Thoughts on cross-draw carry.

[230RN]

One of the minor beauties of cross-draw carry is that it makes a gun grab slightly less likely.  From the direct rear, a grabber has to  use his left hand to manipulate the holster release stuff, then would have to turn the gun around in his hand to operate it.

From the front, the carrier can more easily fend off a grab both by covering with his left arm/hand, and by defending with his right arm/hand.  Besides the additional warning.

There are other advantages, such as easier retrieval from a sitting position, as in driving, even with a seat belt on.  In addition, you don't have to crook your drawing arm up too high, almost to the limits of the elbow's bend angle.

There are some slight disadvantages, such as the fact that you have to swing through the target horizontally as opposed to the longer target area in swinging through vertically, as well as some others.

Frankly, excepting for the  use of a drop holster, I don't see why right-handed folks carry at around the 3 o'clock position.

Cross-draw for the win !

Terry, 230RN

[Devonai]

1. Concealment, situational awareness, retention strap.

2.  You can use either arm as the leveraging arm with just a modicum of training.

3.  Agreed, if you spend a lot of time driving or in a seated position, cross draw is advantageous.  When I was an armed courier, I used a shoulder holster.

4.  I can see how this would be the case.

5.  Better concealment, faster draw, better retention options if you've trained how, easier to hide indexing/gripping your weapon if you want to be ready but hide your intentions.

[dogmush]

I have found in force on force training that it's much easier to stop someone trying to draw on you if they are using a cross draw holster.  It's relatively simple to close in and trap their strong arm and weapon between you, with the weapon not pointed at you.

To me that's the main disadvantage. I've had my draw stopped in enough sparring sessions to be wary. FWIW,  I do carry my weapon crosdraw(ish) on my plate carrier when deployed for ease of use and holster/armor donning,  but that's a different setup, and I have crew served primary weapons.

[French G.]

I can see it for driving and for carrying big guns in an above the waist crossdraw. Example, I stuffed a DE .50 in my Coronado jacket, it was not uncomfortable with a gun on the other side to balance it out.

But it is slow and you point the gun lots of directions before the target. I will probably do it more once I start carrying my N frames again.

[Hawkmoon]

But it is slow and you point the gun lots of directions before the target. I will probably do it more once I start carrying my N frames again.

[French G.]

I don't think it is necessarily a safety issue if you handle the gun a lot, though I admit to cringing at horizontal crossdraw like a Miami classic and a Glock or something. Just with any crossdraw there is no speed rock equivalent. I will certainly consider pulling the trigger  a lot before it get to my line of sight if the situation warrants it. Can't do that with this.

[brimic]

I prefer appendix carry- all of the advantages of crossdraw with few of the disadvantages. Main disadvantage that I can see, is that its not comfortable if you carry more body weight in your midsection.

[230RN]

"Is that your appendix, or are you just happy to see me?"

Seems kind of hard to conceal with appendix carry unless it's IWB, and it strikes me it ought to be called femoral artery carry.  But I've been wring before, so why not now?

[lee n. field]

I prefer appendix carry- all of the advantages of crossdraw with few of the disadvantages. Main disadvantage that I can see, is that its not comfortable if you carry more body weight in your midsection.

I'm not hiking my belt up across my gut.  Ever.  Not comfortable.

Supposedly us fat kids can do AIWB too. It takes experimentation, more money down the drain and another layer in one's box of no longer used holsters.  I don't have the spare cash to muck with it right now.

When the gun's secure in its holster, nothing is going to happen.  It's when it's getting pulled out, or put back in, that bad stuff can happen.  3 o'clock just seems "less problematic" to me right now.

[gunsmith]

when i was a cab driver i kept a revolver in the driver side door pocket.
i carried at 1500 too ( glock)  but it was not real comfortable.

I've considered crossdraw for hiking / camping - because a knife at 1500 seems to get used far more often.
I have wanted to carry crossdraw for a long time but i am so used to 1500 that i just don't want to risk going against yrs of muscle memory in case of emergency

[T.O.M.]

Tried appendix carry. When I sit, the barrel makes it uncomfortable,  as it jabs into my thigh.  Even a J frame is uncomfortable for me.  I like the 3-4 o'clock carry, in or out of my waistband.  I also use shoulder rings.  Yes, horizontal rigs so I am constantly pointing a loaded weapon at people behind me.  I know.  I suck at safety, and I'll probably kill people with an A.D.  But the rigs work for me.

[HeroHog]

Another reason I bag carry, usually as shown in this pic.

[230RN]

Lt.Col Evans Carlson of "Carlson'a Raiders," WWII, carrying crossdraw.



And again:



As someone said, probably easier with other equipment on.

[cordex]

Lt.Col Evans Carlson of "Carlson'a Raiders," WWII, carrying crossdraw.

Here's members of the LAPD police shooting team demonstrating marksmanship.  Hard to tell for sure but I think one of the target stands is carrying cross draw.

[230RN]

That is one freakin' weird photograph.  From the LA Daily Mirror, seven years ago?

From its Properties:

hXttps://ladailymirror.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image103.png?w=554&h=394

I wonder what the "angle" was.

[cordex]

That is one freakin' weird photograph.

I saw the video at one point but that was the first image I found of it.  Lots of shooting stuff out of people's mouths and ears.

Really just to say that even if something was de rigueur by experts at one point in history doesn't make it a good idea today.

[MechAg94]

The liability of a mistake would be huge today.

[MechAg94]

Most of the videos I see showing a draw when at very close quarters show them pulling the gun straight up and shooting with it tuck up near the shoulder.  Not sure what the equivalent would be with cross draw.

I carry 3 o’clock mostly these days.  That seems to be the most comfortable both standing and sitting for me.  I mostly carry OWB concealed.

If you can make it work, and you are comfortable, do it.  First rule of a gun fight is have a gun.  After that, just make the best with what works.

[Scout26]

I still have the tanker rig I got at Ft. Knox:

[230RN]

What's that slot below and to the left of the "U.S." for?  Looks like it was hand-done?

(I know I'm going to smite my forehead in shame because it's really something really obvious, right?   )

Terry

[Scout26]

So the leather doesn't pucker because it's changing in the three axis. 

[JN01]

I like to carry OWB at the 2:00 position.  It fits and conceals well between my hip and little bit of gut and is easier to access than other positions.  With a short barrel gun (G26) it isn't pokey.  It is far enough back that when seated, the muzzle points to the outside of my thigh rather than the femoral artery or private bits.  I find OWB much more comfortable than IWB as well.

[230RN]

^ How do you handle seat belts?

[dogmush]

I can't speak for JN01, but here's how I handle seat belts and holsters:

I don't worry about drawing with a seat belt on, because if I have a seat belt on, I'm in a car, so I can un-ass the area if we're in a life or death situation.  The Venn diagram of likely situations where deadly force is needed and legal, and situations where the best answer is to draw and fire while belted into a car is pretty much two circles.  They might be tangent to each other.  

[Ben]

The Venn diagram of likely situations where deadly force is needed and legal, and situations where the best answer is to draw and fire while belted into a car is pretty much two circles.  They might be tangent to each other.  

Dude, you don't watch NEAR enough action movies.