Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosy?

Kramer1113

Kramer1113

New member
I came upon a CC class today so I stood and watched for a while.
The instructor was there for the money I could tell as the instruction was weak and the video presentation lacking.
At one point he says the the group of 12, "Did you all notice something about me today?"
I commented "Ya, your carrying at 4:00 on your right side" He said, Oh, you know that because I'm right handed...
I walked away in hopes that someone in his class is going to understand that just because your right handed does not mean you carry on the right.
I have met a couple of guys at the range that are right handed but cross draw to their left.
Anyone have this type of carry going on?
 
I've thought about switching to a cross-draw but I don't have the holster for that kind of set-up and never took the initiative to find one. I think that in some situations it would be more comfortable. I think it would really be helpful if you're carrying a gun with a longer barrel. That way you're pulling out to clear the gun from the holster instead of trying to go straight up. That's just my impression of it. Might not actually matter. I do think it's probably slower though.
 
I cross draw when I'm carrying in a vest pocket because I use the pockets up on the chest of the vest. Wonder how this guy would react to me? I'm fully ambi so I carry left side or right side depending on how I feel that day. I'd love to screw with this instructor on the range. Carry right and shoot left or the other way around.
 
Kramer1113, that just means that you are sweeping faster. I just don't think it's the best way to present your weapon. Safety, safety, safety...
 
Well, The Class today was the NRA CC class at the range. I have never seen them do a class on Thursday so it got my attention. Then again, I'm on Vacation this week and I'm never really at the range on Thursday.
I agree with sweeping, I agree with time, I agree with everything your saying but these two cross draw and their older guys (60's) Not like they are trying to be "All Gangsa and $hit"
Maybe they sell cross draw holsters! No, they really carry that way.
I wonder if its a disability that prevents a standard draw?
 
One reason for cross draw is if the gun is not the only weapon the person carries. Some people must use non-lethal weapons as their primary weapons and the gun is only the back up weapon. In that situation, on the job, it would make sense to carry the primary non-lethal weapon strong side and the gun on the weak side. It is counter productive to carry in one way on the job and another way off duty when there is no real need to.

The historically accurate way for a Naval Officer to carry their sidearm, for example, is cross draw, because their primary weapon would be the sword they carried strong side.
 
I have carried a SR40C OWB at 3:00 and a backup LC9 in a left side pocket holster for much of the time since I got my CCL last summer. That was fine with typical layering I was able to do in colder weather. This summer, I had problems concealing my SR40C and started to try out IWB holsters for either of my primary pistols. Since I have a bit of "overhang" over my belt, I continued to have problems finding something that worked.
-----Finally, I found a holster for my LC9 with Lasermax, made locally "by Amish" that could be used OWB or IWB and at 6:00. I discovered it could also be used as IWB cross draw. As I really wanted some form of IWB, I tried this holster every which way. My favorite is cross draw at about 10:00. It is easy to get to, easy to draw and I am finding, quick to bring up on target as I am crouching down. I need to practice with it to become more proficient to be as quick as my normal carry. It is definitely quicker than when I had it in the pocket. I find it so comfortable to wear, I may continue to have it as cross draw even when I bring back my SR40C as my primary. (I had an operation this summer that affects my stomach/waistline areas so I do not find my regular 3:00 position comfortable for it). I would rather carry cross draw than "no carry".
-----The bottom line, to keep with the theme of this thread, I am using cross draw at this time. I find almost no drop off in draw speed or accuracy. I find that I keep my muzzle low pointed mostly down, bringing the barrel up as I near 11:00. That helps to minimize unintentionally targeting a bystander during the sweep. I still like my 3:00 best, so when my body gets back to normal I will go back to my primary there with the LC9 cross draw as backup. For now, I am excited with the results so far using cross draw.
 
I can't see cross draw as any slower than any other Concealed Carry methodology. And certainly if you are seated a lot of the time (driving or at a desk) it is much handier (and faster) than carrying elsewhere. I find the fastest draw for me is somewhere between 10 and 2 with 10 much more convenient (and faster) when seated. If you don't put your finger on the trigger until you are on target, "sweeping" means nothing. So if you train correctly, it is not going to be any more dangerous than any other method of carry.
 
