Thoughts on 11 O'Clock Cross-Draw Carry?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I am a believer in cross draw. The number 1 PLUS for crossdraw, is that you can draw with either hand, which gives you a HUGE upper hand in virtually any kind of encounter.

I usually wear a cross draw when hunting or driving for long periods OR when carrying two weapons, which is (IMO) the area where cross draw naturally does the best.


Look over the below, pretty decent discussion of the cross draw.
http://www.gunweek.com/2005/feature0101.html
http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/border/0703/index.html
 
Standing Body Guard

Fastest draw on the planet. The only draw I teach is a "Punch Draw" every holster position is available to a punch draw.

Standing Body Guard, best holster, Allesi shoulder holster, pull through tab, mounted parallel to the ground.

Standing, arms folded, right hand gripping the pistol! through the open jacket, can not be noticed, try it. The draw, pull pistol back toward your center line, directly back to wards your right arm pit, the instant the muzzle clears the left jacket lapel, it is joined by the left hand, now with this two handed grip, drive (punch) it forward in a straight line till the first shot is fired. Both eyes behind the sights.

The pistol is always parallel to the ground, you do not need to grip the butt all the time, folded arms is comfy.
 
Thoughts on 11 O'Clock Cross-Draw Carry...

Just my unprofessional opinion, but I like it.

Yeah, it has a few draw-backs, but so does every other means of carrying a gun.

More susceptible to snatching by someone in front of you... Maybe. But a gun carried in the 1 to 6 o'clock position is pretty easy for someone behind or beside you to snatch too. And although I try to never let anybody get up too close behind me, I find it much easier to keep them off of my front side.

After all, if they're in front of me, they're right there where I'm looking. They do anything silly, and I'm much more likely to have enough warning to actually do something about it... like step back with my right foot while jamming my left hand into their face and drawing my gun with my right hand. If they're behind me, like in the line at the grocery store or bank, then I either have to keep looking back ( which can draw a lot of unwanted attention ), or wait 'til I feel a hand on me. ( Which will probably be way past "too late" )

Seated in a car... yes, it's tough to get your gun pointed at the passenger side in a hurry with your right hand. But with the gun holstered at 10-11 o'clock, you can reach it with your left hand too. And it's usually easier to move your left elbow back while in the driver's seat than it is your right, especially if you're trying to turn toward a threat. You still have to remember to draw left handed though.

Sweeping the crowd/your own arm... learn to draw the gun in such a way that the muzzle stays pointed downward until it needs to roll up to the target. You can generally slide your hand and arm around your body and line up with the target pretty quickly, while keeping the gun pointed in a fairly safe direction, even in pretty tight quarters. From there, it's either fire from retention, or raise the gun to eye level first.

Anyway, that's my thinking on carrying cross draw.

J.C.
 
Seems like 11oclock would jag into your groin area when sitting down.
Click to expand...

If the holster is dead vertical, it will. If it's canted enough, the muzzle will lay mostly toward the outside of your left thigh, with the grip just to the inside. ( for a right handed person )

It's kind of hard to describe, but what you're going for is to have the pistol sitting in such a way as to "bridge" the top of your thigh. You might have to push it around a bit toward the 10 o'clock position to do this while sitting however.

Hope that makes sense.


J.C.
 
For cross-draw, my thinking was trying to get such a heavy cant that the gun is at well less than a 45-degree angle: with something small like a Beretta Cheetah or P11 it shouldn't dig into your groin.

A lot simply depends on how you dress. 11 o'clock cross-draw is great for sitting in a car and horrible for wearing a suit or sportcoat. I'm specifically considering its use with untucked casual button-up shirts with a compact automatic (although a J-frame could work, too).
 
Maybe slightly off-thread, but...I just watched "Lonesome Dove" again and noticed that with very few exceptions, everyone carried cross-draw.

Does anybody know if that is historically accurate? Does anybody know what the rational for horse-back shooters carrying cross-draw is?
 
The "cavalry draw" was originally meant for left-handed cross-draw and was on the right side, since the sword was considered the primary weapon and was on the left side (so it could be cross-drawn from its sheath). Since cross-draw can be drawn by either hand it's especially useful when you've got to be holding reins or if you've already got a saber in your hand.
 
