Can someone explain this one?

[T.O.M.]

The other day, I met a buddy for some range time.  Met at a range near where he works, because I had to try his new-to-him ASP 9mm.  Yeah, he's a lawyer and married to a dentist, so he can afford some expensive toys.  We were having a James Bond range session.  His ASP and Walther PPK, my Walther P99.  Yes, I still hate the PPK (bites my hand something fierce).  The ASP was vintage cool, but the Guttersnipe sights would take a lot of time for me to get used to.

Anyways, two of the guys on staff were open carrying.  Doesn't bother me a but.  But they were open carrying in the appendix position, one outside his belt.  I get that appendix carry is a good CCW option (if you ignore the safety concerns), but why would you carry there for open carry?
A third staffer was carrying a 1911 of some type in a drop holster strapped to his thigh.  No body armor or anything, just a full battle belt with a drop holster.  I wore that crap in the Army, and it was never comfortable enough to wear by choice. 

Think they have a point, or just being tacti-cool?

[Tuco]

I believe Mr. Appendix open carries that way because he concealed carries that way and because he was dropped on his head as an infant and was handicapped with an overly rigid mucsle memory.

[dogmush]

Probably just being tacti-cool.  I would never wear appendix OWB.  That's just a PITA.

I will say that my current battle belt (Wilder Tactical)  is light years ahead of what the Army was issuing, or is issuing now for that matter.. both in usefulness and comfort,  including the mid-rise pistol. If I had a job that let me OC at work, but I had to take it off as soon as I left, I might wear the battle belt just for ease of gunning up and down, as well as being used to it.  It's comfortable enough.

Not sure if droplet 1911 guy was doing that or not.

[Hawkmoon]

I believe Mr. Appendix open carries that way because he concealed carries that way and because he was dropped on his head as an infant and was handicapped with an overly rigid mucsle memory.

For an outside waistband holster, appendix carry doesn't work particularly well for concealed carry. It's right there in front, so not easy to conceal.

[Boomhauer]

None of the three know a damn thing about carrying a gun.

[230RN]

None of the three know a damn thing about carrying a gun.

A provincial view if ever I heard one.  (I know: :) )

Drop holster.  Think about it. Less bending of the arm into awkward positions in order to present the gun.  C'boy style, as in c'boy movies.  Low holsters for fast draw.

Appendix carry. The same solution for the same problem as above, IWB or OWB, either way.  Concealment is another issue here:  No revealing hip bulge under a jacket.

The very first day I got my concealed carry "privilege," I carried small of back with a .380 under a light jacket. 

My solution to the reach problem is cross-draw.  Been doing that, either for concealed or open carry afield, for many many decades.  Advantages and disadvantages.

In fact, advantages and disadvantages for each carry method, for each person... e.g., I cannot stand shoulder holsters.  Yer pays yer money and yer makes yer choice.

However, to be provincial about it, if you don't carry cross draw just like me, you don't know a damned thing about carrying a gun.

Terry, in all good humor, 230RN

[Hawkmoon]

Appendix carry. The same solution for the same problem as above, IWB or OWB, either.  Concealment is another issue here:  No revealing hip bulge under a jacket.

BUT . . .  requires that the jacket be buttoned or zipped to cover the firearm. In a great many situations, wandering around with a buttoned or zipped jacket looks decidedly out of place.

[230RN]

My unstated point was there are yeahbuts for every carry method.  However, anyone who doesn't carry crossdraw, despite its disadvantages, doesn't know a thing about carry. <grinning eyeroll>

Actually, nowadays, I carry my J-frame in my strong side pants pocket without a holster.

I was thinking of one of these magnum hunting holsters for my .22 Mag Der(r)inger:

     

Good shoulder support for all that .22 Magnum weight.  But of course there's a danger of shooting your weak side elbow off with this rig.



I guess you could call the basic methods as shoulder, pocket, hip, hip drop, crossdraw, small-of-back, appendix, 10:30 o'clock, gonna throw an "etc" in there for the sake of it, makes 9 different basic styles of carry.  There are 36 pairs of these 9 basic methods with a wild card ("etc") which could be argued over.  Plenty to discuss in any forum.

Joey, in "Shane:" "Which is the best way?"

https://youtu.be/Ternps0JFwo  WATCH SOUND LEVEL

Terry, 230RN

[HeroHog]

I like a good horizontal rig shoulder holster myself. A light jacket/sweat shirt/button up shirt, even open, can make it disappear, if it's not windy.

[K Frame]

I like a good horizontal rig shoulder holster myself. A light jacket/sweat shirt/button up shirt, even open, can make it disappear, if it's not windy.

Same. I've carried in a horizontal should holster for many years. Primarily in the winter, of course. I've carried primarily my P7 and my S&W 19 2.5" that way.

