Cross Draw with a large revolver...anybody do it?

[DawgFvr]

Once this warmer weather phase passes through (usually does not last long in the northwest) I intend to carry a larger revolver OWB and concealed by a sport coat or jacket. Normally, I have always used a strong side holster combination if I was not pocket carrying. I saw an El Passo holster recently that also allows cross drawing: http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-74-9-double-agent-dual-position-holster.aspx Now, I think this looks interesting...I could use it while driving in a car...but then, I thought it might just work with the sport jacket. Cross draw seems kind of...natural with a coat covering. It seems so much easier to "uncover" or draw back the jacket with the weak hand as the strong hand seeks the pistol grip...yeah, very natural. Does this seem like a viable option or is this wasted motion vs. comfort in a real time situation? Does anybody else use a large revolver from a cross draw configuration? Cross draw shoulder holster configuration? Would love feedback...pro and con.

 

[YosemiteSam357]

I think you'd have to see how it worked in practice. Can you keep your jacket buttoned most of the time? If not, it's likely it'll flap open in the breeze when you least want it to. Don't know about WA, but in OR you can get cited for "brandishing" if someone sees your "concealed" weapon.

-- Sam

 

[TT]

Probably doesn’t qualify as a ‘large’ revolver, but I have carried a S&W M64 4” (K frame) crossdraw in a Hume JIT. Worked fine.

 

[DawgFvr]

YS....hmmm, I did not think about that. I really would not want to button the jacket...so, I surely could not carry it, say 11 o'clock. Guess I could not carry it at 9 o'clock as it would probably look like a block on my hip. 8 o'clock carry might work...as it does have the FBI cant...but I'd either be Gumby or have to practice a bit more...but, seems workable...my arms are a bit short though...52 inch sleeve. I might have to rethink this a bit.

 

[Gary A]

52 inch sleeve?? You should be able to draw that thing from anywhere on your body, or anywhere in the neighborhood!

 

[Mainsail]

I think you'd have to see how it worked in practice. Can you keep your jacket buttoned most of the time? If not, it's likely it'll flap open in the breeze when you least want it to. Don't know about WA, but in OR you can get cited for "brandishing" if someone sees your "concealed" weapon.

Open carry is legal in WA, so if his jacket blows open it's no big deal. I would just skip the jacket altogether and open carry when it's hot.

 

[DawgFvr]

Gary A: dern!...make that 31 inch sleeve...hee, hee...I would have to be a monkey with the 51!

Woah! Mainsail: What do you mean, "open carry is legal in Wa?" I'm not in the backwoods hunting...I'm talking about carrying concealed, out and about in the tamed sections. I do have a Washington State Concealed Pistol License and to be honest, I've never heard of open carry in this state. Must be an Eastern Washington thing. Please educate me on this matter.

 

[DawgFvr]

Mainsail...I found this article on the internet:

Shotgun News, March 1, 2006, pp. 26-27.

Washington State's Open Carry Ban

Washington State has a non-discretionary concealed handgun license law--and it was the first state to do so, in 1961. It also has a law that, for practical purposes, bans open carry of handguns in cities. I say "for practical purposes" because even though it is not a direct ban, the language is sufficiently loose that if you were to walk down the streets of Seattle with a handgun in a hip holster, I suspect that you would be arrested under this statute, which makes it unlawful "for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons."1

 

[YosemiteSam357]

Again, don't know about WA, but in Oregon, it's very strange: Open carry is legal, but with the caveat mentioned above: "Just try it" in Portland, Eugene, or any other "I5" city, and see what happens. You'll likely cause a riot and be cited for brandishing.

But (again, Oregon) if you have a CHL, you cannot carry in the open. If you carry it must be concealed. Very strange.

BTW, El Paso Saddlery is a good choice. I don't have that particular holster, but I do have a Tortilla, and it's very well made.

-- Sam

 

[Logos]

I've always preferred 10 o'clock carry, but I have long arms and the 2 to 5 o'clock carry positions are actually uncomfortable for me to draw from.

