A few years ago at the pistol match held in conjunction with Tom and Lynn Givens’ Rangemaster Tactical Conference, I was midway through the final shoot-off and had beaten all my opponents…until I came up against Spencer Keepers. After the start signal, my pistol was just coming up on target when I heard Spencer fire. The dude smoked me.
I had been drawing from behind the hip using an open-front vest concealment, while Spencer was carrying at the appendix beneath a closed-front shirt. No question, appendix is faster when you have both hands free, one to clear the gun and the other to access it.
Spencer makes holsters, specializing in appendix carry, and no one makes better appendix holsters. You’ll find a link to Spencer’s shop in this article about him along with a link to one of my own articles on the pros and cons of this popular but controversial method of carrying a concealed handgun.
Young guys should consider. I am 76 and have about 100,000 reps of drawing from 3 o’clock. I won’t live long enough to make it worthwhile to switch. Also are training venues as hostile to appendix carry as they used to be.
Richard,
Give it a try. I have found it is a naturally fast draw. I don’t know why, but the first time I tried it, I was plenty fast. I think it is natural for our hands to be in front of us. Problem is, when I sit down, the poke in the leg is uncomfortable, so I still carry at 3:30. I really want to appendix carry, but it will require a holster that rides high.
The thing I really like about appendix carry is that I know it is fast when I am standing, and I think it is still plenty fast when I am sitting, which is most of the time. Imagine how you will need to get to your gun during a carjacking.
Question: what’s “the pedestal position” for your heels?
With that out of the way, one of the basic safety rules is to not point your gun at anything you wouldn’t want to destroy. Appendix carry seems to violate this principle. Especially when seated. Locally a man managed to sever his femoral artery by an accidental gunshot and bled to death in front of his kids. This involved a Glock in a pocket-multiple bad things there-but the basic idea is pretty much the same.
There was an article in a famous magazine where the author made the point that the gun in the holster is safe. OK, but getting it in and out of the holster involves the user. Even assuming consummate skill, if the adrenaline shakes are upon you post incident, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to try to holster the gun. You don’t want to be standing there holding it when LLEA arrives. There’s also the thing of possibly needing 2 hands to clear the gun. You might need the other hand for something else. Maybe if you’re not playing a gun game, you can use the thumb of the gun hand to lift the shirt, but it’ll be slower. But: you have to practice that way.
If I carry a pistol with an optic, it pretty much has to go in front of my support side hip. But, I need an open shirt/jacket to conceal it. However, if it somehow fires where it’s positioned OWB, the worst I’m going to get is maybe a crease wound and some powder burns. Pretty much the same as in the typical gun side carry.
I guess if someone is supremely skilled and willing to accept the risks, it might work for them. I can’t endorse it for numerous reasons stated in the article.
WR Moore,
You make very good arguments. As to the danger of re-holstering, I have found it difficult when wearing a belly band. That is because the belly band doesn’t hold its shape, it collapses, so I have to hold it open, and ease that gun in there slowly. Of course, I prefer to go to the men’s room, undo my belt, and re-holster with my pants down. Carefully.
Because of that, I have decided that if I am ever involved in a shooting, I will not try to re-holster if I am wearing a belly band. I will put the gun in my pocket, or at my feet, on the ground. If there is a danger of someone grabbing my gun while it is on the ground, I will step on it with my foot. As we all know, we don’t want to be standing there with in a gun our hands when the police show up.
You are right. Re-holstering is the dangerous part.
Been carrying appendix long before it was a thing. I find it easier to conceal, easier to defend, and more comfortable seated, especially in a vehicle. It works with t-shirts in Summer & hoodies in Spring/Fall. If it’s brutal parka weather I usually have a j-frame in a coat pocket holster. Like anything else, you need the right equipment and a proper level of care and practice. A dumbass can always find a way to shoot themselves.
In my decades of concealed carry, I have carried in all the common methods except small of the back. Eventually, some malady has forced me to change holster positions. Strong side hip? Sciatica. Ankle? Edema and circulation issues. Shoulder? Bursitis on one side, rotator cuff on the other. Eventually I came to AIWB. I should have done it all along. DA gun goes into the holster, trigger covered, then holstered gun inserted behind the belt. Most comfortable spot I have ever carried.
