I've got hip holsters, but I've come to believe I need a shoulder holster for use when driving. Mostly for dealing with possible attempted car jackings. Something I can access without fumbling with the seatbelt.
Handgun for this application: S&W Model 36 (old school).
I live in Indiana. Like leather, but open to other ideas. Comfort is required for all-day wear and lack of temptation to take the thing off.
Inclined towards horizontal carry, but open to other ideas.
What do you guys like these days?
- Tom
Here is something to chew on....
When I first got sworn in on the job I asked for recommendations on how to carry guns on and off duty. I was fortunate enough to have some friends who were older and far more experienced. They were also not your average police officers, when it came to ability. They were A class to Grandmaster class shooters and completely switched on.
To a man, they said stay away from shoulder holsters. They told me that they would be uncomfortable to wear for 18+ hours at a time and would wear on you if you were carrying a gun that you would actually want in your hands during a scrape.
Then there was the issue of not being able to take off your suit coat or jacket in situations that it was appropriate to do so. As I recall one also mentioned that when wearing a shoulder holster with a decent sized gun, it would bunch up your shirt due to the straps pulling on it all the time and you would look like a bag of arse. To me, appearance is important when it comes to professionalism.
So, I immdeiately went out and bought a few different shoulder rigs to prove them wrong. In the end they were right. I eventually came full circle and ended up sticking with what they told me to go with in the first place for a primary gun, that being strong side carry, either in a Milt Sparks IWB rig or a high ride OWB such as the 55BN.
Now when it came to second guns, they all said the same thing, (once again, they were right) get an ankle rig. The ankle rigs are hard to draw from while standing upright and are not fast at all. They however have some distinct advantages. One is that while seated, such as behind the wheel they really come into their own.
Example: When seated behind the wheel if a person approaches your vehicle and you are unsure of their intentions, it is blatantly obvious if you lean forward and to your side to draw a gun from your strong side.
In that position an ankle rig is ideal, ( right hand shooter, left, inside leg carry) simply reach down and slide the pistol into your hand and keep it covered until you determine if the person is a threat or not. If they are not, you can slide it back into your ankle rig or exit the vehicle and slide it into a pocket if you choose. This can all be done unobtrusively.
This technique has worked very well for me. Twice in my career, I have ended up having to point my J frame at an individual at my car door and both times you could tell they were shocked at how fast I had the upper hand.
Every other time the people were simply wanting to chat, complain or advise me of something and I was able to put my J frame away without causing any undue alarm.
The other obvious advantage is that with an ankle rig, you can take your jacket or other covering garment off.
Personally, I rarely carry just a J frame. But everyone has their own set of circumstances. I also has Milt Sparks build me a pocket holster for a J frame and it has seen a lot of use as well, when wearing shorts or simply other situations where I do not want to ankle carry.
A shoulder holster seems like a lot of rig to just carry a J frame. Obviously it is up to you, but I figured I would just give you some food for thought.
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