Off-Centerline Tool Carry. Where do you carry and why?

[gejoslin]

Off-Centerline Tool Carry
byChris Fry


Photos by Author

Posted: March 7, 2013


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[TD="align: center"]Off-centerline carry offers many positive attributes but requires careful study and consideration prior to implementing.[/TD]
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Every-Day Carry (EDC) of personal protection tools is a highly individualized subject. EDC is often developed around specific mission requirements, personal experience, previous training and environment. How and why a law enforcement officer carries tools is quite different than how and why a citizen may carry tools. I hope to explain the benefits and efficacy of off-centerline carry of primary tools for personal protection.

For the purposes of this article, off-centerline carry is defined as carriage of a primary personal protection tool slightly off the centerline of the body -- usually, but not always, around the waistline. Examples, using a clock face for reference, would include carriage of a tool inside or outside the waistband at the one o'clock, two o'clock, 10 or 11 o'clock positions, in front of the hips.

I break EDC tools and support gear into a hierarchy:

• Primary - Firearms, knives: on or in front of hips.

• Secondary - Extra ammunition, illumination tools: on or in front of hips.

• Tertiary - Personal emergency medical, phone, other: behind hip or in cargo pocket.

It is important to take a few important elements of EDC into consideration: personal comfort, accessibility and applicability.


Personal Comfort


Comfort comes first because humans are lazy animals and if something is uncomfortable, no matter the utility, it will remain in the drawer or on the nightstand once the novelty has worn off. Having had this discussion with individuals who carry full-time, some feel that off-centerline carry of a handgun or what is sometimes referred to as Appendix-Inside Waistband Carry (A-IWB) is too uncomfortable. However, like anything worth having, it requires an open mind and a little work. A few considerations if you are contemplating off-centerline carry:

1. If you have so much frontal real estate that you cannot see your shoes, off-centerline carry is not for you. Health and fitness levels are more important at this point.
2. Off-centerline carry is not for those who are inflexible and will only carry a full-size pistol. If that is you, read no further.
3. Like many things in life, change is scary, and there is an adjustment period before you become comfortable with this method.
4. Sitting for long periods of time or riding in a car are not problems if you can conform to 1, 2 and 3 above.

Accessibility


Accessibility follows a very close second to comfort. No matter the tool, if it cannot be accessed under duress, it is useless. This is where off-centerline carry really shines. Every day we work with our hands, performing numerous jobs in front of us, close to our torso, within our anatomic work zone. We are very efficient here, strong and comfortable. How many times have you tried to write on a piece of paper at arm’s length or type on a keyboard that is too far away? Not easy or comfortable, is it?


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[TD="align: center"]Off-centerline carry can include personal protection tools such as firearms or edged weapons.[/TD]
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So why is it that the most common location to carry our primary weapon is on or behind the hip, outside of our anatomic work zone?

Because that’s the way it’s always been done?

Maybe because that method is a carry-over from law enforcement, where officers are required to carry on the hip? Where do undercover officers and federal agents most frequently carry? Not on the hip, but usually close to centerline or A-IWB. Which group of law enforcement officers mentioned above most resembles a citizen’s daily lifestyle?

What about safety? The most common time for a negligent discharge to occur is going into and coming out of the holster. This may be another reason hip carry is so prominently advocated for beginning shooters. If a discharge occurs on the hip, chances of a round impacting a vital area are low. Off-centerline carry may direct a discharge into the groin and femoral area, a serious wound. That, and not many people like having a 9mm, .38 or .45 pointing at their groin and genitals. Off-centerline carry requires a different mindset, confidence in the applicability of this methodology, and proficient gun handling.

What about pistol size? With technological advancements over the last 10 to 15 years, many compact and subcompact handguns have become available and gaining in popularity for concealed carry. With the exception of snubnose revolvers, these alternatives were not as readily available in such a wide array of models in the past.

How about holsters and holster designs? Cross-draw holsters have been available since the Civil War and are common in various regions for larger-framed firearms. The cross-draw made off-centerline carry more comfortable, because the larger frame and barrel can lie within the hip-flexor crease, allowing ready access to the firearm with either hand.


Applicability


What are you carrying and why? Everyone has their reasons and mission profiles. As a citizen with a concealed carry permit, I want and need to be as low profile as possible. I need to be able to navigate through and within most common environments, including open parking lots, cramped restaurants, and public gatherings. I need to be able to move fast and access my tools in compressed and confined spaces, possibly against multiple adversaries. These are all elements to consider when setting up EDC gear. Another consideration is the potential legal consequences the tools carried may have if something happens and you are detained and questioned by law enforcement. What you carry needs to be applicable to your personal situation, on the job or off.


