If you’re a shooter or a gun owner you must’ve come across various types of holsters, their benefits and disadvantages. For anyone who isn’t a firearm enthusiast, a holster is a gun holder that is usually made up of leather. It is either worn as a belt or as a strap. There are many different types of holsters but this article is solely dedicated to crossdraw holsters.
• Crossdraw Holsters and their origins
A cross-drawholster is a belted holster that is worn on the weakerside of a person i.e., the side opposite to the shooting arm.The holster holds the gun, butt forward and at a certain angle from the body. This techniqueis also called the‘cavalry draw’and ‘alternate method.’ Although they are typically made up of leather but they also come in other materials such as kydex.These holsters date back to the time of cowboys. This method of drawing the firearm gained a lot of recognition during and after the civil war. The cavalry used it as a secondary weapon during the war in case the sword was somehow lost in the battle. They were hugely popularised because of the comfort they offer.
• Benefits of cross draw
1. Best while sitting
This method of drawing the gun is extremely useful in a sitting position. Anyone who spends a lot of time sitting (For eg. Drivers, people on wheelchairs etc)will benefit a lot from the cavalry draw. Other holsters may cause difficulty while driving because they would clash with the seatbelt. Whereas cross draw holsters are positioned naturally when the person is sitting and their won’t be any clashing.
2. Easier for people with medical issues
This is really beneficial for anyone with a medical history. Many injuries can make it almost impossible to draw from your dominant side. This technique doesn’t requiremuch rotation of the shoulders hence any gun owner with joint pain or past injury can also easily access the weapon without much discomfort.
3. Doesn’t draw too much attention
The concealability is of this technique is another plus point. A crossdraw holster holds gun in such a way that it can be easily concealed with a jacket. This will be really useful when you’re face to face with the threat and need to access your gun in a way that it isn’t too obvious. This method is thus popularly used by intelligence agencies. You can also draw from your weak hand but that would require a lot of practice.
4. Faster access
Since the weapon is in front of the person, it can be accessed much faster. This wouldn’t have been the case if the gun was behind the person.
5. Useful for hunters
Since hunters usually have a lot of gearthey prefer cross draw so that the firearm doesn’t interfere with their gear.
Although there a lot of benefits, cross draw should only be performed after a lot of practice. Also when buying the crossdraw holster keep in mind to buy a holster which is made up of high quality leather or kydex, lightweight, easy to clip on, fits multiple firearm models.
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A cross-drawholster is a belted holster that is worn on the weakerside of a person i.e., the side opposite to the shooting arm.The holster holds the gun, butt forward and at a certain angle from the body.