Does anyone carry "cross draw"?

[SharpsDressedMan]

Having a rifle in my hand, and a pistol on my belt is a common occurance, so I have kind of migrated to crossdraw carry (in a vertical rig) quite often. I pack different guns different ways, but crossdraw is now my most common mode of carry. I always know if the gun is "covered", as opposed to the few occasions where I have found my outer garment slipped up a bit on the strong side, exposing the bottom of the holster or gun grip, etc, after getting out of a vehicle or chair. If you use a long gun enough, you are going to bang it on the strongside holstered gun. Crossdraw, it is out of the way of long gun handling.

 

[Drail]

One very important factor to consider if you're thinking of "mounting" a holster to the inside of your car is that the holster MUST be very securely mounted to something solid and the holster must retain the gun very securely. In an accident that gun can become an airborne missile and injure or even kill you or a passenger. I decided a long time ago that my gun will be strapped to me - all of the time because if you need it, you'll need it right now. While riding a motorcycle one day with my carry gun in a pack on the rear of the bike three guys jumped out of the car behind me and tried to take me down. I will never carry off of my person again. I don't care if it's uncomfortable or if someone sees it. It's going to be where I can grab it quickly.

 

[gilfo]

I had problems with my shoulder also (frozen shoulder) so I started to carry in the apendex position. Most times uncomfortable but only way I can carry now. It also lends it's self to making roughly the same movement for pocket carry. I'd say for me the best position for me is 2 o'clock.

 

[shafter]

I prefer to carry my single actions in the cross draw position. For me it is faster than strong side. It's uncomfortable to reach my arm up higher than natural too grasp the gun.

 

[winddummy]

cross draw holster

if you need a cross draw try kirkpatrickleather.com it would be their texas cross draw about $72

 

[rcmodel]

Does anyone carry "cross draw"?

Not if I can help it.

I find it useful for long barrels and setting down.

Otherwise, it is uncomfortable, awkward, and the butt is in the way most of the time.

rc

 

[Clark]

I am right handed, and I carry over my heart.

Cross draw to my heart, hope the OTHER guy dies.

 

[chg]

A good way to carry if mostly seated or if wearing a large backpack.

 

[340PD]

Look at Fist Holsters driving holster. It may be the best of both worlds for you.


http://www.fist-inc.com/holsters/holster/CATDRIVE.htm

 

[oldcelt]

I carry cross, between 9 and 10. easy access when in a vehicleor either hand. If I choose to carry a longer revolver it's in a sholder holster in jacket weather.

 

[Rexster]

I carry "primary" at 0300 virtually all the time, because I am mandated to do so in uniform, at work, and it makes sense to have one consistent carry position. Crossdraw, to me, is a good way to carry my second handgun, off the clock, depending upon clothing and climate. Front crossdraw, which is positioned forward of the point of the hip, can be VERY fast when one has the opportunity to preemptively assume a "Jack Benny" pose; there is no rule that says one must draw the "primary" handgun first. (I consider a second weapon so normal, by now, that it feels a bit strange when only carrying one.)

I saw one reply post mentioned AIWB. This can be a very good solution for those of us with shoulder mobility issues, and should be considered. Really, the only difference between front crossdraw and the appendix position is on which side of the belt buckle one wears the weapon, and that it is faster to draw when one is not crossing the body's centerline.

For those who insist that wearing weapons on opposite sides of the body makes weapon retention more problematic during a struggle, well, I agree. It makes sense to have the two weapons together, so one arm can shield both of them. When I routinely wore one of my two SP101 snubbies crossdraw, it was in a left-hand crossdraw holster, in front of, and right next to, my "primary" SP101
worn at 0300 for right-hand draw.

 

[coondogger]

I have long carried a small autoloader at the five oclock position. But like DocRX, I suffered a shoulder injury making it impossible to reach behind me to draw a weapon and racking the slide. So I began carrying a model 49 cross draw during my rehabilitation. It's fast, simple, and clean. It also lends itself
well to concealment.

 

[Kendahl]

cross draw @ 1:20:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMFM8SeW51E

I remember that episode of Miami Vice. At the end, the hit man went down in a hail of gunfire after refusing to surrender.

The kid with the snubby died because he wasn't ready to shoot.

The actor who played the hit man was a regular competitor in IPSC. He received some criticism for demonstrating advanced shooting techniques on prime time network television.

 

[The Man With No Name]

I sometimes use a cross-draw technique developed by Ed McGivern (See his book, Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting, available in reprint from www.amazon.com) and it ain't slow with short barreled guns. The handgun is placed just to the left of the belt buckle at about 10:30 to 11:00.

The shooter shifts his feet so they are standing side ways to the target. At this point you twist at the hips counter-clockwise as the hand grips the butt, and that movement will almost pull the gun clear of the holster. Tip the muzzle up at waist level and shoot, or twist again at the hips going clockwise to face more toward the target while lifting the gun to sholder level and taking a two-handed grip.

If you can't do otherwise, practice the draw at home with an unloaded gun. The addition of an laser sight will offer a substantial advantage a training aid, as well for the intended purpose.

Exactly. It is very fast actually. How many times does anyone think they will be in a situation where they have to draw their weapon and be squared off with their adversary? I'm not knocking tradional strong side carry, just saying that cross draw is not slower like many make it out to be. I also find it does not make your weapon more vulnerable to a snatch if proper retention techniques are used. I love old photos of police officers showing that many (long ago) actually preferred cross draw. I would personally carry cross draw myself on duty but paranoid supervisors see it as dangerous on the range.

 

[Remllez]

As some others have said "if properly canted" on the belt @ 1:30, for driving, I find it most comfortable and convenient. To each their own however, and one must try each combination to decide for themselves.


PS. I usually carry short barreled revolvers in this manner and have no experience with larger framed guns.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I wear my 4.5/8" .45 Blackhawk in a Ted Blocker Vertical shoulder rig, with 12 reloads riding on the opposite side. Usually under one of my typically eye-rending Hawaiian shirts.

Cross draw isn't too bad as long as you practice getting your thumb to the hammer on the correct side of the straps, and in a pinch I can still prairie twist enough with the bad arm to get ONE shot off if my main hand is "busy"

Mostly intended as an outdoor and Hunting rig, my bad arm covers the area pretty much permanently, making it more concealable than my IWB M&P at times.

It does get a bit hotter in the summer however, those straps going over one of my current undershirts destroys any natural air circulation on your back.

 

[Nuclear]

I suspect a lot of the strong side mania is due to the fact that almost no ranges allow drawing from a cross draw holster, due to concerns over sweeping other shooters, thus making practice at a range difficult if not impossible, which in turn means instructors won't get money from you as a student.

If you are in a contest to outdraw a bad guy, you are already failed situational awareness and are in a very bad situation.

I find it almost impossible to get to a strong side gun when driving, so I've carried cross draw on car trips.

 

[MCgunner]

I suspect a lot of the strong side mania is due to the fact that almost no ranges allow drawing from a cross draw holster, due to concerns over sweeping other shooters, thus making practice at a range difficult if not impossible, which in turn means instructors won't get money from you as a student.

Never thought of it, but you could have something there.

 

[shiftyer1]

Iwb crossdraw of a snubnose is most comfortable for me.

 

[berettaprofessor]

44 posts and nobody said it? Okay, I will; if it was good enough for Wild Bill, it can't be that bad.

 

[shamelessinct]

Actually, if you research Wild Bill's method of carry, he tucked the Navy Colts in his sash butt forward, but performed a "cavalry" draw, reaching down with the palm out and twisting the pistol as he drew, rather than a reach across the body cross draw. Or so I have read.