Back to carry positions

[Bill in Oregon]

The topic of appendix carry came up again on another forum, and I went back to my favorite source of discussion on the different positions: Massad Ayoob. He has always struck me as a wise and trusted uncle when it comes to handgun protocols. I am a 3:30-4 o'clock guy, but really hate the idea of having to buy larger pants for IWB, even though it is clearly superior to OWB to reduce printing. Seems appendix would be safer if carrying a revolver, but then you deal with bulk.
One thing I noticed is that Massad has huge hands!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJd3N8X9Rg

[JimT]

I like IWB just at the front edge of my back pocket. I've carried the 4" Model 10 S&W easily there, as well as .45 single action, 1911 and other guns.

[Griff]

I like IWB just at the front edge of my back pocket. I've carried the 4" Model 10 S&W easily there, as well as .45 single action, 1911 and other guns.

Just about the same position I do... I put my Summertime Special right in front of that belt loop which puts the front of the holster at the front pocket on my Levis. When I wear OWB, I straddle that same belt loop. When mounted, I've always worn a separate cartridge belt with either a strongside holster or X-draw... sometimes both! Back when I day-worked cattle, nearly always the X-draw, or inside a small saddle bag. One ranch had a rule that none of their cowboys could go armed... and I don't know of one that followed that rule. (But what do you expect of a bunch of NYC investors)? Or the cowboys that actually faced the realities of the job?

[marlinman93]

I carry IWB and let a notch out of my belt when I'm carrying as no other way I can do it. I carry just behind my right side towards the rear. It is about the only place I can carry whether sitting in the car, or standing and feel comfortable. In the winter when I'm wearing a heavier coat I often switch to OWB carry as it's more comfortable.

[41Redhawk]

I carry IWB and let a notch out of my belt when I'm carrying as no other way I can do it. I carry just behind my right side towards the rear. It is about the only place I can carry whether sitting in the car, or standing and feel comfortable. In the winter when I'm wearing a heavier coat I often switch to OWB carry as it's more comfortable.

That's pretty much the way I carry too. My OWB holsters put the gun pretty much in the same place as my IWB holsters do.

[JimT]

When mounted, I've always worn a separate cartridge belt with either a strongside holster or X-draw... sometimes both!

gun.jpg

When I carried a long barreled sixgun I usually wore my Bianchi shoulder holster.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I’ve been carrying belt guns in same place since 1982. But I have to admit that my everyday all the time gun is a j frame smith in my front pocket of my britches.

[wvfarrier]

I carry appendix quite often, after resisting it for years. Its more comfortable, more concealed and a more defendable position in defense of someone trying to grab my ccw. If we are horseback, hiking or kayaking then I open carry either in a chest rig or thigh rig

[jeepnik]

I've stated many times I carry almost exclusively OWB cross. But I have never explained how I got there.

Waaay back in the stone age Uncle Sam did not make left handed holsters for the 1911 (thank heaven that there must have been a highly placed southpaw when the UM84 and it's follow ons were adopted). The solution was to carry the holster on the left side in more or less a cavalry draw manner. Reaching for the handgun orientated with the butt forward became "natural". So when I began to carry concealed cross draw just felt right.

Once I had started to carry this way I discovered all of the benefits over the traditional strong side draw. Chief among these is probably the access it allows to either hand. I also discovered the fallacy of the reasons the "experts" poo pooed cross draw.

The biggest fallacies are a toss up between "you sweep the entire landscape, including yourself, during a draw" and "it makes gun snatching easier". Done correctly the only thing the gun muzzle sweeps is the ground and the target. As to snatching, it's a lot harder to snatch a hand gun from the rear with the butt orientated forward, and just as easily defended from a frontal attempt. Not to mention that as a southpaw, folks going after my handgun might be a bit confused as to where it is and how it's worn.

[Lastmohecken]

For self defense I have mostly carried a Lightweight Commander n 45ACP in a version of either IWB or OWB Milt Sparks holsters. And that's one reason I have carried the Lightweight Commander more than any other, is it carries well, even in the summer with an open front shirt and tee shirt, or under a vest in the winter. And I just have the best holsters for that weapon. I usually always carry at about 9 o'clock, being left handed. Sometimes I carry a 5 inch Smith 629 44 mag in the same position. And I will carry it to town or wherever if that's what I happen to have strapped on that day. But yu would laugh if you seen my holster for the Smith. It's one of those soft sticky holsters, and it didn't have any straps on it, but I found it so very comfortable for all day carry, except it wouldn't stay in place, so I experimented with it and had a leather guy, make me a strap with a snap that I riveted onto the stick holster, and I still were it IWB, but the strap keeps in place. It's the absolutely most comfortable holster I have ever had, and I carry that big N Frame Smith all day long and practically forget it's there.

I carried a single action old 3 screw .357 Ruger today, just because I wanted to, but my holster for it is not really very good, so it limits me. I have OWB holsters for it, but none are very concealable for leaving the farm. I would carry my singleactions more if had a better holster for them. I need to get a good pancake holster for them, I recon.

[Bill in Oregon]

That's some very nice leather, Scott.

[Malamute]

Ive tried many different ways over the years. Most of my carry was the all day, do everything sort. I used cross draw for several years, it wasnt as bad with buckskin pants with no pockets, but with pockets, I cursed the annoyance of trying to get in the left front pocket, where I carry keys, ear plugs, pocket knife, smaller leatherman etc, and generally all those things, and if carrying the short 19 concealed a speed loader as well. I eventually gave it up. I have a cross draw for a 1911 I used some after quitting with revolvers, but the same irritations were there, and I eventually just quit carrying and shooting 1911s.

