The most useless carry condition known to man.
1. Yes
2. Wellington Boots
3. Not if you're bowlegged enough . . .
Ankle Carry
- Thread starter Smoke
- Start date
The most useless carry condition known to man.
1. Yes
2. Wellington Boots
3. Not if you're bowlegged enough . . .
Tried an ankle holster a few times for my PPK/s BUG. Just couldn't get used to it.
Rpg
Member
Over the years I've tried a few ankle holsters.
They have uniformly been uncomfortable and a couple were down right miserable to use.
None were very secure and they all were no handier than carrying a gun in a suitcase, unless I was seated: then the gun was almost as accessible as a gun in a waist holster.
They have uniformly been uncomfortable and a couple were down right miserable to use.
None were very secure and they all were no handier than carrying a gun in a suitcase, unless I was seated: then the gun was almost as accessible as a gun in a waist holster.
Whitwabit
US Veteran
Has anyone ever seen someone open carrying on their ankle ??
I carry a Kimber Micro 9 In a Galco Ankleglove. It is very comfortable and never hits my other leg. Ankle holsters should be worn tight so won`t slide down. The Ankleglove has a retention strap so gun can't fall out. I have also carried a S&W J Frame same results. Like most carry methods spending enough to get the right holster makes all the difference between a safe comfortable carry versus an uncomfortable carry where your gun comes flying out.
Protected One
Member
No. See below for most useless carry conditions.
LOL! Very funny.
Of course... the first picture is NOT "carrying",
and the second one....well, I'd rather carry with an empty chamber than in an ankle holster. I can chamber a round faster than I can retrieve a gun from an ankle holster.
If you must: Outside on your strong side, inside on your weak side, there are advantages and disadvantages to both, in addition to the general disadvantage of ankle carry . . .
1. Yes
2. Get a good quality holster and make sure it is firmly attached.
3. Yes, but not constantly.
When it comes to ankle holsters, at times, they are the best option. When discussing modes of carry we all know there are optimal means of doing so. Unfortunately, when we have these discussions, there are some that come here and assert that if you are not in Wild Bill Hickock mode all the time, then you either suck or are inadequate. Having multiple options allowing you to carry in a manner which is adequate FOR YOU, in situations where you otherwise might not carry, is a good idea.
We all know that on this forum and others we have those who wouldn't think of attending any situation without a full-sized weapon with a minimum of two 17-round reloads. There's nothing wrong with that. Here's the thing. Choosing what is right for you is the right thing to do. Carry as you please and don't be one of those people who feels they need to "Carry At People".
I think the trick to ankle carry is to use a low weight handgun. Carrying my 342Ti with an ankle holster is hardly noticeable. I have tried the Chiefs Special in its place and it is way more obtrusive. And having a boot to keep it from sliding down like Muss pointed out makes a lot of difference.
I carried a S&W 49 and then a 649 everyday as a second gun in an ankle rig for 27 years. These are not lightweight guns. I've carried it the same way for many more years off and on and still do on occasion now that I'm retired. I've always carried inside on my left ankle. I'm right handed.
It takes a couple of weeks to get use to the extra weight on your ankle but after that it's noticeable when you don't have the ankle rig on. I've carried it in that position thru a lot of tough conditions, in all kinds of weather, crawling thru windows, thru brush, wading creeks, running up and down stairs, and never once had it come loose or out.
Ankle carry is not my preferred method of primary carry but it worked great sitting in a squad car. When you're seatbelted in and a radio console next to you then your primary belt carried gun can be very difficult to get to easily and quickly. An ankle gun is much quicker to get to in that position. It's also pretty easy access from a kneeling position or squatted down behind cover.
The trick to easy ankle carry is get a good holster that is snug and held on secure. The best ankle rig I had was a nylon Top Line which is no longer in business. Carried that holster for 20 years until I was climbing over a barb wire fence and a barb cut the nylon. The gun stayed secured but I ended up with a cut over the cylinder. It has a 2" wide Velcro ankle band. It also had a pouch that held 6 rounds in a speed strip. I had one for a PPK that had a pouch for an extra mag. After I tore the Top Line I ended up with a Bianchi which I've never liked as well. It's secure but it uses 2 1" wide straps which are not as comfortable as the 2" Top Line.
It takes a couple of weeks to get use to the extra weight on your ankle but after that it's noticeable when you don't have the ankle rig on. I've carried it in that position thru a lot of tough conditions, in all kinds of weather, crawling thru windows, thru brush, wading creeks, running up and down stairs, and never once had it come loose or out.
Ankle carry is not my preferred method of primary carry but it worked great sitting in a squad car. When you're seatbelted in and a radio console next to you then your primary belt carried gun can be very difficult to get to easily and quickly. An ankle gun is much quicker to get to in that position. It's also pretty easy access from a kneeling position or squatted down behind cover.
The trick to easy ankle carry is get a good holster that is snug and held on secure. The best ankle rig I had was a nylon Top Line which is no longer in business. Carried that holster for 20 years until I was climbing over a barb wire fence and a barb cut the nylon. The gun stayed secured but I ended up with a cut over the cylinder. It has a 2" wide Velcro ankle band. It also had a pouch that held 6 rounds in a speed strip. I had one for a PPK that had a pouch for an extra mag. After I tore the Top Line I ended up with a Bianchi which I've never liked as well. It's secure but it uses 2 1" wide straps which are not as comfortable as the 2" Top Line.
