Which auto pistol is a good CCW ankle carry?

I personally believe that the Alessi ankle holster is by far and away the best ankle holster available at any price. It isn't cheap...$90-$100...but quality never is. I have heard good things about the Renegade holster but I have no personal experience with it. I have never tried it because it doesn't have some of my favorite features of the Alessi. I like the tight fitting molded leather and lack of thumbbreak and pull thru D-Ring attachment of the Alessi. The Renegade has none of these.

I carry a S&W 638 or 649 daily in my Alessi. I can carry either the Airweight or All steel all day long without even knowing it is there. Obviously the Airweight is more comfortable, but not by much.

I have a Kahr MK9 and I think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have a little more range testing to do with this gun, but I intend to pick up an Alessi for it and start carrying it.

As for carrying on the ankle. My J frames are constantly covered with lint and sock fuzz and other debris which could have an adverse effect on reliability. I usually dust them off when I think about it or notice it but I am not real religious about it. I think if one carries an auto on the ankle, they should dust it off, wipe it down DAILY!!! No exceptions, PERIOD!
 
Hey, Sundance - - -

Happy Five-Hundredth to You! I just noticed your reply this morning was that "milestone" number.

I understand what you're saying about dusting off the autopistol every day when used for sock or boot carry - - - but, with all respect, I feel the autos, having only the barrel open, is somewhat less subject to harmful lint-gathering than the revolver. The wheel guns are open at rear of cylinder, and at front and with about four chamber mouths to gather trash. :p

That being said, I can still use either one. I tend to think that your Khar will be a good piece for ankle use. I like my Khar P9 but it is just a touch long in the butt to be comfortable under narrow-legged pants.

A while back, I finally decided why I like the alloy revolver better for ankle carry. The autos, by their very nature, have the ammo load in the butt, which, being essentially uncovered, is more apt o move laterally than the light revolver. I THINK this is why I can ankle-carry a revo of equal weight more easily than an auto. I will work some more with the P9 in this regard.

I like the look of the Alessi design but haven't tried one. I use the Uncle Mike's with very good results. I don't believe the thumb break snap slows me significantly--The ankle holster is NOT a speed rig.;)

Best,
Johnny
 
Thus far, I have never used ankle carry, but my Kel-Tec P-11 (9mm) would meet your weight requirements at 15.9 ounces. Other good autoloaders I've heard about that you might want to check out would be the NAA Guardian in .380 or the Kel-Tec P-32 in .32 ACP.
 
python 1340 - - -

I can appreciate your observations above. My personal judgements on ankle carry take two slightly divergent courses---
I think of the .25, .32, and even .380 mostly as back up guns, rather than main battery. Yes, I have gone out in public with a P32 as sole armament, but never feel really comfortable being so lightly armed. But, heck, even a .25 beats NO gun at all.

This was my principal criterion (tied with comfort) for going from a .380 PPK to a lightweight .38 for ankle carry. The .38 was about the minimum I felt adequate for sole gun. I feel about the same way about the 9x19mm autos. I think the KT P11 is good, if a little thick. If I were to buy another handgun exclusively for ankle carry, it would probably be the smallest Kahr polymer framed model available, to combine thinness and light weight with more or less adequate power. But I feel okay with the Colt Agent--Most days.;)

Best,
Johnny
 
Johnny Guest -

I've always thought the ankle gun was the back up gun, so .32/.380 isn't so bad then. I wouldn't want anything less than 9mm if it was my only gun.
 
Hello. For several years before retiring from police service, my backup was a Kahr K9 carried in an "Uncle Mike's" ankle holster. It would've been too heavy were I not wearing boots; the butt of the pistol barely rested on the top of the boot and with that and the holster's "garter" support, it would work, but I eventually went back to an airweight J-frame. With its weight farther forward and being smaller, it just worked better for me. A Kahr P9 might very well work better than did the all steel K9, but the one I had was not reliable with +P ammunition. I didn't own a Glock 26 at that time and cannot comment on how it might be in an ankle holster.

I know you're interested in an auto for ankle holster carry, but man, those little, light J-frames are hard to beat in that role.

Best.
 
I have an Alessi holster for my glock 26 and a Galco ankle glove for my lightweight snubbie. The glock is okay for a short time, but for all day carry the snubbie beats it for weight and comfort.
 
Well, I have been putting the small j-frames to thought. I think I am going to rent a few and see how they feel to shoot. I have only shot a full size revolver. After looking at the Kahr MK9 up close it still looks like something harder to conceal that I thought. Well, I am off to investigate the j-frames.
 
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