Shoulder Holster Experience/Models

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DaisyCutter

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Well, the days of detectives wearing polo shorts and 5:11 cargo pants at my station have officially ended. Apparently the way to connect with citizens who have a strong perception of socio-economic & racial injustice, is to fabulously out dress them in a full suit, tie and coat (in Arizona).

Cops in ties, brilliant. Mine will be clip-on.

At any rate, a typical dress belt won't support a sidearm, mags, badge, cuffs, recorder, flashlight, etc.

I'm contemplating using a shoulder holster, *gag*, really.

Has anyone ever used one, know what features to look for in comfort and design? The Galco Miami Classic (Sonny Crockett) looks well regarded.

Yes, I'm disenchanted. Of course, if I have to dress like an IRS agent, then I won't be motivated to get my hands dirty at all. "Detective, he's getting away!"... Yes, yes he is. Don't I look smart though?

Apparently, the current detective look is too tactical, and off-putting to the citizenry.

So my choices are some kinda "dressy" belt that'll hold good weight, or a Sonny Crockett special shoulder holster and the pointing and giggles that it'll bring.

Is a shoulder holster as absurd as it looks?
 
Steve McQueen wore one well in Bullitt. Robert Stack wore a three-piece suit and shoulder holster in The Untouchables. Ditto Connery as Bond. You could do worse.
 
I've not worn a shoulder holster, but here are a couple of other makers

High Noon Under Taker http://www.highnoonholsters.com/store/shoulder-rigs/under-taker/

While you're at High Noon, take a look at their Rock Steady belt http://www.highnoonholsters.com/category/belts/rock-steady-belts/

Scroll down in this thread to see how thick the Rock Steady belt is in relation to the well regarded Beltman belt. http://www.highnoonholsters.com/category/belts/rock-steady-belts/

Here's the Andrews Custom Monarch Rig http://www.andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm
 
I also live in Arizona, and occasionally wear a conventional vertical shoulder holster when riding in, or driving a vehicle. Otherwise no. Unless you spend 99.9% of you're time in an air conditioned environment you'll find them too be too hot for comfort.

Horizontal rigs are somewhat better if you are carrying a compact pistol or snubby revolver, but if you bend over they will likely print unless you are very thick through the chest. Also you will need to wear a covering garment at most, if not all times you are out in public - because John Q. Public behind you get very nervous looking straight into the muzzle of your handgun. :eek:

As an alternative I have worn a very high-riding pancake holster between the belt and pants, running across the outside of the rig, in a cross draw position. It generally stays close to the body, and is slightly more comfortable in hot weather then a shoulder holster, which is not to say much. You will likely not win a whole lot of fast draw contests. :uhoh:

Back in the dark ages of the 1950's FBI Agents carried Smith & Wesson or Colt .38 revolvers with 4-inch barrels under sport or suit coats. A look at vintage training films might provide you with a clue.

A lot of the right answer is going to depend on your physical build and the particular gun you chose or are required to carry.
 
I carry a taurus pt99afs and a 6" 44mag in shoulder holsters. Both made by Galco. I like them both. I had a chiefs special and shoulder rig for it...still have the shoulder rig. Didn't care for DAO. I wear mine as you describe, under a jacket. No issues drawing.
 
Make sure you match your leathers and your metals. Your belt, watch strap, shoes, brief case and holster should be matching color. Black would be easiest given the different shades of brown. And your belt buckle, watch and pen should be matching, either silver or gold.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but some people actually notice this stuff and sometimes they matter.
 
I have a galco jackass rig, works well in some situations, I've carried a commander in it with a suit no problem, just make sure you tell you tailor you'll be wearing a gun, and how, it really helps.
 
mil-tech

I have carried in a Mil-Tech that once you get the thing fitted it was very comfortable.

i also used an M9 US Army shoulder holster that is either great or useless depending on which gun i have in it the Tokarev fits well and rides the 1903 not so well

That said check out the mil-tech it works well
 
to fabulously out dress them in a full suit, tie and coat (in Arizona).
Click to expand...
Its all good.

Nobody can beat a Sharp Dressed Man!!

For what it's worth.
My experience with shoulder holsters over the years in Kansas is they are miserable hot in the summer.
And that's without a dress coat holding the heat in.

I use them some in the winter under a parka to keep snow & ice off my gun.

Anyway, You have my condolences!

rc
 
Follow JTQ's lead and buy High Noon. You can conceal easily under a sport coat in AZ with a High Noon Down Under IWB and High Noon Rock Steady gun belt. Heck, I conceal a full size pistol under a T shirt in Arizona summer weather with that combination!
I'm not going to ask which Dept, obviously, but it sounds like you got an East Coast transplant for a chief...
 
My carry gun is a Glock 30S. My build is 6'1" and 190-200 lbs, depending on the season.

I hit up the Dessert Industries (Mormon Goodwill) an bought a couple sport coats. From that and what was in my closet, my girlfriend put together 8 "outfits", 5 of which match the blue and black coats I bought. My job will probably be 99% office from now on. I'm supposed to have "call out" clothes available for scene processing... Basically, what I was wearing already.

Need a black badge holder now.

Thanks for the links and advice.
 
With a little gun like the G30S, a holster like the Mitch Rosen Upper Limit may be a worthwhile option. The have their Full Detail line if you want to impress, or their Express line if you want to save some money. My understanding is both lines are functionally similar.

