Appendix carry?
- Thread starter hlds54
- Start date
It's the only IWB position that works for me but I have a fairly big belly and always wear untucked overhanging shirts. For me, it feels like the safest position 'cause it's right in front so it's easy to protect and natural and quick to pull up on. It's comfortable enough 'cause all my carry guns have 3.5" or shorter barrels with compact grips... Smallest being LCP, biggest being SR40c.
Glenn E. Meyer
New member
For what it is worth, IDPA doesn't allow it. One reason - no one wants to see that ND. Bad enough we get them in leg.
Bob Wright
New member
I assume that ND is Nasty Discharge?
Bob Wright
Bob Wright
Actually the N is for Negligent, but Nasty works too in this case.
I have only known one guy who put a stripe down the right leg of his pants while trying to holster his sidearm with his booger picker still on the bang switch. He was in a stressful training situation (and a bit of an idiot anyway) and just got a bit rattled. I've heard of others. If that ever happens with appendix carry...well, you can just imagine the results.
And if you say "won't happen to me", and I hope you are right, just remember that under stress we will not necessarily do everything we are supposed to do. Appendix carry and other forms of carry that by their nature point the muzzle at your flesh or the flesh of others require extra attention and practice.
I have only known one guy who put a stripe down the right leg of his pants while trying to holster his sidearm with his booger picker still on the bang switch. He was in a stressful training situation (and a bit of an idiot anyway) and just got a bit rattled. I've heard of others. If that ever happens with appendix carry...well, you can just imagine the results.
And if you say "won't happen to me", and I hope you are right, just remember that under stress we will not necessarily do everything we are supposed to do. Appendix carry and other forms of carry that by their nature point the muzzle at your flesh or the flesh of others require extra attention and practice.
Look at where the gun is pointed when sitting using that carry location. Lots of important (to most of us anyways) stuff AND the femoral arteries. If I'm going to shoot myself, I'd rather shoot myself in the butt cheek than the ,well you know. A pistol carried behind or on the hipbone is less likely to cause a life threatening unjury in case of an ND.
My Son showed me a set of internet pics of the results of a poor/wornout IWB holster design and a Glock. Fortunately, it was behind the hip and the guy only had some vehicle damage and a scrape on his butt. Had it been in front of the hipbone(appendix carry), it's a good chance the guy would have had serious injuries or worse.
My Son showed me a set of internet pics of the results of a poor/wornout IWB holster design and a Glock. Fortunately, it was behind the hip and the guy only had some vehicle damage and a scrape on his butt. Had it been in front of the hipbone(appendix carry), it's a good chance the guy would have had serious injuries or worse.
redstategunnut
New member
I often carry AIWB. It is extremely fast from holster to on on target. AIWB is great concealment, provides superior retention, and comfortable for me. I don't care what IDPA rules are.
TheNocturnus
New member
I carry my Kel Tec P3AT AIWB and I while I would hate for a ND or AD in that location, I believe I am safe enough to keep it there. Plus it is very concealed there and does not print at all.
Bob Wright
New member
In that case it'd be Neutered Discharge?
Bob Wright
FireForged
New member
I appendix a snub 38spcl on a regular basis. People worry about cocked and locked 1911's, some worry about striker fired pistols suddenly going off by themselves, others worry about being painted by a guy weaing a horozinal shoulder holster and now its ND appendix carry. All these worries have merit to a certain degree but to what degree?
To what degree? To the degree that the OP asked about safety concerns with AIWB and some of us expressed those concerns. If someone has an AD or ND while carrying AIWB it probably won't cause me any real pain or discomfort...other than a real sense of sympathy for the poor guy. Hey, somebody has to sing soprano in the church choir 
Deaf Smith
New member
I use two carry guns, Glock sub-compact and S&W J .38 2 inchers.
Both can be appendix carried but the J is a bit easier if you have to bend over much.
Long barrels do not work well as they stick into, ahem, delicate places.
Make sure the IWB is THIN! A thin holster means less printing.
