Thoughts on Mexican Carry

[k22fan]

Do you remember what Tess True Heart said to Dick Tracy after he shoved his Dick Special into his belt? "Now Dick, use your holster, I don't want you coming home half cocked!"

Seriously, a member of our local club habitually left his Sam Browne Belt at work but packed his SIG 220 home and back Mexican style. After 24 years with the Sheriff's department one morning while preparing to leave for work in front of his wife he forgot to decock before shoving it inside his belt. He hit a blood vessel he couldn't live without. I'm sure you guys think you are always more attentive to your gun handling, but what do I think of Mexican carry? He was always nice to me.

 

[cmort666]

I won't use a holster that doesn't completely cover the trigger, so no holster at all is out.

 

[Nframecollector]

I carried a Polish P 64 that way for awhile..............at least until I found an IWB holster for it. Didn't really like the carry method or the gun for that matter so I traded the gun!

 

[Arik]

I carried a Polish P 64 that way for awhile..............at least until I found an IWB holster for it. Didn't really like the carry method or the gun for that matter so I traded the gun!

Yea P64's have a 25lbs trigger pull. Hard to set one of even on purpose. Carry method?

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[GUNMIKE]

Mexican carry

In my opinion to carry this way, except in an emergency, is very foolish. It does not cost much to have a cheap holster. Even if it is used infrequently.

 

[Maze 686]

I would never carry Mexican.
I keep all my loaded handguns in holsters.

 

[feralmerril]

Depends on how big and soft yer gut is.

 

[ferretray]

Not a chance in hell, for me. I want that handgun where it's supposed to be when I reach for it.

 

[CowboyKen]

You could use a Remora holster and be very close to Mexican carry. They really work very well if you are wearing a belt.

Ken

 

[Donn]

There are guys who'll say they've driven for years without a seat belt. Like Mexican carry, it only takes once.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Lots of good arguments here against this carry method, but no one seems to have grasped the really important issue: IF EVERYONE CARRIED THIS WAY IT WOULD PUT HOLSTER MAKERS OUT OF BUSINESS.

So, just say "no" to this dangerous trend.

 

[Murdock]

As with holster carry, a proper belt is a key component to Mexican carry.

I agree that a good holster is always superior to Mexican carry. That said, I've done it before, and will do it again as needed. As suggested by the OP's first post, it is good for temporary, transitional carry, when there is a need to transport the gun discretely from point to point, and when there is not time to put on a holster.

There is no "emergency" need to use Mexican; if there is an emergency requiring a gun, it should be in the hand already.

I will say though that a Galco Yaqui slide paddle holster has eliminated much of my need to resort to Mexican carry, as it pops on an off fairly easily, although it does not conceal as well as Mexican with a good belt.

Mexican works well for me with a 1911, CZ75, SIG 228/229, M&P .45. Revolvers not so much, 'cause I agree that they do tend to squirm upwards, as another poster found.

Living in a relatively remote area in Maine, law enforcement response time can be 30-60 minutes worst case, depending upon season of the year or other demands on their hands. Strangers come to my door a few times a year, sometimes at odd hours. Asking directions, to use the phone after car trouble, Jehova's Witnesses, etc. We had a self defense killing here a couple of years ago under just those circumstances. Woman at the door at 0200 during a snow storm, "Help me! My car ran off the road." Her boyfriend was just outside the door with a tire iron. The resident had just placed a .357 in his belt. The bad guy didn't make it. Even in our small town (less than 400 souls) Satan prowls.

Placing the house gun behind my right hip allows me to arm myself quickly and discretely on my way to the door and address the needs of a visitor politely.

Dangerous? In some circumstances less so than going unarmed.

Good (i.e.; not cheap) holsters and belts are always better than Mexican carry, though.

Did I mention that a good belt is necessary for concealed carry?

 

[moosedog]

Just a observation on my part during almost 40 years of being around guns, working in gun shops, instructing police academys, and working 32 years on PDs.
Most of the ADs that I have personally known of, documented at work or heard from other instructors almost all involved holstering semi autos, most into a strong side holster, and a few into a shoulder holster.
In almost all cases it was found that the shooter had his or her finger in the trigger guard while holstering the gun.
In one case, the officer managed to drag the right side leather fastener snap extension into the trigger guard while holstering on a off duty holster.
The trigger guards on handguns are designed to be wider than the trigger to protect the trigger while sliding between two pieces of leather, plastic or what ever the gun is sliding into. This is one of the best safety features ever designed into handguns.

 

[mkk41]

I occasionally carry Mexican. And I don't like IWB holsters for anything larger than a small auto. I have one of those metal belt clips on one of my Commanders. A spring steel plate goes under the grip panel and a 'finger' goes over yer belt or pants waistband. They work rather well.

There was a "Hip-Grip" for J-frames. A set of plastic grips and one had a protrusion that caught yer belt. Never liked that as the cylinder was actually below the belt. They were ugly too.

Lately I've been using a Fobus for my Kel-Tec and Mod.37. They're off/on fairly easy when ya want , but stay put.

 

[Norsk_jaeger]

I don't ever carry Mexican. Even the smaller ones get heavy after a while, and my Spanish sucks.

 

[Bill_inBouse]

SAN BERNARDINO: Man killed by gun in his waistband

Moderators if the above link is not allowed then please delete it.

Although I think it shows perfectly well why one should not have a loaded weapon/gun/revolver in your pants!!

 

[VictorLouis]

Here's a thought...DON'T do it!

 

[ACP230]

Es no bueno, hombre.

 

[riverrat38]

This incident happened 3 years ago in Lynnwood, WA.

Local News | Shoppers recall silence, fear in Lynnwood Lowe's store when man shot himself in testicles | Seattle Times Newspaper

It doesn't say if the man earned a Darwin Award.

Best,
Rick

 

[Bkreutz]

This incident happened 3 years ago in Lynnwood, WA.

Local News | Shoppers recall silence, fear in Lynnwood Lowe's store when man shot himself in testicles | Seattle Times Newspaper

It doesn't say if the man earned a Darwin Award.

Best,
Rick

I don't remember that (sometimes the news is on and I don't even hear it, must be selective deafness). I've been in that store numerous times (but not with my pistol stuffed in my sweatpants)