Skyguy,
Just couldn't resist this one! Good post.
To all you armchair experts who would denounce a carry method without having spent time in research, actual carry, draw practice, and experimentation with multiple holsters...
First, to each his own, it doesn't matter to me if your personal carry method is via rectal supository. If it works for you, so be it. And if you haven't personally spent the time, then be a little more respectful of those who have.
Let me correct a few misconceptions.
Crossdraw carry was often the preferred carry method by those who did carry and much of law enforcement up to the early to mid 60s.
Two major reasons for the CD method fading from acceptance.
A) Advancement of "retention" holsters in the law enforcement arena.
B) The decision by "safety" officials in the (then) relatively new sport of Practical shooting to ban or limit CD because when drawing, the muzzle could sweep other people before being aligned with the target, whereas mandatory strongside meant the muzzle came out perpandicular to the "FiringLine". Prior to this the Vast MAjority of competition rigs were Crossdraw.
As to the gungrab issue...
Shield and others have mentioned the "interview position" and rightly so. Yet they fail to apply it's use as appropriate in their thoughts concerning Cross draw.
First when we use the termCross Draw are not talking about "Weak side" Carry where the gun is carried at the 9 o'clock (Righties) position with grip reversed. Most of the argument expressed against CD result from this form of carry.
[/B]Cross Draw carries the gun in the 10-11 o'clock position.
This places the gun flatter against the body with the butt closer to the centerline of the body.
From typical defensive stances such as the "Secret Service", "Interview",
and "Jack Benny" ,CD is as fast, on the average, or faster than "strong side" carry from concealment. In all the defensive stances your hands are kept close to the centerline of the body.
In some cases such as the popular "Secret Service" stance the hand is within a couple of inches of touching the butt of a CD carried pistol.
If you are an advocate of a "bladed" stance like "Shield" (and myself for that matter) with your weak side lforward then the CD shows another of its strengths.
When the weak side is forward, a properly carried CD pistol will be positioned in such a way that as you simply clear leather the muzzle will be in alignment with the threat. Less motion, hence faster than strongside.
Conversely if you stand square to the target as so many have been used to doing by range constraints then the strong side is in alignment. But as soon as you blade your body as in a weaver then the CD gains an advantage.
As far as a Gun grab, this too has ben misrepresented by those carrying like a Cavalryman!! With true Cross Draw carry the butt does NOTface your advasary. Standing square (not suggested) at worst, the gun must be grabbed sideways. When you stand bladed the butt is pointed away from the BG and the slant of the holster further makes the grab more difficult.
In a multiple opponent scenario with adversaries front and rear the CD has actually shown itself to be Very defendable. In fact in testing, a Bianchi 111
frequently beat out level 2 strongside retention holsters in this scenario.
After all that, I have to say that I do not currently carry CD. Why?
Well my duty rig is strong side and therefore I carry strongside.
Otherwise I would have no reservation about carrying crossdraw and have done so in the past as an everyday method.
Try it, experiment with various holsters, then form an opinion!!
Mick
Lets talk about the picture of the guy who is carrying cross draw and the tactics we would use to defeat an advisary like him.
