Cross-Draw: A carry for all Reasons....

[redneckrepairs]

Mad carry what suits you . I am used to behind the hip strong side and will continue to use that for a belt gun . If you feel " closer " to a weapon by all means carry that way . I tried it some 20 years ago and in fact it was harder to conceal , and offered no speed to me on day to day carry . I wont say its wrong for you SIR however it would not be right for me under most circumsances .

 

[Mad Magyar]

Appreciate all the constructive comments. I hope I didn't imply it's the only or the best way to conceal. Positive outcomes will certainly be dependent on the scenario and how one reacts to each situation. I tried gun-hand side for a long time and just didn't have the Karma and results I was looking for...
I must admit that I do more pocket carry with smaller calibers and for some unexplained reason will carry my revolvers only in a shoulder-rig...Crazy!

 

[ravencon]

I only own one cross-draw holster but I'm considering getting some more. Sometime ago I injured by dominant side shoulder while weight lifting. Rehab has been slow and iffy. I still sometimes have some difficulty in drawing from the strong side. As a lefty cross draw in a car is very advantageous.

I think I'll put up a post on the appropriate forum for suggestions for good cross draw holsters for revolvers.

 

[AStone]

I'm reading this with interest. Thanks to all for an interesting thread.

Nice to get more insight into people's reasoning behind their personal preferences, pros and cons of crossdraw (CD) v standard. I hope it'll expand into a discussion of standard v CD v shoulder carry (SC) more explicitly, especially from those who've done all three.

I've been considering adding both CD & SC to my options. Right now, around the home and at work since I'm not CCW yet (coming soon), I "carry" my J-frame in an OWB strong side high ride. I like it for around the studio. It's comfortable. It offers me fast (enough for my comfort) access on warm days when I don't need to conceal at home/work, but when covered with vest, pullover or untucked shirt, I find it much slower. No surprise. Of course, I haven't studied the art of quick draw as some (many?) of you have, so I have things to learn. (Relative to many of you, I'm still a trainee with hand guns even after three years on THR.)

But for away from here, especially during colder weather when I'm wearing layers, I want to try CD. Even though I'm reading arguments above about the downsides, and respecting those opinions, I'm of the opinion that there are potentially work-arounds for those downsides. That is, by modifying ones draw behavior for different carry options, I'm willing to bet that the pro/con ratio could be leveled out to near even for just about all of them.

No specifics to offer yet. Still thinking that through. But I think of it as a challenge, so I'll see what my neurons churn out in the next few ...

Nem

 

[tntwatt]

Old Fuff,

There's a reason then when you post, I pay attention.

"Common sense" is really underrated, and you have it in spades!

+1, Old Fluff,you may be getting a fan base.

 

[Old Fuff]

I have considered starting a fan club, with membership costing $1,000.00 a pop...

I do have this gun buying habit to support, and the only thing that exceeds my ego is my good looks...

 

[Murdock]

Crossdraws work well for people with shoulder injuries to the dominant side (e.g.; rotator cuff tears).

When I feel the need for a crossdraw, I use a shoulder holster.

 

[Trisha]

WB crossdraw seems to work best on folks with really good posture and a reasonably strong core muscle group/abs & back, IMO.

 

[sm]

Old Fuff:
I do have this gun buying habit to support, and the only thing that exceeds my ego is my good looks...

Trisha:
WB crossdraw seems to work best on folks with really good posture and a reasonably strong core muscle group/abs & back, IMO.

1,000.00 membership in the Old Fuff Club sounds too low to me...
I mean where else are you going to meet a fella that changed Ed McGivern's diapers, that lives in a cave, has all his hair, no gray, six pack abs that still carries Cross draw a revolver he made from Bison Bone and shoots flint bullets?

$1,500.00 sounds sounds like a more fair membership fee to me...

 

[owlhoot]

Magyar, I agree with you about the crossdraw. I've used that carry as my primary since Harry Truman was president. I also prefer it for the 1911, K frame, and SAA as well as the smaller guns. I prefer a holster with a neutral cant and I want it to ride as high as possible, especially with the larger guns. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find a proper holster.

 

[Mad Magyar]

I prefer a holster with a neutral cant and I want it to ride as high as possible, especially with the larger guns. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find a proper holster.

That's a point worth mentioning...I'm so used to the Yaqui belt slide (one pictured), but in my Boxful of Worthless Holsters, there are a few good 3-slot Open-style, Pancake hi-rides that give a more natural cant for grasping the CD gun hand....

 

[RustyShackelford]

Sharkey's Machine, Burt Reynolds/cross draw 1911a1 rig

In the classic cop film; Sharkey's Machine, www.IMDB.com , Burt Reynolds Atlanta GA vice cop uses a FBI canted holster for his right hand in a crossdraw almost behind his hip, . He used a big 1911a1 .45acp but I doubt a real police detective would carry a .45acp that way. It may conceal well but would be difficult to draw, .
In the start of the movie, Reynolds pulls a big S&W revolver from his lower pant leg too, .

Crossdraw holsters/carry reminds me of the few nitwits that would ask me if I was using a cavalry style carry holster, when I'd wear my GPNY .38spl in open carry uniformed work. I'd smile and tell them, no I'm left handed.

