Cross draw revisited.

[Vern Humphrey]

I am aware that there is a strong negative bias against cross draw among firearm self-defense experts. And certainly its unpopularity with LEOs and other professionals speaks volumes. I understand that the cross draw motion is longer than the same side draw and probably a little slower. Yet it seems to me that there are at least two particular cases when cross draw would be superior.

The first is when driving a car and wearing a seat belt. The cross draw motion must be more effective than scrunching up your arm to get to the pistol on the same side of your body, especially if you are wearing outerwear of any kind. And if there is a console, that can't be helpful for getting to the gun with the same side right hand. Even more so for lefties who have to fight the cramped space between the side of their body and the door.

The other case is the pure overcoat, overshirt, or other outerwear situation with the gun buried underneath. As long as the outwear is open, not buttoned, the hand can cross over and slide inside along the stomach to draw the gun from the opposite side very easily. Not so with same side draw for which the outerwear has to be moved to the side and preferably push behind the back with the same hand as used for the draw.

I can't imagine how cross draw wouldn't be superior in both these cases.

Let's discuss.

The solution to both these difficulties is simple:

With a normal strong side carry, position the seat belt so the butt of the gun is available before you start the engine.

When wearing a heavy cover garment, use the Hackathorn Rip, where the left hand lifts the garment while the right hand makes the draw.

 

[Nuclear]

Andrews Leather makes shoulder holsters, a conventional cross draw and what he calls "The Carjacker" which I've always thought would be better fastened to the seatbelt.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I find cross draw to be my favorite. Much gun on my right hip and the ache kicks in.

Cross draw using vintage style leather works great for me...of course I'm vintage also. Plus I can get the gun unholstered with either hand.

What works great for one person is not a best method for each and all.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have used cross draw occasionally, but only in one situation. I am a lefty, and while driving solo on long trips I will carry either an N-frame or a 1911 (with ambi safety!) cross draw. This allows me access to the weapon without getting tangled up in the seat belt or up against the door frame.

I will not due this with a passenger, since any draw is going to sweep them.

 

[jeepnik]

I have used cross draw occasionally, but only in one situation. I am a lefty, and while driving solo on long trips I will carry either an N-frame or a 1911 (with ambi safety!) cross draw. This allows me access to the weapon without getting tangled up in the seat belt or up against the door frame.

I will not due this with a passenger, since any draw is going to sweep them.

You won't sweep your passenger if you do it correctly. Sweeping others and the entire countryside is one of the fallacies of drawing cross.

 

[Sistema1927]

You won't sweep your passenger if you do it correctly. Sweeping others and the entire countryside is one of the fallacies of drawing cross.

And maybe you aren't sitting in my vehicle.

 

[rpenmanparker]

And maybe you aren't sitting in my vehicle.

I think he was trying to help.

 

[jeepnik]

I think he was trying to help.

Yep, just trying to suggest that learning the proper way to draw from cross is no more dangerous than drawing from a strong side. And personally I feel much less potentially life altering than from AIWB (see what I did there).

 

[msmp5]

Not sure it could accurately be called “cross draw”, but........ at work (office job, company policy is no guns allowed) I’ve been wearing my S&W M6906 9mm sort of in a cross draw location for several years: butt forward on my weak side hip at the 9 o’clock position, under my tucked in polo shirt in a belly band style holster. No way I could draw it fast - I’d really have to “dig it out” if I needed it, hence I’m not sure it is really cross draw! (Cross-“dig it out” maybe?) But it is very deeply concealed, no one has ever suspected I’m armed. And I figure I’d have time to access it if an exterior threat entered the building. I only use this method of carry at work - out of necessity - not at any other time.

As a young narcotics cop in the mid-1980’s, I (we) spent a lot of time sitting in cars doing surveillances. My preference in those situations, both for comfort and ease of access, was a shoulder holster, which, in a way, is actually a cross draw too. But some of my peers back then did like the weak side belt level cross draw. Don’t think many cops use a cross draw much anymore though....... unless they are a real dinosaur!