shoulder holster question

[SSN Vet]

vertical shoulder holster or horizontal shoulder holster

I gather that a horizontal shoulder holster will be easier to draw from, but...

Which will conceal a 1911 better?

Which will be more comfortable to where?

 

[L-2]

There's an in-between version which angles the muzzle upwards:
http://www.galcogunleather.com/j1h-jackass-holster-component_8_445_1166.html

I've found, for a larger handgun, no shoulder conceals well compared to a good inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster. The cover garment is very important, however, no matter which holster.

Assuming a 5" 1911 (you didn't specify barrel length), some folks have deep torso/chests where a horizontal will do fine. Otherwise, the vertical will work for most anyone.

 

[SSN Vet]

commander length (4.25")

I'm between 8 & 9" thick at the nips...

14" from the arm pit to the top of my belt.

My concern is not printing under an untouched "Hawaii" style shirt (no floral print... just plain colors).

It's a pretty big investment to make, just to see if it works for me or not.

I'm not so concerned with carrying extra mags, so I'm considering a Desantis C.E.O. Shoulder Rig Holster .... but these seem to be more tailored to smaller autos.

 

[X-Rap]

I got the Galco Miami Classic for my carry needs on a motorcycle. I have a couple of the Bianchi vertical styles one for 29 Classic the other for a 22 but I much prefer the Galco.

 

[dfariswheel]

Lots of variables.

The upright or vertical shoulder holster will either allow the butt to stick out like a sore thumb, or will ride snuggly against your side, BUT will cover the gun butt and prevent getting a shooting grip on the gun.

Which it will be depends on how much leather the design puts over the gun butt.
One design will put the shoulder harness mount over the gun butt and pull it against your side, but this blocks getting a shooting grip on the gun.
This means that you have to get a partial grip on the butt with a few fingers and start the gun out of the holster, then juggle it in mid-draw while you shift your grip to get a solid shooting grip on the gun.

The other designs leave the grip exposed for a shooting grip before starting the gun out of the holster, but the lack of leather across the butt to pull the gun against your side allows the butt to stick out badly.

Any good holster design allows a full shooting grip on the gun before it even begins to move out of the holster.
Having to shift your grip and juggle the gun in mid-draw not only slows the draw, it also causes a high possibility of fumbling the draw or even dropping the gun. (It happens).

Having experimented extensively with various vertical shoulder holster designs and seen pretty much what others have done, I've yet to see a really satisfactory upright shoulder holster.
Of the designs, the old Hardy-Jeff Cooper design was about as good as it got, with the original "Dirty Harry" type being fairly good, depending on who made it.

The horizontal holster is the best from the stand point of giving a much better, more secure draw because the better versions give a full shooting grip before the gun starts out of the holster.

The horizontal draw can print on the back of the coat if the gun has a longer barrel or slide.
Much of that depends on getting the harness properly adjusted, which almost no one does.
The trick is to adjust the harness to position the holster a little farther to the front so it's riding on the side of your chest muscle instead of actually on your side directly under your arm pit.
Proper adjustment limits printing on the rear and moves the gun butt forward for an easier reach to the butt.

So, the vertical is a type that just doesn't work out if you consider proper concealment AND getting that shooting grip on the gun before starting it out.
It's the nature of the type that it just doesn't work correctly if you understand what's required.
It's an either-or situation with either the butt sticking out very noticeably or the gun so shrouded in leather that it's impossible to get a firm shooting grip on the gun.

The horizontal type does work extremely well as long as you spend the time to properly adjust the harness and experiment to get it just right.
That means adjusting the harness and wearing the gun and holster around the house to test how it rides. While wearing a shoulder holster it will tend to shift position during the day, so proper testing and adjusting is needed to insure that when it settles in, it will be in the correct position to conceal well and give a good draw.

 

[SSN Vet]

great response... thanks for taking the time to write it up.

With the horizontal mount holsters .... any experience or thoughts on the "one sided" rigs...

 

[srtolly]

There is some great info here. I'm working on a design for a shoulder rig for the same gun but customer work comes first. Some day ill get it done though.

 

[Shipwreck]

I have owned many over the years - and I always end up selling them.

For one - the gun side is always heavier than your two mags. So, the gun side always ends up pulling your shirt to that side. The neck/collar of your shirt will pull down in that direction after sitting and standing back up a few times.

Now, if you wear a button down shirt with a buttoned collar and a tie - this won't happen. But any other shirt, and you will have your collar pulled in 1 direction every so often... It happened to me ALL the time.

