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shoulder holsters?
- Thread starter quinn2187
- Start date
scgunrunner
Inactive
I typically use a shoulder holster when I ride my motorcycle. It's more comfortable and more importantly, it keeps my pistol off my hip/pelvis/spine in a crash or slide. I also wear an armored jacket (as in motorcycle armor, not body armor) which is pretty ridged and the shoulder holster is a quicker draw from me.
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
Shoulder holsters?
I use a Galco Miami Classic rig two or three times a week during cool-to-cold weather. It accommodates both the 1911-series and a Browning High Power as well. I have both single-stack and double-stack magazine pouches. The pistol is held with the barrel horizontal or pointed slightly up. The one-way thumb break retainer is extremely secure so I am not at all concerned about “safety.” The retention strap fits firmly between the rear of the slide and the cocked hammer and the well fitted holster body completely covers the trigger, even should the thumb safety be “off.”
One must be VERY carefully about placing the arm into the holster, making certain there is no person to one’s rear while doing so. I always wear a cover garment when carrying this rig. “A properly holstered pistol is safe,” and there is no Rule Two violation with this rig. Still, a great many people are uneasy seeing a pistol muzzle, even when the arm is not being handled.
The Galco company is sensitive to this situation and they have again started producing their VHS vertical-carry holster, with the barrel pointing toward the ground.
I do not worry about a “gun grab” from this holster. My cover garment is usually buttoned or zipped and I draw by reaching over the fastening. Being essentially invisible, the weapon is less likely to be snatched. I have practiced clamping down with my left arm, clamping the pistol in place but still able to apply some hand-to-face moves. There is a good chance that I’ll succeed in trapping the assailant’s hand at the same time. Defenses against weapons capture must be practiced. The carrying individual MUST consider a face-to-face gun snatch as attempted murder and be prepared to institute proper measures.
It should go without saying that neither live ammunition practice nor match shooting with a shoulder holster is performed on a public range.
Johnny
I use a Galco Miami Classic rig two or three times a week during cool-to-cold weather. It accommodates both the 1911-series and a Browning High Power as well. I have both single-stack and double-stack magazine pouches. The pistol is held with the barrel horizontal or pointed slightly up. The one-way thumb break retainer is extremely secure so I am not at all concerned about “safety.” The retention strap fits firmly between the rear of the slide and the cocked hammer and the well fitted holster body completely covers the trigger, even should the thumb safety be “off.”
One must be VERY carefully about placing the arm into the holster, making certain there is no person to one’s rear while doing so. I always wear a cover garment when carrying this rig. “A properly holstered pistol is safe,” and there is no Rule Two violation with this rig. Still, a great many people are uneasy seeing a pistol muzzle, even when the arm is not being handled.
The Galco company is sensitive to this situation and they have again started producing their VHS vertical-carry holster, with the barrel pointing toward the ground.
I do not worry about a “gun grab” from this holster. My cover garment is usually buttoned or zipped and I draw by reaching over the fastening. Being essentially invisible, the weapon is less likely to be snatched. I have practiced clamping down with my left arm, clamping the pistol in place but still able to apply some hand-to-face moves. There is a good chance that I’ll succeed in trapping the assailant’s hand at the same time. Defenses against weapons capture must be practiced. The carrying individual MUST consider a face-to-face gun snatch as attempted murder and be prepared to institute proper measures.
It should go without saying that neither live ammunition practice nor match shooting with a shoulder holster is performed on a public range.
Johnny
armsmaster270
New member
Mostly right hip but sometimes I use a Shoulder rig.
I use a shoulder holster on duty. I work on the shore and it keeps my gun up out of the mud and mess, it makes it much easier to maneuver in and out of vehicles, and I'm not banging my gun on desks, door frames, people, etc, all the time. Plus it's a lot easier on my back not having that weight on my belt.
As far as the gun being accessible to others, I practice my draw regularly, as well as weapon retention techniques, I do everything I can to assure that my gun stays mine. In some ways it is easier to defend than a hip holster as it is only really accessible from the front, where all of my other weapons (hands, elbows, feet, knees, knives, BUG, OC, baton) can easily be brought to bear should someone attempt to disarm me.
As far as the gun being accessible to others, I practice my draw regularly, as well as weapon retention techniques, I do everything I can to assure that my gun stays mine. In some ways it is easier to defend than a hip holster as it is only really accessible from the front, where all of my other weapons (hands, elbows, feet, knees, knives, BUG, OC, baton) can easily be brought to bear should someone attempt to disarm me.
Jmacinnis1
New member
my concern would be in a physical confrontation its perfectly set up for a bad guy to grab.
