For several years I have owned a Galco Miami Classic shoulder holster for a Sig P229 with offside mag pouches that I acquired in a trade but have never used. Lately I’ve developed an interest in giving it a try for cold weather carry under a light jacket or vest. Having never carried in this manner I’m not quite certain how the holster should ride. Should it hang low toward the waist with the butt of the pistol lower than the muzzle? Or should it carry high under the arm pit with the pistol in a more horizontal (level) position? Or is it a matter of preference by individual users? Those of you who regularly utilize this style of carry school me please. Be safe and be blessed.

The best to describe it is high and tight



Please have a look at Galco's website, they have instructions there.

Miami Classic Shoulder System


You might want to look for tie-downs as well, they'll connect both holster as well as the ammo carrier to your belt and helps getting the dangling under control.



Hope this helps.

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Jorge

High and closer to your armpit. Whenever you see shoulder rigs hanging low on TV shows or movies you know that there were no real gun guys on set.

If the rig is set up like Don Johnson's in Miami Vice, the pistol will tend to swing in and out and beat you as you walk. You want the grip portion of the pistol to be easy to reach with little or no twisting of your body, so that will likely put the pistol not too far below your armpit. Angling the muzzle up aids in concealment, but it puts the pistol's grip at an odd angle for drawing, horizontal is the best for getting a proper grip on the pistol during the draw.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I've used a GALCO rig since before they were named GALCO, i.e., the original Jack*** shoulder holster system. I tend to keep the magazine carrier (or speedloader case if I'm carrying a revolver) fairly high into the armpit (right side for me). On the gun side, I like a slightly muzzle high/grip low angle, about one hole difference in the straps. I wear the holster so the grip stays above the level of my belt.

I see lots of examples of gun owners buying shoulder holsters but rarely wearing them because for some reason or another, their particular rig doesn't work for them.

I believe the "cool factor " is one reason we buy them. I always lusted after a double shoulder holster for my 2 Colt .45s!

I find myself, too, looking at them from time to time, and thinking: "Did I miss something by not having one?"

I think it will suit a new concern of mine , being confronted with a car jacking attempt while I'm driving.

So I'm actually looking and the Galco Miami Vice has high ratings.

So guys, what should I buy that will be both comfortable and efficient?

Is there really such a shoulder holster?

I have two shoulder rigs and love em in the cooler months when I can conceal them.
I have the Miami Classic for my Walther PPK/S and a Mitch Rosen for my 45's.
They're supposed to be "comforting" not comfortable. (although I find them more comfortable than a belt holster).

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

The Galco Miami Classics are around $250 new, the Mitch Rosen like the one I have are $450 now. Andrews makes some nice ones, but pricey too.
If you keep an eye out you can come across them fairly cheap from guys that just didn't get the hang of them.
I believe I paid $45 for my Mitch Rosen new (which is a crime, but that's all he wanted) and just got the Miami Classic from a fellow forum member, brand new never taken out of the package for $80.00. The deals are out there if you keep checking the for sale items. I also found a used Miami Classic once at a thrift store for like $25.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Take a look at High Noon Holsters. I bought their Under Armor shoulder holster, which is very similar to the older Jack*** rigs I have. High Noon regularly issues coupons and sales and I got mine with a 30% discount.

I've got 3 horizontal shoulder holsters.... one for a PPK (cool JB factor from the 80s) the others are Miami Vice style with offside double mag pouches......I use with Beretta Compact/Centurion and Sig 245/220.

Got them both "used" (not really)at local gun shops in the 80s/90s for
< $50each

High under the armpit works best IMO/ for me. Only time I use them is in the winter under a jacket of coat. Just pull the zipper down half way and grab the grip and pull. Kind of a handy grab and go set up for walking the dog.... gun and 2 spare mags. Coat/jacket locks gun against my side.

I have several and there are pros and cons to different designs.

I have a Galco Executive for the PP series pistols. and it works well with a small pistol like the PP, PPK/S or PPK. But tie downs are not an option, and it really needs to be used with a small pistol and a fairly snug fitting cover garment like a suit jacket - which is exactly which it is designed for.

I also have both the Galco Miami Classic and a Jackass rig. The choices really come down to whether you want to carry the pistol or revolver horizontally (or something close to it) or vertically. Smaller, shorter barrel pistols and revolvers carry well horizontally. The smaller the better, especially if you are thinner built. Both can utilize a tie down and it's not hard to make a tie down for them.

I also have a Triple K holster that is very similar to the Miami, classic. All the hardware is metal which is a plus and they are a lot less expensive.

Larger pistols or longer barrel pistols or revolvers carry better in a vertical holster.

In terms of vertical holsters, I also have Bianchi X15 holsters in a couple sizes, as well as the Goodrich and Gould equivalent. The latter are a bit thinner profile in general and that's a plus as the Bianchi can be a bit thick. The plus is the harness is very comfortable and they are very secure with excellent tie down arrangements.

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While I have several, for several different handguns, they are still a limited use item. I prefer one in the winter when I wear a vest pretty much all winter without it looking out of place, but they are non starters for concealed carry in the warmer months.

Even in the winter, with a vest you need to make sure the arm holes are not too large, or the straps will potentially show, depending on how the holster is adjusted.

They work very well in a vehicle, provided the cover garment is left unzipped.