Also - I feel for women who have to wear bras. Having that weight on the shoulder straps would make my neck and shoulders start to hurt. Some holsters were worse than others. I had an Aker one with wider straps, and I couldn't stand to wear that thing 10 minutes before my back started to hurt. The Miami Classic didn't hurt that fast. BUt after an hour or two, my shoulders would hurt.

The closest I came to balancing the two sides (in weight) was carrying a Glock 26, and then two Glock 17 seventeen round mags on the other side.

I've given up on them. And, I've also tried the vertical ones too, with the weight of the gun somewhat hanging onto your belt. That one still gave me back pain after a while.

They are expensive - but if you buy one like a Galco Miami Classic, you can alway sell it for 2/3 the original purchase price on the gun forums in the classified sections pretty easily.

I once had one for a 1911 in the 1990s - gun side was way too heavy compared to the mags on the other. IF you tuck your shirt in and wear the tie downs, that will help balance things out a bit. But, my shoulders still started to bother me after a while...

 

[RustyShackelford]

shoulder rigs ...

I owned a leather Aker Comfort Flex shoulder holster(left hand) for my Beretta 96D .40 pistol. I liked the shape & design. It carried the firearm at a canted angle which conceals better & speeds the release which lets the weapon fall into your grip, . A regular snap holds it securely.
The Aker holster straps are wide & has no elastic, buckles, snaps, hooks etc that can break or wear out quickly.

Other styles I like include the shoulder holsters from Galco, Miami Classic II, Kirkpatrick Leather, High Noon Holsters(Skin Tite version). I prefer the holster styles that allow the off side pistol mags to be held at a horizontal angle.
I think this format conceals better & frees up the real estate around your waist/belt area. If you carry gear or a 2nd gun(back up) on your belt, the shoulder holsters magazines won't bang or interfere with the other items.

To me, vertical holsters fit better but the horizontal styles conceal better and feel better after extended periods; 10/12/16 hours.
I'd add that many gunners and cops like quality leather that breathes & will hold up for years. Natural colors or holsters without dyes or waxes that can stain clothes are good, . The High Noon Skin-Tite is synthetic but it's made to avoid scuffs, nicks, wear. I'd see using that for open carry, low threat areas, outdoor use where you'd want a rugged shoulder holster but deep concealment isn't a big issue.

 

[farscott]

I use a horizontal shoulder holster for a specialized task, carrying a weapon while driving long distances. It has a few advantages for that task, including be able to draw from the driving position and making restroom visits much easier.

I use two models, the Rosen StyleMaster (I have ones for the Glock 19 and one for the 1911) and the Adams Holsters HSR for the HK P30. During cold weather, the StyleMaster is quite concealable while offering a serviceable draw. Speaking of the draw, lots of practice is required with the shoulder holster, especially from inside a vehicle. Do not forget to practice the reload. I am not a huge fan of carrying spare magazines under the strong arm as the reload is clunky at best. One of my StyleMasters for the Glock 19 has two holsters, and I much prefer that for both the NY reload and the better balance. Two Glock 19 pistols is very easy to carry in a StyleMaster.

I do not have enough experience with the Adams HSR to render an opinion. I do not carry these concealed during warm weather very often, but it can be done if one is fairly broad, front to back..

Fitting the horizontal shoulder holster to you is key. I end up adjusting mine so that the gun is pretty high and a bit forward. The idea is to minimize the gun's oscillations as nothing ties the holster to the belt and to allow a decent presentation from the holster. This also is much more comfortable than allowing the gun to oscillate. It is still not as comfortable as a Sparks VM-2.

Unless you have a specialized need for a shoulder holster, my recommendation is to not use one. I spend a lot of time behind the wheel, so it makes sense for me to use them.

 

[SSN Vet]

Thanks again for all the great feedback.

 

[agtman]

"Dude, ... seriously?"

 

[klausman]

I routinely carry a commander size gun in a Pistol Wear Trump Card holster under an Aloha shirt. I'm just not nearly as cute as Magnum PI.

http://www.pistolwear.com/holsters/

 

[RustyShackelford]

Blocker Lifeline ....

I also wanted to mention the Ted Blocker Lifeline shoulder rig.
Blocker's shoulder holster was used by actor Don Johnson for his "Bren 10" 10mm pistol in the crime drama; Miami Vice. I think he used the natural leather Lifeline but it was many years ago.
Johnson and the wardrobe staff later switched to the Galco style, later named Miami Classic. He also wore a Galco Miami Classic with his .38super 1911a1 on the CBS series; Nash Bridges(1995-2001).

The Blocker Lifeline comes in different formats and leather colors; black, natural, brown.