I especially prefer a shoulder rig while driving.

I've not carried in a shoulder rig for a couple of years now, primarily because I'm a bit, well, way, too fat and they no longer fit me correctly around the chest and back.

I've toyed with getting a Nelson Leather shoulder holster for my Walther CCP or my Ruger American but just haven't pulled the trigger yet, so to speak.

[JN01]

How do you define "appendix position"?  If you mean 12 o'clock, then OWB seems odd. I'd think it would print badly.  I carry a G26 OWB at 2:00.  It fits comfortably in the hollow between my hip and stomach and under an untucked shirt, conceals very well.  It is easier to draw, particularly when seated. It doesn't work well with longer barreled pistols, though.

[230RN]

Sounds like you're using appendix carry.  The yeahbut on that method is the supposed danger of a discharge from that position will destroy a lot of fun parts as well as severing the femoral artery, which is very difficult to stop bleeding...

...and also dealing with the impact of an expanding 5-10 thousand PSI* ball of hot gas occurring in that area.

I don't know what they would call a front and center carry besides "12 o'clock" carry.  I suppose that would be intriguing in a  close hug with an appropriate partner.  (Careful there, Terry.)

Terry, 230RN

*Just guessing, but it seems close and a couple of thou one way or the other won't really matter.

[JN01]

The warnings aren't really applicable to the 2:00 position as the muzzle isn't pointed anywhere near the femoral artery, and would only be pointed at your junk if you are some kind of circus freak porn star.

Seems like most commentators consider 12:00 to be appendix carry. Maybe they think that thing dangling below their belt buckle is their appendix.

[Ben]

I usually see appendo talked about as somewhere from the 11-1 positions. I'm a lefty using a sidecar, so my rig starts at 1145 and ends at 1215. Mountain Standard Time.

[dogmush]

I recently did a couple "concealed" Run and Gun stages running my G19 from appendix.  Most of us were running appendix rigs of one type or another.  It was pretty funny watch the films as we would roll out of cars, sprint to cover, draw and engage targets, than *very* carefully and slowly reholster, then sprint to the next firing position. 

[MechAg94]

I don't care much for appendix right now, but a former coworker had to lose weight before getting surgery.  He slimmed down quite a bit.  He said appendix worked a lot better once he lost weight. 

[230RN]

I thought appendix carry was at one o'clock (1300 hrs).

11 o'clock if you're a lefty:



I've always wanted one of those "Barber Shop Clocks."  I've got one clock I glance at in a mirror every once in a while and I have to spend 5-10 seconds to dope out what the time really is.

[WLJ]

I thought appendix carry was at one o'clock (1300 hrs).

11 o'clock if you're a lefty:



I've always wanted one of those "Barber Shop Clocks."

This might as well be my clock right now

[Ben]

I thought appendix carry was at one o'clock (1300 hrs).

11 o'clock if you're a lefty:

It depends on gun and body type. I suppose if you're one of these guys that likes the long barrel and short grips, you'll move closer to 11/1. I like a short barrel and full size grip, so my barrel is pretty close to 12 with the grip in the 1130-1145 range. Going closer to 11 with the barrel would tend to have the grip start sticking out on my body type.

[lee n. field]

I don't care much for appendix right now, but a former coworker had to lose weight before getting surgery.  He slimmed down quite a bit.  He said appendix worked a lot better once he lost weight.

"Adipose-American" here.  My problem with AIWB is my belt wants to slide down my pear shaped gut.  Perry suspenders fix that.  I've been wearing a snub in an AIWB holster there since early this year, almost to the exclusion of pocket carry.

[230RN]

I usually see appendo talked about as somewhere from the 11-1 positions. I'm a lefty using a sidecar, so my rig starts at 1145 and ends at 1215. Mountain Standard Time.

Ditto.

The warnings aren't really applicable to the 2:00 position as the muzzle isn't pointed anywhere near the femoral artery, and would only be pointed at your junk if you are some kind of circus freak porn star.

Seems like most commentators consider 12:00 to be appendix carry. Maybe they think that thing dangling below their belt buckle is their appendix.

We're talking about 1:00 not 2:00 o'clock for appendix carry.  That's appendix carry as I understand it, and it does pretty much point toward your junk both in situ as well as in the draw.  But as I said, the junk and femoral artery stuff was a supposed yeahbut.

The trick is to not have it discharge in either regular carry or the draw.

And even side carry (9 & 3), regular or crossdraw, endangers your tootsies, as shown in the famous video with the cop claiming he was the only one competent to carry a gun and other "shoots himself in the foot" incidents.

Why, that phrase has even become common as a metaphor !

Terry, 230RN

Barely related but funny:

https://youtu.be/VISraiYj9xg (1:00)