Appendix carry holster advice

[Taj]

For what it's worth (somewhere between a penny and a nickel)
I have been appendix carrying for over 5 years with 9mm and 45's.
For a little over 40 years I taught at a POST certified Academy. I beat into every recruit the 4 fundamentals of firearms safety. One of which is to never allow the muzzle sweep anything you are not willing to destroy and I would be on them like a cheap suit if I ever saw them use their support hand to "assist" them in reholstering. This usually resulted in them sweeping their S-Hand. Sticking a striker fired pistol into an appendix carry IWB holster, where it's pointing either at your "junk" or your femoral artery just seems wrong to me. I feel a little better about a revolver in that position, but it is still contrary to everything I see as a fundamental safety issue. As a firearms examiner for my agency I have examined only one pistol that had a true accidental discharge in the holster. It was due to a part failure and fortunately no one was injured. That was enough for me. I realize all you guys are adults and are capable of making sound decisions, but keep in mind that mechanical devices do fail.

 

[dben002]

For what it's worth (somewhere between a penny and a nickel)
I have been appendix carrying for over 5 years with 9mm and 45's.
For a little over 40 years I taught at a POST certified Academy. I beat into every recruit the 4 fundamentals of firearms safety. One of which is to never allow the muzzle sweep anything you are not willing to destroy and I would be on them like a cheap suit if I ever saw them use their support hand to "assist" them in reholstering. This usually resulted in them sweeping their S-Hand. Sticking a striker fired pistol into an appendix carry IWB holster, where it's pointing either at your "junk" or your femoral artery just seems wrong to me. I feel a little better about a revolver in that position, but it is still contrary to everything I see as a fundamental safety issue. As a firearms examiner for my agency I have examined only one pistol that had a true accidental discharge in the holster. It was due to a part failure and fortunately no one was injured. That was enough for me. I realize all you guys are adults and are capable of making sound decisions, but keep in mind that mechanical devices do fail.

Taj....Thanks for the input. I really do appreciate your comments. For that penny to a nickel again I personally have never seen any revolver or striker fired weapon fire itself while sitting in a holster without being touched, especially with the safety on. I'm not saying it will never happen but I just have never heard of it.

I carry with the safety on and have spent years practicing removing the safety on extraction and I have absolutely no problem with that form of carry. Unless I am at a range my weapon never leaves the holster except for cleaning so my mind is ok with this striker fired weapon pointing at my junk...(ps..my junk is 72 years old now and can truly be considered junk).. could be putting it out of it's misery is the humane thing to do....

 

[x-cop]

Appendix carry

Everyone has an opinion on this style of carry. I make holsters and depending on physical makeup and type of gun you carry, this may or may not be the way to go. First off,if you decide to carry this way, I tell my customers have a pair of pants or whatever outerwear you will be using to be one size larger for comfort and fit. I use extra strong spring clips and for the width belt to be used. "j" clips are good too. For the ladies, with a "good" hand fit holster for the gun the spring clips will work 99% of time. This carry is comfortable and easy to access if seated, in a car, kneeling,etc. Pretty easy to defend against a grab also(some I put a thumb break on too). Safety is a concern of course, so a revolver(DA) or a semi auto with first shot DA capability or DA only recommended. Semi's with a thumb safety (SA) only for gun people only suggested. Leather most comfortable and good quality and covers trigger completely. Kydex or similar materials can be uncomfortable. Folks that are heavy or obese not recommended for this carry my opinion, everyone has one. I have seen this carry for full size as well as sub compact autos and revolvers. Hammerless always better, less for something to snag on. Beats pocket carry for sure. Depends on person. Semi will lay flatter of course and more comfort and less profile. Don't go cheap, you get what you pay for. Stay away from junk and nylon holsters. Hope this helps

 

[Pat Yates]

Hi All,
There's an important subtlety in the clips on the four holsters CrazyPhil posted. Notice the cutouts at the bottom of the springs. The metal in the partially cutout spring is formed into a "J" shape that clips UNDER the belt, while the rest of the spring goes over the belt. This type of clip is not easy to find, and I've never found one in stainless steel, but I've been using multiple Kydex holsters with them daily for about seven years now and have yet to have one unclip itself. My daily use includes strenuous mountain biking three to five days a week. (Retirement is wonderful!)