Mitch Rosen http://www.mitchrosen.com

I'm not a Glock guy, so take this with a grain of salt, but I'd rather use a belt holster with a Glock rather than a horizontal shoulder holster.

Black Hills badge holders https://blackhillsleather.com/law-enforcement-leather/badge-holders.html

I think Lobo Gun Leather is a member here. He's former LE and may have some ideas for you. http://www.lobogunleather.com/1_home
 
Here's my shoulder holster page:
http://www.1911.comxa.com/trx/tech1/shoulder/holsters.htm

Shoulder holsters cost two to four times as much as conventional holsters. Not all types are available for most guns; if you have a gun that's not very common, you might be out of luck.

If your department requires a "retention device", your choices are even more limited.

There are two basic types of shoulder holster - "same-side" or "purse" style, and "X-rig." A same-side holster has the gun and support strap on the same side; the other strap just runs around the opposite arm to keep the strap from sliding off during activity.

The X-strap styles theoretically distribute the weight more equally, but they tend to ride over to the gun side. That's why some of them have a belt tiedown. A couple have an around-the-back tiedown to keep the holster from swinging out of your jacket when you bend over. When you see people carrying two guns in an X rig, it's probably because the extra weight balances the rig better. That's the same reason you see guys with three or four mags and their handcuffs hanging from the offside.

Adjusting the rigging is tedious and non-obvious; small changes in strap length make a big difference in comfort. Normally you want the gun riding up as high as you can get; most pictures show models with the guns hanging down by your belt, probably because the photographers didn't know any better.

No matter how the straps and rings are arranged, the center of gravity of the gun will work the holster down below the top of your shoulder as you move around. You can pull it forward or push it back, but it's eventually going to work its way back straight down. And if you're wearing belt ties, your pants will give you a wedgie. Gravity always wins.

A few manufacturers offer tan or white as well as brown or black. Depending on your clothing choices a lighter color might work better than a dark one.

I wear single-side shoulder holsters by preference; in my day-to-day affairs they're far more comfortable and less obtrusive than a belt rig. However, if you're used to a belt rig you might want to look into some good suspenders. You want the non-stretchy (usually leather) type if you're holding up a gun; the elastic ones are just good to keep your pants up. I've seen variants of the Sam Browne belt that loop around your shoulder to hold an OWB holster up; I don't remember who, but you could make one or have it made.

If you want to carry all of your gear on your belt, you might consider visiting a tailor shop and seeing if they can come up with some larger belt loops so you can use your wide gun belt. If you buy new pants the legs usually need to be cut to length; the scrap material could be fashioned into wider belt loops.
 
> My experience with shoulder holsters over the years in
> Kansas is they are miserable hot in the summer.

It's not the holster as much as the overgarment.

I've worn a shoulder holster in Arkansas for the last several years. But during the eight or nine months when any kind of overshirt or jacket is too hot to wear, I carry a J-frame in an upside-down rig under a polo shirt. But that requires wearing your shirt out; not compatible with the "suit and tie" look.


> printing

The OP is a police detective; unless his department has a specific policy, "out of casual view" is probably good enough.
 
I've worn one in New Orleans. Hot and humid yes, but we do tend to spend 99% of the day in air conditioning. It's acceptably comfortable and functional with a .38 snub. I have also had success with a pocket holster in a jacket inside breast pocket with, say, a 642.
I've also had a tailor add a pocket in the front of suit pants, large enough for a sort of safe version of Mexican carry (with a pocket holster), and this works very well. If I wear a vest, I can remove the jacket without revealing the firearm.
 
Not a fan of shoulder holsters, but I like vertical shoulder holsters over horizontal.
Course, I carry a little bit bigger gun that most would in a shoulder holster and I am a bit smaller than most folks.

Galco makes one vertical that looks pretty good. Granted, no experience with them.

The Beltman makes nice dress belts that should hold up to just about anything you can put on them. Horsehide is my choice, but he makes them with stiffener inserts too. Get one in 1 3/4 if you really want support.
 
The gun has to be drawn up from a vertical holster; the overgarment can block a single-handed draw. (not always, of course, but sometimes). A horizontal almost always lets you draw one-handed.

If you're driving or wrestling it could matter.

Horizontals are sensitive to barrel length, particularly when the gun and holster are riding at the "natural" center of gravity below your sholder. The butt of a vertical isn't usually as much of a problem.

My ideal rig for an automatic would be a "retention" holster with the butt forward and down at about 45-50 degrees below horizontal, but as far as I know nobody makes such a thing.
 
I used a galco vertical shoulder holster for an M9. It was okay in the field, but always let the pistol bump and grind on the chair arm in the office. I soon went to a blackhawk belt holster and found it to be much better for my situation. I generally prefer belt holsters anyway, and admit i am biased
 
I've worn two types of shoulder rigs in Arizona, the famous Galco Miami Classic, and this off brand for my Smith 38 revolver. No name on it.

smithelegance2.jpg

The infamous, "Bad Guy about to get knocked out by Magnum PI" look,

rightbeforeMagnumknockedmeout.jpg

I think there may have been another shoulder holster back in the day, but after a lifetime of living in Arizona, I don't use one. Ever. Bulky, hot, cumbersome, and never ever lets you forget that it's there.
 
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