Calling Shoulder Holster Users

[The Annoyed Man]

Carl, I have a Miami Classic you are free to borrow, with holsters/mag holders for a 5" 1911, and an HK USPc (the one I sold you a few years ago). The only problem is that it is for lefties. But you could wear it around the house a bit with a gun in it and see if it works for you. Let me know.

[carlson1]

I do not know if it is my lack of computer skills or if his website is down, but I cannot pull up the Andrew Monarch site?
http://www.andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm

Carl, I have a Miami Classic you are free to borrow, with holsters/mag holders for a 5" 1911, and an HK USPc (the one I sold you a few years ago). The only problem is that it is for lefties. But you could wear it around the house a bit with a gun in it and see if it works for you. Let me know.

TAM thank you my friend. There is another member who offered me his Miami Shoulder Holster for a G19 (which I own one) to use for as long as I would like. I am meeting him tomorrow so I will have chance to try one. Thank you again.

Carl

[MustangGlocker]

I do not know if it is my lack of computer skills or if his website is down, but I cannot pull up the Andrew Monarch site?
http://www.andrewsleather.com/monarch.htm

Carl, I have a Miami Classic you are free to borrow, with holsters/mag holders for a 5" 1911, and an HK USPc (the one I sold you a few years ago). The only problem is that it is for lefties. But you could wear it around the house a bit with a gun in it and see if it works for you. Let me know.

TAM thank you my friend. There is another member who offered me his Miami Shoulder Holster for a G19 (which I own one) to use for as long as I would like. I am meeting him tomorrow so I will have chance to try one. Thank you again.

Carl

Carl, mine is actually the Jackass. The Classic is a bit different. Jackass holds the gun more at an angle(grip down, barrel up) and the classic is more horizontal.

[Greybeard]

+1 on the little Kangaroo rig. If ya don't mind sometimes having a "man bra" strap across ya chest.

I've used one sporadically for many years. In recent months, I too have done more experimenting to try to avoid belt carry due to a nagging injury. I have always been sensitive along the ribs under my arm and found that the cylinder on even airweight revolvers was annoying. The primary guns I carry in it most comfortably are PM-9 and LC9s.

My XD9M 3.8" fits in it too. And feels like I have just moved "the brick" from my right side belt to the left side armpit.

[karder]

I often carry a Beretta 96 with this rig.
https://blackhillsleather.com/double-sh ... lster.html

It is very comfortable and concealable. It is my favorite way to carry, especially when my sciatica is acting up. It doesn't sway or slide and can be concealed with just a light, unbuttoned shirt over.

On a side note, once you get a good rig, you can swap out the holster portion to carry different guns. Of course, you have to buy a new holster for each weapon you want to attach to your rig, but it is about the same cost as a standard leather holster.

[Skiprr]

I have a Galco Miami Classic, as well. I doubt it would ever rival that $540 rig--not that I will ever buy one like that--but it's well-made and durable. A disclaimer, though, my typical carry is IWB, not shoulder. The Galco gets worn a fair amount of time in the winter, when I can consistently wear a jacket, and often when I'm driving distances to other cities. So I am far from a shoulder-carry authority.

To echo what Flint said about fitment, this is something that makes it difficult to try-on someone else's rig and get a reasonable idea of how it would work for you. And as Flint noted, getting it perfectly adjusted is a trial-and-error process and will take some time.

My Miami Classic, like most shoulder rigs, has straps fore and aft on both the holster and the mag carrier. Those four straps each have separate length adjustments. If it were just a matter of determining a correct, overall length, life would be easy. But it's almost certain that you'll find the front and rear straps need to be set to different lengths. And you may find, as I did, that your most comfortable setup is asymmetrical: that the settings for the holster side don't exactly mirror the mag carrier side. (A note: you'll want to test your adjustments with the full rig, meaning firearm, spare mags, etc. in place; the empty setup does not tell you how it will ride with the equipment on board.)

Once you get the adjustments correct, you'll know almost immediately. One strap changed a single hole can make the difference.

