I understand there are occasions where ankle holsters are the best method of carrying a handgun of legitimate size. It also is a great way to carry a back up gun. My brother has insisted on carrying his primary off duty gun in an ankle holster for years which drives me crazy. I have tried everything short of water torture to get the answer out him and have failed. So, I'm asking here. Why do people insist on carrying in an ankle holster??
Handgun Carry: Why in an ankle holster?
- Thread starter medmo
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Because it's the way they think it should be done and they are often stubborn. I blame bad movies and TV shows for some of this.
I know some carry a backup in an ankle holster in case they are on the ground and the ankle holster would be easiest to reach. I know sometimes it's the best way to carry in certain situations. The only thing I know is I don't encounter those situations and I prefer belt and shoulder holster carry.
I know some carry a backup in an ankle holster in case they are on the ground and the ankle holster would be easiest to reach. I know sometimes it's the best way to carry in certain situations. The only thing I know is I don't encounter those situations and I prefer belt and shoulder holster carry.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Well, another thing is the fact that health related issues may keep you
from being able too get to an ankle holster, when a presentation is of
importance. Take me for example, I have a fused C-5 disk in my neck;
which makes it very near impossible to bend below the waist, so any
type of ankle holster is out for me~!
from being able too get to an ankle holster, when a presentation is of
importance. Take me for example, I have a fused C-5 disk in my neck;
which makes it very near impossible to bend below the waist, so any
type of ankle holster is out for me~!
Why do folks allow themselves to be driven crazy by the way another person does something?
Ankle works for some some folks, and not so well for others. Some folks are more flexible than others. Some folks have longer arms than others. Folks who sit a lot can reach their ankles relatively easily while sitting, especially if seated where elbow room is limited.
I don't currently use ankle carry, but for a couple of long periods in my life, I did so. Most of the time, the ankle gun was one of two or more guns.
I consider ankle carry to be realistically more accessible under a wider range of conditions than pocket carry, and few seem critical of pocket carry. Pocket carry works best when standing up straight. Bend at the waist, such as when sitting or squatting, and that pocket gun can be hard to reach and draw. Hmm, the very times a pocketed gun is hard to deploy, is when an ankle gun starts being easier to deploy. Could these carry methods complement each other?
Ankle works for some some folks, and not so well for others. Some folks are more flexible than others. Some folks have longer arms than others. Folks who sit a lot can reach their ankles relatively easily while sitting, especially if seated where elbow room is limited.
I don't currently use ankle carry, but for a couple of long periods in my life, I did so. Most of the time, the ankle gun was one of two or more guns.
I consider ankle carry to be realistically more accessible under a wider range of conditions than pocket carry, and few seem critical of pocket carry. Pocket carry works best when standing up straight. Bend at the waist, such as when sitting or squatting, and that pocket gun can be hard to reach and draw. Hmm, the very times a pocketed gun is hard to deploy, is when an ankle gun starts being easier to deploy. Could these carry methods complement each other?
I'm curious about this, too.
WRT an ankle holster, or anything else... I have injured myself and caused muscle/tendon pain because of a particular strap I wore, even including a simple watchband. I can see how IWB might cause hip pain for some people, and/or wouldn't work with most clothing someone would wear, depending on their build, etc. SOB has its own set of problems.
Ankle holsters are accessible in vehicles, even with a buckled seatbelt. This is not true of some (many) other carry methods.
There are many reasons, and not all of them have anything to do with bad TV shows.
I don't have an ankle holster myself, but I can definitely see reasons for using one.
