shoulder holsters
- Thread starter hnusz
- Start date
firearm, carry style...
What type of firearm do you want to carry? There are many styles, leathers/fabrics, brands($$$ types).
In general you will want a shoulder holster that fits your torso-chest & is adjustable but w/o a lot of buckles, snaps, ridges, sharp edges or cheap elastic.
I prefer the angled horizontal type like the slick Aker Comfort Flex or the high end Kirkpatrick Leather style. Gravity is your friend,
. The slanted angle offers a secure fit but a smooth, even draw.
For hot weather or humid climates I'd suggest a natural leather or maybe a light brown. Dark or black leather may bleed or stain your clothes.
Consider your off-side carry items too. It will balance the firearm weight & be more even. Spare magazines or speed strips(revolver), white lights(tactical flashlights), OC spray, knives, etc can all be added in some shoulder rigs(depending on the brand).
Some good sources to check include; Aker, Galco(the Miami Classic II), Mitch Rosen, Ken Null, Bianchi Intl, LawmanLeather Goods, Del Fatti, Mernickle, Don Hume, Blade-tech, Kramer Gun Leather, Kirkpatrick Gunleather, El Paso Saddlery, DeSantis, Alessi, Gould & Goodrich, Unkle Mikes/Michaels of OR.
Contact the holster maker or custom shop first. Wait time or products may be delayed. Exotic leathers(bull, horse, rhino, shark, etc are available but you may wait longer).
Clyde
What type of firearm do you want to carry? There are many styles, leathers/fabrics, brands($$$ types).
In general you will want a shoulder holster that fits your torso-chest & is adjustable but w/o a lot of buckles, snaps, ridges, sharp edges or cheap elastic.
I prefer the angled horizontal type like the slick Aker Comfort Flex or the high end Kirkpatrick Leather style. Gravity is your friend,
. The slanted angle offers a secure fit but a smooth, even draw.For hot weather or humid climates I'd suggest a natural leather or maybe a light brown. Dark or black leather may bleed or stain your clothes.
Consider your off-side carry items too. It will balance the firearm weight & be more even. Spare magazines or speed strips(revolver), white lights(tactical flashlights), OC spray, knives, etc can all be added in some shoulder rigs(depending on the brand).
Some good sources to check include; Aker, Galco(the Miami Classic II), Mitch Rosen, Ken Null, Bianchi Intl, LawmanLeather Goods, Del Fatti, Mernickle, Don Hume, Blade-tech, Kramer Gun Leather, Kirkpatrick Gunleather, El Paso Saddlery, DeSantis, Alessi, Gould & Goodrich, Unkle Mikes/Michaels of OR.
Contact the holster maker or custom shop first. Wait time or products may be delayed. Exotic leathers(bull, horse, rhino, shark, etc are available but you may wait longer).
Clyde
Ted Blocker...
I'd add the holsters from Ted Blocker; www.tedblockerholsters.com .
He did the shoulder rig for actor Don Johnson in the early seasons of the hit crime drama; Miami Vice. Johnson wore a Lifeline shoulder holster for a D&D Bren 10 10mm then he converted to a S&W 645(later a 4506 .45acp) sidearm with a Galco Miami Classic.
Blocker makes the shoulder holsters used often on the Fox FBI crime series; Bones.
It looks comfortable for carrying a firearm for long periods. I toted my chunky 96D with extended .40 barrel in a Aker Comfort Flex in the late 1990s. 12-16 hours.
I'd add the holsters from Ted Blocker; www.tedblockerholsters.com .
He did the shoulder rig for actor Don Johnson in the early seasons of the hit crime drama; Miami Vice. Johnson wore a Lifeline shoulder holster for a D&D Bren 10 10mm then he converted to a S&W 645(later a 4506 .45acp) sidearm with a Galco Miami Classic.
Blocker makes the shoulder holsters used often on the Fox FBI crime series; Bones.
It looks comfortable for carrying a firearm for long periods. I toted my chunky 96D with extended .40 barrel in a Aker Comfort Flex in the late 1990s. 12-16 hours.
Rifleman1776
New member
I have an Uncle Mikes and very much like it. The nylon doesn't suffer with humidity and sweat. In my case, being nylon the holster was easily modified to fit my body. I'm not very tall and the belt retaining strap needed modifying to allow me to sit and move. Price is right also. One caveat, UM seems to oversize their holsters, do try in a store before buying, if possible.
buck460XVR
New member
Is this for concealed or open carry?
hnusz...I have the same problem as you, so I recomend a good gun belt, and some Perry suspenders.
That's what I use for IWB, or OWB holsters, and it works great!
No more tugging your pants up all the time,and you can actually leave the belt somewhat loose for comfort.
When I do use a shoulder holster it's a Bianchi X15.I can carry either auto's or revolvers in it.
That's what I use for IWB, or OWB holsters, and it works great!
No more tugging your pants up all the time,and you can actually leave the belt somewhat loose for comfort.
When I do use a shoulder holster it's a Bianchi X15.I can carry either auto's or revolvers in it.
I’ve a friend with the same belly/no waist problem as you.
He has used the low priced Uncle Mike’s solution with handguns up to a full sized 1911. With the Uncle Mike’s vertical holsters that clip onto your belt he can get rid of the suspenders he usually wears.
