Holster Carry Positions: Angle & Placement
Travis HaleyDescription
Travis Haley of Haley Strategic Partners analyzes the biomechanics of holster carry positions. How are your hands, arms and the rest of your body affected by placing the holster in the right or wrong place? When drawing a handgun, straight lines are strong and angles are weak. See how small adjustments to your holster carry positions create a smoother draw.
Something to take consideration when you are either purchasing a holster or placement, depending on the lifestyle that you carry the gun in, or maybe you change your carry style on a daily basis or weekly basis, is something that we don't generally think about. And something that I've seen has become a big problem with technology out there. Or the plethora of different holster options that we have on the market to choose from. And one of the biggest things that we don't think about that I'm seeing as this problem is something simple, biomechanics. So, when you carry your gun, or where you put your holster on your body, think about how your arms, your hands, the rest of your body is going to be effected by just placing that holster in either the right place or the wrong place. So, what the point of this video is, is biomechanical efficiency. That's what I want you to think about. Now, let's take, for example, the classic three o'clock carry, okay? If you're right-handed first, for example, in this case for me, now I'm carrying at a five o'clock right now, but if we look at the three o'clock carry, you'll see a lot of people that are buying these holsters that have a forward cant to it, or what we used to consider the FBI cant back in the day. Well, that holster is specifically designed for five o'clock carry, or Small of the Back carry because of the angles. And one thing I want you to remember, and what I'll demonstrate here in a second, is straight lines are typically strong and angles are weak, okay? So, when we grab a gun, straight lines are strong and angles are weak. So, if I carry a gun on my three o'clock and I have it kinked forward, okay, what happens is when my hand goes down to the gun, I'm creating an angle and I'm also creating the possibility of the hand not landing consistently on the gun every time I go for it, because the angles of the wrist bones have to change. So, what we need to think about is maybe straightening that holster out, or maybe you don't wanna buy another holster, try pushing it back, maybe an inch or two off the seam line of your pants, pushing it back towards where that cant to that holster is designed to be. And then you'll start to see an actual smoother draw. And you'll see a smoother holstering, which is also a problem when people grab a gun really quickly and they employ it, and they try to put it away and they hunt for their holster because they can't see it. In this case, I'm running an inside the waistband holster. It's hard to find, but if I had the proper angle on it, and the straight lines of the wrist and the hand and the gun, along with the straight line of the holster, they match up perfectly. But again, if I have an angle where this gun is now straight up and down, it's not gonna go in very, very natural for me. So, again, go with the cant that that holster is designed, and you have to place that holster in a specific area. Okay. So if I see a holster at the three o'clock, and it's canted forward, it's not meant to be there, and you're gonna have problems. So, if you wanna get faster, think about what I consider the law of just a little bit. It's just a little change that you might have to make, in this case. It's a simple angle, and that simple angle is huge in biomechanical efficiency. So, think about that out on the range if you wanna be efficient or inefficient with your draw.
Good video. Have re-evaluate a couple of my holsters.
Although it doesn't fit your narrative, I've found the best way for me to carry concealed is with a horizontal shoulder holster. It is the fastest way to draw from a seated position (like seated in a vehicle). I've carried concealed for more than 46 years, 31 years as a LEO. During the summer, no problem with just a light cover shirt. On really hot days a sleeveless shirt works for me. I can carry a full size auto w/o any problem keeping it concealed. Obviously, winter carry is a breeze. The only problem is the holster must by of high quality and they don't come cheap. My Bianchi 16HL has got to be at least 35+ years old and just replaced it with a Gould. Like the Bianchi much better, but I'm not sure if they are still a US made holster. Try drawing from your 3, 4, or 5 position while seated in your vehicle with seat belt on and you will appreciate the problem.
This is good info and could prevent having a drawer full of holsters that don't "feel right". When you get on a forum and ask the dreaded "what holster should I get?" things like this never come up. You're left trying to decipher or guess what cant, what clips...Well, if the FBI uses it, it should be good right? I'm guilty. Thank you for the video. It makes total sense once you see it.
Excellent video because almost ALL holster manufacturers DO NOT design the right hand holster with an approproate cant. Most have a forward lean and this is 100% wrong. Instead of designing the cant so that your hand can easily grab your gun, their design is wrong in that it forces the user to grab the gun and remove it frontways instead of an easy straightup (Or backward lean which I prefer). Pleasse send this video to all holster manufacturers - perhaps they will learn how to establish the appropriate cant. THANKS!
7:30 position not 4:30 as I stated. Like I said, a southpaw here.
Yes, certain things do become a matter of personal preference, however follow the advice in this video. It is based on the body's natural movements and straight lines are strong, well angles are weak as stated. Move your hand down toward your holstered firearm and see how it grips the gun, it should be natural without undue movement of your wrist. I am left handed and worked out where I carry at the 4:30 position with a foreword cant, for me that is the most natural draw. Practice with different positions based on a cant and you will be able to tell what feels natural to you and what doesn't.
If you are using the 5:00 position (even with the forward can't), does that area make it more difficult when using the opposite hand to clear or lift any clothing (jacket/sweatshirt) out of the way while drawing? I would imagine that carrying at 3:00 would be more difficult to conceal as it protrudes out of the widest part of the body, although it may be easier to clear any clothing. How would you determine the "lesser of the two evils"? I understand practicing will improve the situation, obviously, but would one be better than the other, or simply personal preference? Any opinion will be greatly appreciated, as has many of the PDN videos. Very valuable info, thank you all for that. Respectfully, Arnold Reinen
Mr. Haley covered his left hand with the muzzle of his gun in that video! How can I respect anyone who would do that?
Excellent video. How about one for people that have to carry in front pocket.
This is something apparently I didn't consciously 'get' before. Some holsters are canted forward, some straight up and down. The determining factor should be where it is placed on the belt, not what cant you 'prefer'. The cant needs to serve the placement. Either 3 oclock for straight holsters, or 4 or 5 for cant forward. The angle of the arm and wrist changes as it moves back along the belt line. The idea is working with the natural swing and reach of the arm in relation to the torso and therefor placement and angle of the holster. Consider the extreme example where the gun might be in a horizontal position in a 6 oclock OWB holster.