Ankle Holster-Practical or Not ?

[Tomcat47]

I have gone through a few different CC devices and styles.

My easiest carry is My Beretta 3032, I recently seen on Beretta web site a very nice ankle holster for it. Seems like it would make summer time carry easy.

I have thought about ordering one, but it does not actually seem practical when considering why one carrys anyway. My brother says that they are usually a dead give away as most will favor the particular leg that carries the firearm.

Anyone use this method for daily carry?

 

[uspJ]

If you were suddenly assaulted how easy would it be to grab the gun in that carry method. Do you think you could easily pull up you pant leg and then grab your gun while being punched in the face or worse? IMO ankle carry is for back up guns only. It may be discreet but if you can't get to it when you need it you might as well have left it at home. I favor inside the waistband carry either strongside or appendix carry, there are tons of holsters available for these carry methods, try some and see if it feels more comfortable to you.

 

[Girodin]

I think there are times when it can be practical, more so than other common carry methods, an example is when one is seated in the car with a seat belt on.

Interestingly enough I was out shooting the other day and a friend had an ankle holster for a kahr. I had my shot timer and a few of us took a few turns drawing from it on the clock. Time were often a touch over 4 seconds, 4.3 +/- a few tenths for the various draws. That is not real fast and fails my rule of thumb for an acceptable carry method which is 2 seconds from concealed to my the first shot.

By way of comparison drawing from my IWB holster underneath a heavy winter coat (there was snow on the ground) I was doing about 1.8 seconds.

In all fairness I have A LOT more draw strokes and practice with my gun coming out of that holster than I did with his gun coming out of the ankle holster. So perhaps I could speed up the draw with more practice. Another thing was that there were bobbles by some of the shooters, again perhaps a lack of practice.

Generally speaking I would prefer my primary gun on a belt holster. It is faster to access and easier to access as well. Also it may be different with a better quality holster but the ankle holster in question wasn't particularly comfortable to me and not something I think I'd care to sport around all day.

 

[Al Thompson]

Carried an airweight J frame in one for several years. Upside - very concealed. I was in a non-permissive environment at the time. Down side - slow draws. Mr. Ayoob has the quickest method - step into a wide stance, grasp the pants leg with the weak hand and pull the pants up and off the gun and holster, draw with the strong hand.

 

[hogcowboy]

IMO ankle carry is for back up guns only

It's my opinion that carrying any way you can is better than not carrying at all. Yes it may be more difficult to grab a gun at your ankle but if that gun is home it ain't doing you any good at all.

 

[atlctyslkr]

I've tried it but don't like it. Only tried it with J-frames. The main problem is as mentioned the slow draw. Also if it's hot you might get sweat on it. The only time I ever ankle is if I feel that there is no other practical way. I'd almost rather slip a .22 derringer in my pocket than have a .38 on my ankle.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

No thanks, an aluminum framed .38 in my front pocket works for me most of the time.

 

[wishin]

I don't use an ankle holster, but wonder about the practicality of raising the leg to meet your hand when drawing from standing, brushing the pant leg away. Balance would be key of course. Seems as if this could reduce drawing time. ???Has anyone on here tried it?

 

[Claude Clay]

if you are seated a lot of the time--desk/ office or car/truck it is a viable carry method.
inside leg opposite your strong hand.

best for a smallish (j-frame or poly kahr) and keep your strong side gun on yourself
for when you are not seated or koncked off of your feet.

use a garter style to maximize the ankle holsters grip on yor leg. walking creats a larger arc motion than one may initially think. any jiggling of the rig will translate into uuncomfortable movement causing chaffing.

majority of people who try ankle carry quite within a couple of weeks. poor fitting rig and slow to reach are the main reasons.

 

[hogcowboy]

use a garter style to maximize the ankle holsters grip on yor leg. walking creats a larger arc motion than one may initially think. any jiggling of the rig will translate into uuncomfortable movement causing chaffing.

I wear cowboy boots with mine. This stops the jiggling and makes a very stable hold for drawing the gun. As already stated though, it does make for a slower draw.

 

[Czar]

I quit carrying on my ankle after a few trips to the range and being unable to draw and fire in under 8 seconds.

have since gone to IWB at 4 o'clock and haven't regretted it 1 bit.

 

[Claude Clay]

my cowboy boots ( and other ankle hiigh styles) i have sewn inside pouches to hold NAA Blackwidow (4") or similiar 22 mag guns. retention --in case i run or fall--is by stretch elastic material with a snap-to-the-outside of the boot.

i like to create and have some leather stitching tools and snap makers.

