Posted: 3/29/2012 10:54:41 AM EDT
I'm planning my carry setup and have tried a couple of different holsters in the past - King Tuck, Supertuck, MTAC off the top of my head. I'm pretty big - 6'4" and 250 - with long legs and arms, shorter torso (call me  ) and the reach to get to my G23 behind my right hip is not very comfortable or fast. I'm actually faster if I carry small of back but I'm a desk jockey so that's pretty rough too. Work attire is khakis and tucked in polo or dress shirt.
All of this leads to me wanting to try cross draw. Anybody have any expereinces with it, be it good, bad, or ugly? |
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First, I see again the comment about sweeping others when you draw. "IF" you learn to draw properly, you will "NOT" point the muzzle are anything but the ground and your target. I've made a fair amount of money on this one showing folks who didn't think it could be done.
Second, one of the advantages of cross is that it is "EASILY" accessable to either hand. Even skinny/long armed folks have a bit of a stretch to draw from an IWB behind the hip bone with their off hand, and they generally will not have a good firing grip when they do access the handgun. Drawing with your off hand from a cross is simply the old "cavalry" draw. Ever wonder why the cavalry carried the way they did? Well, it gave them access to the handgun with either hand, and also provided access to the off hand (they pretty much trained everyone to use their sabre right handed) when they had the sabre drawn. Smart folks those fellows who's life depended on stuff like this. I could go on and on, but I'm sure I'll get hammered by the anti crossdraw crowd. That's okay, I've been doing it this way for over forty years, and it's worked out real well so far, so I doubt they will change my mind. 
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It's considered old school by many....too many. Their was a reason cross draw was used by so many ages ago....it works. Yes it's not the fastest but a few " quick and the dead" types found favor in this set up...it works for more situations then strong side carry...like sitting..which we do a lot of. Iv hear arguments about how aggressors can disarm you faster if the your weapon is set up for cross draw....not true... Mostly because of the aware factor . But I would still suggest training in this area. I have been carrying cross draw because i only have one leg and my prosthetic gets in the way on strong side carry....I'm very well trained in hand to hand , and knife disciplines which greatly help in understanding the pros and cons to this carry set up. It's not perfect and it's a small percentage slower drawing then strong side...so practice often. But it's more a jack of all trades position . Selfdefence is the simplest actions to cover the broadest possibilitys. ,I use a Walther PPS with a laserlyte micro laser....I can see just were the muzzle points on my draw...I don't muzzle sweep anyone on my draw..and I have 3 diferent ways I practice. The fastest is drawing with my left hand grabbing the butt with my last 3 fingers upside down..drawing foward and tilting the muzzle foward and raising my left hand palm up...right hand scoops pistol and moves to firing position. I realy should make a video ..it's very fast because with my week hand at rest with just a thumb in the front pocket..I clear the weapon and shirt at the same time...all the while I still have my strong arm free to defend . When I drive I will clear my shirt off the weapon so the seat belt doesn't lock the shirt over the weapon. |
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Is concealment an issue with your tucked in shirt - sure wouldn't be best for OWB ..IWB sure but access could be interesting unless I'm missing something.
I like cross draw when driving...Kramer horsehide holster from Dillon on a gun belt and 1911 of the day. Lap belt rides below the holster/firearm. Cross draw with nylon shell, blazer or untucked oversize shirt works but I prefer strong side pancake high ride between 3-4 with untucked oversize shirt. Best wishes. |
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Quoted:
It's considered old school by many....too many. Their was a reason cross draw was used by so many ages ago....it works. Yes it's not the fastest but a few " quick and the dead" types found favor in this set up...it works for more situations then strong side carry...like sitting..which we do a lot of. Iv hear arguments about how aggressors can disarm you faster if the your weapon is set up for cross draw....not true... Mostly because of the aware factor . But I would still suggest training in this area. I have been carrying cross draw because i only have one leg and my prosthetic gets in the way on strong side carry....I'm very well trained in hand to hand , and knife disciplines which greatly help in understanding the pros and cons to this carry set up. It's not perfect and it's a small percentage slower drawing then strong side...so practice often. But it's more a jack of all trades position . Selfdefence is the simplest actions to cover the broadest possibilitys. ,I use a Walther PPS with a laserlyte micro laser....I can see just were the muzzle points on my draw...I don't muzzle sweep anyone on my draw..and I have 3 diferent ways I practice. The fastest is drawing with my left hand grabbing the butt with my last 3 fingers upside down..drawing foward and tilting the muzzle foward and raising my left hand palm up...right hand scoops pistol and moves to firing position. I realy should make a video ..it's very fast because with my week hand at rest with just a thumb in the front pocket..I clear the weapon and shirt at the same time...all the while I still have my strong arm free to defend . When I drive I will clear my shirt off the weapon so the seat belt doesn't lock the shirt over the weapon. Tommy, I'd like to see a video of that. Sounds like a cavalry draw but I'm not sure. I never thought about using a laser as a "safety" device, but I've been playing with it for a few minutes. It's a great way to know where the muzzle is. It also works to demonstrate what I say when I insist the muzzle is only pointed at the ground or target with the draw I use. |
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Quoted: Im waiting to get a high quality crossdraw to see if this concept will work for me. I have no Idea if it will but the dislike for the method developed after the development of the modern training systems. I understand how all the modern training systems moved away from the crossdraw style...both styles have their negs...and I will never argue that a well trained person can draw faster( if not faster..with better weapon retention) with conventional strong arm side carry..but their are limitations , and the biggest is sitting or driving. In the old days riding a horse And drawing wasn't such a big deal but driving a horse driving cart or coach was a problem.. Also and I'm preferancing all my opinions off conceal carry not open carry. As such clearing the weapon on a cross draw is far more solid with weak hand drawing back the cover and cross drawing then the standard fan style...for wind and obstructions can defeat a draw on strong side were the strong hand has to clear the cover then draw. Having trained people in Selfdefence and not solely on firearm manipulation , drawing diferent then how they expect you to has huge benefits. My style has its issues to...but I can draw with left or right hand...I consider that very important. In class when we do react training were the victim gets a pretend hit on the arm with say a baseball bat...said victim then has to fend with only the week side arm. Most blunt type attacks will come from the right side because most people are righty ..and so most victims will take the blow with their right arm to protect their head. Thoughts to ponder?...combat training and Selfdefence training are two compleatly diferent sides of the same coin. Learn basic Selfdefence concepts then move to combat training......it's very hard to understand options once you have been " combat" trained.  |
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I carry an engraved Smith & Wesson model 66 in a shopkeepers carry crossdraw holster at least once a week at work for shits and gigs. It's really a comfortable carry and you don't have to worry about flagging anyone due to the angle and that type of crossdraw holster sitting more forward on the body. Only problem I ever have it bumping my grips on stuff when I have to move a lot of stock. |