Cross Draw Holsters

fmcdave · June 25, 2010, 07:29 PM

My dad wants a cross draw holster for his Kimber Pro Carry (4 " barrel 1911 style). I've been looking around quite a bit and found some fairly nasty reviews of some of them.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

I'm going to the Washington Arms Collectors show next month (July 10th) so any feedback would be helpful. I really hate to buy a holster without the gun there to test it.

Thanks.

surbat6 · June 25, 2010, 09:52 PM

Cross-draw holsters are easier to access if you're wearing a long coat or are sitting down (as in driving your car). I have one I bought years ago for a Series 70 Colt pistol and used briefly. Its main disadvantage was that, for it to remain concealed, I had to wear a long coat buttoned.
Mostly nowadays, I carry on my strong side behind my hipbone. It's easier to keep my piece unseen and generally handy, unless I'm sitting - as in driving my car.

bamaranger · June 25, 2010, 11:49 PM

I've always felt a crossdraw offers the gun up in a struggle for an easy gun grab. A local PD had just such an incident and now forbids crossdraw for concealment.

They do seem useful seated in a vehicle or behind a desk. I have seen ranges that forbid them due to muzzle sweep of adjacent shooters.

I have several flap crossdraws for revolvers longer than 4'5/8", that are carried on a ctg belt.

Mobuck · June 26, 2010, 08:10 AM

I decided to try a crossdraw this summer since I'm doing more driving. I'm thin and bony and found that moving the holster back far enough to be concealable with light vest caused it to painfully crowd my hipbone. A person with more middle might not have this problem. The downside of strong side behind the hipbone carry is vehicle seat damage. I've trashed a couple of seat covers due to the constant rubbing of the butt and magazine. I don't usually wear my cover garment while driving putting the pistol in direct contact with the seat.

WESHOOT2 · June 27, 2010, 05:40 PM

Galco
Kramer
Desantis
SideArmor/ Comp-Tac/ BladeTech
Mitch Rosen
Milt Sparks

L-2 · June 27, 2010, 09:38 PM

I second the Sidearmor.com idea. The holster can be easily converted from cross-draw to strong-side by loosening and then retightening the Allen screws holding the plate tight. This also allows the wearer to get the cant just right.

See: http://www.sidearmor.com/store/index...products_id=10

(Someone took a photo with the 1911's safety off!)

ClydeFrog · June 27, 2010, 10:12 PM

Wes's list is good for most popular US models. www.blackhawk.com has the SERPA models that are not to costly and can be converted for angle/draw.

The secure design can help prevent your handgun from falling out. Like my Ruger GPNY in a kydex Blade-tech model while I was pumping gas.

fmcdave · July 4, 2010, 11:56 PM

I really appreciate the input. I talked to my dad and mentioned the downsides which were posted. He really only wanted it for car driving. He had previously been using a strong side Kramer when he was using his motor home. It worked great for him.

Now he is 85, sold the motor home, and does most of his driving in a Toyota Avalon. He gets out of the car more often and does need concealment. So I offered up this solution:

Put the Kimber in the large center console when he is driving. Wear his strong side Kramer and transfer it when he needs to get out. He liked that a lot. I just mentioned that he should make sure his car registration is in the glove box so if he ever got stopped he wouldn't have to show the gun.

One of my friends got stopped and had to tell the policeman that when he opened the glove box to get the registration there would be a gun (which he is licensed to carry). The policeman didn't like it much but dealt with it.

When I drive my Smart car, I put a gun in the glove box (if I don't have it in a holster), but I never keep the registration there.

But anyway, thanks for the input!
Dave

The Expert · July 13, 2010, 09:48 PM

One suggestion might be to go with a holster like the Galco Cop 3-Slot holster which can be used as either a traditional belt holster or a cross draw holster.

Kinda "the best of both worlds" type of thing.