Compare and Contrast


Considering all these questions and observations, let’s look at hip and behind-the-hip carry:
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1. Access from the hip requires rearward articulation of the primary weapon-bearing arm. This provides readily apparent visual cues of one’s furtive movement and intent to access a weapon.
2. Training at extreme close quarters has demonstrated that rearward articulation provides more opportunities for draw fouls and muzzle aversions by the attacker. Being “clinched,” tackled or in a standing grapple causes most individuals to "turtle up," a body alarm reaction to forward pressure and contact aggression, drawing the arms inward, not rearward.
3. Access from the hip requires movement of the limb out of our anatomic work zone. Only the rear deltoid and partial activation of the latissimus-dorsi muscles for strength and control of the tool drive this movement. This puts the weapon-bearing limb in an anatomically weak position, easily attacked and controlled, prior to extension of the firearm to target.

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Students in SouthNarc's ECQC course engage in standing grappling drills and in-fight weapon access.[/TD]
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In contrast, let’s look at off-centerline carry and access:

1. Hands remain in anatomic work zone, no rearward articulation of weapon-bearing limb, and less visual cueing of tool access.
2. Working and gripping objects in this zone activate the latissimus-dorsi, pectoral, deltoid, biceps and core muscles, providing superior retention and weapon control.
3. Humans under extreme stress have been shown to squat, hunch over, and draw the arms close to the body with elbows tucked and butt back in preparation for impact, fight or flight. This reinforces carry of personal-protection tools along the centerline.
4. Readily accessible to either hand due to the centralized forward-of-hips location.

Summary


If you have been carrying on the hip for 20 years -- on the job or off -- with literally thousands of repetitions drawing from that location, off-centerline carry may not be for you. Switching to off-centerline carry now would be adding another skill set to the decision tree and training regimen. I do not advocate off-centerline carry in this situation unless the individual is willing to put in the work required to take that skill to the level of unconscious competence.

If, however, you are willing to give off-centerline carry a try, you may be surprised by the speed and concealability of this method of carry for any primary personal-protection tool (handgun or edged weapon). Off-centerline tool carry is not for everyone. Proceed with caution, study, train and practice prior to implementing.
Where do you carry and why?

 

[TroutStalker]

My primary tool is my Johnson. I like my Johnson too much. You have a lot of major arteries where that bad boy is pointing. If you are drawing at close combat range and they get a hand on your weapon coming from that draw...

 

[Purple]

IMO - Edged weapons should be carried on the weak hand side and lateral to the body. If you carry up front and go to draw and the BG closes the distance, that edged weapon is gonna get buried in your gut. I would much rather pull and edge weapon from my hip, than my abdominal cavity.

 

[gejoslin]

My primary tool is my Johnson. I like my Johnson too much. You have a lot of major arteries where that bad boy is pointing. If you are drawing at close combat range and they get a hand on your weapon coming from that draw...

That's why I carry mine in a cross draw fashion. It'a lot easier to draw in a car and faces the door, where in all probability the danger is going to come from. I also don't have the problem of getting it around the steering wheel and my elbow isn't hitting the seat back as when drawing from the hip.
My double mag holster is at the 8 o'clock position behind my left hip.
I found it easier to move around without my sidearm and mag holster on both hips. Being 6'4" and 265 I'm wide enough! :biggrin:

 

[UATKP]

I'm old and skinny. During my career in the military I learned a good bit about light weapons, and have worn and carried a varied amount of different ones. But that was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Now I'm relatively new at all this "Defensive carrying" business. I've been carrying for about a year or so now, and I only carried A-IWB once or twice, except for Sundays at Church. (Remora no-clip holster.)
I now carry OWB at 3 o'clock in a homemade holster with a forward cant. It's very comfortable. I can draw easily anytime, even when sitting in my truck with a seat belt on. I don't let my shirt or vest get caught under the seatbelt. So far, target acquisition is pretty smooth, for an old guy. It's been very well -- thus far.
But now, this article has given me even more things to have to think about. Which is good, I guess, since you're never too old to learn. I never thought about the position of my arm at the exact time of the draw, or that it might be in a 'weaker' state when drawing. I'm not apt to be grappling with someone quite as probable as a LEO, but it is still possible, I guess. (Heck, the reason I carry the gun is because I've gotten too darned old to fight.)
So now I think I will examine other possibilities, like gejoslin's crossdraw, for instance... it might be an option. I'm just new enough at this to be able to change as I am training, rather than needing to change after I've got everything down pat and am set in my ways.
Good article. Thanks for posting.