He says it’s pretty comfortable, works well when driving, conceals very well, (there is no horizontal strap going across the front of the chest) and just slow as molasses on the draw. He doesn’t care about speed but seriously he needs a ‘time out’ in the action to get his gun into play.
FWIW I think if you used the Perry suspenders like GrantD mentioned the IWB and OWB holsters might become a possibility for you. One of the advantages to that is if you have to go someplace that doesn’t allow firearms it much easier to unclip a waistband holster than to go through the process of getting rid of the shoulder rig. For the IWB holsters you do need to buy your pants a little larger than you already do.
He has used the low priced Uncle Mike’s solution with handguns up to a full sized 1911. With the Uncle Mike’s vertical holsters that clip onto your belt he can get rid of the suspenders he usually wears.
He says it’s pretty comfortable, works well when driving, conceals very well, (there is no horizontal strap going across the front of the chest) and just slow as molasses on the draw. He doesn’t care about speed but seriously he needs a ‘time out’ in the action to get his gun into play.
FWIW I think if you used the Perry suspenders like GrantD mentioned the IWB and OWB holsters might become a possibility for you. One of the advantages to that is if you have to go someplace that doesn’t allow firearms it much easier to unclip a waistband holster than to go through the process of getting rid of the shoulder rig. For the IWB holsters you do need to buy your pants a little larger than you already do.
Over 35 years of buying and using shoulder holsters I've never found the two words inexpensive and comfortable in the same should rig.
This man is wise. In building cars it is commonly referred to as:
Power, quality, cheap...pick two.
Galco makes some pretty good stuff. However the suspenders are the best deal I have found, but not the Perry's. Go to the Suspenderstore.com and buy the western suspenders that work by sliding your belt through them, also get the heaviest belt that you can find to go through your pant's loops, and yes you can leave it a little looser.
Miami Vice horizontal shoulder holster works pretty good, but slow to draw.
The Perry suspenders were a good idea but not designed right and the cheap plastic clips don't work very well IMHO, but the Leather Loops on the western suspenders are foolproof.
Miami Vice horizontal shoulder holster works pretty good, but slow to draw.
The Perry suspenders were a good idea but not designed right and the cheap plastic clips don't work very well IMHO, but the Leather Loops on the western suspenders are foolproof.
I have all three types of suspenders,the clip on,the leather loops,and the Perrys.I find myself wearing the Perrys the most because they are easy to put on even with your pants on,and have more adjustment.
I have had no problems with them in over a year and I wear them every day.
I have had no problems with them in over a year and I wear them every day.
I will 2nd the perry original suspenders in the 2" ... I suffer from the same build. I tried the perry "outback" model which only hooks at 9 and 3 on your belt (i wear at 430 owb) and they just dont have the hold of the 3 point original does which holds at about 10, 2 , and 6.
Galco...
Galco ran a "holsters for heroes" or some yay America name for our combat troops who were "down-range".
From 09/11/2001 to 2013 I've seen US armed forces, PMCs(private military contractors), OGAs(other govt agencies), and US/NATO member intel-sworn LE officers(MI6/GIGN/SBS/ONI/DEA/FBI/DIA/DSS/ISA/ACE/etc) wearing nearly every type or style of shoulder rig for sidearms(M9/1911a1/M11/SIGs/P-35s/Mk23s/revolvers) in SW Asia.
I think many US & NATO troops got custom holsters "in-country" or used what they purchased out of pocket(or what their family members/folks mailed them).
I recall US Army General Ricardo Sanchez, the CiC of combat forces in OIF(Iraq), wearing a leather WWII era brown leather tanker rig for his Beretta General Officer M9 9mmNATO.
I think it was just for show & to look macho because since the early 1980s, most US flag officers & VIPs are surrounded by PSD(personal security) 24/07/365. The US Army CIDC(criminal investigators) & the USAF OSI(Office of Special Investigstions Special Agents) protect most VIPs & generals-admirals in combat areas.
Spec Ops(ACE, DevGru, SEALs, Rangers, SF, etc) help out sometimes too.
ClydeFrog
Galco ran a "holsters for heroes" or some yay America name for our combat troops who were "down-range"
.From 09/11/2001 to 2013 I've seen US armed forces, PMCs(private military contractors), OGAs(other govt agencies), and US/NATO member intel-sworn LE officers(MI6/GIGN/SBS/ONI/DEA/FBI/DIA/DSS/ISA/ACE/etc) wearing nearly every type or style of shoulder rig for sidearms(M9/1911a1/M11/SIGs/P-35s/Mk23s/revolvers) in SW Asia.
I think many US & NATO troops got custom holsters "in-country" or used what they purchased out of pocket(or what their family members/folks mailed them).
I recall US Army General Ricardo Sanchez, the CiC of combat forces in OIF(Iraq), wearing a leather WWII era brown leather tanker rig for his Beretta General Officer M9 9mmNATO.
I think it was just for show & to look macho because since the early 1980s, most US flag officers & VIPs are surrounded by PSD(personal security) 24/07/365. The US Army CIDC(criminal investigators) & the USAF OSI(Office of Special Investigstions Special Agents) protect most VIPs & generals-admirals in combat areas.
Spec Ops(ACE, DevGru, SEALs, Rangers, SF, etc) help out sometimes too.
ClydeFrog