SOB Holster? Weigh the odds.

[Owen Sparks]

Many prefer a SOB (Small Of the Back) holster that conceals your pistol nearly parallel with your belt right in the small of your back. Other folks have a fear of falling on it and damaging their spine. I had a real revelation that made up my mind.

The other night I home just about the same time there was a sudden cloud burst. Being relitivly young I sprinted to the house at full speed trying to beat the rain. The porch was wet as it had been raining on and off all day and both feet flew out from under me. WHAM! I landed flat on my back. It knocked the wind out of me and I tasted brass in my mouth. Other than a mild headache though, I recovered within a few munits.

If I had been wearing a SOB style holster at the time I would have come down right on a solid steel 1911 with my spine. Thinking back I tend to fall like this once or twice a year depending on how bad my luck is. I have NEVER had to shoot a bad guy. I came close a couple of times but never had to fire a shot. I have sliped, triped and fallen off over things all my life. Had I been wearing a SOB holster some of those times I likely could be riding a wheel chair now. This could be even more dangerous for people who routinly ride horses, motorcycles or 4 wheelers. Come off one of those on a pistol and your back is done.

I have come to the conclusion that the average person is more likely to be hurt falling on a SOB holster than to be hurt by a criminal and I will carry my pistol elswhere on my body.

 

[armoredman]

I agree, and I am glad you weren't seriously hurt! I did carry my BUG for a very brief time SOB, but it's now setup weak side cavalry draw.

 

[mcwjr13]

Agreed I tend to have a bad fall usually once a year as well (usually due to my own stupidity while hunting). In the past two years I have broken my tail bone and my hand. I would never consider carrying sob.

 

[Leanwolf]

I carried SOB for about two days once, then realized it was a big mistake. Never again.

I will say, however, I've known three different businessmen who carried SOB. Two owned liquor stores, and virtually never sat down in a chair with a back. When they sat, they sat on high, backless stools behind the cash register.

The other man was the owner of a small convenience store, and he too, almost never sat down, except on a high backless stool, again behind the cash register.

Because of this, their concealed handguns were never blocked by leaning back against a chair back.

The two liquor store owners always took their handguns out when they got in their cars so they'd not be pressing against the car seat back, which would make it extremely awkward and time consuming to draw if they needed the handgun.

Don't know what the convenience store owner did, when he got in his car.

L.W.

 

[Owen Sparks]

Immagine falling off a horse with one of these things on. Ouch! or on second thought, No ouch at all...more like
I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!

 

[Mr.510]

Just say NO to SOB carry!

I think the "worst case" for an SOB rig would be in a car accident. I injured my back very badly when I was rear-ended at a 60mph speed differential. If my PPK had been SOB instead of on my hip I have no doubt I'd have spend the last eighteen years in a chair. Prior to that accident I was going to get an SOB for it's convenience when wearing a dress jacket..... I got a shoulder rig instead! Given my life experience I don't think I could recommend or sell an SOB holster with a clear conscience.

 

[rhartwell]

I one time saw what I figured was a cop wearing s suit When he bent over to get something out of the trunk of his car it was sure in view. That made me say never

 

[Kind of Blued]

Just for fun, can anybody come up with a single advantage inherent in SOB carry? Even for concealability reasons, OWB/IWB @ 4-5:00 is just as effective. I think I'd rather carry a gun on the back of my head.

 

[Deus Machina]

For me, it's a little more comfortable than strongside. But I haven't found a good holster for either yet, so take that with a grain of salt.

As a note, I also move it up front when I'm driving or sitting. I do prefer strongside, just tuck it SOB in safe places I'll be doing a lot of walking while wearing a jacket.

 

[BlkHawk73]

SOB = accident waiting to happen. Ever notice police don't carry anything in that area? Reason for that.
Nobody plans on falling, that's why it's called an accident.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I too fail to see what they will do that a more conventionally located IWB will not.

 

[Bailey Guns]

I always tell my CCW class students there is no valid reason for this method of carry.

I, too, had to learn the hard way...though not with a gun. But I got into a struggle as a rookie cop and was knocked onto my back. I landed on a pair of extra cuffs I carried SOB. I was totally helpless...temporarily paralyzed for about 30 seconds.

And lethal force encounters frequently involve physical struggles where you might wind up on your back. If you're a smaller person and wind up on your back while fighting for your life (a small woman fighting a much larger man, for example) a gun underneath you and your assailant is going to be difficult to reach.

There's always a better option for carry than SOB in my opinion.

 

[sturmgewehr667]

i don't like it because i prefer to cross draw if a OC, well, i only really OC. just feels more natural to me.

 

[fastbolt]

There was a brief time when I carried a pair of dump pouches and then a cuff case on the back of my gun belt (probably dating myself with the dump pouches).

Sitting in the car (especially getting back in it repeatedly) was pretty uncomfortable on the lower back under the gun belt. Hitting the back of my gun belt up against doorways and hard surfaces during daily activities (unplanned, of course) finally made me move everything on my gun belt away from the small of my back. Luckily I didn't fall down while my gun belt was arranged that way.

This subject is often the cause of much debate and even 'passionate disagreement' among internet firearms forums.

Adherents of the SOB carry method are often not to be swayed from promoting their preferred holster type.

Not my problem, though.

There are many ways in which to become seriously injured.

In risk prevention circles there's a saying ... Predictable is Preventable.

 

[Erik]

Besides being dangerous, revealing, uncomfortable while seated, slower to and from the holster, and more difficult to defend a take away attempt, SOB has a lot going for it.