Brad Kenney
New member
Another vote for the Galco Miami Classic. And a reminder to be patient until you get it adjusted "just right." Takes time and wearing.
Shoulder Holsters?
- Thread starter engineermike
- Start date
off side accessories; shoulder rig systems...
Galco's PR/sales rep said in a trade show interview that actor; Bruce Willis requests the Galco shoulder holsters for his action movie characters,
.
He used the wide strap brown model for his big SIG P220R in Live Free or Die Hard(2007), www.IMFDb.org .
Actor Morgan Freeman used an older version of the same Galco rig for his big SIG Sauer P226 9mmNATO while playing DC Metro cop; Alex Cross in Kiss The Girls.
Another practical asset of shoulder holster rigs are the off-side carry features of white lights/handcuffs/spare magazines/etc. I prefer the horizonal mag holders.
It frees up space on the beltline area too.
Galco sold a off-side pistol magazine holder that fit 4/5 full magazines!
I think it was aimed at the US PSCs/PMCs(private contractors) & US armed forces/LE agents while in Southwest Asia.
I agree with MI too that wide strap models may work better but speaking as someone with a large chest & small, narrow shoulders; some rigs can look & feel awkward.
CF
Galco's PR/sales rep said in a trade show interview that actor; Bruce Willis requests the Galco shoulder holsters for his action movie characters,
.He used the wide strap brown model for his big SIG P220R in Live Free or Die Hard(2007), www.IMFDb.org .
Actor Morgan Freeman used an older version of the same Galco rig for his big SIG Sauer P226 9mmNATO while playing DC Metro cop; Alex Cross in Kiss The Girls.
Another practical asset of shoulder holster rigs are the off-side carry features of white lights/handcuffs/spare magazines/etc. I prefer the horizonal mag holders.
It frees up space on the beltline area too.Galco sold a off-side pistol magazine holder that fit 4/5 full magazines!
I think it was aimed at the US PSCs/PMCs(private contractors) & US armed forces/LE agents while in Southwest Asia.
I agree with MI too that wide strap models may work better but speaking as someone with a large chest & small, narrow shoulders; some rigs can look & feel awkward.
CF
I'm not that big a fan of them ....
but Lawman Leather makes a good holster
http://lawmanleathergoods.com/
and so does Kramer Leather ....
http://www.kramerleather.com/products.cfm?categoryID=27
I have a Kramer for a 1911 ...but I rarely wear it. I have some shoulder problems / and reaching accross isn't always my best option ... vs up and down into a scabbard or an IWB horsehide leather holster...
but Lawman Leather makes a good holster
http://lawmanleathergoods.com/
and so does Kramer Leather ....
http://www.kramerleather.com/products.cfm?categoryID=27
I have a Kramer for a 1911 ...but I rarely wear it. I have some shoulder problems / and reaching accross isn't always my best option ... vs up and down into a scabbard or an IWB horsehide leather holster...
Rifleman1776
New member
I believe you were referring to wearing for concealed carry.
But, there are other uses for a shoulder holster.
I use one for hunting and often when on the farm for my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag., a big gun.
When under a coat the gun is protected from the elements. It leaves the hands free and can be used in the truck, on the tractor or on the ATV.
And, it has another advantage. I like to hunt alone and often am in the woods or camp, far from civilization alone. I can keep the Maggie under my coat out of sight but available for unwanted guests, be they two legged or four legged.
BTW, I am not very big and had to modify mine for comfort. Not difficult. I use Uncle Mike's synthetics and don't mind making changes to them since they do not represent a huge investment and are not built for beauty like some fine leather holsters.
But, there are other uses for a shoulder holster.
I use one for hunting and often when on the farm for my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag., a big gun.
When under a coat the gun is protected from the elements. It leaves the hands free and can be used in the truck, on the tractor or on the ATV.
And, it has another advantage. I like to hunt alone and often am in the woods or camp, far from civilization alone. I can keep the Maggie under my coat out of sight but available for unwanted guests, be they two legged or four legged.
BTW, I am not very big and had to modify mine for comfort. Not difficult. I use Uncle Mike's synthetics and don't mind making changes to them since they do not represent a huge investment and are not built for beauty like some fine leather holsters.
Seven High
New member
What is the consensus on a vertical shoulder holster as opposed to a horizontal shoulder holster. I used to use a horizontal one. It would beat me when I had to run while wearing it.
I have this exact DeSantis shoulder holster for a 2 1/2" K-frame Smith: http://media.photobucket.com/image/desantis shoulder holster/robbt1959/desantiskframeholstersh.jpg
It's the first shoulder holster I've heard had and I can easily say it's more confortable than hip-style holsters I have. Granted I'm only carrying a snubbie, but I have no problems whatsoever with concealability. You just adjust the straps so that the gun sits just below your armpit and with your arms to your side, the butt of the gun doesn't protrude past your arm. The biggest factor to consider is cover garments though. I typically wear my shoulder rig in the winter when I can put on a light fleece jacket or something and plan on wearing it all day.
Probably the only negative thing I can say about my rig is that the gun side is obviously a lot heavier than the spare ammo side. So the rig will want to pull your shirt one direction and will sometimes stretch the necks out on my shirts. If you can find a shoulder rig that has a suspender-type buckle on the off side as an anchor, that's probably the way I'd want to go.
It's the first shoulder holster I've heard had and I can easily say it's more confortable than hip-style holsters I have. Granted I'm only carrying a snubbie, but I have no problems whatsoever with concealability. You just adjust the straps so that the gun sits just below your armpit and with your arms to your side, the butt of the gun doesn't protrude past your arm. The biggest factor to consider is cover garments though. I typically wear my shoulder rig in the winter when I can put on a light fleece jacket or something and plan on wearing it all day.
