Field Carry: Cross Draw vs Straight Draw

[KansasTrapper77]

I have a Ruger New Model Blackhawk Flattop with a 4-3/4” barrel that needs a holster. The fella making the holster offers straight draw and cross draw variants.

And I (right handed) am considering the cross draw. I want the gun nearby and handy but out of the way. Sitting fairly forward on the left side might be more comfortable sitting in a truck and getting in & out alot. It would get the gun away from the seatbelt buckle on the right side and away from a rifle slung over the right shoulder.

Someone with more experience tell me why a cross draw is silly vs a standard straight draw.

Thanks.

 

[L-2]

Post 1,
Your thinking and logic are spot-on.
You could always get both holsters to try both ways of carrying or to switch off for whatever reasons.

Regarding the rifle, you could also, instead, sling the rifle over your left shoulder, with the barrel pointed downward.

 

[LimaCharlie]

The longer the barrel, the more a cross-draw makes sense. The more time you spend driving, the more a cross-draw makes sense.

 

[.38 Special]

I like cross draw quite a bit, as long as I don't need to conceal the gun. For open carry in the field, it's hard to beat.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Cross Draw or i'll throw rocks at ya till you do. LOL, j/k) No, seriously cross draw.

 

[NeroM]

I carry a 45 Colt RBH with 4 5/8 " barrel in a DeSantis cross draw holster. It allows fairly easy access on and off the tractor, dual sport bike, ATV and canoe - plus along bushy streams when trying to outsmart fish with a fly.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

Post 1,
Your thinking and logic are spot-on.
You could always get both holsters to try both ways of carrying or to switch off for whatever reasons.

Regarding the rifle, you could also, instead, sling the rifle over your left shoulder, with the barrel pointed downward.

I have done that before but I’ve lost my footing one too many times going down creek banks and caught myself on an arm and the tush and can just see myself stuffing the barrel in the mud.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

Cross Draw or i'll throw rocks at ya till you do. LOL, j/k) No, seriously cross draw.

I actually laughed out loud at this.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I like cross draw quite a bit, as long as I don't need to conceal the gun. For open carry in the field, it's hard to beat.

This is purely for field carry and around the farm.

But I think you guys have made up my mind that a cross draw will be handy and out of the way. Guess I just needed a push.

Thanks Y’all.

 

[DR505]

I use a chest carry rig...better than either cross draw or strong side.

 

[Armored farmer]

It seems like I just posted this recently....?
Cross draw for driving, sitting in a saddle, riding an atv, sitting in a deer stand......
You can get to it with either hand if need be....
Lift your coat with your weak hand, draw with strong hand....
many advantages to crossdraw....

 

[KansasTrapper77]

I use a chest carry rig...better than either cross draw or strong side.

I could believe that but they’re also double the price.

 

[bangswitch]

Cross-draw looks right to me when you're sitting and need it quickly.

I re-watched (for the third time, can't get enough of Isabel May) the Taylor Sheridan creation 1883. Every one of those cowboys carries two revolvers. One in a holster at 2 or 3 o'clock per the usual for a right-hander, and another one in a horizontal cross-draw over the left leg. Makes perfect sense for the right hander who is on horseback with the reins in his left hand. His right hand can go quickly to either one while in the saddle or when standing. A car seat makes the one at 2 or 3 o'clock less handy, but the cross-draw is still available.

BTW, if you haven't seen 1883, do whatever you can to see it. Damn best Western ever. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Sam Elliot. 10 one-hour episodes on the Oregon Trail. Attrition was almost 100%.

 

[curtste]

Cross draw is hard if you have short arms and a big gut like me.

 

[PWC]

I wish there was a cross draw IWB for CCW....

 

[.38 Special]

I could believe that but they’re also double the price.

I personally dislike chest carry. Different strokes...

 

[dweis]

In a situation when a fast draw is required the two best holster positions for me are a 3 o’clock and 11 o’clock carry. The 3 o’clock provides for the least movement of the arm of the dominant hand in OWB whether CC or OC. If you are aware Method-Time-Motion engineering that becomes obvious. It is a natural draw with them
best alignment of arm to gun. The concept is that the more contortion one has to us to draw the slower the draw will be. If you carry between 4 and 6 O’clock you have rotate your shoulder to do it. I cannot do that because my rotator cuff is severely and non-operably damaged. So I am good with 3 o’clock carry, but not with IWB carry because my left rotator cuff is also damaged so I have trouble reaching across to pull a garment away on an IWB draw.

I can cross draw with little effort between 12 and 2 O’clock on an IWB cross draw because my right arm can easily move that way and my left hand can easily get the garment out of the way. I am at an age where understanding physiology means better self-defense technique. I recommend that everyone young and old pay attention to how their body]] works and adapt accordingly rather than just but to son self-proclaimed instructor’s wisdom or lack thereof.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

A simply rugged pancake cross draw is about 100 + shipping. Very strong construction and comfortable. Also "Cross-Draw" is sexier to the ladies. Raquel: Hannie Caulder said so. I swear!

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

dweis, make a very important point. Body movement: kinesiology does bare. Due to strong side shoulder nerve damage I have to cross draw the elevation of the shoulder is very problematic.

 

[Tinman357]

Many years ago I witnessed a poster here on crossdraw. The OP got a lot of hate for it. I've kept my carry style low key since then, mostly.

Crossdraw is my preferred carry style. Whatever I carry. IWB to boot. Nobody makes a good IWB holster so I modify or make my own. Hint: any adjustable cant appendix holster can be a good CD holster.

Everything from a Sig P-365 to a 1911 to a Glock 40. All IWB crossdraw. Conceals well with my fashon style, easy to draw with either hand, less telegraphing. Seatbelts and printing while bending are not a problem

I'm not LEO so I can dress how I like and it's more discrete and faster than strong side carry under concealment.

It works for me. Might work for you too.

 

[CraigC]

In the field I'm carrying crossdraw 95% of the time.

 

[Armored farmer]

I wish there was a cross draw IWB for CCW....

DeSantis Softuk will work. I have 5 of them

 

[the Black Spot]

I trap a lot. Crossdraw works best for me. Tanker style might be an option.

 

[CraigC]

I like the Tanker and the DiamondD chest rigs.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

First off, Ruger does not make a Blackhawk with a 4 3/4" barrel. Although one of the standard barrel lengths for Colts is 4 3/4", Ruger barrels are 1/8" shorter at 4 5/8".

OK, School Marm mode off.

Here is my SASS gunbelt. Two 2nd Gen Colts, one with a 4 3/4" barrel, the other with a 7 1/2" barrel. These holsters have a bit of forward cant. I wear the 7 1/2" Colt on my left side with the butt forward as a cross draw holster because I discovered a long time ago it is difficult to draw a 7 1/2" barreled Colt on the strongside without getting my elbow tangled in my arm pit. Cross draw eliminates that with a long barrel.

Although I do not carry every day, my experience with the 4 3/4" Colt carried on my strong side is that I do not have a problem sitting down. The long barrelled Colt tends to bump the seat when I sit, but the 4 3/4" Colt does not bump the seat.

Of course, this is wearing the holsters on a wide (2 3/4") gunbelt. Wearing the holster on a narrower belt may cause the holster to ride differently.

If it wuz me, I would get a holster that I could wear on either side until I decided which way I liked best.