Shoulder Holster Pros and Cons

roque5

Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
116
Location
ChicagoLand
I did it, bought my first shoulder holster in 20 years, Don't have it yet as it is from Craft Holsters and will be here in a month, I respect the people on this forum and over the years have learned some good things here so I thought I would seek your input, I will be carrying a H&K USP-C w/safety. I am aware of muzzle discipline so that is not an issue. Here where I live car-jackings are high, 2020=1417,
2021=1800+ and 2022 is starting off strong, these #s according to Chicago Tribune, So while driving my usual 4oclock position is not as convenient as I would like so I am trying the shoulder holster, Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
 
I'm looking at the craft shoulder holster and I notice the same problem that I notice with my Aker shoulder holster, the magazine carriers have one snap a piece and that isn't enough. I lost a Glock 20 mag out in the field one day because of that issue and I haven't worn the holster since and that was a couple years ago. The mags are heavy and they hang upside down and get jostled around with vigorous activity and the snaps pop open and the magazine dumps out and maybe you notice it or maybe you don't. Show me a shoulder holster with two snaps to secure the magazines and I'd consider buying it. If it had 3 snaps, I'd buy it instantly because that's a shoulder holster made with actual combat in mind.
 
I'm looking at the craft shoulder holster and I notice the same problem that I notice with my Aker shoulder holster, the magazine carriers have one snap a piece and that isn't enough.
I don't follow shoulder holsters very closely, so I went to some of my "usual suspects". They all only have one snap per pouch.

Mitch Rosen https://mitchrosen.com/products/holsters/shoulder-holsters/

Andrews Custom http://www.andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm

Black Hills https://www.blackhillsleather.com/shop/shoulder-holsters/single-shoulder-rigs/basketweave-tooling/

El Paso Saddlery https://epsaddlery.com/product/allegiance-shoulder-system/

Looking at these models, where would a second snap fit on these mag pouches? What benefit would it provide? Is it as a back-up to the first snap, or to give wider coverage to pouch?
 
Shoulder holsters demand excellent flexibility to effectively reach crossbody.
Unless already very physically fit revisiting stretching exercises would be beneficial.

I am most familiar with Sam Andrews Leather models and they are of great quality.
Based on your description sounds like a custom, too. Horizontal or vertical orientation?
 
I don't follow shoulder holsters very closely, so I went to some of my "usual suspects". They all only have one snap per pouch.

Looking at these models, where would a second snap fit on these mag pouches? What benefit would it provide? Is it as a back-up to the first snap, or to give wider coverage to pouch?
This is the Aker XR7. This is the shoulder holster that cost me a magazine full of 10mm. Note the two snaps. Those are so you can use the mag carriers for short or extended magazines. There are two caps there that you can see but there's only one stud underneath so you can retain the smaller mags. What it needs are two snaps on the strap and two studs on the body of the mag carrier if not three or an alternate method of securement that is more secure than the single snap. IMO, that's a pretty big deal to have magazines falling out of your mag carriers because you're twisting the wrong way or moving to vigorously. That is completely unacceptable. It's cheaping out is what it is.
258_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=ZzqPnHI_g-cAX-xzF-A&_nc_ht=scontent.ftol2-1.jpg
 
What it needs are two snaps on the strap and two studs on the body of the mag carrier if not three or an alternate method of securement that is more secure than the single snap.
Did your mags come out of the pouch because the snap failed, or because the pouch/mag fit was poor?

A second snap on the pouch body may help with the former, but it's not doing anything for the latter.
 
Totally agree shoulder holsters have gravity working against them both for pistol as well as magazines.
As an example…I would not at all feel comfortable using a shoulder holster while piloting a motorcycle.
 
Did your mags come out of the pouch because the snap failed, or because the pouch/mag fit was poor?
The snap failed while I was walking down a trail with my dog. The ground was soft and I didn't hear it hit. I had actually had it happen before that a couple of times too but didn't lose the magazine. The biggest reason for getting a shoulder holster, IMO, is because of how it facilitates carrying those two extra magazines. It was a real disappointment when that snap failed and I lost one of those extra magazines. I didn't care about the money, I was ticked off that for lack of two extra 25 cent snaps, this great holster was rendered combat ineffective. This is a well made holster. I paid around $200 for it. The craftsmanship is fine. The materials are fine. The snaps were fine. The single snap design is flawed however and this particular design flaw seems to be standardized across the spectrum of shoulder holsters.
 
