Holster etiquette?

[brentn]

Looking to use a holster at the range, but I don't want to piss anyone off. I've been told that some ranges require a holster training course before you are allowed to use one, not to sure why this is required...
I've also been told that cross draw and shoulder holsters are not allowed, again I'm not to sure why this is. Someone else told me that there is a particular way that you are supposed to draw that is safe, he was telling me that you have to use one hand until the gun is pointed down-range then use two. Does this make any sense to anyone? why is it like this if that is the case?

I figure as long as you follow the 4 rules you shouldn't have a problem, but according to people, that may not be the case when it comes to using a holster.

Thanks for any suggestions/help

brent

 

[strickj]

because of the dumb a$# that shoot.I've encountered several people that cant clean a gun let alone shoot one
using common sense and I guess we live in a world where one idiot ruins it for all of us.
a cross draw will expose the person to the side of you,while a shoulder holster will expose the person behind you and one slip of the finger and whoops! remember using a belt holster only exposes the people down range and the people at your feet!!!!!!!!!!

 

[churched]

Exactly, with a shoulder holster at some point you must bring it from right to left assuming you are right handed. I know my local indoor range they do not allow you to draw a holster unless you are a member and sign a few waivers and such. Plus one of the employees must be with you to monitor your skill level. I generally practice my holster work at home. My self I don't really feel that I absolutely must shoot a live round to get the fundamentals down for clearing a holster. And like Strickj mentioned, a lot of rules at the range or any business are because of the few that ruin it for the many.

 

[tnieto2004]

My range doesn't allow holster drawing .. Insurance issues ..

 

[Jim March]

I've also been told that cross draw and shoulder holsters are not allowed, again I'm not to sure why this is.

Shoulder rigs are particularly bad about requiring "unsafe" muzzle direction during the draw. The muzzle can sweep behind you.

Crossdraw isn't quite as bad...you can roll your hips hard toward the downrange direction but it requires conscious thought...something in short supply in some craniums.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The no holster rule is normally for general public ranges. Many clubs have separate ranges for holster practice but require either membership or holster training to use these ranges.

As mentioned above, some holsters leave you in the position of pointing the muzzle at others at some point. This violates the 4 rules. Even the standard holster often has a cant that puts the muzzle to the rear. Actually, the standard is not whether you are pointing the muzzle in the direction of others, but whether you are breaking the 180 rule which says that the muzzle should never be more than 90 degrees from the direction of down range at any time.

When drawing from a holster the important thing is not when the second hand is brought up but rather that your finger is not on the trigger until the muzzle is coming on target. Having your finger on the trigger early will get you disqualified and sent home in most forms of competition.

 

[brentn]

Well that makes sense. So basically what you guys would probably all agree with is that if you have a standard belt holster on the same side as your drawing hand, finger off the trigger while drawing and following the 4 rules, chances are no one is going to get all pissy at you?

 

[SDC]

This is mainly a "CYA" situation; many ranges in Canada simply won't allow someone to use a holster to carry a loaded firearm until that person has shown that they've had some basic training (for example, the IPSC "black badge" course) in drawing a loaded handgun from a holster. That way, if you manage to shoot yourself or someone else while practicing your fast draw technique, they can say "He didn't follow our rules, so our insurance doesn't cover him".

 

[glockman19]

I've also been told that cross draw and shoulder holsters are not allowed, again I'm not to sure why this is.

Think about it for a second. Do you want to be the guy to the right or lefr of the guy who has an AD/ND while sweeping from the holster?

Holsters are also not allowed at my range due to insurance.

 

[sacp81170a]

Shoulder holsters especially require proper technique. You most commonly sweep the bicep area of your weak arm while drawing unless you've been trained in and use proper technique. That's where the brachial artery is, and it's very difficult to apply a tourniquet or direct pressure to it. A wound there is generally considered to be non-survivable unless immedate access (think 60 seconds or less) to a trauma trained EMT or surgeon is available.

Bad deal.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

Again, holsters are not usually permitted at public ranges either outdoors or indoors.

The clubs that do allow holsters usually closely supervise the activity and do so in a different area--often the area used for competition--and have training or membership requirements for use of that area.

Most clubs and ranges are very serious about safety. When you get into competition you can even be disqualified and sent home for allowing your off hand to pass in front of the muzzle while clearing the holster on a draw or reholstering.

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

To be honest, I've stopped going to real ranges for silly policies like this. I know that they are in place for a good reason, and a small business owner like the owner of a range needs to make sure he can keep his business by not getting sued. But I don't need to be one of the people to deal with. I found a place(from someone on THR) an hour away that is just an open berm enclosed in area where one can shoot. No rules, not ROs, no lanes, no fees. Just land to shoot. Going there allows me to practice however I want. Shooting from the prone position, rapid fire, firing while moving, etc. It's farther away, but not having to deal with "6 rounds per mag" and "1 shot every 3 seconds" rules is more than worth it.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The ranges and clubs I refer to above have full action pistol practice ranges--all out competition style stages and simple holster draw and presentation.

For anyone in the SF Bay area interested, let me know and I'll direct you to two very good locations.

 

[strickj]

do ranges have the armor on all sides or just down range?

 

[Aguila Blanca]

My range doesn't allow holster drawing .. Insurance issues ..

Ditto.

Not the range I belong to, nor either of two ranges my friend in another state shoots at when I've visited him.

Well that makes sense. So basically what you guys would probably all agree with is that if you have a standard belt holster on the same side as your drawing hand, finger off the trigger while drawing and following the 4 rules, chances are no one is going to get all pissy at you?

Nobody said that. Chances are somebody will be accustomed to shooting where NO holster practice is allowed, and will assume that the same holds true at your range.

BTW -- Have you in fact verified that you are even allowed to do holster practice where you shoot? If it's against the rules, you should very much expect someone to get "all pissy" at you. Several someones, in fact.

 

[brentn]

Yes you are allowed holster practice at my gun club, they teach the course and I've seen RO's give guys with belt holsters tips while at the range.

I think i'm going to take the course, is there any material that I can study online that can help me understand what to expect when I do the course?

Thanks for the help guys