Deaf
Both can be appendix carried but the J is a bit easier if you have to bend over much.
Long barrels do not work well as they stick into, ahem, delicate places.
Make sure the IWB is THIN! A thin holster means less printing.
Deaf
redstategunnut
New member
I AIWB a Glock 17 or 19 often. No worries.
scottycoyote
New member
i usually carry that way, its comfortable for me and no problems to date. I carry a g27 with a clipdraw attached and secured by a mic holster, which cuts the possibility of a ND to nil.
I much prefer IWB, 1911, between 3 and 4 o'clock, . . . or in a shoulder holster under my left arm pit.
I have carried, . . . it is safe, I believe, . . . my Colt DetSpec .38 at about 2 o'clock, . . . appendix carry, . . . it is very comfortable, easy access, does not interfere at all when driving.
The downside is for me, . . . I don't like a shirt hanging out over my belt. One of them things I picked up as a kid, . . . prefer shirt tucked in, . . . so I wear a vest a lot and / or a cover jacket of some sort.
AND that can make for haveing to be very careful if you are appendix carrying, . . . that you don't inadvertently brandish or give away you are carrying. Mostly when I do it, it is in the summer, I'm wearing a short sleeve polo shirt.
May God bless,
Dwight
I have carried, . . . it is safe, I believe, . . . my Colt DetSpec .38 at about 2 o'clock, . . . appendix carry, . . . it is very comfortable, easy access, does not interfere at all when driving.
The downside is for me, . . . I don't like a shirt hanging out over my belt. One of them things I picked up as a kid, . . . prefer shirt tucked in, . . . so I wear a vest a lot and / or a cover jacket of some sort.
AND that can make for haveing to be very careful if you are appendix carrying, . . . that you don't inadvertently brandish or give away you are carrying. Mostly when I do it, it is in the summer, I'm wearing a short sleeve polo shirt.
May God bless,
Dwight
You asked for experiences and is it safe and is it comfortable.
I used to carry a snub and occasionally a Makarov appendix. Thus, first the positives: It was comfortable for me. I do find concealment was less of a concern, it was easy and it was in a place I could tell if my shirt was in a postion to potentially flash someone. Positioning in public to avoid exposing your weapon to potential BG was easy. I wouldn't carry anything I felt was unsafe anyway, so having it pointed in a bad direction was only of slight concern.
The negatives: a loaded gun is always pointed somewhere you REALLY don't want to have a bullet pass through. I know I said it was minimal concern, but I still thought about it - c'mon we are talking about a REALLY bad place to have a bullet pass through.
I stopped carrying there as I went to carrying a slightly larger CZ P-07. Now, I would never carry anywhere but behind the hip. It is far more comfortable for me in nearly every position, and it allows me to carry a larger piece which I shoot more accurately at every distance, which is tantamount to any downside. The only slight downside is non-chalontly assuming the "interview position" in public places.
I used to carry a snub and occasionally a Makarov appendix. Thus, first the positives: It was comfortable for me. I do find concealment was less of a concern, it was easy and it was in a place I could tell if my shirt was in a postion to potentially flash someone. Positioning in public to avoid exposing your weapon to potential BG was easy. I wouldn't carry anything I felt was unsafe anyway, so having it pointed in a bad direction was only of slight concern.
The negatives: a loaded gun is always pointed somewhere you REALLY don't want to have a bullet pass through. I know I said it was minimal concern, but I still thought about it - c'mon we are talking about a REALLY bad place to have a bullet pass through.
I stopped carrying there as I went to carrying a slightly larger CZ P-07. Now, I would never carry anywhere but behind the hip. It is far more comfortable for me in nearly every position, and it allows me to carry a larger piece which I shoot more accurately at every distance, which is tantamount to any downside. The only slight downside is non-chalontly assuming the "interview position" in public places.
I've tried it and don't like it ... I find it takes me longer to draw than when my gun is either just at or behind my hip or carried cross-draw ... I don't have to deal with belly issues cause I'm kinda skinny; body type has to be taken into account when choosing a method of carry ...