I would like to ask for opinions about the efficiency of carrying a cs45; "cross-draw", MOB or in a shoulder holster type set-up.

Thank You,
'coz

MOB is a safety concern if taking a fall or in an auto accident.
You could be crippled by a spine injury.
The rest is your preference.
If you could borrow a rig and try it a couple of days it would best.
Cross draw never worked for me, the butt sticks out too far to conceal well.
I like the Simply Rugged pancake style for its versatility, OWB, IWB,cross draw. Plus it wont BOUNCE when walking and pull my britches down.
Shoulder holster , Miami Classic Galco / Jackass works for me in an auto. Eight hours is not bad 12 hours starts bugging and pinching nerves.
On long road trips I like a shoulder rig and a BUG in an IWB Milt Sparks.The IWB is hard to reach with seat belt on. Pocket carry is not accessible when seated easily.
Not a CS45 but all I have photos of.
This is 3:00 carry which I like when in places where the hugging is anticipated, weddings , funerals etc. An elbow can cover a " bump bust "
[IMG][/IMG]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pHl...EFC9BB68FC497C

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Have a blessed day ,
Bull

Depending on your build and situation it may work, but the "why would you prefer this over a strong side carry" question is going to come up. So it just did .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

My "draw" from the "strong side" seems awkward in that it feels like I'm reaching too far back and high. I understand the MOB safety concerns in the case of falling, etc. I'm also concerned with an unintentional sweep in said alternative "draws". Most carry would also be under an outer garment.

Depending on your usual clothing, consider bringing the gun/holster farther forward or pocket carry (a CS45 may be big for this however).

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What are you "hiding" that CS-45 under? Until I got too chubby to comfortably carry a gun IWB I routinely carried my CS-45 on my strong side covered by a "waistcoat", i.e., a vest, often a very flashy, Western-styled vest. Today, when I decide to carry the CS-45, I carry it in an OWB rig but still under a vest, strong side, but now the vests required to conceal it are longer than the Old West styles that didn't reach very far past my pants belt.

I don't have any specific argument against cross-draw or small-of-back carry (other than what y'all noted above) but I find them unhandy and not as easy to use when trying to keep a handgun concealed. CS-45, 6906. SIG SP-2022, J-frame, K-frame snubby, they all conceal the same way under a vest in an OWB holster on my strong side.

***GRJ***

My pockets will never be big enough for the CS45 and "further forward" kind of lead to the cross-draw option. I usually wear a jean jacket, waist-length coat or even an occasional suit coat if it's a "formal affair" on the wrong side of the tracks, that's what lead to the shoulder-style rig.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iifIwDFMoqI

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Have a blessed day ,
Bull

If you complained that driving to wherever takes too long, the obvious suggestion would be to drive faster, find a shorter route, or both.

In the case of gun carry, the shortest physical distance from holster to bang is strong-side carry. As it is, CCWs are already at a disadvantage as we must react to a threatening act. MOB carry adds perhaps a foot to draw distance. Every fraction of a second counts.

Bull, don't be offended. I'm sure these are just videos you found on Youtube.
But this guy is well know and not in a good way. Don't take anything he has to say seriously.
No, I did not watch them nor do I want to.

Well, thanks to all for the thoughtful and thought provoking information.
It does seem apparent that strong side is the most efficient form of concealed carry and that "MOB" is an inadvisable compromise, while cross-draw and shoulder-holstered may still be acceptable alternatives.

IMO, the primary disadvantage of shoulder holster carry is that it requires a mode of dress that doen't always fit my circumstances. It also calls for [self-]training to avoid sweeping oneself or others. However, it provides access when seated, even seatbelted in, and completely eliminates the need for threads on "What do I do with my gun during a long-term visit to the men's room?"

It is also ordinarily the most comfortable method of carry, particularly if you follow the infamous James Yeager's advice and get a Galco.

For me, the type of carry I choose is based upon concealment and comfort. If I am wearing an outer garment or shirt-out-of-pants then I carry either OWB (most comfortable) or IWB (most concealing). Otherwise I often use pocket carry. I am not sure why so many are overly concerned about being able to draw their weapon while driving. First, how often does that happen? Do you even know of a single incident in which a person while driving has needed to quickly draw his firearm? To each their own, but I know that it is most likely that I will NEVER need to use my gun, but I carry for that remote possibility. To also be concerned that it might happen while I am driving is just too remote a possibility for me to be worried about. That said, sometimes while I am driving I leave my gun on the passenger seat next to me under a magazine, sweater, hat, etc. This removes the discomfort factor (especially for IWB carry) and makes access virtually instantaneous. It then takes all of about 5 seconds to re-holster when I am ready to leave my car.

But as I said earlier, to each their own. MOB or shoulder holster carry never even enters my mind for consideration as I see no need for either.

Photocosmo, Here is my 2 cents worth. I carried a 39-2 in a cross draw for a short time as a Deputy Sheriff and found it was not the best for my off-duty carry. It takes a lot of practice to not sweep yourself or others that maybe around. I went with a pancake on my strong side and it worked great. If there is a range near you that has a certified firearms instructor ask him/her for some help on choosing a holster and then trying them out to find the best option for you.

Something else to think about...