June 25, 2010, 07:29 PM	#1
fmcdave Junior Member Join Date: June 25, 2010 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 5	Cross Draw Holsters My dad wants a cross draw holster for his Kimber Pro Carry (4 " barrel 1911 style). I've been looking around quite a bit and found some fairly nasty reviews of some of them. Does anyone have a suggestion? I'm going to the Washington Arms Collectors show next month (July 10th) so any feedback would be helpful. I really hate to buy a holster without the gun there to test it. Thanks.

June 25, 2010, 09:52 PM	#2
surbat6 Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2010 Location: Northampton, PA Posts: 164	Cross-draw holsters are easier to access if you're wearing a long coat or are sitting down (as in driving your car). I have one I bought years ago for a Series 70 Colt pistol and used briefly. Its main disadvantage was that, for it to remain concealed, I had to wear a long coat buttoned. Mostly nowadays, I carry on my strong side behind my hipbone. It's easier to keep my piece unseen and generally handy, unless I'm sitting - as in driving my car. __________________ I think of my gun as a tool for converting worthless human garbage into valuable fertilizer.

June 25, 2010, 11:49 PM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	gun grab I've always felt a crossdraw offers the gun up in a struggle for an easy gun grab. A local PD had just such an incident and now forbids crossdraw for concealment. They do seem useful seated in a vehicle or behind a desk. I have seen ranges that forbid them due to muzzle sweep of adjacent shooters. I have several flap crossdraws for revolvers longer than 4'5/8", that are carried on a ctg belt.

June 27, 2010, 05:40 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	quick choices Galco Kramer Desantis SideArmor/ Comp-Tac/ BladeTech Mitch Rosen Milt Sparks __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

June 27, 2010, 09:38 PM	#6
L-2 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Nevada Posts: 523	I second the Sidearmor.com idea. The holster can be easily converted from cross-draw to strong-side by loosening and then retightening the Allen screws holding the plate tight. This also allows the wearer to get the cant just right. See: http://www.sidearmor.com/store/index...products_id=10 (Someone took a photo with the 1911's safety off!) __________________ (former) Glock Armorer 1911 Armorer LEO (retired)

June 26, 2010, 08:10 AM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I decided to try a crossdraw this summer since I'm doing more driving. I'm thin and bony and found that moving the holster back far enough to be concealable with light vest caused it to painfully crowd my hipbone. A person with more middle might not have this problem. The downside of strong side behind the hipbone carry is vehicle seat damage. I've trashed a couple of seat covers due to the constant rubbing of the butt and magazine. I don't usually wear my cover garment while driving putting the pistol in direct contact with the seat.

June 27, 2010, 10:12 PM	#7
ClydeFrog Junior member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 5,797	WES's list crossdraw models.. Wes's list is good for most popular US models. www.blackhawk.com has the SERPA models that are not to costly and can be converted for angle/draw. The secure design can help prevent your handgun from falling out. Like my Ruger GPNY in a kydex Blade-tech model while I was pumping gas.

July 4, 2010, 11:56 PM	#8
fmcdave Junior Member Join Date: June 25, 2010 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 5	thanks for the input I really appreciate the input. I talked to my dad and mentioned the downsides which were posted. He really only wanted it for car driving. He had previously been using a strong side Kramer when he was using his motor home. It worked great for him. Now he is 85, sold the motor home, and does most of his driving in a Toyota Avalon. He gets out of the car more often and does need concealment. So I offered up this solution: Put the Kimber in the large center console when he is driving. Wear his strong side Kramer and transfer it when he needs to get out. He liked that a lot. I just mentioned that he should make sure his car registration is in the glove box so if he ever got stopped he wouldn't have to show the gun. One of my friends got stopped and had to tell the policeman that when he opened the glove box to get the registration there would be a gun (which he is licensed to carry). The policeman didn't like it much but dealt with it. When I drive my Smart car, I put a gun in the glove box (if I don't have it in a holster), but I never keep the registration there. But anyway, thanks for the input! Dave

July 13, 2010, 09:48 PM	#9
The Expert Member Join Date: June 26, 2010 Posts: 29	One suggestion might be to go with a holster like the Galco Cop 3-Slot holster which can be used as either a traditional belt holster or a cross draw holster. Kinda "the best of both worlds" type of thing.