Long story short, find a spot for your firearm that YOU are comfortable with and that you have ease to get to. Now, when you have picked that spot, practice practice practice how to draw and fire quickly and on target. Do this repetitively until you have your muscle memory built up and then continue to practice regularly. Now, here's the important part, DON'T SWITCH FROM THAT SPOT!!! ... that is, unless you wish to retrain just as hard until you have reprogrammed your muscle memory.

Whether you carry strong side, small of the back, cross draw, ankle or shoulder holster, the above applies. I personally do not recommend carrying in something that can be removed from your body, like a purse.

-- side note... why did you title this thread "Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosy"?
 
NavyLCDR said:
One reason for cross draw is if the gun is not the only weapon the person carries. Some people must use non-lethal weapons as their primary weapons and the gun is only the back up weapon. In that situation, on the job, it would make sense to carry the primary non-lethal weapon strong side and the gun on the weak side. It is counter productive to carry in one way on the job and another way off duty when there is no real need to.

The historically accurate way for a Naval Officer to carry their sidearm, for example, is cross draw, because their primary weapon would be the sword they carried strong side.
Click to expand...
I like this, a lot. Bringing a sword AND a gun to a gun fight. :wink:
 
I'm left handed, but shoot and carry (IWB) right handed because I'm right-eye-dominant. I've been shooting that way since I picked up my first .22 rifle at around six years old.
 
wolf_fire said:
Long story short, find a spot for your firearm that YOU are comfortable with and that you have ease to get to. Now, when you have picked that spot, practice practice practice how to draw and fire quickly and on target. Do this repetitively until you have your muscle memory built up and then continue to practice regularly. Now, here's the important part, DON'T SWITCH FROM THAT SPOT!!! ... that is, unless you wish to retrain just as hard until you have reprogrammed your muscle memory.

Whether you carry strong side, small of the back, cross draw, ankle or shoulder holster, the above applies. I personally do not recommend carrying in something that can be removed from your body, like a purse.

-- side note... why did you title this thread "Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosy"?
Click to expand...

lol, For me, and I'm only talking about me, My standard 4:00 carry is right and tight. I put my IWB holster where these guys were carrying and I was all over the place. #1 the cant of my holster was wrong but that aside, try that once, its a cluster! I could better train to change to 2 o~clock than to 10 or 11. Zoinkies.
Right, is tight!
 
Steve2511 said:
I would be concerned about what you are sweeping with a cross draw.
Click to expand...

Nothing against you personally Steve, but I'm sick of people saying this. I guess people just parrot what some "know-it-all" says, and the more it's repeated, the more true it is. I have cross drawn for years without "sweeping" anything more than you do, no matter how you carry, or how you draw.

Sorry for venting.
 
How many swords have you seen carried "on the strong side"??????
I get a chuckle out of that "sweeping" term. If I had a dollar for every time I've "been swept" seen someone else "swept" with a hot weapon, I'd have a bunch of dollars. I'm not saying it's right or safe but it happens in combat a LOT. If you know what you're doing and keep your finger off the trigger, it's not nearly as dangerous as just walking past some goofus that just got his first handgun and is playing with it.
Just my opinion.
 
Mobuck said:
How many swords have you seen carried "on the strong side"??????
I get a chuckle out of that "sweeping" term. If I had a dollar for every time I've "been swept" seen someone else "swept" with a hot weapon, I'd have a bunch of dollars. I'm not saying it's right or safe but it happens in combat a LOT. If you know what you're doing and keep your finger off the trigger, it's not nearly as dangerous as just walking past some goofus that just got his first handgun and is playing with it.
Just my opinion.
Click to expand...

This is a straw man argument about the swords... there is no comparison. How many people have arms long enough to be able to draw a sword from their strong side? This is the only reason swords are worn on the other side, their length prohibits strong side carry.

I'm keeping my mouth shut about where one carries, because I've seen idiots who can't cross draw, and idiots who can't strong side draw, but I've seen experienced folk to do well from either position.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Threads

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 246 (members: 0, guests: 246)

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
49,523
Messages
610,661
Members
74,992
Latest member
RedDotArmsTraining

Share this page

Back
Top