I also like it for in the car and I like having the gun where I can control and protect it with both hands and also draw with either hand.

I wear a big BDU type shirt (tan or black, no camo) and if I need to take the shirt off--I can tie the sleeves around my waist like you do with a sweater or sweatshirt and the gun stays concealed.....or at least covered.

If you have short arms, though.......I imagine weak side carry might be uncomfortable for you just like strong side carry is for me.

 

[rantingredneck]

I used to carry my SRH .454 this way when hunting. I had to modify a cheap nylon holster to do it but it worked well. I eventually went to a shoulder rig, but short of that the crossdraw was most comfortable.

 

[Mainsail]

Open carry is perfectly legal in Washington. I routinely open carry in Seattle, Federal Way, Tacoma (where I live), and surrounding areas.

Note this statement from a recent court ruling:

We note that, in connection with this case, several individuals have commented that they would find it strange, maybe shocking, to see a man carrying a gun down the street in broad daylight. Casad's appellate counsel conceded that she would personally react with shock, but she emphasized that an individual's lack of comfort with firearms does not equate to reasonable alarm. We agree. It is not unlawful for a person to responsibly walk down the street with a visible firearm, even if this action would shock some people.

There’s discussion about that court case here.

 

[DawgFvr]

Mainsail: Thank you for this information...I'll have to keep that in mind. I certainly did not know that nor have I ever witnessed anbody carrying open in this state. Now that I think about it...why go through the process of acquiring a concealed permit carry if it is legal to carry open? I cannot find anything in State Laws that permit open carry...I will continue to research this. Again...thank you for bringing this to my attention. Anybody else from the state of Washington that can give some pertinent input here?

 

[Gator]

I used to carry a 7.5" Redhawk in a Bianchi 111 crossdraw holster, and it was very comfortable.

 

[def4pos8]

I have always preferred cross-draws because most of my carry experience has been in vehicles and light aircraft. Arms right through an 8-3/8in Redhawk were quite comfortable/accessable. Of late, I wear vests with large pockets but, still, in cross-draw.

Wow! Your open/concealed issues due seem to be confused/conflicted out there on the Left Coast.

 

[Mainsail]

I cannot find anything in State Laws that permit open carry...I will continue to research this.

You won’t. You’re thinking backwards, open carry is legal because it isn’t prohibited. Also, keep in mind that due to a quirk in WA law, if you are open carrying and you get into a car, you are now concealed carrying, and would thus need a permit.

 

[buttrap]

Thats my main mode of carying a large revolver as I dont get a hammer in the ribs when I sit back down in a horse saddle or in a truck seat.

 

[YosemiteSam357]

But (again, Oregon) if you have a CHL, you cannot carry in the open. If you carry it must be concealed. Very strange.

OK, I retract this statement. I was given this information by a co-worker who is an NRA certified instructor that teaches CHL classes, but it never sounded right. I went through the courses and got my CHL many years ago, so my memory was unclear, but I did not remember ever hearing this at that time.

So I checked out the FAQs at the Oregon Firearms Federation, and they say this is nonsense. You give up no right to open carry by obtaining a CHL in Oregon. Email to the maintainer of that site confirms this.

Given that neither of these sources have the force of law I might check with the Sheriff before doing it. However, if it's not clearly defined any officer you might run into while carrying openly might not be fully up on the law, either.

Don't you just love how they keep laws nice and confusing, just to keep us on our toes?

-- Sam

 

[Kalindras]

Only on duty... *grin*

Well, when my duty post demands that I strap on "Da Big Iron," I carry our state-issued S&W Model 65 crossdraw (and am the only officer on our unit to do so). I get all KINDS of looks and comments about it (Hey, check out the gunslinger! You've got your pistol on backwards, there, guy).

I asked long ago if it was outside of state-mandated policy (it is not), and after a few simple demonstrations (try to take that pistol away from me...what happens if I break my strong-side hand on your face?!?) I've yet to be told that I had to change it.

My $.02...ymmv.