Shield .45 appendix carry

I have not said others cannot carry how they want. I have merely pointed out the risk involved with appendix carry. If people want to risk blowing their wedding tackle off, fine by me. It will help remove those with poor judgment from the gene pool.

There is risk with EVERYTHING firearm related is all Im trying to say....

and my AR analogy was only meant to show that people use crazy reasons to justify ANYTHING....

Ive read about way more people shooting themselves in the thigh then in the nutz.

Read post number 20 if you haven't.
Then read this, and then you can go and cherry pick one the other way...
Debunking the Myths of Appendix Carry - Guns and Ammo
 
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Let's stop trying to claim that the risk are the same because it's being disingenuous. We all agree that there is a risk, but what some purposely are being intellectually dishonest about as a means to support their preference is that the risk of injury and/or death is far greater with AIWB carry vs other methods.

The logical reason why one might see more thigh shots than AIWB shots is because AIWB carry is no where near as common as 3-5 o'clock carry and even pocket carry. That comparison is just another fallacy. Next, I've seen several times more negligent and accidental discharges that happened while a gun was in the holster that did NOT result in the person carrying the firearm being hit. I can't say the same has ever been true to my knowledge with AIWB carrier.

Like @Mike-AK states, I am not telling others they can't carry how they want. You all are grown anonymous men and it wouldn't matter what I told you to de regardless. You just can't convince me or come up with a valid reason that would make pointing a loaded firearm and an important organ and major artery sound like a good idea or a smart thing to do.

Yes, I know a small percentage of people have been killed with AR15s, others have shot themselves in the leg or butt, and appendix carry offers some benefits to some people; however, that's a strawman argument ignores the higher risk of AIWB carry.
 
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Definitely the risks are not exactly the same.

Strong-side carry = 0% chance of shooting yourself in the junk
Appendix carry = non-zero percent chance of shooting yourself in the junk

With a ND or UD, no doubt the price of failure is probably going to be higher with appendix carry.

For many of us, in many circumstances, the choice isn't between appendix or strong-side carry, it's between appendix carry or not carry at all. Strong side carry simply does not work for all body types in all situations, especially with t-shirt thickness shirts, where absolute concealment is necessary.

Beyond social inconveniences, a CCW that's printing risks making you a target, much like open carry does, if you're in a public place and there's a bad guy with a concealed gun who's about to do something bad. It could easily be the guy behind you in line at the store who's eyeballing the handle poking through your shirt.

All of these are edge case scenarios with infinitesimal probabilities.

As someone who carries appendix every day, videos like the following one scare me, but by studying them we can learn to prevent these situations.

(warning: disturbing content)

Negligent Discharge by Glock - YouTube

In the video, we see him chamber a round, we see his holstering process with a Glock, we see him bend over, and we see the ND/UD. He's using a G-code kydex holster. This is a fit individual who's wearing a tucked in undershirt and another t-shirt over it.

I've studied that video and watched it more than 100 times, including dozens of times in slow motion. In slow motion, it's clear that something briefly inhibited his holstering and then once holstered he fidgeted with it as if something felt wrong.

Lessons:

To me, it appears some clothing worked it's way into the holster and got into the trigger guard. If that's the case, if the same scenario were repeated, a manual safety would have prevented that from happening, a feature that glock doesn't offer, but is present on many other guns.

Regardless if the manual safety is present, if something feels off while reholstering, you must stop and evaluate the situation instead of simply pushing through.

The inertial trigger dingus in a glock realistically rules out the potential of the holster itself pulling the trigger due to the kydex being sunk in around the trigger guard too much. (Just think of all the Sig P320/P365 owners with holsters that pinch the trigger)

With any gun, the possibility of a mechanical defect in the gun can't be ruled out entirely. In a striker fired gun, something as simple as a defective striker return spring, plunger spring, or sear spring could potentially set up the situation for a true uncommanded discharge to happen.

Here's an example of an uncommanded discharge (not graphic, no real injuries) where a post-update Sig P320 X5 fired uncommanded while holstered OWB, in the middle of a steel match with trained witnesses. The gun and holster were not light bearing. Sig Saur admitted that it was caused by a defective striker/firing pin return spring.

My Sig P320 fired on its own in the holster and tried to shoot me! (P320 X-Five) - YouTube

Lessons:

If he was carrying IWB, especially AIWB, he certainly would have had significant injuries, at minimum.

In the event of a defective spring situation, depending on the make/model of your gun, and depending which spring, potentially not even a manual safety would prevent an uncommanded discharge. If the striker slips off the sear for any reason, the gun will fire.

It's very important that anyone who carries a gun in any position is familiar with how the internals operate and that they inspect the function of those internals on a regular basis. For example, in my new Shield Plus I discovered that the safety plunger wouldn't reset on it's own. It's at S&W now for warranty service.

