[Redheadedstranger]

I want to thank everyone in advance for the helpful information. I have been a "lurker" on this site for some time, but this is only my second post. I have been looking into the idea of small of the back carry and need some opinions on holsters. I tend to gravitate toward the Kydex variety (Comp Tac for my Glock 17) but I am open to suggestions. The holster would be for the aforementioned Glock. I am a tall, thin guy and the small of back just seems to fit me better. I live south of Houston, so the climate prevents me from wearing a jacket/coat except for the 2 months we refer to as "winter." Thanks again.

[The Amigo]

I'm an LEO and during training back carry has become less popular due to studies has showed that its easier to snatch a persons gun in the back than from the front. We were trained that if someone grabbed your gun from the front its was more of a controllable situation since the hands and your vision are in the front and the norm was to get in the fetal position and drop to the floor this was practiced in the classroom and most of the scenarios were a gun was in the back the BG/instructors were able to take the guns away vs not in the front. Hope this helps.

[Redheadedstranger]

Thanks for the response, Amigo. What you are saying makes sense. I am just having a hard time finding something that is both semi-comfortable and functional. I have my CHL, but do not carry it on me often because of this. I was actually thinking of carrying not true SOB but offset (maybe 5-5:30 position). Your thoughts on retention do make sense. Thank you for not telling me it is dangerous to carry SOB due to possible "spinal trauma." No doubt at all that it would hurt to land on it, but I have read where a lot of individuals mention "possible paralysis" without any actual evidence that it has happened. Falling on a metal object strapped anywhere on your body is going to smart. Thanks.

[ClarkEMyers]

Horseshoe Leather makes a great holster. One of the few universally acknowledged as great to make a holster for small of the back carry. Mr. Aratoonian also says it's not for everyone.

[tegemu]

I can't get past the thought that with SOB carry, if you should fall on your back, you stand a good chance of never walking again. they are also very uncomfortable to sit down with. A good IWB holster at 3:30 to 4:30 is very comfortable and practically provides the advantages of SOB.

[Redheadedstranger]

I agree that landing on your weapon directly on your spine will hurt and most likely give you a nasty bone bruise, or even fracture a transverse or spinous process. However, I think the likelyhood of paralysis is over-hyped. A lot of people state this, but I haven't seen where it has happened to someone. I will be there first to admit I have been wrong before, though:) SOB may not be the best description of my intent. I like the horizontal draw, but most likely the carry would be at five o' clock. Vertical draw at 4:30 is just kind of tough for me.

[auschip]

Vertical draw at 4:30 is just kind of tough for me.

If you don't like the SOB holster, you might look at carrying at 4:00 with a left handed holster (or right handed if you are a lefty). It changes the draw, but might be a bit more comfortable.

[Redheadedstranger]

That is something haven't considered, Auschip. Is this something that you use often? Like I stated earlier, SOB is probably not the best way to describe what I am looking for. 4-5 o'clock carry seems to be ideal for me, but the horizontal (or maybe canted) is more comfortable compared to vertical. Thanks for the tip and I'll look into that. Thanks again to everyone for their advice and help. That is the reason I keep coming back!

[lesjones]

Lots of people have mentioned other problems with SOB carry. Here's another.

When drawing from SOB it's awfully hard to avoid sweeping the muzzle across some part of your anatomy.

[Sniper X]

I am carrying a SOB holster for a G27 right now, but is has a model 605 in it which it fits like a glove. I push it around to more of a SOB/Side holster for better concielability and comfort. It is great for when I carry something tinyer than my full size 1911 which is what I normally carry.

[MD_Willington]

How about a Ross M23?

http://www.ccwsupply.biz/RossM23DrivingHolsterPAGE.htm

[carnaby]

If it's good enough for Magnum, it's OK by me :P

[yongxingfreesty]

you can easily draw to have the pistol not facing you. hard to explain, but easy to do.

[HiWayMan]

I know you are pretty set on SOBish carry, but have you tried appendix IWB (A-IWB) carry. Being tall and skinny it would probably work well for you. And it is easy to cover with a T-shirt, good for the non-winter time in Tejas.

[steelhead]

SOB is a bad idea and borderline stupid when you consider the very real chance of permanent spinal damage. Take a look at a smartcarry holster (you can wear shorts and go shirtless and no one will ever know) or go with other previously mentioned styles of carry.

[carnaby]

I carry appendix IWB with small auto quite regularly. It is the best concealment I can get short of a smartcarry type system. This only works with my Bersa "Thunder" or my former Kimber Ultra Carry.

I did have to modify my Uncle Mikes cheapo holster by removing the belt clip and placing it higher up. That was a pain, but well worth it, as now the grip of the gun is halfway below my belt, which provides superb concealment.

[Clipper]

Lighten up, SOB doesn't necessarily mean a dead 6:00 position. I sometime use the dreaded SOB holster at 5:00! Imagine that...No danger to the spine! My wife does the left handed IWB clip-on carried at 4:30-5:00 and drawn cavalry-style thing. She often doesn't bother taking it off when she gets home, because she doesn't even feel it there. Mine's a horizontal, and is quite comfortable with my Taurus MP PT-145. I generally use a safari vest as a cover garment, as it's light and well vented.

[lance22]

I think if you are a store clerk, standing up all day, not having anyone behind you, that an SOB holster might not be a bad idea sometimes.

BearClaw holsters probably has the smallest SOB holster I've seen:
http://www.bearclawholsters.com/holsters/roundback.aspx

SOB doesn't work for me as I'm sitting down most of the time, and IWB 4:30 works so good that there's no need at present to pursue other options.

[pax]

SOB isn't often as well concealed as the carrier thinks it is.

Even if you habitually use your knees instead of your back when you bend down to pick something up, most people still curl their backs a little bit when picking stuff up. Guess what prints?

Funniest new-to-carrying encounter with a friend. We were eating lunch at an outdoor cafe, one of those places with plastic garden chairs. Finished the meal. He stood up ... and the chair followed him. Took him a good two minutes of cussin' & flopping around to get it untangled from his holster.

Hurts to carry SOB while sitting in a car, or in an office chair, or on the couch, or in a restaurant, or anywhere else for that matter. Which means the person is more likely to leave the gun at home "just this once" when going out -- and "just this once" pretty quickly turns into "all the time."

There are better ways to carry.

pax