IWB, Ive tried it with various holsters, looser pants, different guns, the end result was I usually wanted to take the holster off and throw it as far away as I could in about 5 minutes or less.

Right side high ride. It worked ok-ish on concealed type carry, but injuries have made it about impossible to draw smoothly or quickly. I have a dinachi combination cross draw, strong side that sets the gun a bit lower than most pancake types. I allows the gun to show some under a vest, but that doesnt seem to cause any trouble where I live, and its about the limit of how high I can draw from, though its still slow and not smooth. Ive tried getting the right shoulder and back to move better, but it just makes it more painful, the more I try the longer its painful.

Threepersons types are sort of OK, they used to be the fastest for me, but I still cant bend and move well enough to be called fast with anything now, though a lower ride holster may help. I have an old school Jordan duty type Im going to try. Definitely not a concealment holster unless under a longer coat, and then would still print terribly.

Shoulder holsters. Ive used several different types/makes, the older Lawrence No 8, the full sewn pouch are very secure, handy and i like they position they put the gun in, the butt is further rearward and doesnt print as badly as many others. I mainly used them for working construction or firewood cutting, or for a spare gun besides the belt gun, like taking the k-22 for grouse when in the mountains. When I was working and in good shape, shoulder holsters were difficult to draw from, my chest was too thick. Now I have the physique of a broken down old geezer, and its easier, though the limited mobility of the right shoulder is still somewhat of a problem.

I like the idea of the spring clip holsters, but they position the guns weirdly compared to the Lawrence no 8. I have a couple Im going to re-do the shoulder harness position to get them to carry how I want. Also going to use the No8 as a general pattern and make one that actually fits the 4 3/4" SAA copy. Ive been carrying it in a No8 made for a K frame and cut to 4", the barrel sticks out and the curve of the holster body doesnt match the lines of the gun, but it works, and keeps the gun up off the ground. The cartridge belt and Miles City type holster make my hips hurt when walking. This getting old/injuries garbage is really inconvenient at times.

I live pretty rural, on average days concealment isnt an issue. When i go to town I take the short smith 19 under a vest.

Lawrence No 8 K frame 19 with SAA.jpg

Miles City holster. Barely draw-able, in sort of slow motion. Beautiful, but only moderately practical and hurts to wear most of the time.

IMG_2025-07-02-11-54-34-369.jpg

[Malamute]

Ive tried many different ways over the years. Most of my carry was the all day, do everything sort. I used cross draw for several years, it wasnt as bad with buckskin pants with no pockets, but with pockets, I cursed the annoyance of trying to get in the left front pocket, where I carry keys, ear plugs, pocket knife, smaller leatherman etc, and generally all those things, and if carrying the short 19 concealed a speed loader as well. I eventually gave it up. I have a cross draw for a 1911 I used some after quitting with revolvers, but the same irritations were there, and I eventually just quit carrying and shooting 1911s.

IWB, Ive tried it with various holsters, looser pants, different guns, the end result was I usually wanted to take the holster off and throw it as far away as I could in about 5 minutes or less.

Right side high ride. It worked ok-ish on concealed type carry, but injuries have made it about impossible to draw smoothly or quickly. I have a bianchi combination cross draw, strong side that sets the gun a bit lower than most pancake types. I only use ot strong side, it allows the gun to show some under a vest, but that doesnt seem to cause any trouble where I live, and its about the limit of how high I can draw from, though its still slow and not smooth. Ive tried getting the right shoulder and back to move better, but it just makes it more painful, the more I try the longer its painful.

Threepersons types are sort of OK, they used to be the fastest for me, but I still cant bend and move well enough to be called fast with anything now, though a lower ride holster may help. I have an old school Jordan duty type Im going to try. Definitely not a concealment holster unless under a longer coat, and then would still print terribly. I wish I could find an affordable Patton type holster for SAAs to try. The set the gun a couple inches lower.

Shoulder holsters. Ive used several different types/makes, the older Lawrence No 8, the full sewn pouch are very secure, handy and i like they position they put the gun in, the butt is further rearward and doesnt print as badly as many others. I mainly used them for working construction or firewood cutting, or for a spare gun besides the belt gun, like taking the k-22 for grouse when in the mountains. When I was working and in good shape, shoulder holsters were difficult to draw from, my chest was too thick. Now I have the physique of a broken down old geezer, and its easier, though the limited mobility of the right shoulder is still somewhat of a problem.

I like the idea of the spring clip holsters, but they position the guns weirdly compared to the Lawrence no 8. I have a couple Im going to re-do the shoulder harness position to get them to carry how I want. Also going to use the No8 as a general pattern and make one that actually fits the 4 3/4" SAA copy. Ive been carrying it in a No8 made for a K frame and cut to 4", the barrel sticks out and the curve of the holster body doesnt match the lines of the gun, but it works, and keeps the gun up off the ground. The cartridge belt and Miles City type holster make my hips hurt when walking. This getting old/injuries garbage is really inconvenient at times.

I live pretty rural, on average days concealment isnt an issue. When i go to town I take the short smith 19 under a vest.

Lawrence No 8 K frame 19 with SAA.jpg

Miles City holster. Barely draw-able, in sort of slow motion. Beautiful, but only moderately practical and hurts to wear most of the time.

IMG_2025-07-02-11-54-34-369.jpg