[carlson1]

My thoughts after over a month of trial and error.
Thanks to MustangGlocker for loaning me his Galco Jackass rig. It would not fit me, but it gave me some good ideals on what I wanted.
Thanks to all who gave me pointers and helps.
This was a great thread and was a huge help.
http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... er+holster

A huge thank you to flintknapper for his patience with all of the text and photos.

I ordered an Aker shoulder rig from CopsPlus for my Sig P228/229. It fits all the way to a 62" chest and I am glad I did not have to have all of the extra leather. After a lot of trial and error. Talking to flintknapper and adjustment after adjustment I was able to make it comfortable. Two days I wore it to a Preacher's Conference back to back for about 10 hour days. I even preached with it both nights and zero problems. It was a little heavy on my neck after awhile. One day I had to go to East Texas and I wore it for 16 hours straight. I will have to admit towards the end of that journey coming home it had wore my neck out.

I tried to order another Aker for my Sig P239, but they were back ordered. I ordered a Galco Classic Extra Large Spider Harness (fits up to a 64" chest) from CopsPlus. I also ordered Galco magazine pouches and holster from CopsPlus. It all came in the mail except for the holster for the P239. Galco was also back ordered. I found the holster component at Optics Planet. It took me a little while to assemble the "jigsaw" puzzle after it all arrived . I have wore the Sig P239 everyday since and the longest I have wore it has been 12 hours. It is much easier on my neck. The shoulder rig has removed all of the weight off my lumbar and it feels better each day. I guess in about 3 years I will have shoulder problems.

This has been a long journey and a hard journey because I was one who despised shoulder rigs. I tried them in 1980 and said no way! I guess they have come a long way and my body changed my mind. This would not have been possible without the wonderful folks on the CHLForum. Lastly let me say that even though I have made it comfortable for me I am still adjusting to having my firearm located in a different area of my body. It will take some getting used to adjustment and a lot more practice at drawing the pistol. I know from a sitting position it is the only way to travel.

Thanks to everyone again.
Carl

[OlBill]

I've been using an El Paso saddlery "Doc Holliday" since January. I love it. There's a waist/chest strap that can be seen, but nobody notices it. I wear it under a vest.

One thing, the picture on the website is wrong, that's not how you wear it. You put both arms through, which makes the waist strap horizontal.

[carlson1]

I've been using an El Paso saddlery "Doc Holliday" since January. I love it. There's a waist/chest strap that can be seen, but nobody notices it. I weather it under a vest.

One thing, the picture on the website is wrong, that's not how you wear it. You put both arms through, which makes the waist strap horizontal.

I bought and used the Air Marshal 3 for a little bit. The problem I find is it slow to draw, but it beats not having anything to draw. It hid under my white dress shirts with my Sig P239 and it did real well with my Glock 43. I did have to have my wife make a few adjustments on the sewing machine, but I will use it on occasions.

Since you are not an open carry guy, have you considered something like this?

http://www.kangaroocarry.com/products/air-marshal3

[bulinm]

Look at the Galco Lite series. I have one for a J frame S&W, and my wife one for a Glock 19.

They work for us, and won't break the bank.

[Setxjeff]

I have been very lucky with the Triple K and Galco shoulder holsters. I have horizontal and vertical for S&W model 19 and Ruger P85.
As stated before adjusting the straps to get it to hang and feel right is time consuming,I had to add a couple extra holes in between the standard holes but when you get it right it's like putting on your favorite shirt it just fits right.
The Ruger is carried with 54 rounds of ammo so it is heavy, but comfortable.
I am 6'4" and 260 lbs. and have plenty of adjustments.

[carlson1]

Look at the Galco Lite series. I have one for a J frame S&W, and my wife one for a Glock 19.

They work for us, and won't break the bank.

Did you have problems with the different leather with the Galco Light? It seems little balls of leather end up on my shirt. I bought a Galco Light to carry my M&P Shield 9 in. I have "fuzz" like balls all over my shirt and was curious how long this might last?