I already put my two cents worth on crossdraw...
Click to expand...

LAK:
If you want us to be the beneficiaries of your $0.02 - you might at least cut and past your post(s) from the other thread, rather than give us a link to another thread to wade through looking for your words of wisdom.
 
Crossdraw and shoulder holsters tend to offer a lot of advantages, particularly when one may have to draw from a carseat or desk. One of the fastest men out of the holster I'D ever seen was from a cross draw. I tend to lose my affection for shoulder carry in very hot climates, but during winter ventures, this isn't much of an issue.

I'm not impressed with the prohibition of these carry styles in IDPA, where practicality, not raw speed, is ostensibly the main emphasis. I THINK they said it's a safety issue, which I also find a shade quizzical.
Then again, they ALSO decided that there was something inherently unfair about DA revolvers with barrels longer than 4". I'm STILL trying to figure that out. I know a couple of perfectly combat-worthy M1917 Smiths and Colts that were untimely retired due to this rule.
I ALSO know of a fellow who retired his 5" S&W M27 for his 4" M28, with much grumbling, until his scores started improving. I'm thinking that the folks who compete against him would probably rather have it the other way around.
 
Cross-draw is the most comfortable way to carry in my opinion. I carry a Glock 17 and in most other positions it seems like I'm always having to adjust the butt of my pistol to keep it from jabbing me or my clothing to keep the full sized auto concealed. With crossdraw, when I sit down in a restaraunt, the weapon lays over my left thigh and a very nonchalante movement assures me that it is indeed concealed.
 
Most of the problems with cross draw "lasering" others is a result of bad technique.

For crossdraw you blade body towards opponent and move weak hand to a defensive position out of the line of fire: I prefer Southnarc's horizontal or vertical elbow for the weak arm Mass teaches something similar for weak hand in crossdraw.

Then the draw is done in same roughly speaking circular plane that strongside draw is done from when squared to the target.

If you think about this or practice it you should understand how it works. Also to clearly illustrate the bad technique being the problem think about trying to draw from a strongside holster when your bladed to the target. Your going to get all the "lasering" problems that happen when you try crossdraw while squared to the target.

Crossdraw covers shoulder rigs, bellybands, and vest/jacket crossdraw pockets in addition to belt rigs.

Jim Cirillo carried his K frames one strongside and one crossdraw as I recall.
 
Sweeping the crowd/your own arm... learn to draw the gun in such a way that the muzzle stays pointed downward until it needs to roll up to the target. You can generally slide your hand and arm around your body and line up with the target pretty quickly, while keeping the gun pointed in a fairly safe direction, even in pretty tight quarters. From there, it's either fire from retention, or raise the gun to eye level first.
Click to expand...

Precisely. Lift the gun out of the holster, swing straight down and forwards while rotating arm. Just because people tend to stupidly swing the gun sideways, doesn't mean you have to do it that way. It's also possible to sweep everyone on your strong side with a strong side draw. Does that mean you have to?

And anyway, 11 o'clock is basically appendix carry.

I'd say the main problem is you have to be really skinny. If you're fat at all, the gun will probably stick out like a sore thumb. Also, you can't hug anyone, which can be a problem if you know a lot of touchy-feely people.
 
Bob,

I did think of that; but it was a very recent thread with this one on the heels. That and the fact that it would mean cutting and pasting a series of posts written in response to other posters - not to mention that it is worthwhile for folks to wade through the whole thread in order to read the "pros" and "cons" by the other posters.

Cheers,
LAK
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

H
  • Locked
Cross-Draw in a Hoodie?
Replies
19
Views
483
Trent
Trent
W
  • Locked
Anyone else do this?
Replies
16
Views
1K
4t5
4
W
  • Locked
Tilt a long handgun to clear holster or Calvary draw?
Replies
5
Views
857
bearcreek
B
Charlie Martinez
Strong side or cross draw carry?
Replies
17
Views
648
Mainsail
Mainsail
C
  • Locked
concealed carry gun grab defense
2
Replies
38
Views
1K
Sam1911
S
Back
Top