Small of Back Carry?

The first thing they teach you in a martial arts class is how to fall and recover quickly. Granted, if your gun is directly over the spinal column, and you fall directly on it, you may be injured.

SOB is slower unless you're more flexible than I am. Seems to me it would take two hands to clear the weapon. Also seems like it would print like crazy when you bend over. The holsters usually look bulky and heavy.

For me, the best carry place OWB is 8:30 - 9:00 o'clock (I'm a lefty). If I wasn't so fat, crossdraw at 2:30-3:00 would work well.
 
if you are living someplace like Texas where you can't print at all and need max concilability I'd say do it. It stays hidden great and allows you to draw without being noticed in the least bit. Down side is the risk of injury as mentioned here on the board( I guess alot of our fellow posters get into high speed bike wrecks on a regular basis). Also it makes it very easy for somene to pull your own gun on you.
 
The SOB position is a great way to carry for some, bad fo rothers. Part of the problem is that many don't carry correctly. As mentioned, the gun should not be centered over the spine, but instead should be offset to the side a bit. And if you are seated most of the time it doesn't work out well. However, if you are standing around, particularly with a coat or someting like that on, it is secure, well-concealed, and very comfortable.

I would just like to chime in that as a physician, I think all of the talk about spinal cord injury is internet hype. I haven't heard of it actually happening.
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I agree, Doc. I spent a lot of time with a lot of LEOs that carried stuff SOB all the time, and were getting knocked around a lot. Can't remember any of them suffereing any significant injury because of it.
 
Eyes in the back of your head?

Weapon retention.

SOB is behind your field of vision, and easier for someone else to take your weapon before you even see them.

Think pick pocket. I read years ago, for what ever that is worth, that it is much harder to have your wallet stolen from your front pants pocket than from your rear pants pocket; seems to make sense to me.

Also, if someone attempts to take your gun from the holster it is harder to defend against someone from the rear than a frontal assault. You can always try carrying a "prop" gun (squirt gun, toy gun, etc...) in different positions and have a buddy or two attempt to take it in different situations and see what you think. All in good fun of course! No need to end up in the ER over a squirt gun!
 
I'm actually considering carrying a j-frame as a BUG on weak-side off-center carry ("7 o'clock," I guess). I have to admit that when I've carried it strong-side it's been pretty comfortable. It's not "comfortable" while sitting, but it's not exactly "uncomfortable," either.
 
Well for what its worth, this M.D., who's training includes Spinal Cord Injury, Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, and Interventional Spine wouldn't take the risk with SOB carry. Since SOB carry isn't really necessary, I think that the risk (spinal fracture if you fall on your back), although probably small, is significant enough that it outweighs the additional concealment benefit of SOB carry. But hey its your back, and you can do what you want with it.
 
I carry my Springfield Micro Compact SOB all the time. Not really my first choice when i started to carry, but, am used to it now and don't even notice it anymore. I am 5'8", 150 lbs, about a 30-31" waist, and unless I am wearing a large winter coat, it is impossible for me to carry anywhere else without printing very badly. Its not too bad for me in the car or sitting in a chair, not uncomforatable, but you know its there. When I am driving, I pull the gun and hostler (Bianchi clip on), and stuff it under my thigh on the seat, it dosent get uncomforatble there, and it is within quick and easy reach ( and is also almost invisible, just the butt of the pistol sticks out from under my leg). It works for me, but to each his own.
 
sob prints less than most other cary positions, how is somebody gonna know you have it?

the way i carry ill feel somebody lifting my shirt/jacket to get to it.

it also requires a sharp tug, unless you know this you can pull all day and not releas it.
 
As I have said in other threads all most all, if not all LE agencies outlaw SOB carry because of the potenial injury to spine reasons noted above, mine even says no way to off duty carry, dito carrying handcuff cases or anything else there.
 
As I have said in other threads all most all, if not all LE agencies outlaw SOB carry because of the potenial injury to spine reasons noted above, mine even says no way to off duty carry, dito carrying handcuff cases or anything else there.
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I would have to question that. I've never run across a restriction like that, and I interact with a fair number of agencies. In fact, I just finished a trial where the type and location of the holster was an issue, so I researched it quite a bit. Maybe it is a NW phenomenon?
 
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