It is SO self-defeating to shoot yourself, anywhere, let alone you-know-where! I have no objection to appendix carry at times, mostly standing, with my short-barreled, spurless revolver yet in a muzzle-friendly position, because I can keep tons of secure thumb pressure on the flush hammer in order to keep the gun from firing accidentally, while keeping trigger finger indexed, and out of hazardous cooperation with the thumb pressure. I sometimes wear two holsters, one for appendix carry, and one at my the left side, either in a cavalry or standard left side position, especially for driving. Our natural southpaws have a distinct advantage in left hand drawing and firing from the seated driver position in the USA, in avoiding undesirable covering of the handgun with a seatbelt. Also reason obtains for everybody to practice shooting left-handed from a vehicle with the one hand. I would never take the chance to carry a semiauto, even with two safeties, in an unfriendly appendix position. Murphy’s law just rules. When driving or hiking I often carry pistol or revolver in a bandolier setup with a military shoulder holster minus the crossing back strap. I also prefer the Cirillo method of aiming with the whole handgun. Exceptions may occur, however.
I’ve observed people muzzling themselves more with a strong side hip re-holster, fishing for the holster out of sight, than with appendix re-holster.
Step back the dominant foot, lock knee back, rock hip forward a bit, rotate gun 90 degrees, see finger indexed on slide, angle muzzle down just enough to see it into the holster that is forward of the hip but not at 12.
If you exaggerate rocking the hip forward you put more thigh in front of the muzzle.
Grab a SIRT and put on your short shorts to better visualize where the muzzle is pointing.
If you’re amped up post-shooting, drop or set the gun down. Maybe step on it.
P.S. cool to see you still training and picking up the Rangemaster Advanced.
Appendix carry has its dangers if pointed at the family jewels or a femoral artery. That is why I would never carry a Glock in that position. The horror stories about people shooting themselves almost always involve Glocks (sorry fanboys, not a fan). However, with DA/SA guns carried with the safety on or half-cocked, the manual safety or D/A trigger weight provides significant protection. You really need to experiment to find the right gun and high-quality holster to carry appendix comfortably. I have carried a full sized CZ Shadow 2 Appendix for five years, most recently half cocked, and it has worked for me. I have been careful not to bend forward with the gun on, to avoid forcing the muzzle into my lower abdomen, and in the car, I have to position the holster so that the muzzle isnt pointing at anything vital, but eventual this awareness and behavior becomes second nature. IMHO, for its speed and straight-line holster-to-target ergonomics, appendix carry is king.
I think you have said it well. I would only carry a non manual saftey gun in appendix if it had a striker control device and even then? I just prefer the control I have over the gun with the hammer under my thumb when reholstering.
Whit
As a kidney transplant recipient, said kidney is within my pelvic girdle.
It will never be worth the risk to carry in such a position where a bullet or muzzle blast might cause injury.
IDPA rules changed in 2022, and they now allow appendix carry. (If range rules allow) AIWB is considered between 12:00 and 2:00. I find 12:30-1:00 is my sweet spot for comfort standing and sitting. 2-2:30 also works well for me, at ranges that prohibit AIWB. 2:00-4:00 is considered IWB by IDPA. Spencer Keepers holsters are designed to fit between the scrotum and inner thigh. In general he recommends longer holsters with a foam wedge. This leverage keeps the muzzle pointing forward slightly, away from the tender areas even when sitting. I had to switch from 3:30 IWB/OWB carry position to AIWB following sacro-iliac fusion on my gun side. I did not think it would ever work, until listening multiple times to Spencer’s Rangemaster Tac-Con AIWB presentations on YouTube, and purchasing his holster. All of my double stack Glocks fit the same holster (G-34 length). Having a striker control device (now available from Ernest Langdon) allows your thumb over the cover plate (as Mas teaches)prevents any trigger motion when re-holstering. This extra layer of safety, combined with a backward lean, and 1000’s of blue gun practice reps has given me the confidence and ability to safely carry full size guns, with red dot optics again.
In 2022 IDPA changed the rules and AIWB is allowed. No reports of casualties from the practice.
