Cross draw for concealed carry

[Seneca]

I've been thinking lately that a cross draw holster makes sense for concealed carry. It would seem to be a smoother, faster, less noticeable movement and would eliminate the need to sweep away a garment ( such as a jacket ) because you would be reaching under the garment. Plus, you would be able to draw much easier while driving.
Do any of you carry cross draw? What are your thoughts?

 

[bp231986]

For me i think it would be a slow draw. I dont know any of my friends that carry that way. I carry appendix style and love it, with LOTS of practice with and without a "hot gun" ive become pretty fast with the draw and placing shots on target. However you choose to carry just make sure you spend a lot practice making sure you get it right and safely. Once you feel good about your draw go to the range with some ammo, start slow and increase in speed as you get better.

 

[S&W45Colt]

If it works for you, go for it. The most important thing is your carry daily and are safe.

One point though, cross draw is slower, not faster; but it does have it's advantages.

 

[Arik]

Slower and if your attacker is close he could pin your arm to your chest/stomach making it impossible/very hard to shoot him. If you get your arm loose you still have to bring it around the whole front of your body before your barrel is facing his direction. If your arm is pinned and somehow you accidentally shoot off a round you are responsible for where it goes. If your arm is pinned the barrel is still closer to being pointed at you then the attacker and he can easily push it into your gut. The grip is pointed easily in the attackers direction. Natural draw for him if he goes for your gun.

Same can happen with strong side carry but once you clear the holster the barrel should already be pointed in the direction of the attacker. If he happens to grab that arm the barrel is still pointed in his direction.

It is easier for drawing in your car but how often does that happen outside of movies?

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[Smithsrevenge]

I would have to say no.

I carry strong side, right under a button up shirt. Why I do this is while standing normally, my hand is about 5 inches lower than my gun, meaning lifting my arm and grasping my gun is a very quick, fluid movement, I Can also fire directly from the hip this way.

A cross draw SCREAMS "i'm pulling a gun on you!". I see someone reach like that, even if its for a wallet, I assume their going for a gun usually. Gets on my nerves.

***, Appendix, strong side and kidney carry are all somewhat hard to tell what the person is doing, scratching, getting their wallet during a robbery etc.

Cross draw......just says heres a gun. But thats My Opinion

 

[Arik]

Also....try practicing cross draw at the range! See how many people complain about you muzzle sweeping them

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[The Big D]

Bad idea.

Above posters have been spot on. Cross draw is not an optimal way to carry except, perhaps, for limited time use whilst sitting, driving, etc.

I don't know of any range that allows practice with a cross draw holster...certainly none with other users present.

Be safe.

I've been thinking lately that a cross draw holster makes sense for concealed carry. It would seem to be a smoother, faster, less noticeable movement and would eliminate the need to sweep away a garment ( such as a jacket ) because you would be reaching under the garment. Plus, you would be able to draw much easier while driving.
Do any of you carry cross draw? What are your thoughts?

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Cross-draw works very well for those who are driving a lot, or seated at a desk, etc. Also, many folks with range of motion issues (shoulder, elbow, wrist problems) benefit from a cross-draw rig.

Cross-draw is not generally as easily concealed as strong-side rigs. With a reverse cant the grip-frame is projected away from the body more, and cover garments need to be closed at the front to avoid exposing the holstered handgun. If the holstered handgun is placed further back, or if the holster cant is more upright, reaching the handgun and achieving a proper grip during the draw can be much more difficult.

 

[Poodle Soup]

appendix seems the fastest to me

 

[David Armstrong]

Much depends on your build, the way you dress, your lifestyle and so on. Crossdraw can be the best way to carry---for you. It can also be the worst way to carry. It simplifies drawing while seated. It allows a smoother and more controlled weak-hand presentation. It allows muzzle-on-target faster in some scenarios. All of those can be reversed and make it worse. Don't give up on it just because some internet folks say it is bad, don't go with it because some internet folks say it is good. Find out what works best for YOU.

 

[CoMF]

I carry AIWB cross draw while driving to and from work and while getting out of my car to refuel in my work clothes. It works well for me under an untucked uniform shirt, but I typically carry 4 o'clock strong side IWB when in street clothes.

David Armstrong said it better than I ever could. The "best" carry method depends on many factors and works differently for different people. While crossdraw isn't my favorite carry method, I can comfortably draw my M36 without muzzle sweeping; it can be accomplished with practice. More importantly, my finger always stays out of the trigger guard until the handgun is on target. Barring the use of a retention holster, I also opine that it's easier to stop somebody from grabbing your firearm while they're in front of you than it would be if they were behind you.

 

[hotrod150]

4 oclock or kidney position (aka "strong side carry") is an awkward draw for me, even more so (to the point of being almost impossible) if physically engaged with an attacker. Also easier IMHO for someone to try a gun snatch if they see that you're carrying.
I like A-IWB (about 1 oclock position), easier draw and better gun security, but for some people front crossdraw (10-11 oclock position) IWB might be better.

 

[Rpg]

The biggest problem is live fire practice from the leather. You sweep anyone to your side (and your weak side arm). You are also sweeping anything on your weak side.