I have a little something to add to this. I use the shoulder harness (Galco Miami Classic 2) because I'm in the sitting position for most of the day at work, and I find it comfortable when walking around. The bit I would like to add is how DIFFICULT it is for someone else to grab. Let me explain.
I found this out by mistake really. I was helping my brother move from his apartment and I was carrying a large cabinet from upstairs to downstairs. I lifted it and got it to the landing before starting down the steps. When I started, I thought about my pistol bouncing off the wall every step I took, so I called to my girlfriend to take it from me (my hands were full holding the cabinet, which wasn't heavy, but large and awkward). She reached in my shirt and tried to pull it from my holster (before anyone asks, she knew it was loaded, chambered and the safety was off - I told her before she reached for it). The strange thing was she couldn't pull it out. I told her to carefully pull harder, but she said it was stuck. I had her switch sides, and she still could not remove it. I thought it might be somehow stuck, so I backed up, put the cabinet down, and pulled it without any resistance.
After standing there scratching my head, I asked her what she was doing wrong. She only could say that standing beside me or in front of me caused it to bind, and she couldn't pull it out of the holster. When I reach in (cross-draw) it slips right out (like pulling it straight out of the holster because it sits angled under your arm for the draw). It made me wonder if someone could actually take it, so I emptied the pistol, put it back and told her to take it forcibly (without me fighting and without her breaking the straps from swinging on them). Two things happened, either the front sight would catch from her pulling at a strange angle, or the holster would “bind” or twist, causing a great deal of friction, making it almost impossible to pull it out. Now I’m not saying it can’t be pulled, any large individual yanking on the straps might break it loose, or they could reach under my right arm and kind of cross-draw to take it, but that seems difficult for someone to do let alone know that’s how to take it....
I thought i'd throw that out there...
Jmacinnis1
New member
Still, a great many people are uneasy seeing a pistol muzzle, even when the arm is not being handled.
I second this. Only a few people know I carry, and two of the people that know I carry are a bit uneasy about the barrel being visible and pointing out the back if my over shirt is off. It's funny if you think about it, they're more comfortable when the over shirt is on over the barrel so they can’t see it, even though realistically the shirt would offer no resistance to the bullet should the worst case scenario ever play out. It’s a mind thing I guess. I’m not worried about it “going off” obliviously and the holster completely covers the trigger, but some people are uneasy about this set up. I have no problems with it…
i know there are weapon retention and everybody thinks that they will be able to punch, elbo, scratch or bite a bad guy and he will stop, but that is just not the truth. some people can take a punch and take it well enough to keep on movin on. and the binding i could see as a good thing but i would not want to depend on the bad guy pulling from that angle. and i agree with the statement about if someone is trying to get your gun that it is a leathal force instance, but that only works if he goes for it and doesn't get it. if he does get it then you are on the wrong end of the lethal force. as for it being concealed, once you start rolling around fighting there is a good chance that the other guy will notice that there is a gun there. i guess my own opinion is that it isn't worth the risk to me to carry that way. and i know there is a high number of dead detectives that wish they never did, but that doesn't mean the bad guy wouldn't have gotten their gun from their hip either. just my silly little philosophy.
quinn2187
You said " I know there is a high number of dead detectives that wish they never did"
What high number of detectives have been killed because of shoulder holsters. When and where were they killed??
I ask because I have been searching for this kind of info for five years.
I can't find any. Please give info not he said she said tales of woe.
You said " I know there is a high number of dead detectives that wish they never did"
What high number of detectives have been killed because of shoulder holsters. When and where were they killed??
I ask because I have been searching for this kind of info for five years.
I can't find any. Please give info not he said she said tales of woe.
I used one for a while, but found it was hot (no air circulation under the straps), sweaty (see above), smelly (see above, plus the straps soak up sweat and smell like a horse on a hot day) and didn't conceal very well. The leather holster squeaked. It was too bulky.
Kydex paddles for me!!
Kydex paddles for me!!
I don't use a SH very much. When I do is with a J-Frame and I use this one:http://klnullholsters.com/
The only other SH I will use is for a scoped T/C contender and a Scoped 629. When I wear the Null I am on a Bike or out walking the dog so its not a EDC holster. For that I use a Milt Sparks IWB and either a G26 or a Colt Commander in 45.
The only other SH I will use is for a scoped T/C contender and a Scoped 629. When I wear the Null I am on a Bike or out walking the dog so its not a EDC holster. For that I use a Milt Sparks IWB and either a G26 or a Colt Commander in 45.
Steve Tate
Inactive
Usually like to wear the Fobus paddle for Millenium Pro .40, but if I am in layers in the winter, it has got to be the SH.
2barksters
Inactive
I also have the Knull rig, but I could never get it adjusted correctly. Printed big time. I now use the Kangaroo clothe holster with my mdl 36. It is very comfortable in the winter and very covert.