Why all the craziness regarding crossdraw

[AZretired]

The holster is obviously a left side pancake holster. If I were to see the OP carrying his pistol this way without reading this thread, my first thought would be that he is an inexperienced shooter who has no idea how the holster works, because it just doesn't look right.

 

[Bob L]

I would worry with the cylinder release being against the fabric of the jeans that when you pulled the pistol, the cylinder release would catch on the jeans and open the cylinder.

 

[Ziggy2525]

The reverse cant tucks the grip in close where a forward cant will cause it to stick out more. As far as the way I've looped the belt, it works perfectly that way. I have no issues drawing or re-holstering. This actually worked a lot better than routing the belt the way it was intended. With a nice stiff pistol belt you don't even need to draw the belt up very tight.

The only thing I'd see with the reverse cant is it would make it easier for someone to do a gun grab from behind if they knew you were carrying. If it works for you, it works for you.

 

[1sailor]

It works for me and it works really well. I was actually interested just in seeing what others thought about crossdraw in general. A couple of recent threads really brought out some negative reactions. Just curious. Not really looking for any justification on my carry method. Like most things, it only has to work for the guy using it.

 

[white cloud]

If your method works well for you then go for it. I think all carry positions have advantages and disadvantages. A lot of "experts" recommend strong side at 4:00. When I tried that, I was printing all the time while at the grocery store, etc.

Your method of carry is about all that works for me while running a tractor. I usually carry a large revolver while working on the farm. The way Kubota does their L series seats makes strong side a "no go".

 

[LPD256]

My Dad was a Highway Patrolman in the 50's through 70's. They carried cross draw with a flap. I wore a Jordan holster with a strap on a swivel. I asked my Dad why they carried that way, and he replied that as a one-person unit, they transported prisoners in the front seat and they wanted to keep the gun as far away from the prisoner as possible. At different times I've carried crossdraw. I've worn a ******* Rig shoulder holster which is essentially crossdraw. The important thing about finding yourself in a situation where a gun is needed is to bring a gun.

 

[Buick]

I'm not so sure of that. Charles Askins loved to call Jordan a guy who wrote a book about gunfighting without ever being in a gunfight. Jordan did kill his supervisor John Rector showing off his quick draw in the Border Patrol office.

But it wasn't crossdraw, at least.

It was a different time. Now he'd be fired for sure and possibly charged with Involuntary Manslaughter.

John A. Rector | U.S. Customs and Border Protection

I don't think the arguments against crossdraw are valid. I usually carry at about 1 o'clock, but 11 o'clock works fine.

I typically carry crossdraw here on the farm or going down the creek in my canoe. Crossdraw would not be my choice if clearing Pacific caves of Japanese soldiers alongside Bill Jordan and his Smith and Wesson M1917 .45 acp, however.

 

[Warren Sear]

^^^ When do you foresee that happening?

 

[eb07]

Rule #1 : Have a gun

I have been carrying appendix since before it was cool..... According to the internet gun forum experts I supposedly should have shot my stuff off or blown out my femoral artery by now.

You are good to go


Carry how you want

 

[max503]

No less of an authority than Bill Jordan, a veteran of many gunfights, advised against crossdraw for that very reason.

He open carried. I don't. The bad guys don't know I have a gun.

 

[sigp220.45]

I think a good number of old time cops carried their 6" duty guns in plainclothes. Both of the Onion Field cops carried six inch guns in civvies, one a Smith and the other a Colt. True they were disarmed, but it was at gunpoint and not because of a sneaky grab. They were both in crossdraw holsters, probably because it was easier to clear that long barrel with the grip positioned above belt level. In uniform the strong side holster would have some drop to it.

The LAPD detective below (from the book Death Scenes - A Homicide Detective's Notebook) is toting his 6 incher lefty crossdraw. I hope he slid it back a bit for the photo, but even if he didn't it apparently worked for him.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I've had several holsters made specifically for crossdraw. The feel is good -- comfortable -- and I'm proficient with those revolvers, a 547 3" and a 460 snubby, but I only carry those in the woods.

I have tried to put my strong side (right hand) J-frame pancake on the left as a crossdraw -- no go -- even at 11 o'clock the cant puts the grip too far back for me.

I suppose anyone can teach themself to carry any way with enough practice.

 

[upcountry]

My issue with cross draw is that, much like horizontal shoulder rigs, is that under pressure or stress, during the draw you would be sweeping anyone behind you or beside you. It's the muzzle issue.
When I was doing CCW classes in NM, I used an ad from Galco for the Miami Classic as a do-not-do example. In the ads photo, the guys left hand is pushing his wife and infant behind him while his right hand is drawing his pistol, sweeping them.

 

[Rastoff]

...is that a big deal if it works for him?

I have no issues with it whatsoever.

I've seen a lot of people carry in a lot of strange ways. As I stated before, as long as those people know the limitations and risks involved with that style of carry and train/practice for it, more power to them.

 

[CH4]

I carry crossdraw or in a shoulder rig if I am going to be sitting a lot, e.g., driving, movie theater, etc. The only crossdraw I have is a Mernikle for a 5" 1911.

 

[gboling]

The greatest concern about cross draw is you sweep the muzzle across the person standing to your side at the range.

Very few public ranges will allow live fire from the holster at all: those few that do usually prohibit cross draw.

You hear the same drivel about shoulder holsters. When working out of uniform those two were my primaries. Shoulder in a suit and cross draw without the suit. The shoulder holster was vertical not horizontal.

It is not necessary to sweep anything but the ground beside you and the target in front. When in plain clothes I always qualified with those two carry methods for 28 years. We were required to qualify with what we carried on duty and that was occasionally a 2 inch revolver.

 

[1sailor]

I hear the argument about sweeping the muzzle a lot also. I can't imagine how. I think I would have to do it intentionally and even then it would be difficult. Bare in mind I have only carried a 2" snubby and on a couple of occasions a Shield45 this way. Still it would be very difficult to sweep anything unintentionally. I sometimes wonder if people have gotten this idea from watching movies or something. I don't see how I could even do it accidentally. Perhaps it could be done if the holster was oriented horizontally but otherwise it would be difficult.

 

[NovaJoe]

Thanks to my college-aged-son's DUI, I got to spend a few hours in a courthouse in rural Virginia, and got to see several Deputy Sheriffs each carrying at least 2 handguns. (1) Duty-sized autoloader in normal 3-4 o'clock OWB, and (2) snubby in crossdraw, 11:30 or so.

 

[keith44spl]

I like crossdraw and typically carry on my property or on the river canoeing in that fashion. However, it does enable an adversary within arms reach to get to your weapon before you do. It is "fool's carry".

Well, thar ya go boys!!!

I did not know that.....

And all this time, I've been swappin' my pistol from the strong side to the cross-draw mexican IWB when approaching a urinal.

Now I find out I was jest foolin' around.

.

 

[Borderboss]

The whole issue of sweeping with crossdraw or horizontal shoulder holster is just so much nonsense. Every mode of carry sweeps the gun at something when being drawn. It's a non-issue if you draw the gun properly, which is with your finger off the trigger until you're on target.

The wearing of a pancake holster with the belt outside the holster has been advocated for decades if you want to pull the gun up tight against the body. Roy Baker himself advocated it.

To the OP, the only thing I would probably suggest is a thumb break on the holster. I'm not a fan of an open top holster without a positive retention method. But that's just me.