I can see benefits of magazine pouch covers being full-length, dual/triple snaps, and velcro-lined.
The magazine is oriented straight down with nearly zero retention. It truly depends on that one lonely snap.
There are directional snaps, yet if a user is preoccupied with magazine or gun loss, that person is less effective.
 
I've got an old LouAlessi rig (RIP, he made the best shoulder holster ever, the Bodyguard) from twenty-odd years ago (he was a member of the 1911 Forum, nice guy and true artisan) and a few Galco Miami Classics and an old Jackass Leather rig.

Never had an issue with the single snap on vertical mag pouches (I prefer them over the horizontal pouches on the Miami Classic II). I've been pretty active wearing shoulder holsters, never lost a mag (granted, I haven't gone hands-on combative with anyone while wearing one, but I've done some physical activity with no problems).

Once one gets the fitment correct, the horizontal shoulder rig is great for driving (or sitting at a desk as some of us have to do too often), offers some relief from back problems, too.
 
Last time I carried in a shoulder holster regularly was 12 years ago, so not much different than your last experience. I have on and off (once every few months) with the same holster I did back then. Nothing special, a nylon and cheap setup so the pros/cons can differ.

Pros:
-Very comfortable. The weight is shifted from your waist to your shoulders. Carry a big gun + extra mags is more comfortable in a shoulder holster than IWB/OWB.
-Faster on *some* draws. It is easier to draw in a vehicle/seated etc compared to waist carry. Most shoulder holsters have thumb straps around the firearm. So, it takes practice to get faster. But you aren't having to fight a cover garment ie shirt, vest, jacket, it can be faster.

Cons:
Some of these can be pro or con, depending on perspective. I am just going to stick them here for simplicity.
-Harder to conceal. You need a full size garment to carry concealed in a shoulder holster. A suit jacket. A vest at minimum. Or, open carry. When I carried in a shoulder holster 12 years ago, it was open. Everyone knew I was armed. But I was also expected to be armed in that time. Concealment was not much of a consideration.
-Flagging. You have to train extensively with a shoulder holster to not flag your own arm/side or someone standing behind you.You can decide how much flagging yourself/others bothers you. I compare it to things like appendix carry. Yes the muzzle is at your leg but, following the other rules the risk is negated. Even with IWB/OWB carry, you are pointing a weapon at a part of your tuccus.
-Balance. Shoulder holster carry works best on light firearms or heavy firearms with ammo on the opposite side. It is like working out with a leg or arm weight on one, but not the other. If you carry an M9 under your left arm you will want a spare magazine or two under the right to balance the firearm. There are plenty of instances where I carried with a shoulder holster with just a firearm where it felt heavier without a counterbalance of ammo on the other side.

Shoulder carry can be a very viable reason to carry based on what you want. Just be sure to consider the pros and cons beforehand. Base it on type of firearm, ammo, clothing etc. As far as other carry types, shoulder carry is the most if type of carry I have tried.
 
I appreciate your responses, To JTQ, yes I realize it is after the fact but many things have changed since I wore one with a Colt .45 but I felt comfortable with it back then so I know a shoulder holster will work again for me, To Blue Jays, yes it is a custom and it is horizontal, and I gave my Harley to my daughter so that issue is moot. Thanks again everyone and be safe..
 
I'm just gathering information here that may help the OP, or others
The snap failed...
For clarification, by "failed" you mean the snap came unsnapped, or the male end on the pouch, separated from the pouch with the female part still attached?

Does the Aker holster come with "pull the dot" snaps on the mag pouch?
 
A general comment about shoulder holsters, for those who may be new to the product, and may be put off by the high prices associated with most shoulder holsters.

A shoulder holster is the equivalent of a holster, belt, and mag pouch. When you consider a leather holster would probably cost $100+, a leather belt another $100, and a leather double mag pouch $50 - $80, you can see where the price of a shoulder holster is going to be.
 
