Snubby Cross Draw

[Ed Bulldog]

The pic is my Craft Cross Draw holster.
……great when sitting or driving
……effective for minimal draw motion
……comfortable draw when the shoulder is hurting

QUESTION:

Your opinion on cross draw-?
Is there an IWB cant for not horizontal cross draw holster-?

Thank you

 

[Archie]

My theory is not to show a concealed arm until the bad guy is looking elsewhere. Beating them to the draw is only in movies.

 

[Armored farmer]

This Bianchi #3 can be worn crossdraw iwb it has adjustable cant.


This DeSantis Softuk also with adjustable cant.

 

[Ed Bulldog]

Thank you

 

[Gork10]

I like it. Is that a left handed holster? I've never carried cross draw. Looks like it would have some advantages over strong side. Especially in the woods when you might be carrying a large sheath knife on your strong side.

 

[Ed Bulldog]

I like it. Is that a left handed holster? I've never carried cross draw. Looks like it would have some advantages over strong side. Especially in the woods when you might be carrying a large sheath knife on your strong side.

Yes cross draw for left hand dominant

 

[dfariswheel]

Cross draw is perfect if you're sitting in a car or at a desk or restaurant table.
The downsides are well known, and usually much overstated.

I do my own leather. Here's my reverse seam cross draw for a S&W Model 66.
It's extremely fast, and with my hands together my hand is literally on the gun under a shirt.
Lift shirt, gun comes out FAST.........

 

[jeepnik]

What exactly are these "well known" downsides? After almost fifty years of preferring cross draw I seem to have missed them. Of course you'd probably give me grief over one of my preferred handguns and it's usual holster.

 

[.38 Special]

I think crossdraw is ideal for seated, especially when driving a car. Strong side in that scenario is, at least for me, a Chinese fire drill.

I do find crossdraw less comfortable, though, as it is worn more toward the front and so any sort of a belly gets in the way. I also find it more difficult to conceal. A coat, for example, tends to flop open just enough to expose an off-side gun, whereas a three or four O'clock strongside gun stays hidden.

I am sure there are men who make it work, but for me, the negatives of crossdraw slightly outweigh the positives in most situations.

 

[Rexster]

Cross-draw can be the best carry position, for some folks. I was mandated to carry duty handguns at 0300, for almost 34 years, so, became quite “hard-wired” for “strong side” carry, but, with my quite long arms, and short waist made worse by some amount of scoliosis, a “front crossdraw” is actually more ergonomic for my body type. This means a right-handed holster, worn to the left of my navel, close to the front of my right hip bone. A relatively vertical holster, with little to no cant, allows my left hand, too, to be able to reach the weapon, and perform a reasonably efficient draw.

 

[nofendertom]

When going on a road trip by car, I would carry a kydex clip-on IWB on my strong side (4 o'clock) and a leather clip-on IWB for cross-draw. Use the strong side when out of the vehicle
and the cross-draw when driving. Road trip by bike, always would be cross-draw as my jacket would always cover it up. The gun was a Taurus 856. Works for me.

 

[Rexster]

On the perceived tactical disadvantage of a cross-draw rig’s position, well, the very same default “flinch” position, that protects the left side of my face and torso from an incoming strike, as I pivot my right leg to the rear, places my left forearm and elbow in a favorable position to not only shield the cross-draw rig and handgun, but, to come down HARD on an opponent’s arm/hand, if he reaches for my holstered weapon.

One prominent argument is that a cross-draw rig is a farther reach, for the weapon hand, if it become necessary to draw. Well, if my hands are at mid-centerline, at or lower than the height of my sternal notch, my weapon hand is actually quite near the grip of a weapon that is carried cross-draw. Personally, I rarely stand, in public, with my hands hanging limp, at my sides. I tend to bring my hands together, at my centerline.