Rusty

 

[gp911]

Everytime I see that pic I hear the theme music from old cop shows like The Rockford Files...


gp911

 

[DWFan]

If I wore a weapon for self defense, it would have to be crossdraw for several reasons. For one, it the position I'm most comfortable with since my hunting pistols are carried that way. I understood that it was also the preferred carry style for shootists of the old west. Ya'll mention "sweeping the arm" but why would you present yourself head-on to an assailant? Wouldn't it be better to pivot the foot back while drawing your weapon and present profile, reducing the target area available to your opponent and protecting vital areas with your arm while keeping an antagonist away from the weapon?

 

[Mad Magyar]

Ya'll mention "sweeping the arm" but why would you present yourself head-on to an assailant? Wouldn't it be better to pivot the foot back while drawing your weapon and present profile, reducing the target area available to your opponent and protecting vital areas with your arm while keeping an antagonist away from the weapon?

Footwork is important since that "moment" certainly wouldn't be static...Another point that sometimes gets overlooked is how one can in an "innocent gesture" grasp one's firearm w/o exposure giving you a momentary edge in any attempt of surprise. A casual hand insertion, like a cross-over scratch of the abdomen, and you're in ORANGE alert.

 

[stormspotter]

When I am seated for a long period of time, like when I am out on storm watch, I use my Mernickle PS6 SA in crossdraw fashion. If I have to get out for any length of time then it goes to strong side carry.





I also have a Bianchi 1L for strong side carry and another Mernickle IWB for my Ruger 50th in 357 mags.

 

[RPCVYemen]

Only drawback I see is that at least around here, none of the ranges will let you practice cross draw. You end up muzzle sweeping the hole left side of the line.

Mike

 

[Mad Magyar]

StormSpotter, nice looking "pair"....

none of the ranges will let you practice cross draw. You end up muzzle sweeping the hole left side of the line.

I guess we're fortunate out here. Public range is about 8 miles out of town (down-side) but with plenty of safe berms...No R.O.'s out here.....

 

[JESmith]

Quote:
Ya'll mention "sweeping the arm" but why would you present yourself head-on to an assailant? Wouldn't it be better to pivot the foot back while drawing your weapon and present profile, reducing the target area available to your opponent and protecting vital areas with your arm while keeping an antagonist away from the weapon?


If the BG happens to actually grab your arm while you are drawing, you can step back and drop to your strong side knee. Pull straight back and gun will come out of the holster and be pointed at his midsection. Not a perfect combat stance, but you can always save that for the next gunfight.

 

[Ltlabner]

Ya'll mention "sweeping the arm" but why would you present yourself head-on to an assailant? Wouldn't it be better to pivot the foot back while drawing your weapon and present profile, reducing the target area available to your opponent and protecting vital areas with your arm while keeping an antagonist away from the weapon?

Except when you pivot to present ala weaver, you then open yourself up to a wound that transverses your entire chest cavity. You have to raise your arm to present the weapon so it woln't really provide much cover. While a round passing front to back is no picnic, going side to side presents a greater chance of multi organ injuries.

If wearing body armor you open up the slit under the arm when turning sideways to your target.

The bigger point, already raised, is that a gunfight will likely be a messy moving affair, but if given the choice (IMO) facing the target head on is a better option than the classic weaver. Just what works for me.

This will now begin a fur-ball of weaver versus isiocoloes stances.

Enjoy!

Oh yea, I'm not a fan of crossdraw unless I know I'm going to be in the car most of the day (i.e. vaction) then it's a far more comfortable soultion than strong side hip carry.

 

[loneviking]

LitlAbner, you're missing the picture. You 'blade' towards the bad guy with your weak arm forward supporting the gun, the gun held by your strong hand.

Look, go to sabretactical.com Look at their methodology and pictures, which I think is pretty close to what many of us in this thread have found to work. Frankly, until I found the sabre site, I had no idea that anyone else had found this method. I 'discovered' that this works while training with LEO's in a form of martial arts years ago. The stance is a very natural shift for someone with martial arts training.

 

[Ltlabner]

LitlAbner, you're missing the picture. You 'blade' towards the bad guy with your weak arm forward supporting the gun, the gun held by your strong hand.

Sigh....I didn't figure I'd be able to express an opinion of what makes sense and works for me without someone having to "school" me on how dumb I am.

Please, if your tactics and training work for you, by all means use what works. But please don't lecture me about how I'm missing the picture, ninja training or not.

 

[Big Boomer]

And you wanna try telling me how in the world you can stand wearing that cover garment in the TEXAS heat?

Thought so.

Cross draw is fine but not for all climates...

 

[publiuss]

I carry crossdraw often, but for reasons other than most people are concentrating on. When big game hunting I carry my Blackhawk crossdraw so it doesn't beat the hell out of my rifle stock when I have it slung over my shoulder. Never really considered crossdraw for concealed/SD but sounds like a good idea.

 

[loneviking]

Quote:

Sigh....I didn't figure I'd be able to express an opinion of what makes sense and works for me without someone having to "school" me on how dumb I am.

No, I'm not saying you are dumb! I am saying that you are 'talking past' some of the other folks on the forum. From your comments, you don't seem to understand the stance that they are referring too. As the saying goes 'a picture is worth a thousand words'---and that's why I posted the Sabre tactical training site.

Sheesh, don't be so thin skinned!