Lots of ranges won't let you use cross draw rigs. Lots of organized shooting competitions won't allow it either.

 

[vytoland]

cross draw works well for me. I can have my hand on the gun (under the cover garment) unexposed and without anyone knowing and my other hand out and used as a distraction.

the draw can then be accomplished with one continuous motion.

 

[Delos]

If someone is sitting on you MMA style

If you are down in Florida on a real dark night, and it takes 45 seconds of getting head beat down on cement to draw. Upside down cross-draw in armpit might be better.

 

[michaelpthompso]

Cross draw can be useful in some situations, but consider that you can't take off your coat, and you're sweeping your own arm and anybody to the side of you every time you draw.


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[Delos]

Everything is situational

Definitely not good manners to cross draw at the range. Draw probably needs to be straight up from same hip. In a perfect world the FBI style not the best either. Barrel might be pointed at leg or foot of person behind and to other side of you? (In an exaggerated world view). But the only handguns I have ever heard about firing when drawing was single action that were being cocked as they were being drawn. Good manners are important.

The new method of drawing up in front of chest then extending might be a bit iffy when drawing upward at front of body, then pushing the barrel outward. Try it with your laser on and watch the dot. I call it the crowded subway draw and consider it a short term fad. But if someone is grabbing for your gun and you have not extended it yet then that is good. Always drawing and extending at arms length invites a grab attempt if person is within 4 or 5 feet.

The first correctional institution I worked, in 1960’s we were required to use high rise cross draw holsters under our short, uniform jackets (Ike Jackets). Mostly we were escorting prisoners out to court and that high rise cross draw under jacket was hardest for another to grab. And you could protect it with bent left elbow. Particularly from inmates in the usual waist chains with hands at sides. We also only had half screened vehicles (down to top of seat). If a person in back seat was to slip his chains he could theoretically reach between seats (back then). We did have an epileptic behind the driver one day that went into seizure, straightened out his legs into drivers seat pushing the sergeant up against the steering wheel. Sarg went off the road but he held it safely on the edge. We chugged to a stop because he could not get foot up on brake pedal (if memory serves). Fortunately we were on an un-crowded 4 lane highway.

Everything is situational. Predict whatever you can. All the really basic rules apply. I once boated down a river with a guy who did not say he could not swim. I once went scuba diving with a guy who acted like he had done it before. Both times we had little emergencies that could have been avoided by honesty.

 

[Ranger514]

While my preferred carry is strong side at 4 o'clock, when I'm driving, my M66 snubby rests at the 10 o'clock using a Galco paddle holster. Before I exit the vehicle, the paddle holster and gun easily transition to my strong side. Sometimes I carry my 642 holstered in a DeSantis Nemesis that tucks neatly into my waistband in a crossdraw position for driving purposes. The Nemesis goes into a cargo pocket or jacket pocket before I exit the vehicle. Works well for me.

 

[K-framer]

Cross draw works perfectly well, can be as quick as any other carry style and all of the blather about "sweeping others" during the draw becomes nonsense.....with only a change in stance. Simply pivot your stance so that your WEAK side foot is forward and your stance is canted (away from directly facing the target) by 45 degrees or more. I use a offset stance of about 60 degrees, myself. Then, when you draw (from the cross draw position), you simply use the same technique as is commonly used with appendix carry.

Quick and easy - and requires NO sweeping of bystanders.

Once the gun clears the holster, with a vertical pivot of the wrist, the muzzle will be basically on target, automatically. Then, extend your strong side arm and bring in the weak side hand (and arm) to produce a typical two-handed grip with arms extended. Also quick and easy - and the muzzle can be kept on target the whole time that this is happening.

You see, all it requires is a bit of "outside the box" thinking.....and a solution can easily be found.

This may not work for everyone (it may not be comfortable for all), but it works a treat for me, as my normal shooting stance is offset at about 60 degrees, anyway.

I carry cross draw quite a bit, though not all the time. I have major problems with holster comfort, so I switch around my carry position often (now, either cross draw at about 10:00 - 10:30, or strong side at 2:00 - 3:00). I have practiced (and continue to do so) cross draw carry and drawing from the offset stance - a lot . I have found NO disadvantages, other than the fact that concealment IS a bit more difficult.

Note that I am speaking about and advocating cross draw ONLY COMBINED with an offset stance (as described above). I absolutely agree that cross draw, while using a face-on stance is slow and DOES introduce sweeping bystanders into the mix. As such, I would agree that cross draw is best avoided, if NOT using an offset stance.

As for RO's not allowing cross draw, or panning the idea, that is often true. That, however, is simply a case of overly -conventional thinking, or being put off by "outside the box" techniques. I have demonstrated the offset stance technique to several RO's.....and usually manage to beat them to the draw with it - with NO sweeping of anyone. Once they realize that the offset stance makes all the difference, their objections usually disappear.....at least as long as they understand that I am skilled in this technique and use it consistently. For a beginner, it would be a different thing - and rightly so.

 

[Ranger514]

Cowboy Action Crossdraw - NSSF Shooting Sportscast - YouTube

K-framer is right. Check out this NSSF vid that shows two different methods of safely presenting from the crossdraw position. It just takes practice...and committment.