Drawing from the 3 o'clock position is starting to get uncomfortable due to an old shoulder injury. Anybody else out there switch carry position because of shoulder problems? If so, what did you settle on.

I have an artificial shoulder on my strong side and have torn my rotor cuff more than a few times. My solution? Therapy, stretching and flexing. At first, it was not easy and painful. But, it works. I do not have 100% range of motion but about 85-90 and am pleased with the results.

Kevin

__________________
Unshared knowledge is wasted.

My shoulder has been rehabbed back in to shape, and I continue to do the exercises and stretching. However, the specific motion of drawing from 3 o'clock sends a zinger through the point of my shoulder. The solution at this point has been j frame AIWB, but when I am up in the mountains I would prefer to carry something more substantial.

Have you tried OWB crossdraw?

__________________
Ain't This Fun Though?

Sounds like you're on the right track with AIWB for most of the time; have you considered crossdraw OWB for your mountain saunters? A Bianchi 111 Cyclone is pretty versatile and has always worked great for me.

Best of luck with it.

__________________
Now go make God proud...

3 o clock is probably the worst position for a handgun for many reasons. Some of them related to how the body works. Heck, my duty holsters weren't at 3 o'clock. Moving the gun either slightly forward or back from this position helps the mechanics. Your shooting stance also affects this. Your shoulders should be forward of your hips, your ears forward of your shoulders.

The drop of the holster can also have a major affect without compromising concealment. Having the front of the trigger guard no higher than middle of the belt helps greatly. Mernickle and others make holsters like this.

Second to Erich's suggestion of the Cyclone for the great outdoors. A light open shirt can hide it if necessary.

I have been giving serious thought to cross draw. However, most of what I see out there looks like it does not ride very tight to the body. I remember watching a movie called Broken Arrow I think. The young lady playing the park ranger had S&W Model 66 in a cross draw rig that looked like it sat up high and close. Perfect for driving and would be covered nicely by a Carhartt coat.

You do not necessarily want high gun placement. It can mess with body mechanics and if there's not enough gun below the belt, the gun can sag outward and print. You also have to realize that as the gun hand goes for the gun, the support hand needs to be raised (flex the elbow) to shoulder height to clear the muzzle. Also puts it in position to do a palm strike to create distance. Check out Ken Null holsters.

Three important statements from others;
1. stretching within reasonable limits.
2. Cross draw.
3. Ken Null Leather for either. If you go strong side the angle and ride height of his GSS is excellent and the revolver pulls in tight. His XDR works well for cross draw. I have experience with 4" and down barrels, I don't know about longer lengths.



I still carry a lot strong side but find cross draw becoming easier as the years go by especially when driving on long trips.

I was just looking at the Mernickle site. The two he has for double action revolvers look about perfect. The Ken Null SMZ is an intriguing option for a j frame. Not sure about the barrel pointed at the armpit, but I suppose it is no more risky than what is pointed at in AWIB carry.

READ AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON TRAINING if you get the SMZ. The draw requires lifting and twisting the gun to release it.

I have a SMZ. Was never able to operate it correctly. Felt like it was unreliable at best. Unsafe at worst.

Following up on my post above. I ditched the SMZ for this Airweight J Frame upside down shoulder holster from Mike Frez leather. Rarely carry a J in shoulder holster. When I do, it's this one. The holster portion is leather wrapped Kydex. Also. Mike is a S&WCA member.

I tried the SMZ after recalling a story from a plainclothes type in pre revolution Havana. He was strolling through the lobby of the fanciest hotel there when his upside down shoulder holster dropped his revolver on the marble floor. He kicked it into the potted palms on the other side of the lobby and was able to retrieve it without being obvious. Isn't gonna happen with the SMZ.

I had my strong side shoulder rebuilt 25 years ago. Then ruptured another tendon a few years ago. Doubt there is enough tendon to reattach. And it is pretty arthritic and moves around some in the socket. Had my other shoulder replaced 12 years ago. Appendix carry works the best usually. Smart carry works too. I carry in other positions as needed. I carry as low as I can as my range of motion is not great. Especially with my short torso. I work around it as needed.

__________________
balin
NRA Life Member

A lot of physical therapy restored almost all range of motion after surgery on my strong side shoulder.

One of my physical therapists was nice, the other not too much. The not so nice one would have me screaming in a few minutes and kept going until the 40 minute session was over.

Find a not so nice physical therapist!

I have rotator cuff impingement in both shoulder's. When I raise either arm above my head they don't want to come back down without popping and snapping, sometimes with me seeing star's! When my right shoulder locked up my son told me I needed to get it fixed before our Canada fishing trip. Ended up at the Dr. and went through physical therapy, no longer locked up but the popping and snapping is still there. At this point it is just something I have to deal with.

I wear a Sparks OWB slightly forward of 3"oclock position with a proper gun belt. It conceals nicely and ready to use quickly if needed. Of course, proper cover is needed.

Why not a shoulder holster for outdoors? Presumably, concealment isn't an issue.

__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media

Pocket carry.

I've had a temporary shoulder issue (calcific tendonitis, very painful) and have had a back injury.

I resort to pocket carry. Even in my line of work, I'm not out chasing punks or raiding trap houses. A J Frame will suffice for my day to day 99.9% of the time.

Pocket carry is easy, comfortable, and comforting. YMMV.

I personally feel too many holsters have too high of a ride, and even before I had some issues, never found them entirely comfortable. Best ones were paddle holsters for me with adjustable ride heights (think plastic, yeah, I know, not leather, but what can ya do...)

__________________
Go ahead... make my day.

The current trend seems to be "crotch carry." The pistol is carried inside the waistband right at 12:00 or maybe some slight deviation. I have discovered this by looking into the Air Marshal Qualification with its very difficult standards of time and accuracy. I get the impression that some people are carrying a full size Glock 17 AND a spare magazine in the crotch area and there are holsters (usually kydex) specifically made for this purpose. I haven't shot IDPA in a bit but I believe they now allow this method of carry too. I'm curious as to whether this is done just to be able to pass the qualification or whether people really are willing to sit in a plane for many hours at a time with a gun carried in this manner. It seems a good method of carry for those with shoulder problems but I don't see how this could possibly be comfortable. Does anybody do this as a matter of routine?

If I weren’t able to Carr IWB string side, I would probably have to settle for pocket carry (not ideal) or OWB crossdraw and dress around my weapon. Depending on season, shoulder holster would be a consideration.

__________________
otis

Two surgically repaired shoulders and arthritis in both hands. I just figure anything I do is going to hurt. Getting old isn't for the weak.

For me:
Daily shoulder exercise routine.
Cross draw holster or shoulder rig.
Range time also keeps it from tightening up.

Eventually all of us will have to hang up our guns.