Ankle Holsters

[USAF_Vet]

Originally posted by Ned Stark

Winter is coming.

With that in mind, I usually carry a larger gun. I've never carried a back up gun, nor have I ever considered ankle carry as an option.

However, I've been looking at ankle holsters for my Taurus 709 slim. It's the only conceal carry gun I have that I feel is viable for this carry option. I like options. I'll probably coat pocket carry either the S&W 469, or the Kel Tec P11 I picked up today.

This question is for those experienced with pocket carry. One which ankle do you carry, and do you carry on the outside or the inside of your calf?

I'm thinking for sake of comfort and accessibility, (being left handed) that if I chose to ankle carry, It'd be on my right leg, inside, strapped just above the cuff of my boot.

Or for right handed people, left leg, inside.

Does that work better than strong side carried on the outside?

This is the one I'm looking at.

 

[1911 guy]

I don't ankle carry, but know a few people who do. They all carry as you describe. For right handed people, carry on the left ankle, inside. This seems to give them the greatest ease of access to the handgun from all positions. Some of them also think people notice the "bulge" if it's outside the leg, but not if it's inside.

I have sometimes considered ankle or shoulder holsters only because of the time I spend in a vehicle on city streets. I can't give you brand names right now, but a few of my friends have ankle holsters that are a far cry from the cheap generics offered just a few years ago. Seriously nice stuff being made now.

 

[GRIZ22]

I think your Taurus will work fine in an ankle holster. I've carried guns in ankle holsters since the 70s. Ankle guns that have worked well for me are J frames, Colt DS, and PP or PPK, I've also carries a Glock 26 with success. I have ankle holsters for a 469 and 2-2 1/2 inch K frame but thsee guns are too big and heavy requiring pants with very wide legs.

You should carry your gun on the ankle opposite you strong hand (left ankle if right handed) on the inside of your ankle. You say strapped above the cuff of your boot. If you're talking a 6" work or hiking boot that will work. Any higher on your leg will get uncomfortable fast and the holster will want to slide down all the time. The closer to the ankle you carry it will be the most secure and comfortable.

I've found the best ankle holsters to be leather with padding or sheepskin to protect your ankle/leg. Nylon straps and holsters will chafe your leg. I like the DeSantis (not sure of model) that is leather and has padding on the strap. It, or others lIke it, will cost twice as much as the Fobus you show but will pay off in comfort and durability. I have DeSantis holsters that are over 25 years old that are still in serviceable condition.

Ankles are not a good place for a main battery but if that's the only option to keep it concealed or for a BUG they work fine. Don't try any fancy dancing to draw. Drop to your strong side knee and draw is the only way to do it effectively.

 

[Sunray]

One's ankle is a really daft place to carry a firearm. Hard to get at in a hurry and if you can't deal with whatever issue has caused you to draw a firearm with one, a second isn't going to help.

 

[omcf]

I have ankle-carried for the past 7 years, it can be very comfortable compared to some other options. However, as others have noted, a quick draw it is not. Also, consider that if an altercation begins within conversation distance, it may not work too well before the adversary can go hands-on.

That said, I like it. And the extra sheepskin padding is a must, imo. One reason to carry inside the opposite leg, is that it wont knock into stuff when you are walking around quite as easily. One of the pros to ankle carry is concealability, also great for sitting in a car; just remember not to cross your legs when you sit down. My suggestion:

DeSantis Apache Ankle Holster Large Frame Semi-Automatic Nylon Black

 

[herrwalther]

I no longer ankle carry but did for awhile. I didn't get an overly expensive holster, just a standard offering from Blackhawk for G26 sized firearms. I carried where it was most comfortable, on the outside of either my left or right ankle. Either way, inside or outside ankle, will not be very fast of a draw. However I was much faster drawing from the outside of the ankle.

 

[Mainsail]

When I was flying C-141s in the AF, we were issued the S&W Model 15 snub (the AF called it a Model 56) and because I was sitting a lot when airborne, I chose an ankle holster.

I carried it on my right leg (I'm right handed), centered directly over my foot. Outside would hit stuff when I was doing my preflight or squeezing between pallets, inside would hit my other leg from time to time, and inside or outside made me walk funny. In front carry seemed to work the best. I wouldn't carry a striker fired gun there but the heavy DA of the revolver didn't worry me.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I carried a j frame for a brief period, but I developed a rash and had to give it up. I do have a pointer that you will probably find helpful. Wear 2 socks on your carry ankle. One under the holster and the other over the holster and if you have a "hammerless" revolver pull the sock over the gun. This will aid in concealment when sitting and make the rig a little more rigid depending on your sock.

 

[230RN]

I'm right-handed. I sometimes ankle carry on my right leg, gun inside, butt forward. Best for me after testing out everything else. YMMV.

