Ankle Carry

[27hand]

So, my questions here are:

1) Do you typically ankle carry on your strong-hand side or support-hand side?
2) How do you conceal it, or do you just OC with it on your ankle while wearing shorts? (The later is a possibility for me).

Having read through most of the responses, First let me answer the OP's questions.

I am right handed and carry on the inside of my left (support side) ankle.
I think the majority of people who use this method of carry do so in this manner (opposite ankle of strong side).

I don't and would not consider OC'ing with ankle carry. For me it is primarily a BUG location but has become a primary when deeper concealment is needed.

To conceal it, I'll review how I carry it. I wear a flexible knee support under the velcro holster ( DeSantis Apache). For work, I just holster above my work boot. For dress, I pull my sock over the bottom of the holster.

Presentations are not as slow, sloppy or otherwise as difficult as some here either imagined or, with very limited, if any, practice, have not been able to adequately do. I have been told that a person should practice about 3K reps out of a belt mounted holster to " semi perfect it". Ankle carry is no different. It takes a LOT of practice.

Let me step back a bit. Ankle carry is probably the least optimal method to carry a gun. It does, in my opinion, have its place.

The Apache was my second ankle holster. I bought a Lou Alessi rig which did not cinch tight enough for me to run, jump, crawl through the pipe chases and above the ceilings of buildings I have had to work in. Climbing ladders, working in trenches and generally having to deeply conceal due to employer weapons policies required me to need a tight fitting rig. My immediate super knew and had no problem with it.

I carry a Kahr P9 Covert (6+1 with a flush fit mag). The grip is 1/2" shorter than a standard P9 and the grip is usually a weak point in concealment.

That's just me. Your opinion may differ. That's OK too.

 

[basicblur]

Well I read the article I referenced earlier, and it's not quite as glowing regarding ankle holsters as my initial drive-by led me to believe, BUT, if it comes down to either an ankle carry or nothing...
OWB is no problem for me in cooler weather, and IWB just doesn't work well for me, so I'm giving ankle carry a try in hot weather rather than possibly going unarmed.

BTW - I've been checking out some of the Google links just to see what type of info (good and bad) is floating around out there, and unless YMMV, this link gives a good sample of Ayoob's chapter on ankle carry in The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry.

 

[Skribs]

I do agree that drawing from an ankle holster will be slower than from a real holster. That's why it would be primarily a BUG for me, although my go-to while in the car.

I disagree that it would be much slower, or that I need to be rolling around on the ground or hopping around like someone who's been given the flamingo treatment in order to draw.

 

[X-Rap]

I don't see the flamingo hop but if one takes a knee and pulls up his pant leg in any sort of dynamic situation it seems reasonable to expect to get kicked solidly in the teeth, on your back with your feet in a defense position is close to the optimum drawing position in a contact fight.
I don't disagree with the sitting position I just think it's use has serious limitations in a fight that has already started.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

QUOTE: "I don't disagree with the sitting position I just think it's use has serious limitations in a fight that has already started." ......... Unless squatting down or sitting made you a smaller target, or forced you to take available cover, which might have put you in a better defensive position.

 

[X-Rap]

Again if only we could choreograph our lives. Most of us carry with some limitations we impose upon ourselves. Much of the time in the warm months I pocket carry because of tee shirts and cargo shorts. I have no illusions that I can draw and fire as fast and carry as potent and high a capacity weapon as I do when wearing more clothes, I see ankle carry the same only worse. When I am sitting in my truck there is a gun between the seats or in the console and when uninhibited by a seat belt I think I can reach a gun in my belt faster than at my ankle. Squatting, sitting, or taking cover I think I can respond quicker from the belt than ankle or pocket.
I am simply trying to offer my views in responce to the OP and not gore anyone's particular OX.

 

[GRIZ22]

Not my favorite way to carry but still do it at times. You need to:

1. Get a good leather holster like a De Santis with padding. The cheap nylon ones are uncomfortable.
2. Glock 26 is about as big as I go. Usually a j frame or PPK although I know guys that carry a Glock 19 or S&W k frame.
3. Those who can't see themselves dancing on one leg to draw haven't thought it out. Unless you are sitting the only way to draw from an ankle holster is to drop to your strong side knee and draw from the holster on your weak side ankle. If you perceive a threat ahead of time you need to move the gun to your waistband or pocket.
4. AFAIC the purpose of an ankle holster is concealment. To wear it with shorts or to OC with one is...well...stupid. Unless you wear legwarmers.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