 

[gejoslin]

I'm old and skinny. During my career in the military I learned a good bit about light weapons, and have worn and carried a varied amount of different ones. But that was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Now I'm relatively new at all this "Defensive carrying" business. I've been carrying for about a year or so now, and I only carried A-IWB once or twice, except for Sundays at Church. (Remora no-clip holster.)
I now carry OWB at 3 o'clock in a homemade holster with a forward cant. It's very comfortable. I can draw easily anytime, even when sitting in my truck with a seat belt on. I don't let my shirt or vest get caught under the seatbelt. So far, target acquisition is pretty smooth, for an old guy. It's been very well -- thus far.
But now, this article has given me even more things to have to think about. Which is good, I guess, since you're never too old to learn. I never thought about the position of my arm at the exact time of the draw, or that it might be in a 'weaker' state when drawing. I'm not apt to be grappling with someone quite as probable as a LEO, but it is still possible, I guess. (Heck, the reason I carry the gun is because I've gotten too darned old to fight.)
So now I think I will examine other possibilities, like gejoslin's crossdraw, for instance... it might be an option. I'm just new enough at this to be able to change as I am training, rather than needing to change after I've got everything down pat and am set in my ways.
Good article. Thanks for posting.

When I was younger and before 4 back operations, I had no problems duking it out. Now though concealed carry is the only way to equalize the situation. Because fighting and/or running is out of the equation. So I know what your talking about!

 

[Austin]

To those of you saying you are too old/weak to fight. I hope that stands up in court for you when you shoot an unarmed attacker....

 

[TroutStalker]

gejoslin, I like cross draw when I am driving on long road trips also. Very comfortable and very quick draw with muzzle coming out on target almost instantly.

 

[gejoslin]

To those of you saying you are too old/weak to fight. I hope that stands up in court for you when you shoot an unarmed attacker....

No one is talking about shooting an unarmed attacker just because we don't want to fist fight. But since you brought it up, if an attacker is much larger or your much weaker as in disabled it is legal to shoot an attacker who can deal out great bodily harm upon another person. As in a man raping a woman or an attacker pinning a man down and punching anyone in the head with their head on the ground.
Massad Ayood has gone into great discourse about disparity of force. Stronger against weaker, man against woman. It is TOTALLY LEGAL to shoot an unarmed man or woman if the disparity of force is so great as to their greater strength can cause great bodily harm or death against another person.
Next time look it up before you get someone killed with your misinformation.

 

[gejoslin]

No one is talking about shooting an unarmed attacker just because we don't want to fist fight. But since you brought it up, if an attacker is much larger or your much weaker as in disabled it is legal to shoot an attacker who can deal out great bodily harm upon another person. As in a man raping a woman or an attacker pinning a man down and punching anyone in the head with their head on the ground.
Massad Ayood has gone into great discourse about disparity of force. Stronger against weaker, man against woman. It is TOTALLY LEGAL to shoot an unarmed man or woman if the disparage of force is so great as to their greater strength can cause great bodily harm or death against another person.
Next time look it up before you get someone killed with your misinformation.

I found the quote;

Disparity of force is the situation that authorizes the law-abiding citizen to shoot what appears to be an unarmed man. In this concept, the law recognizes that the power of the attacker to kill or cripple with "body weapons," fists or feet, may be so great vis-a-vis the defender's stature and ability that this disparity of physical force becomes the aggressor's deadly weapon.

If the attacker is a black belt or a professional fighter and known to your customer as such at the time, he possesses disparity of force. So does an unarmed male violently attacking an unarmed female. So does a gang, and as few as two unarmed assailants can give grounds for justifiable homicide if they attack ferociously enough. However, once all but one have been turned back or neutralized, the sole survivor is no longer a member of a gang and may no longer be shot -- at least, not for that reason.

A sound and healthy person viciously attacking a cripple, or a strong young man attacking a weak old person, also create disparity of force."
Article from: Shooting Industry Article date: March 1, 1992
Author: Ayoob, Massad Copyright

 

[UATKP]

To those of you saying you are too old/weak to fight. I hope that stands up in court for you when you shoot an unarmed attacker....

I don't intend to shoot an unarmed attacker... unless he's bigger and younger. Then it's his bad luck. He should've picked on someone his own size.