I believe that appendix carry gives better concealment and a faster draw in many situations for those who practice their draw. However, as a retired physician who still remembers his basic anatomy and being mindful that drawing and re-holstering are the most likely times you will shoot yourself, I am just not that interested in appendix carry. Of course, I’m also the guy who prefers thumb safeties on my P365 (I tell myself it’s partly to maintain consistency of draw stroke with my 1911-style carry guns). A femoral artery hit, especially a high one, is a very, very bad injury, difficult to tourniquet and rapidly becomes irrecoverable.
I’ll just have to practice really good situational awareness to reduce my chances of needing to draw “under the gun”.
A 1-1.5 second draw would also be helpful–and remember, there won’t be the usual 1/2 second reaction time in your draw at that point, since you will be the initiator.
In the most dire of situations (and only then), I’ll wait for a moment when the assailant’s attention is distracted…Hey! That cop has a shotgun! (…while staring wide-eyed over the assailant’s shoulder).
All fine and dandy on a flat range in competition which appendix finds its origins, but…..you MAY NOT always find yourself with that much lead time( knowing a shot timer is coming) and may become blindsided ( ambush/ lack of situational awsreness) to be able to draw .
You may find yourself fighting ” in the hole ” where appendix offers less retention from a frontal grab with both arms and the weapon is trapped in your waistline.
In which case hand skills are necessary.. as most grab attempts are from the front and you cant just shoot people u less they are a REAL threat which may not become known to you until theyre ON you.
Drawing from and practicing retention and fighting back from concealed ( proffesionally and personally) from the 4 for almost 40 years, i dont find it necessary to change.
REALITY check…..most will copy the latest video commando in an attempt to be cool without EVER practice retention.
I just feel that nowadays there is more carry and less skill.
What i was trying to convey is that the perp using both hands may trap the weapon inside your waist and not allowing you to draw and use the weapon. I hope that clears up my message.
I am not a fan of appendix carry for all of the reasons previously mentioned. For me, AIWB is too uncomfortable & potentially too dangerous, especially when seated. However, I realize that how you carry concealed is just as subjective as what you carry concealed & that there are several good ways to do it, depending on your situation.
The best way that I have found to carry concealed (other than pocket carry) is crossdraw. It has all of the advantages of appendix carry without any of the disadvantages. With crossdraw, the muzzle is always pointing away from your body, whether sitting or standing, so you are much less likely to accidentally shoot yourself even when drawing or re-holstering. Furthermore, your gun won’t dig into your groin when you are seated & it’s easy to access when driving with a seatbelt on. It’s also easy to conceal your firearm with a loose fitting shirt or jacket & it’s extremely fast to draw when using your weak hand to lift your garment & your strong hand to draw the gun. The best garments for concealment in cool weather are baggy hoodies, sweatshirts, or shirt jackets because they are easy to lift for access to your gun & a large handgun won’t print underneath them, even if you bend over. In very cold winter weather, a coat with a reversible zipper or a button front with the bottom left unbuttoned works well, too.
Another advantage of crossdraw is that you can draw your gun with either hand, so if your strong hand is disabled or tied up grappling with an assailant, you can draw & shoot with your weak hand instead. In addition, I believe that weapon retention from the holster is greater with crossdraw than with most other forms of carry because you can see any attempt to grab your gun before it happens & you can use both hands to keep it in your holster.
The only real disadvantage to crossdraw carry that I can think of is that there is not as wide a selection of holsters available as there is for strong side carry. For some gun models, you may have to wear a vertical holster in the crossdraw position. I have found that when doing this with an OWB holster, it’s more useful for me to get one with 1 3/4″ to 2″ belt loops so that when paired with a narrower belt I can tilt the holster to a slight crossdraw angle making it a little easier to draw quickly. The larger belt loops also allow me to slide the gun & holster back out of the way on my hip in a vertical position when necessary & to slide it forward at an angle toward my front when I need it. This is particularly useful when carrying a large handgun with a grip frame that causes a bulge to show under a light overhanging garment. The Blackhawk Serpa holsters are all adjustable for wearing crossdraw with several different angles of cant, as well as for strong side carry, so you can adjust the angle to your liking. There are also some very good custom holster makers that can make excellent crossdraw holsters for almost any handgun. Two of the best that I have found are Wright Leather Works LLC & Falco Holsters.com, but they are both more expensive.
