Advantages and Disadvantages of Crossdraw Holsters

Crossdraw holsters were developed for use on semi-automatics. In competition with other manufacturers, this design was created popular by police force officers who desired an easy to conceal way to carry their firearms. Originally these kinds of holsters were referred to as "pistol holsters", since they worked very well as a hand gun. As time passes they have evolved into both an over-all purpose product and a specialized device for the usage of officers and special forces.

leather shoulder holster originally were designed for use on belt loops only. However, after seeing how comfortable they were and how easily they could be disassembled for quick access to the pistol when needed, manufacturers began making them for use on special duty belts. They're typically worn on the belt, slightly forward of the hip, however many are manufactured as Iwb, which fit over a standard belt. They are able to either ride up or down, with a slight forward tilt or cant, and often they're useful for concealed carry.

The important thing difference between an average cross draw holster and an Iwb is that the Iwb may have a stronger back panel and more padding. Since many police officers carry IWB's under their uniform, they come in handy for concealment. The strong side carry also works well for concealment and the capability to quickly change to a strong side draw. Since an Iwb may be attached to a strip, they are an ideal accessory for any officer on patrol.

Since crossdraw holsters have a stronger back panel and more padding, they are also a bit larger than the usual typical leather IWB. Due to this size difference, they are usually not worn over long pants, since they is going to be too large. Most tactical gear also has a small draw string externally of it, much like a waist chain. This string is not used on crossdraw belt holsters, but because they could be detached and worn as a waist chain, many officers choose this option when carrying a handgun on a belt.

One of the differences between IWB and crossdraw holsters is that the former normally have just one action trigger rather than a dual action trigger. This causes it to be easier to control when the gun is in motion, as it generally does not need certainly to have a full rotate to have the gun shoot. An Iwb generally is going to be heavier than a standard model, because it generally has more padding, leather or metal, as well as a stronger back panel. Crossdraw holsters, on one other hand, will generally be lighter, the same as typical revolvers.

In general, crossdraw holsters are better for shooters with shorter arms, especially shooters that are standing while they carry their handgun. A smaller target usually takes a more flexible drawing holster. The same may be said for shooters who use single action revolvers, because so many single action models do not need enough length to properly accommodate a pistol cartridge, which could cause jams and difficulty with loading a pistol after every shot.