Then, there is the “thoughtful” position, with my left hand at my chin, as of posing for a portrait, while wanting to look thoughtful. It is perfectly normal-looking, to then have the right hand positioned by my left elbow. Jack Benny was known for assuming this pose, during his comedy/acting, and should be readily search-able, on-line. Notably, his hand is normally on his bicep, but we modify this, so that the weapon hand is under the opposite arm’s elbow. Now, where is that right hand, in relation to the cross-draw holster? NEAR the weapon. It can even be ON the weapon, while the weapon remains hidden, if the cover garment allows it.

 

[babaylan]

What exactly are these "well known" downsides?

Well, for one, it's slower. For another, the weapon is moving in two axes relative to the target, which makes it more likely to cause a miss. And then there is the fact that in order to draw and train your weapon on the target, the muzzle is necessarily sweeping an arc across things that aren't targets.

But for a seated position, it can be better in some instances.

 

[hso]

Your opinion on cross draw-?

Not in a defensive handgun since I've jammed up too many guys with cross draw carry awfully easily in training.

 

[GEM]

Ditto, if you do close up entangled practice (NOT with a loaded gun), it's pretty easy to grab the crossing arm.

 

[dobedo]

I typically carry an IWB cross draw for my Kimber. It is very comfy as it is a 2" snubby and I made the holster to fit me better.

 

[jeepnik]

Well, for one, it's slower. For another, the weapon is moving in two axes relative to the target, which makes it more likely to cause a miss. And then there is the fact that in order to draw and train your weapon on the target, the muzzle is necessarily sweeping an arc across things that aren't targets.

But for a seated position, it can be better in some instances.

Slower? All depends on training. As to sweeping parts of yourself or others, only if you do it WRONG!

 

[shafter]

My theory is not to show a concealed arm until the bad guy is looking elsewhere. Beating them to the draw is only in movies.

While middle of the street at high noon gunfights are fiction, having to get a gun into action fast is not.

A concealed weapon should be able to be drawn with one hand, preferably with either hand, while in a clinch with someone, running, or flat on your back. Many gunfights begin as a physical hands on fight.

 

[Sistema1927]

Cross draw is perfect for left handers on cross country road trips. Strong side is up against the door and the seatbelt gets in the way. Cross draw puts the handgun in a more accessible position.

 

[Space Ghost]

I have used a crossdraw holster before, but not AS a crossdraw holster. I'm not a fan of having to reach across my big fat gut.
However, when worn just to the right of the belt buckle a crossdraw makes for an extremely quick outside the pants appendix style holster.
It's not something I do a lot, as I carry concealed more often than open, but it's the absolute fastest draw I've found, and the best for driving.
With a T-shirt untucked It disappears well.

 

[buttrap]

I dont do cross draw now as have short guns. Cross is for range fast draw games or its a 6 inch gun driving a car.

 

[flightsimmer]

I've started wearing crossdraw recently and it's quicker than pocket carry for most situations.
There is no perfect method for all occasions.
Keep in mind that this picture is in a mirror so everything is reversed and I usually wear a shirt outside over it.

 

[Kleanbore]

I carry an LCP Max for backup in a Crossbreed Superslide holster, OWB, cross draw, and canted at around 10:00. I could carry a K6a that way, but the Ruger is lighter.

The biggest advantage, I think, has to do with drawing while seated or while strapped into the driver's seat of a car.

@babaylan mentioned some of the disadvantages. Another is that bad breath distance, an attacker can keep you from drawing,

 

[shafter]

A point to consider is that neither uniformed or plain clothes law enforcement, nor highly trained military units operating low vis while armed only with handguns, carry their pistols cross draw and they do alot of driving in situations where ambush behind the wheel is a good possibility.

You may gain a little comfort behind the wheel but you lose advantages elsewhere such as speed, especially with a one hand drawstroke, and ability to draw while in touching distance.

 

[Archie]

:snip: I'm not a fan of having to reach across my big fat gut. :snip:

Excellent thought. Consider one's own body style.