on-body vs. off body carry

[mr_dove]

I've seen lots of criticism of off-body carry recently. I'm not sure of all the reasons for it but it got me to thinking.

There are many modes of carry available to us. Many of them are clearly on-body or off-body but there seems to be a vague line of products that is difficult to cagegorize as either.

What exactly qualifies something as off-body carry? Even modes such as purse carry are designed to be on-body, otherwise it would be useless. Is the determining factor ease of access? Ease or removal?

A paddle holster is just as easy to lay down on a table as a purse. A fanny pack can be worn at all times and presentation is pretty quick. Those elastic belts are technically "on-body" but presentation seems pretty slow.

I'm not familiar with all modes of carry but those that seem hard to classify are:

belly-bands
fanny packs
vest carry

Just curious to hear some debate about off-body vs. on-body carry.

 

[SapperLeader]

While a paddle holster can be taken off, its more of a concious action to do so. If you leave your paddle holster concealed under your clothes, no one knows its there. off body carry includes bags, purses, backpacks, day planners and the like. Something your carrying or holding, that it is much more natural to put down on a table or desk and wander off. I can see someone forgetting thier backpack, its much harder to forget a holstered gun.

When someone says off body, thier not reffering to never being clsoe to the person, its more, that its items that your not actually wearing, more likely holding.

 

[swingcatt]

I teach that anything not making secured contact with your body is considered off-body. This includes purses, dayplanners and briefcases. Off body carry does not let you retain control of your firearm at all times, period. If you have ever seen the way purse snatchers operate in large cities, you will understand why.

There are hundreds of ways to carry, but anything other than strong-side concealed is a compromise to your ability to draw and shoot reliably. Granted, due to some situations or conditions - sometimes you will have to comprimise, but do not make the mistake of making a comprimised method your main method!


SC

 

[TamThompson]

Another important issue is the risk of leaving your purse/briefcase/day planner unattended and either forgetting it OR having some kid swipe it.

For instance, if I carried in my purse when I went shopping for clothes, what happens when I have to set my purse down to slip on a sweater?

I do own and carry a gun purse, but I've quit carrying in the purse because everytime I go out to eat the first thing I do is set my purse down on the floor.

One time when I was out with a bunch of friends, we were moving around a big table, talking about an upcoming race and strategizing, and one of my female acquaintances called out, "Good lord, woman, what've you GOT in this purse? It weighs a TON!" And there she is, holding my purse that she'd moved off a chair so she could sit down. Purse contained a loaded, cocked Glock 30 in a sleeve-type holster (Unkle Mike's.)

For me, it's on-the-body carry. I don't need to have my guns getting separated from me.

 

[answerguy]

I'm not sure why, maybe it's because of the discussion about off body carry, but i'm reminded of a story of a guy who wanted to keep his gun concealed in his car.

He figured just having it lay on the seat in a holster would be an invitation to be stolen. So he wondered about hollowing out an old lap top computer and concealing the gun in that.

I suggested to him that maybe he should just wrap the gun in a wad of currency instead.

 

[Mannlicher]

The few times I have carried off body, like in a fanny pack, I have felt darn insecure. I keep it on me all the time now.

 

[Meow]

answerguy, lol laptop

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

I suppose I would I be okay with it if I had a larger gun off body, but still a little .32 or .380 on body just in case.