Descreet38
02-10-2009, 07:20 AM
Females face special difficulties with concealment holsters. The vast majority of holsters are designed for men. The problem is that men and women are built differently.
The female torso tends to be an "hour glass" shape and shorter from hip to shoulder. The complaints most frequently heard from women are that their holster "rides way too high, and the grip of the gun is up around my armpit." A holster designed around the male body will ride uncomfortably high on a woman.
A woman's curving hips tend to push the muzzle of the gun outward, causing the grip of the gun to jam into her ribs. A number of quality holster makers including Del Fatti, Kramer, Chris Cunningham, Blade Tech, Sunrise Leather, and many others build holsters specifically designed for women.
The important lesson here is that women have special needs in a holster and there are products out there which address these needs. Don’t let a clerk at the local gun store stick you with a holster that doesn’t work and digs into your ribs.
Some different carry positions for a Holster with an FBI rake are:
Holster Positions
* Because they work best for the average man, the most common concealment holsters tilt the muzzle of the gun to the rear (FBI rake); these holsters are designed to be worn behind the hip of the gun hand side (FBI position). They are quick to access and provide a fairly direct path to the sighting plane. They generally do a good job of tucking the grip area of the gun into the relative hollows of the anatomy of a physically fit male. The FBI position places your gun where you can cover and protect it with your elbow.
Potential problems with the FBI rake holster worn behind the hip include having the gun butt digging into your ribs or armpit and lack of adequate concealment. These obviously result from mismatches to one's body size and/or shape.
Repositioning Holsters with FBI Rake:
* Appendix position: forward of the hip joint, still on the gun-hand side, this position is popular with many women. It has enjoyed popularity with male detectives on one large police department, who do not seem to be concerned that their guns flash every time their coats start to open. It offers good concealment to women in the drape of a loose pullover garment, rather than a coat or conventional shirt. This carry mode may be uncomfortable when you are seated.
* Front cross-draw position: moving further into the land of compromise, this position places the gun butt somewhere near the line of the navel. Think of it as a more extreme version of the appendix position which requires more lateral arc to bring the muzzle on target. In the right holster, it may actually be useful for people who work seated. In the wrong holster or with a long handgun it can be extremely uncomfortable when seated.
* Cross-draw position: butt forward on the opposite hip, this position can offer great concealment, even greater if it goes behind the hip. It also requires a long reach to acquire your grip on the gun, unlike an assailant to your front who has very easy access. It requires a large lateral arc to bring your muzzle on target and you are vulnerable to having your arm pinned to your torso when you reach for your gun.
* Kidney position: an exaggeration of the FBI position, moving to the rear, this position enhances concealment for the slim user and may get the gun out of the armpit or ribcage for the short-waisted. It introduces more lateral motion to the draw stroke and will probably make your gun inaccessible when seated; this dynamic may also make it uncomfortable when seated.
* Middle of the back position: an extreme version of the kidney position which not only adds to the lateral component of the draw stroke but places the gun over the spine. You will have set up a great fulcrum to damage your spine if you should fall on your back or be slammed against a wall.
The female torso tends to be an "hour glass" shape and shorter from hip to shoulder. The complaints most frequently heard from women are that their holster "rides way too high, and the grip of the gun is up around my armpit." A holster designed around the male body will ride uncomfortably high on a woman.
A woman's curving hips tend to push the muzzle of the gun outward, causing the grip of the gun to jam into her ribs. A number of quality holster makers including Del Fatti, Kramer, Chris Cunningham, Blade Tech, Sunrise Leather, and many others build holsters specifically designed for women.
The important lesson here is that women have special needs in a holster and there are products out there which address these needs. Don’t let a clerk at the local gun store stick you with a holster that doesn’t work and digs into your ribs.
Some different carry positions for a Holster with an FBI rake are:
Holster Positions
* Because they work best for the average man, the most common concealment holsters tilt the muzzle of the gun to the rear (FBI rake); these holsters are designed to be worn behind the hip of the gun hand side (FBI position). They are quick to access and provide a fairly direct path to the sighting plane. They generally do a good job of tucking the grip area of the gun into the relative hollows of the anatomy of a physically fit male. The FBI position places your gun where you can cover and protect it with your elbow.
Potential problems with the FBI rake holster worn behind the hip include having the gun butt digging into your ribs or armpit and lack of adequate concealment. These obviously result from mismatches to one's body size and/or shape.
Repositioning Holsters with FBI Rake:
* Appendix position: forward of the hip joint, still on the gun-hand side, this position is popular with many women. It has enjoyed popularity with male detectives on one large police department, who do not seem to be concerned that their guns flash every time their coats start to open. It offers good concealment to women in the drape of a loose pullover garment, rather than a coat or conventional shirt. This carry mode may be uncomfortable when you are seated.
* Front cross-draw position: moving further into the land of compromise, this position places the gun butt somewhere near the line of the navel. Think of it as a more extreme version of the appendix position which requires more lateral arc to bring the muzzle on target. In the right holster, it may actually be useful for people who work seated. In the wrong holster or with a long handgun it can be extremely uncomfortable when seated.
* Cross-draw position: butt forward on the opposite hip, this position can offer great concealment, even greater if it goes behind the hip. It also requires a long reach to acquire your grip on the gun, unlike an assailant to your front who has very easy access. It requires a large lateral arc to bring your muzzle on target and you are vulnerable to having your arm pinned to your torso when you reach for your gun.
* Kidney position: an exaggeration of the FBI position, moving to the rear, this position enhances concealment for the slim user and may get the gun out of the armpit or ribcage for the short-waisted. It introduces more lateral motion to the draw stroke and will probably make your gun inaccessible when seated; this dynamic may also make it uncomfortable when seated.
* Middle of the back position: an extreme version of the kidney position which not only adds to the lateral component of the draw stroke but places the gun over the spine. You will have set up a great fulcrum to damage your spine if you should fall on your back or be slammed against a wall.