I have a DeSantis New York Undercover made for a G19 but bought for my G36.

It has pull the dot snaps on everything except the gun and magazine release snaps.

This DeSantis is a good car driving holster and cold weather holster. However, I’ve got very few “miles” with the set up since it’s hard to stay dressed for the cold here.
 
I have a couple, only wear them in heavy jacket weather, they make you look 3 feet wide. I don't consider any of the really concealable but they are comfortable and accessible. They're all fiddly to get adjusted just right and get the weight shifted around and hanging in a realistic way. I prefer to have a rig that attaches to my belt as it holds it all together, the type that just hang from your shoulders do a lot of flopping around.

Nothing's perfect but shoulder holsters have their place. I generally use mine for long drives and extended outdoor activity where concealment isn't a top priority
 
Have been using a Galco Miami Classic for decades for a 1911. They are very comfortable. I too have never had a mag fall from the pouch. Looks to me like it would not be a big deal to add a snap to the flaps if someone wanted to.
 
I'm just gathering information here that may help the OP, or others

For clarification, by "failed" you mean the snap came unsnapped, or the male end on the pouch, separated from the pouch with the female part still attached?

Does the Aker holster come with "pull the dot" snaps on the mag pouch?
That's a very interesting question. I just got a bit of an education on snaps. They do not appear to be "pull the dot snaps".. The snaps just pulled apart as snaps are supposed to do. They just did it without any intentional input from me. That's what I mean by failed. They didn't "break", they just didn't work the way one would hope they would work. They popped apart unintentionally and dumped the magazine out. These snaps will separate when pulled from any direction and, quite easily, I might add. I wonder now if I could just pay someone to replace those snaps with these pull the dot snaps and make the holster useable now. The whole experience just ticked me off so I put the holster up and gave up on the idea and never really thought too much more about it until just now in this thread. I will say that I love the idea of the shoulder holster and dual magazine carriers and if I could make this work, I'd be a pretty happy guy so I appreciate what you've given me to think about here.
341_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=F3ksOWfdvgQAX_B0l6e&_nc_ht=scontent.ftol2-1.jpg

883_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_ohc=gEDNxYPPiWcAX_o5bkb&_nc_ht=scontent.ftol2-1.jpg
 
You'll note, many holster makers use "pull the dot" snaps in this application and would most likely not be a problem with a single snap.

A shoemaker or horse leather shop, depending on where you are located can probably change the snaps out for you.
 
"…We bought Dad an El Paso Saddlery Spyder shoulder rig for exactly that <motorcycle> purpose probably 15 yrs ago. Never had an issue and it's very comfortable. Hides well under a vest…"
Fair enough and glad to learn he has experienced good luck with that setup. I could not bear the thought of feeling a gun sliding down my torso, out of my jacket bottom, and seeing it skittering across the asphalt at 60 mph in my rearview mirrors…and then getting run over by a truck.

:what:

One could almost make the case that while riding the motorcycle one could reasonably store the sidearm elsewhere and transition to the shoulder holster upon arrival at destination. That certainly would not address threats along the way. Yet my focus would be more on rapidly accelerating away from threats using the size, agility, and performance advantages of the motorcycle.
 
I mostly do not care for shoulder rigs, but I sometimes wear a 1911 when hunting in an old leather US tanker holster. It is quieter than my other kydex belt holsters esp. when sitting in a metal deer stand, and it doesn't get in the way of other equipment like my safety harness. For EDC, I always carry strong side on a belt. I don't like to change the location of my pistol when carried for defense against 2 legged threats.
 
I did it, bought my first shoulder holster in 20 years, Don't have it yet as it is from Craft Holsters and will be here in a month, I respect the people on this forum and over the years have learned some good things here so I thought I would seek your input, I will be carrying a H&K USP-C w/safety. I am aware of muzzle discipline so that is not an issue. Here where I live car-jackings are high, 2020=1417,
2021=1800+ and 2022 is starting off strong, these #s according to Chicago Tribune, So while driving my usual 4oclock position is not as convenient as I would like so I am trying the shoulder holster, Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Good idea! Best I've ever heard. Looks like ya got it figured out. Good luck with that.
 
Back
Top