These defects can and do happen and no brand is immune and no carry position is absolutely safe.

The only way to carry a gun with a zero percent chance of shooting yourself from the holster is to carry without a round in the chamber. Just know that if you carry without one in the chamber, you're putting yourself at a significant tactical disadvantage if you need to draw the gun in self defense. You'll need to become an expert at quickly chambering a round as well as have a high level of situational awareness... but that still might not be quick enough and might not give you enough advanced notice.

As civilians, we carry guns to reduce the chances of death or great bodily harm due to a 2-legged or 4-legged threat. We mitigate risk of negligent discharges by training and we can mitigate the risk of defect by understanding and inspecting the mechanical functionality of what we carry.

We can help others do the same by sharing useful knowledge.

Telling people to only carry one way or another, as many commenters above did, helps no-one because other readers will just reject the info at the onset due to their existing bias, circumstances, or needs.
 
This post was supposed to be about AIWB holster selection, not a discussion on whether or not to carry AIWB. I chose a CrossBreed AIWB hybrid holster (kydex and leather backing) for my PC Shield Plus 9mm. I later added a Clinger Cushion (pad) to the back of the holster to keep the grip frame in tight to my body. BTW- my Shield Plus has the manual safety...just because!

No matter which CCW holster type and position you choose, repetitive dry firing and training is key. Gripping and drawing the handgun, presenting the handgun, taking off the safety (if so equipped), firing, safety on, careful re-holstering. If you watch gun shows on TV (e.g. Guns and Ammo TV), you'll see their experienced shooters often drawing from AIWB when live fire training. Just sayin'.
 

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Let's stop trying to claim that the risk are the same because it's being disingenuous. We all agree that there is a risk, but what some purposely are being intellectually dishonest about as a means to support their preference is that the risk of injury and/or death is far greater with AIWB carry vs other methods.

The logical reason why one might see more thigh shots than AIWB shots is because AIWB carry is no where near as common as 3-5 o'clock carry and even pocket carry. That comparison is just another fallacy. Next, I've seen several times more negligent and accidental discharges that happened while a gun was in the holster that did NOT result in the person carrying the firearm being hit. I can't say the same has ever been true to my knowledge with AIWB carrier.

Like @Mike-AK states, I am not telling others they can't carry how they want. You all are grown anonymous men and it wouldn't matter what I told you to de regardless. You just can't convince me or come up with a valid reason that would make pointing a loaded firearm and an important organ and major artery sound like a good idea or a smart thing to do.

Yes, I know a small percentage of people have been killed with AR15s, others have shot themselves in the leg or butt, and appendix carry offers some benefits to some people; however, that's a strawman argument ignores the higher risk of AIWB carry.

Here you go. Now where do you wanna take this?

NUTSHELLZ | Our Cups are Strong Enough to Stop Bullets
 
Appendix carry…also known as blow yer own nuts off carry. If you miss yer nuts, you will probably hit your femoral artery.

Yep, nothing down range I am willing to blow off or perforate. Too many other viable choices for carry, especially with a plastic, striker-fired piece or 1911.
 
Couchpotato is bang on saying that 4 O'clock carry doesn't work for everybody. Living in the desert it tends to be about dressing for the climate, not the gun. If you are of svelte build, the only way to conceal a 4 PM gun is a jacket, a HUGE T-shirt or a "shoot me first" vest. The first gets too hot here very quickly and the latter two both trumpet you are carrying. Living here with my build it's pocket carry, some variation on appendix, or yelling for help. #3 doesn't work for me, and carrying anything like an adequate gun probably means appendix, or in my case between my belt buckle and my pocket.
 
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This post was supposed to be about AIWB holster selection, not a discussion on whether or not to carry AIWB. I chose a CrossBreed AIWB hybrid holster (kydex and leather backing) for my PC Shield Plus 9mm. I later added a Clinger Cushion (pad) to the back of the holster to keep the grip frame in tight to my body. BTW- my Shield Plus has the manual safety...just because!

No matter which CCW holster type and position you choose, repetitive dry firing and training is key. Gripping and drawing the handgun, presenting the handgun, taking off the safety (if so equipped), firing, safety on, careful re-holstering. If you watch gun shows on TV (e.g. Guns and Ammo TV), you'll see their experienced shooters often drawing from AIWB when live fire training. Just sayin'.

Thank you for your intelligent and helpful response and pics. I scrolled right past the haters, I don't wast time on them. Thanks to you I went back to the Crossbreed site and looked at 3 different holsters that might work for me. I already have a couple of their holsters but now I am getting up in years with a lifetime of injuries and surgeries and my carry options are shrinking.
 
