Cross Draw Holster - A Simple Guide to Choose
Crossdraw holsters were developed for use on semi-automatics. In competition with other manufacturers, this design was made popular by law enforcement officers who desired a straightforward to conceal way to hold their firearms. Originally these kinds of holsters were known as "pistol holsters", given that they worked very well as a hand gun. As time passes they've evolved into both a general purpose product and a specialized device for the use of officers and special forces.
Crossdraw holsters originally were designed for use on belt loops only. However, after seeing how comfortable they certainly were and how easily they are often disassembled for quick use of 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 designed as Iwb, which fit over a regular belt. They could either ride up or down, with a slight forward tilt or cant, and often they're employed for concealed carry.
The main element difference between an average cross draw holster and an Iwb is an Iwb may have a tougher back panel and more padding. Because so many police officers carry IWB's under their uniform, they can be found in handy for concealment. The strong side carry also is useful for concealment and the capacity to quickly change over to a powerful side draw. Since an Iwb may be mounted on a strip, they are the perfect accessory for almost any officer on patrol.
Since crossdraw holsters have a tougher back panel and more padding, they're also a little bit larger than a typical leather IWB. As a result of this size difference, they're usually not worn over long pants, simply because they will likely be too large. Most tactical gear also has a small draw string on the outside of it, similar to a stomach chain. This string isn't utilized on crossdraw belt holsters, but since they may be detached and worn as a stomach chain, many officers choose this method when carrying a handgun on a belt.
Among the differences between IWB and crossdraw holsters is that the former will often have just one action trigger instead of a double action trigger. This helps it be much easier to control once the gun is in motion, as it does not need to take a full rotate to truly have the gun shoot. An Iwb generally is likely to be heavier when compared to a standard model, as it generally has more padding, leather or metal, as well as a stronger back panel. Crossdraw holsters , on another hand, will generally be lighter, just like 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 needs a more flexible drawing holster. The exact same can be said for shooters who use single action revolvers, as most single action models do not have enough length to properly accommodate a pistol cartridge, which could cause jams and difficulty with loading a pistol after each shot.