Probably the only negative thing I can say about my rig is that the gun side is obviously a lot heavier than the spare ammo side. So the rig will want to pull your shirt one direction and will sometimes stretch the necks out on my shirts. If you can find a shoulder rig that has a suspender-type buckle on the off side as an anchor, that's probably the way I'd want to go.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I'm not a fan of vertical shoulder holsters. I find them much harder to draw from.
I hate shoulder holsters unless it's below 60 degrees, as they are hot, but given that, they are good for convenience and for back problems.
I have three shoulder rigs from Alessi (www.alessigunholsters.com), two of which are over 20 years old. The one for my Dan Wesson CBOB is brand new, and they are still as good as ever.
Not only are they extremely comfortable, but they are also the easiest to draw from. Most rigs have a thumb break, which for me means I have to clamp my upper arm against the holster in order to release the snap. As a retired LEO, I don't like that restriction.
Alessi uses a snap through the trigger guard. Index on the grip, give a firm pull, and the weapon is free. And the craftsmanship is without equal.
The other good news is that they have some inventory now. In the old days you had to wait weeks or months because of all the work they did for the feds. I got my new holster in a week.
I have three shoulder rigs from Alessi (www.alessigunholsters.com), two of which are over 20 years old. The one for my Dan Wesson CBOB is brand new, and they are still as good as ever.
Not only are they extremely comfortable, but they are also the easiest to draw from. Most rigs have a thumb break, which for me means I have to clamp my upper arm against the holster in order to release the snap. As a retired LEO, I don't like that restriction.
Alessi uses a snap through the trigger guard. Index on the grip, give a firm pull, and the weapon is free. And the craftsmanship is without equal.
The other good news is that they have some inventory now. In the old days you had to wait weeks or months because of all the work they did for the feds. I got my new holster in a week.
Another idea... If you want to try out the concept for awhile before buying an expensive rig... You can get very inexpensive but usable fabric rigs from military surplus suppliers in the $25 range... UTG is the brand I have... decent for the price, and you can experiment with/alter them somewhat.
Another related idea is the 5.11 (brand) Holster Shirt which is a reinforced nylon T-shirt. They hold and conceal guns VERY well. Downside is they fit very snugly and the nylon holds body-heat so they're OK during the cold months but not good for summer days. Some like 'em, some don't. (If you're allergic to nylon, forget it.) $40 range + shipping.
Another related idea is the 5.11 (brand) Holster Shirt which is a reinforced nylon T-shirt. They hold and conceal guns VERY well. Downside is they fit very snugly and the nylon holds body-heat so they're OK during the cold months but not good for summer days. Some like 'em, some don't. (If you're allergic to nylon, forget it.) $40 range + shipping.
I have three...
... one that I keep at work, because it's easier to deal with in the cockpit than anything at belt level. It's a vertical carry from shoulderholster.us .
http://shoulderholster.us/
I have another of theirs at home, that I use for my S&W Mountain Gun.
On the plus side, the shoulderholster.us rigs are pretty comfortable, and conceal relatively easily. They are also vertical rigs, which is good for work, because horizontal carry is banned. On the minus side, they are not set up for carrying any spare ammo.
My third shoulder holster is a modular rig from Sam Andrews, the "Monarch." http://andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm
The Monarch has soft, wide shoulder straps. It also has a stabilizer band around the back, to prevent the holster from moving around when one leans over, and minimizing the pounding if one runs. Also on the plus side, it's highly adjustable; and it's modular (I had mine set up for a duty pistol, but since the horizontal rig was banned, Sam is sending me a Commander holster component; I'll probably get a Browning HiPower holster next year, after I get my BHP back from Novak; I have magazine holders for both single and double stack mags), so holsters and mag holders can be switched out.
One advantage to shoulder rigs that doesn't seem to get posted all that often is this: You are very unlikely to hear of somebody forgetting their pistol on a rest stop toilet tank, if they were wearing a shoulder rig.
Not that you should hear of that happening with belt rigs, but unfortunately it happens. (Tucking a 1911 inside a boot top can be a bit distracting, too.)
... one that I keep at work, because it's easier to deal with in the cockpit than anything at belt level. It's a vertical carry from shoulderholster.us .
http://shoulderholster.us/
I have another of theirs at home, that I use for my S&W Mountain Gun.
On the plus side, the shoulderholster.us rigs are pretty comfortable, and conceal relatively easily. They are also vertical rigs, which is good for work, because horizontal carry is banned. On the minus side, they are not set up for carrying any spare ammo.
My third shoulder holster is a modular rig from Sam Andrews, the "Monarch." http://andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm
The Monarch has soft, wide shoulder straps. It also has a stabilizer band around the back, to prevent the holster from moving around when one leans over, and minimizing the pounding if one runs. Also on the plus side, it's highly adjustable; and it's modular (I had mine set up for a duty pistol, but since the horizontal rig was banned, Sam is sending me a Commander holster component; I'll probably get a Browning HiPower holster next year, after I get my BHP back from Novak; I have magazine holders for both single and double stack mags), so holsters and mag holders can be switched out.
One advantage to shoulder rigs that doesn't seem to get posted all that often is this: You are very unlikely to hear of somebody forgetting their pistol on a rest stop toilet tank, if they were wearing a shoulder rig.
Not that you should hear of that happening with belt rigs, but unfortunately it happens. (Tucking a 1911 inside a boot top can be a bit distracting, too.)