When drawing from the "strong side" as soon as you clear leather (i.e. speed rock) one can fire upwards through the target from "toes to top of head". As the gun rises during recoil you may have a 6 ft. tall target to engage.

When drawing "cross draw" one's gun is sweeping "across" a narrow 14 to 18 inch target and while doing so, one must "stop" the momentum of the sweep to engage this narrow target. Which is more difficult to do.

Not to mention one has to be careful not to "sweep" their off arm with the muzzle while drawing.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Mode of carry will depend a lot on you. If you spend a lot of time in a car a shoulder holster or crossdraw works fine. If you spend most of your time on your feet I tend to go with a strong side behind the hip rig. MOB-*** has a lot of safety issues attached to it, as noted several times above. It looks good on film though. Very Hollywood.

I'm probably a little different than your average carrier, so I cross-draw out of comfort and necessity. If I'm not sleeping I'm sitting, so its just a natural and comfortable way for me to carry.

When it comes to drawing, there is no need to "sweep" across anything to your left, or the target, but it takes a lot of practice. I'm definitely no expert, but this is what I do.

Bring my left arm up across my body to center of my chest, draw with my right up and across under my left, keeping hand/gun against my body, and muzzle down at a 45 degree angle. When both hands line up, I "break" my wrist, bringing the gun center, still at a 45, acquire with my left hand, and push straight up and out at the target.

It sounds complicated and labor intensive, but with a LOT of practice, its faster than you might think. Sometimes I even practice without a gun while watching TV, every little bit helps. After a while it becomes almost second nature.

Whichever you choose, practice and be safe.

Attached Images

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I think I'll head over to "e-Bay" and see if I cant find some cheap holsters to try out. Again, Thanks to all!

That's probably a good idea, photcosmo. Then you can have a start on your proverbial "drawerful of holsters" that most of have acquired, LOL. I have to admit that all of my holsters are used - some more than others. I've settled on one for OWB & one for IWB but there are times I'll use the "less desirable" holsters & some even go to the "desired" side. All are good, most are cheap (at least cheap enough for me to afford) & all have nice reliable draws & retention.

I was all set to try a shoulder holster because they seem to be the easiest way to conceal a large handgun & perhaps the most comfortable way to carry. My son was going through the Police Academy at the time & he told me that the Police Department expressly forbade their officers to shoulder carry. This was in effect for detectives, plain clothes, undercover or off duty carry. He was told it was a safety issue to not only the carrier but to others he might inadvertently sweep upon drawing. I really don't know if there's any credence to that. I might even wind up with one of them sometime.

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Former USN, Retired US Army

This is kind of on the side but;
does Tandy or any similar leather stores sell holster "kits"?
WAIT!
I should probably just look that up...
sorry

well it was a "quick reply"

Twice while carrying MOB, I exposed the gun. It is prone to jackets/shirts riding up over the gun butt without your knowledge. I prefer IWB, 3-4 O'clock now that I'm wiser.

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MA Gun Law & NRA Instructor

I find that whether IWB or OWB, I carry at about the 2 o'clock position. Being a bit overweight this is a comfortable spot and my shirt fully conceals the gun.

Not claiming I'm "right," this was only my decision-making process.
MOB: Too hard to get to the gun, especially when seated.
Concerned, justified or not, that it was more easily grabbed.
It hurt when I sat. And I never did so much adjusting, compared to any other.

Shoulder holster. I used several, a lot. I found that ones with a lot of adjustment were best for me. Oh, and with wide and VERY supple shoulder straps. It seemed that what worked when I jumped out of bed in the a.m. no longer worked by about noon-ish. I really liked them for the 1911s, and wore them overseas a lot.
Then, muzzle down, horizontal, or muzzle up? Overly worry-wort or not, I felt squeamish about the muzzle aimed at my armpit, and I felt there was greater danger of the gun falling out. Horizontal worked very well for me with the Sig 228, 229 and 239. Bigger guns such as 1911s, muzzle down. I carried a few revolvers (S&W 686, 19, 586, Python, Ruger GP-100 and SP-101) muzzle down, too. Again, considerable adjustment is desired to prevent the larger handles from printing.

Cross draw. I really liked that for when seated in a car, or when in a chair for a long time, especially at a table or desk. Issues: handle forward or vertical? In a car, forward, in front of my midline. In a chair it depended on whether I was in an arena where I did not want it noticed, or among knowing comrades. If I had to walk around or was with people I did not want to know I was carrying, I preferred a vertical position just aft of my mid-line. That kind also required careful thinking about retention. It is harder to draw from than a handle-forward position and straps or snaps made it harder. I just made sure I had ones that fit the gun snuggly. Easily-removable models seem to me to be a rather new innovation. I don't recall ever seeing a slip-on paddle for cross draw. Sometimes I wore a second belt with keepers so I could more easily remove the whole thing.

Someone else suggested trying them to see what you liked. I would add you should wear them in your expected environments with appropriate clothing.

Thanks again for all of the great info and opinions! After checking out used holsters and stuff on e-bay and being the cheap-skate that I am (according to SOME people!) I think I'll try a cross draw setup; I'd like to do it IWB and I don't intend on sitting down during use. I will be walking or standing and I'll have a coat or jacket. Can I use a strong-side IWB:RHD, just pushed way to the left or should I buy a cross draw specific IWB?

'coz