Triggernosis
Member
Does anyone have any recommendations for J-frame crossdraw holsters?
J-frame crossdraw options?
- Thread starter Triggernosis
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Ken Null makes a crossdraw holster called the Vam. It's primarily intended for use while seated (car). It has a pull thru snap similar to the Alessi ankle holster and is extremely fast and comfortable.
I love my Lobo Dual Carry Pancake for my SP-101. Rides great strong side & cross-draw, what's not to like?
ogilvyspecial
Member
Due to back issues my primary carry method is cross-draw. After trying a number of different brands, including pancakes designed for dual purpose, I found Mernickle Holsters and never looked back.
I have Mernickle cross-draw holsters for a Glock 32, 2.5" & 3" L Frames, 2.5" K Frames and 2" & 3" J Frames, for a total of six holsters, and they all function very well.
Below you will see the one for the 2" J-Frame holding the S&W 632-2.
When carrying my Model 36 in this holster it's as if I'm not even carrying.
Do yourself a favor, if you plan on using a holster for cross-draw on a regular basis, please try and find one designed specifically for that purpose. Having been down the "compromise" road I can say that while some pancakes may do alright, especially with lighter, shorter guns, I have never tried one yet that worked as well as a dedicated cross-draw holster........
I have Mernickle cross-draw holsters for a Glock 32, 2.5" & 3" L Frames, 2.5" K Frames and 2" & 3" J Frames, for a total of six holsters, and they all function very well.
Below you will see the one for the 2" J-Frame holding the S&W 632-2.
When carrying my Model 36 in this holster it's as if I'm not even carrying.
Do yourself a favor, if you plan on using a holster for cross-draw on a regular basis, please try and find one designed specifically for that purpose. Having been down the "compromise" road I can say that while some pancakes may do alright, especially with lighter, shorter guns, I have never tried one yet that worked as well as a dedicated cross-draw holster........
sipowicz
Member
I have a few of lobo's rigs and they are top notch...very nicely priced too.
OK Hog Shooter
Member
I'm with sip... lobo's gear is top notch!
ogilvyspecial
Member
Per a PM request for a shot of the 3" Mernickle J-Frame Cross Draw holster I went out and took the following photo.
The holster on the left is the same one as in my previous post, shown this time with a Model 36.
The black holster is shown with a S&W 632-1 (3" bbl)
Please forgive me if the holsters aren't lined up properly to accurately show the slightly different angles they are canted. The request came in just as I was about to head out the door so this was a rushed affair.........
The holster on the left is the same one as in my previous post, shown this time with a Model 36.
The black holster is shown with a S&W 632-1 (3" bbl)
Please forgive me if the holsters aren't lined up properly to accurately show the slightly different angles they are canted. The request came in just as I was about to head out the door so this was a rushed affair.........
Highly recommend Jeffery Custom Leather. I recently had the quick snap cross draw made with basket weave dark brown. His description is right on. I drive a truck so I wanted one cross draw to not interfere with seat belt and quick snap when I need to take off for certain deliveries. Excellent quality and worksmanship.
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ContinentalOp
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I know both Sideguard and Bell Charter Oak make cross draw holsters. I have a Sideguard holster and the quality is very good, though mine is not a cross draw. I don't have any experience with Bell Charter Oak but they come highly recommended.
FYI, depending on your build, a holster with a 0-cant/straight-drop design may work as a cross draw holster.
FYI, depending on your build, a holster with a 0-cant/straight-drop design may work as a cross draw holster.
ogilvyspecial
Member
First off, let me say that this follow up post in is no way intended to bash dual purpose / 3 slot designs. It's only intended to provide a little more information to those who may be considering cross-draw as a carry method and only reflects my personal experience.
Your mileage may vary......
Hopefully the photo's below will better illustrate my point.
The black holster is a Mernickle dedicated cross-draw & the brown a Simply Rugged dual use pancake style.
The Mernickle is shown with a S&W 632-1 (.327) with 3" bbl and the Simply Rugged with a Ruger SP101 (.327), also with 3" bbl.
As you can see the slots on the dedicated cross-draw holster are in the area of the gun's greatest weight, whereas, when using the 3rd slot option on the dual use holster, most of the guns weight is not supported in the same manner.
Another factor, though not as important, is that the slots on most 3 slot designs are at right angles to each other for use in the strong-side application so the belt has to be kind of bent down slighty when using the 3rd slot for CD. This also has a bearing on how well the belt can support the weight of the gun and is also responsible for some "play", however slight, when drawing or reholstering the gun.
When I was using this, or other 3 slot holsters I have / had in the cross-draw application I found that whenever I bent forward the gun tended to cant out from my body and required some readjustment after standing back upright, which is why I mentioned in a previous post that the 3 slots tend to work better for CD with shorter, lighter weight guns. This tendency to cant out can be reduced by tightening the belt, but, no matter how tight I cinched it up it still had an "unsecure" feeling about it. I'm a firm believer that your belt should be tight anyway, no matter the holster, so when I say, "tightening the belt", I'm talking about sucking it in real good too get to that next belt notch.
I hope this info. helps others decide if a 3 slot, or dedicated CD holster, no matter the maker, is right for their needs.
Your mileage may vary......
Hopefully the photo's below will better illustrate my point.
The black holster is a Mernickle dedicated cross-draw & the brown a Simply Rugged dual use pancake style.
The Mernickle is shown with a S&W 632-1 (.327) with 3" bbl and the Simply Rugged with a Ruger SP101 (.327), also with 3" bbl.
As you can see the slots on the dedicated cross-draw holster are in the area of the gun's greatest weight, whereas, when using the 3rd slot option on the dual use holster, most of the guns weight is not supported in the same manner.
Another factor, though not as important, is that the slots on most 3 slot designs are at right angles to each other for use in the strong-side application so the belt has to be kind of bent down slighty when using the 3rd slot for CD. This also has a bearing on how well the belt can support the weight of the gun and is also responsible for some "play", however slight, when drawing or reholstering the gun.
When I was using this, or other 3 slot holsters I have / had in the cross-draw application I found that whenever I bent forward the gun tended to cant out from my body and required some readjustment after standing back upright, which is why I mentioned in a previous post that the 3 slots tend to work better for CD with shorter, lighter weight guns. This tendency to cant out can be reduced by tightening the belt, but, no matter how tight I cinched it up it still had an "unsecure" feeling about it. I'm a firm believer that your belt should be tight anyway, no matter the holster, so when I say, "tightening the belt", I'm talking about sucking it in real good too get to that next belt notch.
I hope this info. helps others decide if a 3 slot, or dedicated CD holster, no matter the maker, is right for their needs.
Last edited:
JcMack
Member
I'd like to try crossdraw carry but the big hill I have to reach across prevents it.
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