There is one other less mentioned fact that occurs the majority of time in an armed confrontation. Rarely does a defending combatant have to "quick draw". I have been in several armed confrontations (that ended without shooting), and in all of them, I had plenty of time to fill my hand with a gun, including retrieving a shotgun from a vehicle, before direct action. Sure, I cannot say that a quick draw will NEVER be needed, nor can one say that a quick draw will always save the day when you DO need to draw fast. It is practical, and prudent, to PLAN for a quck draw, should it be needed, and a belt holster, etc, is way faster than an ankle holster. But, for those times when the weather, dress requirements, or some other reason that the low profile concealment of something like an ankle rig is needed to hide a weapon, then considering such may be a good idea. People rarely look at your ankles. And the need of a fast draw is low on the probability tally.

 

[X-Rap]

I can agree with pretty much everything you said except!
I wont say a quick draw in the Marshal Dillon sense of the word is accurate but a fast and available draw is critical at some point in a violent armed confrontation if the good guy is to prevail.
I think it is better to plan on the worst and be pleasantly surprised if things work out better.

 

[asia331]

Routinely carry an SP101 HOG inside the support side ankle under long trousers with an extra sock over the rig for additional concealment and extra security.

"Main battery" is a 5" 1911 in Simply Rugged OWB leather.

I concede that ankle carry is problematic as a BUG but works for me as an acceptable hide out sidearm for an unusual contingency.

Shorts are not an issue as I dress around my carry routine; thus if I'm found in shorts.. I am usually in bed as well.

 

[kcshooter]

I think it is better to plan on the worst and be pleasantly surprised if things work out better

Which is exactly why I carry a second gun, and in a position that is accessible should the primary gun not be. Hence, ankle carry.

 

[X-Rap]

That's great for a second gun if you decide to carry one but the OP seemed to be asking about primary. I think there is a big difference between optimum accessibility of the two and might even argue the time difference of clearing a malfunction or reloading vs. drawing from the ankle. If the primary gun is lost then the choice would be obvious.

 

[Skribs]

Why are people assuming I was talking about a primary? I never said that. I am talking about a secondary.

 

[X-Rap]

I'm mostly a IWB/OWB/pocket kind of carrier. I typically wear pullover sweatshirts (lately switched to a synthetic jacket, but oh well) and don't like the idea of cross-draw, so a shoulder rig wouldn't suit me, and I've avoided an ankle holster because I primarily wear shorts and tennis shoes as opposed to pants and/or boots.

However, I've started to get a little more interested in ankle carry since someone mentioned it's the easiest method to draw from while driving (seat belt makes it hard to get from the belt or pocket). Of course, I'm not planning on changing my attire at this time, so I don't know how much weight that would hold.

So, my questions here are:

1) Do you typically ankle carry on your strong-hand side or support-hand side?
2) How do you conceal it, or do you just OC with it on your ankle while wearing shorts? (The later is a possibility for me).

If it helps, I'd be looking at something like a Shield or XDs, or possibly a M&Pc for ankle carry.

Sorry for the assumption but as I read it there is no mention of secondary or back up but leaning rather to replacement. I can see that it could be take both ways now.
I am not a 2 gun guy but if I were I would certainly look hard at ankle carry given it would be concealed.

 

[GCBurner]

I carried a PPK in a DeSantis ankle holster for a while, but it was like wearing an exercise weight on my left ankle, and I started to get pain in my knee from the change in gait while walking a lot. I only carry in an anlke rig now if I'm going to be primarily sitting down or driving.

 

[Skribs]

Primary while in the car, secondary everywhere else.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

You could always balance an ankle rig with an equal exercise weight on the the opposite ankle, and TONE those legs! I have been considering an opposite leg rig with extra mags, or other handy gear.

 

[Skribs]

I have been considering an opposite leg rig with extra mags,

That's what I'd do, and partly why I'm really leaning towards the single stack for ankle rig. Even though there's less than 1/5 of an inch difference in the gun, the magazines are about half the size.

Guess I need to start wearing pants. Please don't take that the wrong way.

 

[basicblur]

I have been considering an opposite leg rig with extra mags

I tried it - I have to carry the extra mags on the outside of my opposite leg - when I had my SHIELD on one leg and the DeSantis Double Mag Pouch on the other leg, they hit too much in normal walking / movement.

So far the DeSantis Die Hard Ankle Rig is working rather well - I have had to change my truck entrance / exit slightly - got a 4-wheel drive Ranger with the factory running boards, and with my normal entrance / exit, my leg would always brush against the running board right where the gun is (inside of left leg). A slight modification of my entry / exit technique was required to keep from hitting the holster on the running board.