ankle holster question

[ogilvyspecial]

Here's another tip for ankle holsters...try them with high top sneaker...the extra height makes it even more comfortable...

So true. I almost always wear my Galco Ankle Glove while wearing my
Red Wing boots that are the same height as high top tennis shoes.

The bottom lip of the holster fits down into the top of the boot collar a little
and keeps it from slideing down, or twisting around my leg.

 

[sipowicz]

So true. I almost always wear my Galco Ankle Glove while wearing my
Red Wing boots that are the same height as high top tennis shoes.

The bottom lip of the holster fits down into the top of the boot collar a little
and keeps it from slideing down, or twisting around my leg.

Great minds...yada yada yad...

 

[jaypug]

Thank you all for the insight and information.
I am not a L.E.O. or "young and restless'.
I expect I'll never have to use this weapon as I do not frequent places known to be trouble some.
I have tried a few other carry options and found them to be less than comfortable or require the need to over dress.

I hope this works, I feel ankle carry is still better than leaving it home if it is ever needed.

 

[sipowicz]

I expect I'll never have to use this weapon as I do not frequent places known to be trouble some.

I was using the same logic and then I saw the guy on the news that shot up the beauty salon in California and then the guy at the I-hop restaurant in Nevada. I realized after those incidents, you can not use logic to predict when and where it might happen. Random acts of violence seem to occur in random places. A friend of mine came home from work and was surprised to find a burgler still in his home. Thats when I started carrying every day no matter how blue the sky is.

I used to live on City Island..a pretty safe neighborhood in the north Bronx....my dad was a cop who carried whenever he went out...one night, after dinner, he decided to take a walk up to the main avenue...this one time he decided to leave his gun off his hip. As he turned the corner from our block, some punk ripped an aerial off a car and came at my dad screaming how he hated cops. My dad instinctively went for his gun, which wasn't there...luckily, he kept his hand on his hip and bluffed him, telling him to drop the antenna or he'd blow his head off. It worked....but my dad never left his gun home after that night.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

I used to live on City Island..a pretty safe neighborhood in the north Bronx....my dad was a cop who carried whenever he went out...one night, after dinner, he decided to take a walk up to the main avenue...this one time he decided to leave his gun off his hip. As he turned the corner from our block, some punk ripped an aerial off a car and came at my dad screaming how he hated cops. My dad instinctively went for his gun, which wasn't there...luckily, he kept his hand on his hip and bluffed him, telling him to drop the antenna or he'd blow his head off. It worked....but my dad never left his gun home after that night.

Recently I had a somewhat similar, although nowhere near as serious, reminder to always have a gun with me.

I've live-trapped 5 Raccoons & 2 Feral Cats near one of our Pole Barns over the last 6 wk's or so and every night I check the trap a couple of times. Even though it's only about 50 yd's over there I usually slip on my fanny pack that has my gun & spare ammo in it, just in case.

A couple of weeks ago I picked up my fanny pack before a "trap check", thought about it for a second and said, what the heck, leave it here this time.

I get about 20-25 yd's from the house when I hear a couple of Coyote's, which sound like they're right where I'm heading for. Since I'm outside many times throughout the night, usually hittin' a cigar, I hear Coyote's all of the time but this time was different.

This time, instead of a yappy type of bark, they were making a, low, deep, gutteral growling sound mixed in with a different sounding, low pitched, "yap." The hair immediately stood up on the back of my neck & arms and I stopped, reached down and thought, uh oh, maybe I better go back and get "something." I did.

I have never felt the need for having a gun in my hand while checking the live trap, but when I went back out there I did. Knowing that if the first 2 rounds of .410 000 Buck out of The Governor didn't drive any frisky Coyote's off that the remaining four, 45 Colt 250 gr. Speer GDHP's would probably be enough to deal with them made me feel a little better about being out there.

Since then I've been a good boy and never leave my toys in the house when going outside to play.

 

[coltgun]

I have tried all brands of ankle holsters oover the years for my backup guns at work and with out a doubt i have to say the REHEGADE is the most comfy one of them all...imho...

 

[Minnehaha]

NYPD Ankle Holster from 1960's

Here is my 1960's vintage leather lace up ankle holster for a Model 36. It was worn by a NYPD Officer as an off duty and undercover gun. This holster is extremely comfortable, it's the best ankle rig that I have used. I do not know who made it, it came with the gun. If anyone knows who may have made this, please let me know.

 

[Old cop]

I've had an ankle holster for my J frame for years but rarely use it. I find it awkward at best, & somewhat uncomfortable (very skinny ankles despite being a big guy). It seems to work best on a long car trip and when we stop the gun is transfered to my pocket. One thing to consider is when you sit down your trouser cuff will ride up over the holster every time. Someone suggested wearing an extra sock and pulling it over the gun - not a bad idea.

 

[skeeter1911]

As many have said it's not the best method of carry (it's ok if you sit at a desk all day or spend a lot of time driving) but you're still better off strapping your gun to your ankle than leaving it at home. I'll give another vote for the DeSantis 044. I often carry my 442 in it and it's very comfortable.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

I find all other locations to intrusive on my life style

My "life style" gets intruded upon so often that I wouldn't notice the difference.

 

[Odinkar]

No one has said it yet, but Gould and Goodrich makes a good ankle holster. I had one for my PPK that I used for the last t 10 years and it works great. i have one on order that will be here next week for my S&W 368 w/ the 2.5" barrel

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

An ankle holster may be THE best concealable position for a gun while driving, which is how some people spend much of their lives. It may be a pretty poor position for the primary firearm, but the primary firearm may be almost unavailable when seatbelted into a car.

Just because a gun in an ankle holster isn't often worth much walking down the street doesn't mean you shouldn't wear it, any more than you should leave your belt-holstered gun at home because you're driving to town rather than walking.

P.S. Well, some might argue in favor of a shoulder holster rather than an ankle holster. That can be very good if you can dress for it.

 

[blujax01]

There are a number of cons with an ankle holster. That being said, sometimes it is the only practical option. The Galco Ankle Glove is fleece lined and has the option of a garter belt. If I'm wearing cargo pants or jeans and an untucked shirt or sweater I can go IWB or OWB. But if it's business casual attire such as trousers and a dress shirt, ankle carry a viable way to go. After the initial weight awareness, you will get used to it and it's not an issue.

 

[Frizzman]

I carry a 337 AirLite in a Galco AG12 for BUG because I spend a good amount of time in a car and its easier to get to and less obvious than trying to go to the waist. It also works pretty well when sitting in a restaurant. I wear mine on the inside of the right ankle with the butt facing forward. It requires a type of twist draw but it conceals better that way for me and is easier to reach while seated. You MUST keep finger off trigger during the draw. I started doing this as a young LEO in the 70's. I don't like ankle carry as my primary carry if only carrying one handgun. You must put in lots of practice on the draw. If there is a place to safely do it, live fire from the ankle can give you an idea of the reality of having to go for your primary on the ankle from a standing position. You must be in fairly good condition with excellent balance and flexibility to do it with any sort of speed.

I am not sure I buy the idea that having a gun is better than not, no matter what the situation. Having a gun in the mix can make things worse if you can't retain it or use it effectively. If I were to use ankle carry as primary, I would get in some practice running away very quickly with it on. You are going to need some distance and time to get it into action. Losing your balance while attempting to draw can result in shooting something you don't want to...such as yourself or your companion. You will need to employ some hand to hand defensive skills to be able to get enough distance to get to it. Ankle carry complicates things considerably when simple is best in an ultra stressful situation involving lethal force...There's no "do overs" and don't expect any mercy if you are too slow or clumsy.