I often use a shoulder holster in winter months here in Montana. Regular carry is OWB-IWB .

There was a potential altercation last Sunday that made me wonder about either choice with vest and winter coat on.

The altercation was when getting out of my car at a local restaurant the wind kicked up and my door gently touched the car next to me. The owner was getting ready to enter his car on the passenger side and yelled at me that I just hit his car!!

I had in my hands birthday presents for a friend inside which tied up my hands....I looked at his door and saw absolutely NO damage and told him so.

This enraged the intoxicated 70 year old....and then he said"I'm gonna get my sledge hammer and turn your head into mush."

I walked past him saying nothing and went into the establishment not knowing if he was following or not.

Felt sort of silly knowing my sidearm (1911 Commander .45 in Bianchi X15 shoulder holster) was under 2 layers of clothing if I really needed it.

Didn't have to produce my Colt and rest of the evening went just fine.

I regret not being able to use phone to video the man or the license plate, but my hands were still carrying the gifts......

Your thoughts guys?

Randy

You said both your hands were tied up, unless you have 3 hands I do not see what your holster chioce has to do with your problem.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Best thing is Mr Blowhard drunkcompoop goes down the road and the popo stuff him and cuff him.

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I’m your Boogie Man, uh huh.

This is reason why am going to front pocket carry in winter. Course am wearing heavy overalls all winter. Having your hands full is meaningless after ya drop what your carrying.

A horizontal Miami Vice rig works just unzip halfway......to draw

Both hands full...... a different problem

Am I missing something here. Isn't a horizonal shoulder holster a total violation of the number 2 rule in gun safety? That being never point a gun at anything you don't want to kill or destroy. Isn't a horizonal holster always pointing at everyone behind the wearer? I might be imagining a different kind of holster.

I would think if you need outer wear it should be something light weight and dress in layers if the temps get really cold with your holster accessible after opening the light jacket. If it has buttons, sew them on and have velcro under neath so a quick jerk with the off hand opens it for holster accessability and if you're carrying presents or anything else drop them, they can't be that important if you need to draw a gun.

No choice is perfect. I normally do owb but my winter coat I wear for snow removal type chores also has deep pockets which is great for a pocket pistol.

I guess all modes of carry and weapon type are a compromise of sorts. I generally carry IWB or OWB at 3 o'clock. If weather demands or other reasons require layering that much, I carry a J frame 38 in my outermost pocket. A gun you can't get to is of little use for emergencies. I will paraphrase the wisdom I've seen on this site over the years, "A 38 snub available to you beats a cocked and locked 45 that isn't."

The gun is holstered...... trigger covered... with my guns; DA/SA Gen3 Smiths or Berettas the hammer can't cycle with the thumb break snapped .. "You" are not pointing a gun..... that can fire...... at anything...


so NO!

Grasp gun , disengage thumb snap, draw weapon, select target. place finger on trigger. execute long 8-10lb DA pull


Secondary choice, out for dinner or a movie, is a cross draw on the belt under a unzipped lite fleece..... and outer garment.

Solution is simple, practice, practice, practice. When I was on the road we were taught to toss our ticket can if the face of the bad guy and draw. Simple solution is toss your gifts in the face of an idiot and draw IF necessary. Who cares about the gifts when your life is on the line.

I have never been a fan of the Miami Vice holsters. Not only where the gun is pointing put having to pull it out and who/what you cover with the muzzle. OWB always, always, always. Not that a IWB is bad but I don't want to go out and get new pants to accommodate an IWB rig.

What ever you go with practice. Practice holding something and then either dropping it or throwing it at the bad guy's face and then drawing from cover.

Yeah a 70 yr old drunk would definitely make me rethink everything I do????????

I have a number of holsters.
I like the shoulder rigs for in the car. Seasonally speaking, they are only practical spring and fall.
Any other time, they are either buried in clothing or your clothing is too light to conceal.
IWB is a good default for most situations... Except in the car.
Look at sticky holsters.
These are cheap and simple and have a neat party trick.
That being they can be positioned anywhere you want it to be. While not an ideal holster per se... It's really good for giving you a solid idea of what you're really looking for without blowing hundreds on experiments

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it just needs more voltage

In my mind, having a weapon in any kind of holster that you can't access is kinda like buying a $7,000.00 custom made saddle and not having a horse to ride.

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Hipcocked & Locked

How about defusing the situation? You acknowledge that your door made contact with his car (lightly). How about an apology, and invite for him to look and identify any damage. His threat happened after you denied causing damage. Perhaps if he received an apology and saw no damage it would not have escalated. If it did, you at least tried to deescalate.

Carry on like you normally do but add a snubbie in your coat pocket.

I give that a bunch of likes.
The safety rule of never pointing a gun at something you don't plan on shooting doesn't exclude holsters with covered triggers or safety straps between the hammer and frame. Larry

Oh lord. Nod and smile and go about your business. If he actually produces a sledge hammer drop the presents and deal with it.

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Rule of law, not a man.

I was at an OSU Cowboys football game sitting on the front row next to the field and several OHP Troopers were standing on the field in front of me. Most were in full uniform but one guy was wearing khaki pants and a black turtle neck with a tan Miami Vice horizontal shoulder rig. He was about 8 feet in front of me and the open muzzle of his Sig 220 .45ACP was pointed right at my nose. I don't give a dang how safe that might theoretically be, I was not comfortable staring at that big muzzle and after about 20 minutes he finally left and I could finally enjoy the football game.

..... ........

If I'm in that situation, I'm thinking, I'm not going to jail or risk getting hurt or killed over a parking lot dispute. Plus I don't know who or what I'm dealing with. I'm doing everything I can to de-escalate - I apologize and move on...

Besides if I'm dealing with a drunk 70 year old and I get in a scuffle, gravity will likely take him out first.

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Thread Killer.

J-frame with an upside-down shoulder holster is pretty foolproof under any clothing. Grab with either hand.

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Heavily armed old man.

Update....
After much consideration I have decided to pocket carry in the outside flap over pockets of my winter parka...easy access...without having to unzip the coat or the vest I was wearing that day.
Randy

It's been my experience that an immediate and profuse apology, whether you're wrong or not, goes a long way towards the escalating these types of situations.

And even when it doesn't, you've done everything you can to the escalate the situation

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Retired Career Security Guard

As stated prior, there are always trade offs with all types of carry.

I always try to keep my gun hand free. And I NEVER turn my back to someone that just threatened me no matter who it is.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I am unsure of your level of experience with pocket carry, but it is important to note that the gun will accumulate lint, even if it has to generate it on its own.
Consider a can of pepper spray for a pocket on the other side.

As an old timer once said to a couple guys that were laughing over his habit of carrying a Browning .25 auto in his pocket. "A 25 in your pocket is better than a 45 in your safe."