Vern Humphrey
Member
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.