If you are interested in trying crossdraw to see how it feels, just wear your vertical holster on your other side, or if you have a Serpa holster, readjust the belt loops or paddle for crossdraw. At the very least, it’s another option.
I tried it, admittedly short lived. There is no way I’m having that poking me every time I bend forward or sit down. After 40 years of carrying strong side 330, my tired ass and aching shoulders aren’t interested in learning a new pain. Hard pass for me.
Hard pass, no thanks.
In the attached article, it mentions two accidents involving the AIWB holster, one survived, the other did not.
My question is what were the firearms being used? Semi-auto? Make & model, if known.
Early ’70’s, I carried my 4-inch Colt Metropolitan MK-III in an AIWB holster, primitive and crude by today’s holster manufacture standards for sure. I didn’t find it that uncomfortable, and that worked until I could purchase a 2-inch snub-nosed revolver.
Asking information from Mas & readers, how is this working out with the J-frame S&W, and their clones? Conceivably, the model 49 Smith (the “hump-back” model) or the 640-642-442 “concealed hammer” models would have not the same issues as a striker-fired semi.
What say?
Thanks.
Happy Easter!
Works well with snubbies. An exposed hammer you can keep your thumb on when holstering is reassuring.
Sounds insane to me
‘Do not point your gun at anything you wouldn’t want to destroy.’
Top of my list of things I don’t want to destroy is; me!
But a suggestion for those willing to risk it;
Would a press stud closing shirt work if you want to do it one handed?
I have no idea how anyone ever sits down with AIWB carry. Tried it. No way, Jose`.
Hello Mas,
Interesting comment from Dave-VA concerning “cross-draw”. I recall that is generally a no-no at most ranges unless you are very end as it muzzles the person next to you. That said, I’m interested in your thoughts on cross-draw carry. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
By edging your holster side toward the target and drawing straight across your abdomen, the cross-draw user can avoid crossing anyone next to him. Still a good idea to have that person on the far left of the firing line if right-handed, far right if southpaw.
Personally I started with the concealed draw with the 3:00 to 4:00 0’clock draw, but when my back started giving out and my hips were starting to change orientation and the impending repair of my lumbar and cervical degeneration I tried Appendix… and It Is All I Use these days…
My arms are weak, but follow up consultations did reveal an enhanced ‘hyperspeed’ of my weakened upper body…
So I ended up finding Raven Concealment and have been using their ‘Minimalist Holsters’ for almost 10 years now. These holsters allow an individual to reveal very few ‘tells’ while carrying appendix. It’s even better when the shirt is tucked in!
And all it takes is to pull UP on the ‘cover’ garment and get a master grip quickly.
And – If I am behind the curve, I can still trap the firearm until there is an opportunity to draw…
Seated in a vehicle is also better for me. Drawing under the seatbelt works well!
In conclusion this draw methodology works well for me to quickly get the pistol in action when needed.
Naturally my primary firearms are all Glocks tuned up for these occasions… 😀
The concern I have that I never see addressed is the issue of seatbelts. A car accident is far more likely than the need for my firearm and I suspect the seatbelt/gun interaction could be a significant hazzard in the AIWB position.
I think it was a Greg Ellifritz article that addressed the accident/seatbelt/AIWB issue:
The writer surveyed a LOT of his EMT/Cop/etc friends and found virtually no “accident-related discharges” or even serious injury (as I recall) from such an arrangement. I think there was a BICYCICLIST that was injured. It was a good read if you go search his “Weekend Knowledge Dump” file, I’m sure that’s where it came from.
Thank you I will!
Like everything else in life. We have to find what works best for us. Training, physique, disabilities; they all influence our choice of carry.
Been carrying OWB, 3-4 o’clock position, since 1988. In the later 90’s I tried to switch to IWB. After many months, and hundreds of dollars in clothes and holsters, decided it just wasn’t for me.
Never “felt” right.
Though I’ve never tried AIWB, again, it just doesn’t feel right to me, but that may change in the future.
As they say, “you do you.” If we all liked the same thing, this would be a very boring hobby. 😁
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