responding to the new messages:
JTQ, message #6:
I did look at those links in response to your original message, in fact the photo I posted at the beginning is from one of those sites. At the time when I looked at the corneredcat article, I saw the picture she has and went "No, I don't have an hourglassy shape like that model, that must not be what I need." I didn't realize the gun would also sit at least a little lower. Meanwhile, after Sam mentioned the drop-and-offset style in this thread, I went googling and found the BladeTech site but when I tried to use its search feature I never saw any revolvers in the list. I just tried clicking the link in your new post and get a 404. The giholsters link is for a Silent Thunder OWB holster, is this the drop-and-offset style? (Because it doesn't mention that.) It also has some choices I don't know how to make because I don't know what they're talking about, "mounting option" and "locking mount". ???
JTQ, message #7:
Very interesting. So BladeTech is the most popular. Just went back to their website, tried searching under OWB holster, that list does include the 686 Plus, but again, a) it doesn't mention being drop-and-offset; and b) I don't know what to select for Attachment or Cant. (I assume Rail and Light are no?)
Sam1911, message #8:
OK, your link to BladeTech works and is the one I just asked JTQ about, you can answer too.
FlashBang is a non-starter, I looked at that ages ago and thought it was very scary, it looked unstable... and sure enough, meanwhile some woman shot herself trying to adjust one.
judgedelta, message #11:
Just to clarify, this is not about carrying per se, I am in California where regular people are not granted a concealed carry license. Right now it's just about a class. IAC my choice of gun was for reliability and accuracy. For shooting the weight is fine for me, even one-handed, I'm just worried about unevenly distributed weight around my midsection because I have multiple lower back issues.
Sunray, message #12:
So the gun weighs 38.9 oz, add 7 rounds makes it roughly 42.4 oz, a little over 2½ lbs. I plan to get the 5 Star speedloader(s), their website doesn't mention how much one weighs but they are aluminum and one review I read said they weigh less than the plastic ones made by other companies. Amazon says the shipping weight of the 6-shot version is 1.1 oz, so figure a full one weighs maybe 4.6-4.7 oz, not much of an offset.
Jeff White, message #13:
If you feel like looking at the two holsters mentioned above and offering any thoughts, that would be great. The "butt of the gun midway between the wrist and elbow", that is the problem. Standing up with my arm straight my elbow is at my waist, my wrist is a tiny bit more than 2" below the top of my leg. That's why the holster-on-the-belt that seems to be the standard position looks to me like it will be hard for me to work with.
herrwalther, message #14:
I didn't know what a SERPA is, googling found some photos of people wearing the gun on the thigh but the harness or whatever you call it looks much more heavy-duty than the photo I posted at the beginning of the thread, for one thing I see TWO straps attaching it to the belt. But your message looks like SERPA is something different from a drop-leg style?
VanGoghComplex, message #16:
Yes, I have a short torso and relatively long legs, and the former is the reason I imagined a waist-level holster would be unwieldy for me. The whole time since I decided to learn to shoot I was imagining I could use the drop-leg style, I've never even gone through the motions of drawing from waist level... <timeout> OK, looking around in my kitchen I found a wire whisk that is 9½" long (4" 686 Plus is 9.56"), I just mimed drawing it, it
totally doesn't work.
My only hope is that how I just mimed it isn't how one is actually supposed to draw and there is some secret that makes it doable...
Malamute, message #17:
This photo at your link looks like what you're talking about, correct? What keeps the holster from flopping around?