SharpsDressedMan
member
Get over the "OhmyGod!-a-badguy-is drawing-on-me-right-NOW" fear, and raw speed from a holster becomes just another variable. Most cops and agents will tell you that surprise draw/self defense seldom occurs, and that they most often have some warning of attack or danger. For people who carry all the time, concealment might be first priority. Hardly anyone looks at your ankles, thus concealment in that location is pretty effective. And, you can forget about it (As long as you pants hang down far enough when seated). I've tagged gun carriers for the way they fidget, shift, check their weapons on their sides, etc, when standing, sitting, etc. You can often just spot a guy touching his weapon, to see if its "telling" through his outer garment, or adjusting his garment over a possible gun, etc. Ankle carriers don't do that (they can't reach the gun to do it so easily). Sure, it's slower to draw from, but when I carry that way, I often move the gun to my pocket or waistband if I go into a more dangerous locale, or feel a bad moment coming on (after your awareness gets honed, your Conditon Yellow might cause you to go to Condition Orange or Red.) There are no rules, so if you want to discreetly take your gun out to get it more ready to use, you do it. I find that an ankle rig is GREAT while in a car; gives me better access to my gun than a hip holster, and even some cross draw or shoulder rigs, and where I live and travel, there are more possibilities of getting into a fight from a vehicle. You can always fein tying your shoe, if you want to put yourself closer to your gun, without actually trying to draw fast from an ankle rig, should a possible threat start to close on you. Also, if you are crouching down, you are a smaller target, and can fire from the supported kneeling position. I carry several different guns several different ways. An ankle rig is just another viable option for selected occasions.
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fourdollarbill
Member
Sometimes when ducking behind a safety it would be useful to draw from the ankle as your hunched over. That's all I can think of.
SSN Vet
Member
thanks for the insights SDM...
I've intended to get an ankle rig for some time, as I carry OWB and often go without in the summer.
Fleece vests, sweaters and sweathirts make for great concealment in fall, winter and spring.... but summer always presents a challenge.
I've intended to get an ankle rig for some time, as I carry OWB and often go without in the summer.
Fleece vests, sweaters and sweathirts make for great concealment in fall, winter and spring.... but summer always presents a challenge.
FWIW, many times, when I exited a vehicle, I transferred the ankle gun to a pocket, to get the best of both worlds. Then, I would switch in the other direction when getting into the car. (Often, this was while on police patrol duty, but sometimes on my own time, in "soft" clothes.) This was while the usual hip-carried gun stayed in place; I have long preferred that consistency. Notice that I did not use the terms "primary" and "back-up" guns. If both are HK P7 pistols, or both are J-snubs, or both are SP101s, they are quite equal, and either could be the go-to gun at a given moment in time.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
I see ankle carry recommended fairly often in "business casual" settings. There is no suit coat to hide a gun, and even a "tuckable" IWB or pocket gun may exhibit excessive telltale bulge (according to its proponents). They feel it is the only realistic place to carry a gun. I don't agree but do understand the reasoning. I can also see it for a backup gun, and it might have some utility for carjack defense. Speaking for myself, I would have to exhaust all other options before I would carry my only gun in an ankle holster.
SSN Vet
Member
ya know, they only come out for about a week... and we just don't go out that week period
MedWheeler
Member
I used to do it on-duty with my BUG, but typically pocket-carried off-duty back then. I just recently came across my old ankle-rig in a box of stuff in my garage and pulled it out. As I recall, it was a good rig, holding my Charter Arms Undercover firmly in even the most vigorous of foot chases. There are some times I think I will put it to use again (low-profile, shirt tucked in, etc.) but belt (IWB) will always be my preferred means.
harrygunner
Member
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An ankle holster is just a tool that helps on occasion.
If I'm:
1) driving long distance, my arms are long enough for me to reach my ankle much easier than a gun on my side.
2) going to family gathering where lots of hugging will be going on.
3) going to a business meeting with customers or prospective customers and want to avoid any possible issues with their position on self defense.
I too have a IWB and ankle holster for the same gun(s). And have transitioned the gun from the waist to/from the ankle as the situation merits. A few times a year, I'll have a primary on my waist and a second gun on my ankle.
If I'm:
1) driving long distance, my arms are long enough for me to reach my ankle much easier than a gun on my side.
2) going to family gathering where lots of hugging will be going on.
3) going to a business meeting with customers or prospective customers and want to avoid any possible issues with their position on self defense.
