Carry Options Shoulder Holster Secrets

Lift your off-side arm for clearance, get a firing grip and clear leather. As the muzzle
frees, push the gun downward outside of the line of your body and move it forward
toward the threat as you rotate it to vertical. Holster is from Diamond D Custom Leather.

It just seems like a good idea, doesn’t it? A way to get all the weight off your hips, your long-suffering achy-breaky back not hurting for a change, and the “easy on/easy off” thing a shoulder holster manages is marvelous. Added bonus points are tallied for easy access to your gun while sitting, handy spare ammo under the off-side arm — and adjustments so you can tailor the harness to fit you perfectly. What’s not to like?

Yet, there are zillions of shoulder holsters gathering dust, slowly moldering their leather selves into verdigris-laced oblivion while their synthetic cousins unhurriedly turn brittle — their elastic bits slowly losing their spunk. I present, then, for your perusal, boxes and shelves full of dashed dreams, shattered hopes and unfulfilled yearnings. What “might have been” now dying in place from disillusionment and frustration.

If shoulder rigs are, by design and concept, flawed — why do they remain so popular? Every single maker of any sort lists a shoulder rig — or 10 — among their wares. So, who buys them and why? What is it these astute users know the rest of us uninitiated fail to comprehend?

As the gun comes up it can be joined by the off-hand as you get a two-handed
grip to finish the draw. Return the gun to the holster the same way.

A Common Thread

Like most things in life, the shoulder holster takes a bit more than a casual glance to understand and eventually live with successfully. A hip rig is pretty much bullet-proof as far as use goes. Using at least a decent belt is important — no, the thin canvas belt didn’t work, did it? — and eventually most of us stumble our way through and learn to live with the thing.

But what is it about shoulder rigs seeming to bewilder so many? First off, they’ve got bits and parts and swivels and snaps and buckles and elastic and “Chicago Screws” (whatever those are) and it all looks much more at home on James Bond than on us. When you first put one on, you can’t move your arms forward, can’t bend over at the waist without the gun slapping you on the side of your head, and the holster gets caught in the sleeve of your jacket when you don it. What would Ms. Moneypenny have said?

Like hitting a target with a handgun or negotiating whether your three-year-old will eat his peas — learning to manage a shoulder holster takes experience and training. Alas, we often don’t bother with any of that and just assume we’ll automatically know what to do. Cue a knowing shake of Ms. Moneypenny’s head.

The result is a safe draw without muzzling yourself or someone next to you.

What To Do?

You need to commit to a few things first. A jacket, loose shirt or vest is mandatory, and if it gets hot or uncomfortable, too bad — it stays on. Different shoulder rig designs do different things. A vertical rig is best for bigger, longer guns. A horizontal rig is better for shorter barrels and especially autos. Off-side ammo carry can get out of hand, so do you really need a quad-pack of 1911 mags there? I favor a single mag pouch and tac light pouch together, or a single speed loader and light. Take the time to adjust a rig when you get it. It can be a pain fussing with straps and snaps and such but take the time until it feels right. Once things are dialed in shoulder rigs can be pretty handy. They may not always be completely comfortable, but they can at least be okay. Comforting, not comfortable, remember?

The biggest challenge I see is the draw stroke. There’s much fuss about keeping your left (or off-side) hand/arm clear of the gun as you draw and “try not to muzzle your arm.” Most advocate drawing and sort of sweeping the muzzle to the left (if you’re a righty) while moving it forward toward the target. And yes, if you had your left arm down you’d have muzzled yourself with a loaded gun on a draw stroke. But I’ve never understood doing it that way. Why not just draw so you don’t muzzle any important parts?

Follow me here. Lift your elbow a tad to make room. Get a drawing grip on the gun and pull it forward out of the holster. Now — and pay attention — as the muzzle clears the holster simply point the gun down toward the ground just off your left side. Continue moving your arm, pushing the gun forward as you rotate your wrist to bring the sights upright. You just drew your gun and didn’t muzzle anything important. Put the gun back into the rig the same way but in the opposite direction.

The beauty of this is you can get the muzzle into the holster’s mouth, then use your off hand to safely help secure it, which isn’t unusual with a shoulder holster. No drama, no danger and it suddenly turns a shoulder holster into something much safer than it was just before you read this. Now go buy a shoulder holster.

For more info: DiamondDCustomLeather.com