples:cross-draw points the weapon at your leg.Small of back carry points the gun at the back of your behind/tailbone.OWB stong side canted points the weapon at the legs of the person behind you. And what of the armed citizen who works and lives above someone's ceiling and below someone else's floor?Why, then in that case the shoulder rig is the ONLY responsible form of carry then isn't it!

Safety is paramount, but lets not get absurd about it.

Size it right, practice with it, and you'll be golden.
Yes it works wonders in the car, but in certain situations its great for standard concealed carry too.

When youre moving and boxes and crates bang into your holstered strong side gun its not fun.
Neither is reaching over your head and realizing that you've just brandished your firearm to the public in the Wally World beer aisle.
Or getting out of your car and and flashing your steel to the soccer mom in the parking lot because your covering garment got hung up.
Ever had your car malfunction because of a cracked hose in a public lot? Or need to do on-the-spot maintenance to get home?Good luck reaching into the hood without exposing the weapon.Ive learned that lesson the hard way.

Perhaps the best reason-You also can reach behind your pockets if youre pulled over without freaking the deputy and yourself out.Getting shot because you were reaching for your wallet that's located behind your right-hand waistband concealed firearm is an awful way to die, and its a concern that generated a lot of sweat for me when I got pulled over last time with my CCW.

This reply has kinda gone off the rails a wee bit, but im sick of people saying mistruths about this method of carry because of myths and TV programs showing improper form.
[ /End rant].

I liked your rant. I wear mine with a 4006 high in the pit. Didn't know about TV or any of that stuff, it just feels right and easy to draw. I was using two tie downs but was putting a whole lot of pressure on my neck. Went to just the tie down on the mag side and all is good.
Now where is that black tee & shark skin jacket??!

[Retired W4]

But seriousy folks, and I'll be here all week, the more clothing you wear, the larger the hand gun you can carry. With the white sports jacket with sleeves rolled up a 10mm hides pretty well, regardless.

[NE450No2]

I have not carried one of the shoulder holsters that is considered horozontial.
I started my Shoulder Holster [SH's] Carry before they were around, I have nothing against them. I have worn them at the range, drawn from them/shot from them, I just have not worn them for ling periond of time.

I have used the Upside down SH's for the 5 shot S&W's and for a 4" K frame, but I used a 4" N frame in it.

I have also used the conventional SH's with the barrel pointing down for 1911's, 4", 6 1/2" and 8 3/8th" Mod 29's.

I have worn shoulder holsters quite a bit. For Off duty/concealed carry, Plains clothes work, and for hunting.

Like any system of carry they have their advantagesw and disadvantages.

I can say it will take at least 30 days, maybe more, of everyday wear before you are used to a different kind of carry.