I originally got an Uncle Mike's inexpensive ankle rig to do concept testing, and never felt the need to get anything else, since it's not my preferred carry method.

A Detective Special at ~21 oz. is about the most I'd like to carry in an ankle rig, so your Taurus at 18 oz. is still doable.

I do not have to worry about running in the rig. I'm not about to chase after ne'er-do-wells or climb a chain link fence to get 'em. (I'm fairly well crippled up and use a cane.)

I toyed with the idea of slitting the inside seam of my right pants leg and having a seamstress close it with Velcro but gave up on it.

It pays to wear long, thickish socks under the holster rigging.

Two summers ago I went to a semi-posh 85th birthday party for an old buddy of mine and when I left, he asked about it, since he knew I always carried. He never noticed anything out of the ordinary about my pants legs and was surprised.

The one time I had any problem with ankle carry was when I was standing on a curb with a pool of water in the street and as a car came by, it splashed me right around the ankles. My dumb. It wasn't all that wet. but when I got to my car, I dried it with tissues, and left it to dry off more thoroughly on the car seat. Got more diligent about drying off the gun and holster at home.

I usually now summer-carry a 5-shot hammerless J-frame in my pants pocket. I found the outline of an auto in a pocket screams "gun," but the bulk and cylinder of a revolver breaks up the outline so it just looks like a bunch of junk in my pocket.

This State does not require holsters, so it's just sitting in my otherwise cleaned-out pocket.

Terry

Attachment actually shows my laser-sighted J-frame in the rig instead of my Detective Special.

 

[basicblur]

I often ankle carry a S&W Shield on the inside of my left leg (right handed), in a DeSantis Diehard Ankle Rig.
I know a lot of folks hate retention straps, but I prefer them - more so on an ankle rig than maybe a hip holster. The gun goes thru a LOT more movement on your ankle than it would in other positions, so the retention strap helps keep it from falling out, especially if you had to run, etc.
It has a generous amount of sheepskin against your skin to help with comfort and to allow your skin to breathe.

I do wear a slightly higher cut Columbia hiking boot, and it does rest on top of the boot - has worn the boot slightly where it rests on the boot, and I usually shove my sock down so it wraps around my leg and not the sock. It seems to be more secure and stays in place better when wrapped directly around my leg.

I also wear a lot of Lee Boot Cut Jeans so I have plenty of clearance in the ankle / holster area.

I can't tell you which book, but one of Ayoob's books has a section on ankle carry - always carry on the inside of the opposite leg, and he trains that when you draw the gun, don't bend over - drop to your knee, pull the gun, and fire from the kneeling position.

As someone else already mentioned - it can be one of the better ways to carry AFA retrieval when driving, etc.

 

[Jeff White]

I carried my BUG in an ankle holster while on duty for years. I carried on the inside of the left ankle. This allowed me good access with either hand, especially while seated in the squad car.

I carried a Colt Agent and then a S&W Model 36. I tried a couple small autos, S&W 3914 and Glock 30 and 36. I found none of them comfortable, I think it was because of the weight in the grip from the loaded magazine. They just didn't seem to ride well.

I wore a lightweight sock under the holster and had an over sized sock that I wore on that foot that I pulled up over the holster and that concealed the holster when the hem of the pants rode up while seated.

 

[entropy]

I agree with Jeff, inside of the left ankle. I've only done it at events such as weddings and funerals where everybody is hugging. I find it uncomfortable and yes, slow to draw from. (I occasionally practice ankle draw, probably more than I carry that way, though.)

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

Not a fan of ankle holsters. However, when I'm at work and must wear dress uniform pants instead of my cargo pants, I carry an Airweight J-frame on the inside of my left leg to back up my L-frame duty revolver. Otherwise, like today, my backup rides in the left cargo pocket in a pocket holster that prevents it from shifting around. Otherwise, the ankle holster is rarely used.

The two sock thing is important. I wear a thin, knee-high sock on my left leg with the holster and leg strap over the sock. Then I wear a thicker sock over my foot and holster. Thick or fuzzy socks really help disguise the lump.

 

[Steve in PA]

I carry a BUG (S&W 642) in a Galco Ankle Glove. Sometimes, depending on situation and clothing, ankle carry is the only option. My ankle holster does not have a retention strap and in the 2+ years that I've been wearing it, I never found the need for it, not the need to wear two socks.

The Ankle Glove keeps the gun nice and snug without the need for the retention strap. I've worn it for 12+ hours at a time.

 

[Stugotz]

Agree on the inside, left leg position.

I carried ankle for over 10-years. I would never want more weight than an airweight J-frame.

The rig responsible for me even considering carrying there, was a Ken Null "ANK" model. No retaining strap, but I
felt I could run a marathon with it. It seemed to just swallow-up my Smith ... and then tighten-up around it.

The "ANK" used thick felt, a superior design along with quality construction to make it the single best holster I've ever owned.