I too have a IWB and ankle holster for the same gun(s). And have transitioned the gun from the waist to/from the ankle as the situation merits. A few times a year, I'll have a primary on my waist and a second gun on my ankle.
charliehustle10
Member
Sweatpants and belt look kinda funny,so I wear it on my ankle...Well sweatpants in general look funny, but WTHC.
Onward Allusion
Member
It may work for your brother. However, it is definitely not my preferred method - probably my last method of carry. Sure, 20-something years ago I carried in an ankle holster, but I was a lot more flexible, quicker, lighter & more naive of the dangers in life (not that I'm fat and wise now).
Even on the ONE occasion, way back then, when I had to draw from one, it would have been 10 times quicker with a IWB or in-pocket holster. If the BGs tried harder they could have definitely prevented me from drawing.
Even on the ONE occasion, way back then, when I had to draw from one, it would have been 10 times quicker with a IWB or in-pocket holster. If the BGs tried harder they could have definitely prevented me from drawing.
crashbuell
Member
In my opinion, the ankle holster isn't tactically sound. It's too far from your hand and you have to bend all the way down to get at it. The only time that I could see this as a viable carry method is for when you are driving/riding in a car for long stretches. But after you get to where you are going, you should rotate the gun to a pocket...
DeepSouth
Random Guy
Why do people insist on carrying in an ankle holster??
Because I can't reach the one in my pocket when I'm sitting.
Because I can't reach the one in my pocket when I'm sitting.
mustang_steve
Member
All the carry methods exist because they've worked for someone, somewhere, sometime.
Thus all of them have merit. Try to get a 4 to 6 o-clock, deep conceal, pocket, appendix or plaxico carried pistol out while seated in a car for example. That's where ankle rigs and shoulder rigs are great. Those other methods are great while standing for the most part.
Now this matters if you get into an incident at the restaurant compared to using an ATM after dark for example.
Thus all of them have merit. Try to get a 4 to 6 o-clock, deep conceal, pocket, appendix or plaxico carried pistol out while seated in a car for example. That's where ankle rigs and shoulder rigs are great. Those other methods are great while standing for the most part.
Now this matters if you get into an incident at the restaurant compared to using an ATM after dark for example.
I guess if you practice the "excuse me while I tie my shoe" routine enough you can pick up some speed with the draw. I can see how it would work well if you are on a long drive in the car. At least he has stopped wearing the "please shoot me first" fanny pack. It just looked plain wrong anyway.
I do remember a time years ago when we were at social gathering and he was out cutting the rug on a crowded dance floor. The snap came undone or something went wrong with his ankle holster and his piece went skidding across the dance floor. That was hilarious watching him swim through the crowd to recover it. Good thing it was polished nickel which made it easier to find in the dark club.
I do remember a time years ago when we were at social gathering and he was out cutting the rug on a crowded dance floor. The snap came undone or something went wrong with his ankle holster and his piece went skidding across the dance floor. That was hilarious watching him swim through the crowd to recover it. Good thing it was polished nickel which made it easier to find in the dark club.
I can see it for backup thats it. I really only find pocket carry and waist carry to be effective. Chest rigs for trail rigs are good too but that's not exactly concealed. Shoulder rigs are pretty good too but not my choice, their problem is that you have to reach across your body and make the gun visible and leave a small window for an attacker to react to the firearm, the other problem is that they are slower to draw from than a behind the hip holster or any same side draw waist holster. The problem with an ankle holster is it takes far to long to draw from and puts you in a horrible position to defend yourself, or maneuver. Most attacks occur at distances of less than 25 feet. 25 is actually very generous, so you try to draw from an ankle holster while someone sprints at you and get on target and fire. Chances are you get to your knees and as you get a hand on your gun, you're kneed in the face, stabbed, clubbed, etc. That is why people should be concerned with how people carry, because it can save the person's life. Another bonus with hip holsters and pockets is you can move while you draw, as in if your attacker runs at you you can take a couple steps back while you draw buying you time. Ankle holsters are good backup holsters but not a good for much else. A good alternative to a fanny pack is the safepacker. It looks like a holster for an electronic device http://store.thewilderness.com/index.php?cPath=51 check it out.
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