Posted: 10/18/2004 5:55:28 PM EDT
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Anybody here carry Cross-Draw? And if so, why? I have been thinking about giving it a try and I'm curious about the reasons behind people using this method of carry. By the way, the gun that I will be carrying cross-draw will be a Glock 27. WPD-TAC |
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I have been considering it as well. In many ways it would be faster then strongside, expecially under concealment clothing. Plus you would have access to the weapon while seated. My concern is it will print more, and flash moreso similar to a shoulder holster. You know how your jacket or unbuttoned shirt will blow back in the wind? The more I think about it, the more I tend to want to stick with strongside. -Steve |
| I occasionally carry cross draw, but the holster I have for it is just a normal ambidextrous owb so I only do it when target shooting or if I can keep my winter jacket on to keep it concealed. when wearing a winter coat it is nice since the jacket just has to be unzipped a bit and it's easy to reach in and get the gun |
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i'm not crazy about crossdraw due to the lack of skill most shooters have with presentation. If done incorrectly you will sweep everything infront of you including the target. In tight spots if done incorrectly you may not have the room to present the weapon. Not to mention unless you're wearing a heavy jacket you will have a hard time concealing . A man's frame is just not contoured to conceal crossdraw. J |
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i could pretty much cut and paste the negatives on horizontal shoulder carry. here we go 1. muzzle is pointed at the little kid behind you- NOT a safe direction, you know, DOWN! 2. sweeps everyone when you draw 3. SLOW. my hand rests on my butt in a iwb holster. it's like a foot and half reaching across my beer gut. 4. how are you gonna draw with a perp in your grill? can't speed rock either. 5. [really important] belly to belly if a bad guy is right handed, you've just stuck the butt of your weapon in his hand! [/really important] but, other than that they're great |
We could say the same about any style of carry.
Good point
1 - Behind? I've only known crossdraw (for concealed carry) to be front-mounted (had to add, I have seen holsters and guys in movies carry guns on the extreme opposite side...pretty much only in westerns). And any holster I have/would have for crossdraw has the barrel pointed down but maybe not as straight down as a strong-side carry unless that has a degree of forward cant. It depends on the holster you pick out for your style of carry. 2 - Same rebuttal as the first above 3 - Some folks might find it physically easier/faster depending on their dexterity and flexibility. 4 - If someone's on top of you, you won't necessarily get any gun clear of leather. Folks should really get themselves a blue/red gun and have a friend/teacher REALLY get in your face and see if you can draw from any style of carry. I have a little bit of training experience with actual physical contact like this. You might be surprised how well/poorly your 'favorite' carry mode works. 5 - Perhaps you meant if the bad guy is 'left' handed, or perhaps you're wearing your firearm left-handed yourself? This also depends on what type of holster you use, how you conceal it, and wear it. Again, try this with a blue/red gun and someone actually, physically 'on' you. Don't tell them how you are carrying though, or maybe don't even mention that you are carrying at all. Just set up a 'hand-to-hand' scenario and surprise them.
VERY GOOD POINT! BUT, a person can always train for a new handgun, holster or method of carry and when they feel proficient enough;adopt it. As I see it, every mode of carry has it pluses and minuses. Think them through, talk about them, but most importantly...try them out and test those pluses and minuses with some actual physical practice. Much better than not carrying at all 
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if you are presented with a threat while standing, which side do position away from the attacker? with strongside carry, you can put your shooting hand and weapon away fromt the threat, but with crossdraw you either have to put your gun or drawing hand toward the attack. |
I disagree with your reservations on crossdraw. Your statement above makes sense in a LEO role carrying open on a duty belt. Try getting in a very tight situation, hands at your side, and see which carry allows you to deploy your weapon. Just food for thought. |
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For the first three years I was a LEO...back before we had walkies, or SWAT teams, or "security holsters", or Mag Lights, or such...we were required to carry our revolvers crossdraw. Made for some interesting times, let me tell you. Ever been washing your squad and had your Python fall out onto the concrete? I have! Ever been worried more about your gun than trying to beat the living shit out of the MF who is on top of you doing his best to choke you out? I have. Many,many problems with this carry from a weapon security standpoint! It was common for us to unload our primary sidearm if faced with situations where we knew we would have to fight like Hell or with high-risk prisoner escorts to hospitals, etc. and use, instead, a snub concealed in the pocket strongside. I could go on, but no need...for serious use, the advantages are far outweighed by the disadvantages for primary sidearm carry under all but a tiny number of circumstances. |
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I'm not going to get into a heated debate. However, while carrying "crossdraw" I have never droppped my weapon, under any circumstances. Yes, I've been in a scuffle, or two. Now, if you have big gut, or carry "loose" in your waistband, you'll encounter a few problems. I'll just add, try the tight space exercise and try drawing your weapon with either hand. Don't assume you'll always have your strong side arm functioning. Semper Fi! |
in a tight situation, i can't imagine an easier way of drawing than bringing your hand straight up your side......as opposed to reaching all the way across your body, and then coming all the way back to your strong side. |
First of all, explain the threat. I no longer act in a LEO role, nor do I stand toe-to-toe with someone exchanging unpleasantries. |
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BTW, here's a little exercise for you. No, you will probably never be put in this exact position but it illustrates a point. Also, think of a crowded elevator, if you will. With your weapon holstered, strong side, place your back against a wall with your strong side shoulder against an adjoining wall. Without moving away from either wall, try and draw your weapon. Insight, you can't. As to your other question, since you haven't responded, as a civillian, what is your body posture while conforting this "threat" you spoke of? Hands at your side? Arms crossed? Hands in your pockets? Parade rest or are you in boxer's stance with your hands up? All things need to be considered when deciding on a carry position. |
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I appreciate the info from those who have fielded a cross-draw holster. I agree with those who don't see strong-side as unfailingly easy to do in any situation. If an attacker, who does not know you are armed (that's what we strive for with CCW, right? ) rushes you I can see a couple of possible scenarios; 1) With a stong-side carry you bring your arm up for the draw and wind up with it pinned to your side or behind you. 2) With a cross-draw carry, your arms are out in front of you. If the attacker makes contact, you tuck to protect your body from the blows and your drawing hand is at your weapon. Then again, he/she/it could be kicking the shit out of you and you either can't draw from any position, or you attempt to do so and lose the weapon all together. This is all just fantasy, here. What I advocate is those who are curious about different carry methods try them out. Strong-side carry has it's drawbacks also just like any method does. We can pretend here all day but that does not prove one is better than the other. Even real-world experience has to be judged by it's particular facts. Again, I know some folks whose mobility might prevent them from drawing either fast enough or at all from a strong-side carry. As I mentioned above, to me, one of the main goals of CCW is to NOT let the offending person know I am armed until I am ready to draw and use the firearm for defensive purposes. If your concern is that during a physical attack the attacker sees your firearm and reaches for it, then you are rightly concerned about gun retention. There are holsters on the market (mass produced and custom made) dealing with higher levels of retention capability. |
Cross draw is a specialized method for specialized situations. When I road trip (not on duty), the pistol will normally ride in its' strong side concealment holster. When I roll through an area that resembles Beruit, (you know, like DC, Atlantic City, Some parts of Richmond) it sets under my leg ready to deploy in the anti-carjack role.
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