Thank you for your intelligent and helpful response and pics. I scrolled right past the haters, I don't wast time on them. Thanks to you I went back to the Crossbreed site and looked at 3 different holsters that might work for me. I already have a couple of their holsters but now I am getting up in years with a lifetime of injuries and surgeries and my carry options are shrinking.

At least you can be comforted with the knowledge so many strange men are concerned with the well-being of your wedding tackle.
 
At least you can be comforted with the knowledge so many strange men are concerned with the well-being of your wedding tackle.

Couldn’t care less actually. I only care about mine. That is why I carry IWB at 4:00. You wanna take a round in the cajones, by all means, be my guest. Too many gerbils in the cage anyway.
 
Exactly. An idiot will shoot themselves no matter the holster, but somehow everyone always seems to spout the story "You'll shoot yer nuts off" as soon as anyone mentions appendix carry.

Good thing only one vendor makes holsters to carry like that, huh?

What would these people do, wet themselves, if they carried in an upside down shoulder rig with the barrel pointed at the side of their head?
I can already hear "You'll blow yer ear off"

Or "If you miss your ear, you will probably hit your carotid artery"

smh

I don't know if citing one of the worst possible ways to carry a gun in a holster is a great way to defend another way of carry.
 
One of the smartest guys I knew growing up went to college then became a cop then shot himself accidentally with his service gun. Good thing it wasn't AIWB.
 
I've been carrying AIWB for over 40 years. Always use due care when holstering. Apply safety, if so equipped, before holstering if already wearing holster. If no safety, remove holster, holster weapon, then replace holster onto belt or pants. Use common sense. Never get casual about carrying. It's always serious. I also don't like concealed carry guns with no safety that have short and light triggers. Some of the newer ones have triggers that are just too light. A larger gun carried OWB on a belt in a substantial secure holster, then ok, give me a light trigger. I do have some officer size 1911s that I'll carry AIWB but I do have better holsters for those. Covered safety and trigger and heavier leather.
 
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I've bought kydex IWB and OWB holsters which have the identical "multiple adjustment" features (carry height and cant) to those described by Execpro. Tulster made mine. I use those holsters for my 9mm and 40S&W Shields (a single holster will fit both the 9mm and 40S&W). Unfortunately, I cannot find this type of holster for the S&W Shield 45s. Nor for my 45 cal M&P Compacts.

Vedder makes the Light Tuck holster for both the 3.3" and 4" Shield .45 M2.0. I have one for my 4" PC .45 Shield and it works great. I don't carry appendix because my appendix is in the way. It's set up at its lowest postion (deepest into the pants) and maximum forward cant. It's comfortable and conceals well.

My 3.3" gun is in a Tulster Profile. Ride height is not adjustable but cant is set maximum forward.
 
I don't know if citing one of the worst possible ways to carry a gun in a holster is a great way to defend another way of carry.
Im not "against" or "defending" any of them- I am for people carrying any way they damn please.....
and I was attempting to show there is more than one way to carry that you can consider dangerous. In fact- and get this- guns can be dangerous!

Some of ya act like a bunch of control freaks, who if people don't think your way, you need to attack them, or their idea.

Maybe you can chill and let people decide for themselves. Theres a novel idea, huh?

OP- Crossbreed makes nice stuff, but its another time where we can all wind up with a drawer full of holsters-!!
What *I* like, you may not. But Id give an up-vote for Crossbreed.
 
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I've been carrying AIWB for over 40 years. Always use due care when holstering. Apply safety, if so equipped, before holstering if already wearing holster. If no safety, remove holster, holster weapon, then replace holster onto belt or pants. Use common sense. Never get casual about carrying. It's always serious. I also don't like concealed carry guns with no safety that have short and light triggers. Some of the newer ones have triggers that are just too light. A larger gun carried OWB on a belt in a substantial secure holster, then ok, give me a light trigger. I do have some officer size 1911s that I'll carry AIWB but I do have better holsters for those. Covered safety and trigger and heavier leather.

What are you using for the AIWB?
 
Im not "against" or "defending" any of them-

or maybe I can said to be defending anyones way of carrying how they like.
Some of ya act like a bunch of control freaks, who if people don't think your way, you need to attack them, or their idea.

Maybe you can chill and let people decide for themselves. Theres a novel idea, huh?
You keep making these asserts and wild accusations that no one is guilty of doing.

That's like claiming people who tell others it's a bad idea to have unprotected sex are control freaks. Expressing the factual dangers, risk, and consequences as well as how much of a bad idea AIWB is is neither trying to control or telling people what they can or cannot do.

The facts are there are agreed upon safety standards that under any and every other circumstance you would cosign except in the hypocritically when it comes to pointing a loaded gun at your manhood and a major artery.
 
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