 

[GRIZ22]

but wonder about the practicality of raising the leg to meet your hand when drawing from standing

Do this only if you are trained for the ballet. the best way to draw from an ankle holster is to go down on your strong knee. You can't wear tight jeans and expect an ankle holster to work well. I feel an ankle holster is not the place for your main gun but sometimes that's all you can get away with.

If you use a cheap ankle holster (moreso the nylon ones) it will jiggle around. Buy a proper leather ankle holster like a DeSantis and you won't have that problem.

I quit carrying on my ankle after a few trips to the range and being unable to draw and fire in under 8 seconds.


Could you detail why it takes 8 seconds? That might be entertaining.

 

[Mainsail]

As mentioned, it is practical only if you’re seated the majority of the time. That rule doesn’t really apply if you’re the driver and your car is small as it may be impossible to reach down and pull your pant leg up higher than the holster in cramped quarters under the dashboard.

I carried a S&W Model 15 for over 14 of my 17 years flying heavies. Since most of the countries we visited don’t allow their citizens to own firearms, we needed to keep them concealed. I almost always carried on my ankle, the holster turned so the gun was on the front of my shin (not on the inside or outside) to prevent that weird way you walk with a weight on the inside or outside of your leg. Since my primary location was seated at the FE’s panel, it was a reasonably fast draw if I needed it.

 

[hirundo82]

I sometimes carry a J-frame on my ankle. It is virtually always used as a BUG, mainly when I'm going to be in a car for a while as it is hard to access a primary in a belt holster when seated. If the situation demands a small gun as primary, I vastly prefer pocket carry over ankle carry due to speed of draw.

 

[PRM]

I have used ankle holsters. It's rare these days. One thought from personal experience. If you use one, take it to a leather shop and have the snap closure replaced with a Velcro strap. Snaps come loose ~ I have had a firearm tumble out onto the ground.

I like a belt carry, with my shirt out covering it, or even pocket carry with a holster better than one on the ankle. Getting a gun from an ankle holster is slow and awkward unless you are seated (car, behind a desk...). Still, its better than being unarmed.

 

[JMusic]

In my humble opinion, an ankle holster has to be your third gun. Your back up is important for speed & draw. I have carried three guns but two are much easier to keep track of.

 

[Bubba613]

I hate ankle holsters. I have a little Colt 1905 .25acp that I carried on my ankle for a while for personal reasons.
The thing was always in the way, it was always there. I was always dragging my foot across something that hit the gun. It changed the weight distribution on my legs and walking was odd. Being somewhat larger, getting to the gun from standing would require a calender to measure the time taken.
They are better than leaving the gun at home but only marginally so.

 

[Al Thompson]

It took me about two weeks to get used to the weight and after 6 months, every now and again, I'd have to tap the holster with my other foot to see if it was there.

 

[SimplyChad]

I have to wear a brace on my ankle most f the time. Little extra work and it will how my raven.

 

[Tomcat47]

Beretta 3032 Ankle Holster

The Holster I was thinking about trying is from Beretta! Looks like high Quality and made for the gun. $75.00

I may give it a whirl....Im thinking might be good for certain settings? And for those outings that might be more prone for bad behavior, carry as back up to inside pants .380

At least I would have another option for carry, and I really have this in mind for work actually!

 

[MGD 45]

Of course they are practical.....depends on your needs. I agree that they aren't the fastest or most convenient methods of carry, but it has it's place. Some people may find it better to carry when at work, where having a belt carry firearms or pocket firearm isn't possible. Drawing a firearms from an ankle holster should be able to be done in about 2.5 seconds.....not gonna win any competitions....but respectable.

One advantage is that with the proper holster/footwear combo....99.99% of the people have absolutely no clue that you have a firearm on your leg. With a belt holster, you have to sometimes wear shirts/jackets that may seem "out of place" in certain seasons in order to keep from "printing" while your wearing.

I just posted a video pertaining to this very topic over on GON just this weekend.......here it is. ...click on picture to play....

 

[Steve in PA]

An ankle holster has it place. If you can't get your gun out of an ankle holster in under 8 seconds, I say practice more.

As the other poster said, some conditions almost require an ankle carry. I sometimes carry off-duty with a Glock 26 in an ankle holster. Usually in the situations were the above poster mentioned an outer garment or untucked shirt either draw attention or looks out of place.

 

[Al Thompson]

Tomcat, a nylon Uncle Mikes works well and is about 30 bucks.

 

[Wicz]

Working on certain job sites makes it difficult to carry my p30 plus my clients may not be gun friendly so I wear my lcp in an ankle holster. The elastic band fits comfortably around my danners.