Is an ankle holster useful???

[MarkB]

How useful is an ankle holster for the non-LEO ccw person? Is there an advantage or is it a hindrance to use an ankle holster? This is for a BUG and not the primary carry weapon.

 

[phils]

You are a non leo or ccw person and you're going to carry at least two guns? Why not just get a ccw and insurance and be legal?

Anyway, as a backup an ankle rig is ok but not a fast draw rig.
The old boot leg pants work best.
A leo undercover friend carried a M637 in an ankle holster but lost it in a chase and never recovered it.
However an ankle holster before a knife in some cases.

 

[MarkB]

Thanks. I do have my CCW permit. This is for a backup to my primary carry.

 

[Florida J Frame]

Where do you frequent that as a non-LEO you need a BUG?

 

[cadmike]

Why can't a non Leo carry a bug?

Is it ok for a non Leo to carry a reload??

Next you'll want to limit magazine capacity for non Leo's. Come on people.

 

[viceunit]

I carried a BUG (Model 36) in an ankle holster for years. I had a good quality unit made by a company in Cincinnati OH that is long out of business. It was a nylon type and well padded where it contacted the ankle. It had a secondary support strap that fastened with velcro above the calf. That second strap kept the thing from wanting to slide down to my foot - without that strap I think the holster would have been useless. Had I an air weight gun at the time, it would probably have been more comfortable. To draw the gun, it is necessary to pull up the pant leg from just above the gun to avoid the pant material from bunching up as it would if you grabbed the pants from the cuff. Even with the best draw, there is no way you could draw and fire as quickly as Chris Tucker does in the movie "Rush Hour".

 

[Tenn2]

I carry a 38 in an ankle rig for driving. I am left handed and it puts it in a position that is easier to reach than the one in my pocket!

Even when carried owb it is difficult to reach for a left handed person as the door panel gets in the way. That is what works for me. YMMV.
Russ

 

[Florida J Frame]

Why can't a non Leo carry a bug?

Is it ok for a non Leo to carry a reload??

Next you'll want to limit magazine capacity for non Leo's. Come on people.

Don't put words in my mouth (or post). I didn't say is wasn't OK nor did I suggest limiting anything. I simply asked why the OP thought it necessary?

 

[franzas]

I've never bothered with them. Sticky holster in my boot works fine.

 

[MarkB]

Don't put words in my mouth (or post). I didn't say is wasn't OK nor did I suggest limiting anything. I simply asked why the OP thought it necessary?

First, I have a very quiet life and I don't look for trouble. I am left handed and the ankle holster would be easier to get to while driving. It would also be available if something happened to my primary carry. I just need to be prepared in the unlikely event that I need to use a backup gun.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Nothing wrong with an ankle rig. I've carried an M49 for years in a Cozy Partner Rengade. Very secure but easy to draw from and so, so comfortable. If your sitting down a lot an ankle gun is pretty easy to reach and unlike IWB/OWB it won't catch or clank on chair arms and you don't have to keep your jacket on all the time.

I think Cozy Partner is no longer in business but if you can track one down I'd be surprised if you didn't love it.

I just realized that Renegade is the name of the company. Cozy Partner is the model of the holster.

 

[okiegtrider]

I have an old Renegade ankle holster. It's looking kinda threadbare these days, but still hangs on to a J frame pretty well.

They sure aren't fast, but can be useful. YMMV

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

The Renegade rig is a great rig, and a revolver in an ankle rig is not only a good BUG, particularly important for anyone who carries an autoloader, it is also far more accessible when seated, particularly in an automobile. For many lifestyles, the gun in the ankle rig is more important than the one in the belt, like if you drive through various neighborhoods from your own good neighborhood to the good neighborhood of the folks you are visiting. Still like the belt gun, too, for the dog in the "good" neighborhood (or the coyotes in my "good" neighborhood).

 

[Stevens]

One of the guys I worked with was at a meeting with clients in Ecuador, they were sitting in the clients office the client's lawyer came in and sat down, as he crossed his leg the gun in his ankle holster slipped out and clanged across the tile floor. It didn't go off, nothing was hurt except for the lawyers pride.
I am not saying this is a reason not to use an ankle holster, obviously the gun and the holster were not well matched or the guy hadn't secured it correctly.

 

[Richard Simmons]

One of the guys I worked with was at a meeting with clients in Ecuador, they were sitting in the clients office the client's lawyer came in and sat down, as he crossed his leg the gun in his ankle holster slipped out and clanged across the tile floor. It didn't go off, nothing was hurt except for the lawyers pride.
I am not saying this is a reason not to use an ankle holster, obviously the gun and the holster were not well matched or the guy hadn't secured it correctly.

I would agree. There are instances of the same thing happening with about every type of carry.

I'd like to add that another plus for ankle carry is when you to use the toilet. When you find your self with your trousers around your ankle your ankle rig will be perfectly accessible and not trying to flop over on the floor like a belt rig.

 

[da gimp]

my EDC CCW is an old Colt Agent... backed up by a S&W Chiefs. It's far easier/quicker to draw a 2nd pistol than to reload one of my snubs. Do not cheap out on buying/selecting any holster... you can easily lose a very expensive handgun while running... wrestling/fighting etc. One man advised a 2nd strap around the top of the calf/below knee... this is DAAM GOOD ADVICE that you should pay heed to in my opinion. Also make sure that the holster has a thumb strap & that it is on the inside beside your leg... as opposed to being on the outside of the holster where it can be easily knocked loose inadvertently.

If you are friends with any LEO's/ detectives/ policemen/deputies etc., ... do not hesitate to ask them which brand/style they rely on...If they use that holster every day, it has to be of good quality.

I applaud your having the foresight to getting advice in choosing a holster... many newbies don't. Very good quality ankle rigs are handy, and while most people do not look for them... your pant leg can ride up, inadvertently exposing your pistol..

Please give some thought to using a cross draw IWB/OWB rig for a revolver/pistol., which is also very handy while seated in a car, on a motorcycle, riding a horse etc... and is fairly easy to keep track of & defend... 2 important considerations for any holster/handgun combo.

 

[da gimp]

I would agree. There are instances of the same thing happening with about every type of carry.

I'd like to add that another plus for ankle carry is when you to use the toilet. When you find your self with your trousers around your ankle your ankle rig will be perfectly accessible and not trying to flop over on the floor like a belt rig.

Richard on your signature line.. it says BCCI life etc... what is BCCI? Boone & Crocket? Betty Crocker? I've never seen anyone posting that before...that I can remember... but I admit to having a well developed case of CRS senioritis... "Can't Remember Stuff"

 

[petepeterson]

I have one for my Kel-Tec. Not the most comfortable thing to wear, but useful for times when I need a tucked shirt and can't pocket carry. Only used as a primary though.

 

[Jimmyjones]

I've been keeping a BG380 on my ankle for about a year.

It's a proprietary DeSanti from NAA for the Guardian, but works great with the BG.

 

[Muss Muggins]

How useful is an ankle holster for the non-LEO ccw person? Is there an advantage or is it a hindrance to use an ankle holster? This is for a BUG and not the primary carry weapon.

An ankle holster is useful should your assailant attempt to shove your foot in your mouth. Otherwise, no so useful, unless you have a lot of prep time to defend the attack . . .