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bigggbbruce
Member
If I was meant to carry a gun on my ankle, my arms would be hooked to my knees.
That or walk on all fours like an ape.
Fishinfool
Member
When I was on the job I sometimes carried a PPK/s or a S&W 36 in an ankle holster, sometimes a clip in boot holster. My biggest complaint was for me anyway, it was hard to run so armed. Did have the clip on boot holster come out once when running.
For most uses though, it should work. Drawing the weapon can be difficult with tight pants, or if you are not very flexable. Seated in a car though, it can be pretty quick. For the most part I belt carry, with a backup (LCP) in my pocket.
Larry
For most uses though, it should work. Drawing the weapon can be difficult with tight pants, or if you are not very flexable. Seated in a car though, it can be pretty quick. For the most part I belt carry, with a backup (LCP) in my pocket.
Larry
Whitwabit
US Veteran
Bought a ankle holster that was on sale for about 1/2 price .. tried several times to wear it around the house and found ..
!. No it was comfortable TO ME ..
2. Straps keep the pistol in place ..
3. No doesn't hit the other leg ..
4. Pants leg needs to be large enough for it to fit some jeans pants legs are too narrow that the pistol prints quite badly ..
5. No I don't ankle carry !!
1. Not uncomfortable once you get used to it but gun weight needs to be considered. My ankle holster time was with an air weight J frame.
2. As noted, your ankle is at the bottom of your leg...
3. Never noticed gun hitting other leg and think if legs were that close together, walking would be a chore...
I will add that my ankle holster time was in an undercover mode but will stress that ankle carry puts your gun very far away if it is needed. Was always glad when seasons changed and jacket pocket carry was an option. As far as a backup carry, I would rather carry an extra magazine then an extra gun. Easy to get lazy and leave a backup at home.
If it's good for you, go with it.
Two things have kept me from carrying via ankle holseter -
1. At a few LE trainings and conferences I've seen officers sit and cross their legs or ankles, or adjust the length of their trousers as they sat, and apparently not realize they have just exposed their ankle holster. Didn't seem like a good "concealment" strategy to me.
2. While assisting a partner officer with serving a warrant, the bad guy bolted, my partner tackled him, got twisted around in the brief scuffle, ending up atop the BG's back, facing the BG's feet, with my partners ankle holstered gun much closer to the BG's hands than to my partners hands (which were about three feet away at the BG's small-of-back). I drew my gun and warned the BG not to reach for my partner's gun (not a great angle for me to have to take a shot, but better than allowing him to reach for my partner's gun). This one really made me uncomfortable with ankle carry.
Two things have kept me from carrying via ankle holseter -
1. At a few LE trainings and conferences I've seen officers sit and cross their legs or ankles, or adjust the length of their trousers as they sat, and apparently not realize they have just exposed their ankle holster. Didn't seem like a good "concealment" strategy to me.
2. While assisting a partner officer with serving a warrant, the bad guy bolted, my partner tackled him, got twisted around in the brief scuffle, ending up atop the BG's back, facing the BG's feet, with my partners ankle holstered gun much closer to the BG's hands than to my partners hands (which were about three feet away at the BG's small-of-back). I drew my gun and warned the BG not to reach for my partner's gun (not a great angle for me to have to take a shot, but better than allowing him to reach for my partner's gun). This one really made me uncomfortable with ankle carry.
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1. Relatively, for the first week or so.
2. Boots. Wellingtons in uniform. Western in plainclothes. Sorel in winter.
3. No. See #2.
Worn in the inside of the left ankle I found it very easy to access when seated. Carried my BUG (or BUG #1), a Colt Agent, in it for all but UC assignments. Then it was my primary. It is never going to be a quick-draw proposition, but a former coworker swears I drew and fired two rounds into a rattlesnake while in the air from my initial jump. I really don't recall but suspect I may have bounced between shots.
I had a nylon holster with Velcro closure and a suspender strap that fit above the calf. The Velcro ( both leg straps and the safety strap) was still working 10 years later although the muzzle had worn a hole in the end of the holster. Don't recall the maker, but when I tried to find another a few years ago they were out of business.
2. Boots. Wellingtons in uniform. Western in plainclothes. Sorel in winter.
3. No. See #2.
Worn in the inside of the left ankle I found it very easy to access when seated. Carried my BUG (or BUG #1), a Colt Agent, in it for all but UC assignments. Then it was my primary. It is never going to be a quick-draw proposition, but a former coworker swears I drew and fired two rounds into a rattlesnake while in the air from my initial jump. I really don't recall but suspect I may have bounced between shots.
I had a nylon holster with Velcro closure and a suspender strap that fit above the calf. The Velcro ( both leg straps and the safety strap) was still working 10 years later although the muzzle had worn a hole in the end of the holster. Don't recall the maker, but when I tried to find another a few years ago they were out of business.
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