 

[Whitwabit]

Garrett Holsters have clips with the tab that hooks over the belt to hold it in place .. they work very well and haven't had one come off the belt ..

Slimline Clip

 

[Absalom]

Let me just say that it appears you guys appreciate good food a lot less than I do.

When it comes to "appendix carry", there is this big thing called my belly that's permanently in the way.

 

[reppans]

For what it's worth (somewhere between a penny and a nickel)

I have been appendix carrying for over 5 years with 9mm and 45's.

For a little over 40 years I taught at a POST certified Academy. I beat into every recruit the 4 fundamentals of firearms safety. One of which is to never allow the muzzle sweep anything you are not willing to destroy and I would be on them like a cheap suit if I ever saw them use their support hand to "assist" them in reholstering. This usually resulted in them sweeping their S-Hand. Sticking a striker fired pistol into an appendix carry IWB holster, where it's pointing either at your "junk" or your femoral artery just seems wrong to me. I feel a little better about a revolver in that position, but it is still contrary to everything I see as a fundamental safety issue. As a firearms examiner for my agency I have examined only one pistol that had a true accidental discharge in the holster. It was due to a part failure and fortunately no one was injured. That was enough for me. I realize all you guys are adults and are capable of making sound decisions, but keep in mind that mechanical devices do fail.

I also can't get comfortable with partially-/fully- cocked strikers or hammers behind live primers pointed down there - I don't care what kind of mechanical safeties are in place. The plain physics of hammer-down revolvers or DA/SA semis are OK if they have exposed hammers that can controlled for reholstering, and verified through my shirt.

 

[sigp220.45]

I always hated wearing a belt, so now that I am a retired gentleman of leisure I don't.

I have recently become a fan of Barsony holsters. They are lightweight and made in the USA, and the clip hangs on to the waistband of my jeans like grim death.

Same setup for my Hi-Power, when I venture into the big city.

I carry at the appendix, but I only use guns that have been specifically instructed not to shoot me on their own.

 

[Eagle1*]

I am a BIG fan of kydex for any type of IWB holster. It is the thinnest and will move with your body when bending or moving and not giving you that "stuck" feeling like other holsters do. I have a AIWB holster from a local maker for my J frames and absolutely love it!

 

[shell627]

A previous poster mentioned blade tech.Their ambi klipit works with my 640 and my other j frame snubbys.

 

[rednichols]

Was wondering what j frame AIWB holster works for you? I'm looking at pocket carrying strong side and appendix carry weak side due to back pain. Thanks.

If you stay true to appendix carry, which is at 2:00 and the muzzle to the rear, you will also avoid 'front pain'; whereafter forum members will get to argue over whether it was an A/D or N/D (i.e., did you deserve it or not). Your emergency room doc won't care one way or the other!

Anything closer to the belt buckle is properly called 'belly carry', which as a holster designer/maker I never recommend and is a 21st century concoction.

You will have no trouble finding heaps of forum arguments on this subject; for which there are no winners except the living.

 

[blues7]

If you stay true to appendix carry, which is at 2:00 and the muzzle to the rear, you will also avoid 'front pain'; whereafter forum members will get to argue over whether it was an A/D or N/D (i.e., did you deserve it or not). Your emergency room doc won't care one way or the other!

Anything closer to the belt buckle is properly called 'belly carry', which as a holster designer/maker I never recommend and is a 21st century concoction.

You will have no trouble finding heaps of forum arguments on this subject; for which there are no winners except the living.

With all due respect, red...I was carrying a few inches right of the navel (inside the waistband) way back in the 20th century...in the early 80's. Originally in ballistic nylon holsters and later in leather or kydex.

I've never had any reason (or desire) to opt for another method of concealment, and wonder of wonders, I'm still intact.

Oh...and I'm not so sure about that 2 o'clock location either...

 

[diyj98]

I'd like to see some photos of the 2:00 carry if anyone has any.