Pistol-Training.com is the home of modern appendix carry (AIWB). As tremendous fans of Col. Jeff Cooper, (not to mention reality) we also believe very strongly in the four safety rules. One of those rules (#2) is “Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not prepared to destroy.” Some people think that appendix carry is incompatible with safety rule #2.
I was taught from the beginning of my training that a weapon in a proper holster was safe and that the direction it may point while holstered is not important. I don’t necessarily agree with this all the time, but it is basically true. We all know that guys carrying in a shoulder holster should be down at the end of the line, but that is because when they go to draw the gun, it is no longer safely wrapped in the holster. Reholstering is also less safe than simply sitting in the holster.
Lots of guys use fanny packs from time to time. Many of them orient the gun in a horizontal direction, sweeping everyone they meet. As with the shoulder holsters, similar range precautions might be taken with fanny packs. One agency I worked for actually issued everyone a fanny pack, trained them with them, and had them qual that way. No special precautions were taken, yet no one was injured and everyone was successfully trained to a pretty high level.
If that is true about shoulder holsters and fanny packs, then surely appendix carry is similar. It may be safe when holstered, but drawing and reholstering is less safe. I know none of us want to shoot ourselves while drawing or reholstering. Maybe we should ban all appendix holsters since they are less safe when drawing and reholstering.
What then is a safe holster? Surely strong side, outside the waistband (OWB) is perfectly safe. We should all carry that way. As I write this, I am carrying outside the waistband on my strong side, with a vertical holster. When I look down through my red dot, I can see my foot. If I move a little, as I am wont to do throughout the day, I can see the middle of my thigh at times, as well as the outside and inside of it. In fact, there is not much I can’t shoot by accident on my right leg if I’m not careful. Especially in some of the positions I find myself in when drawing or reholstering my handgun.
Maybe pocket carry with a good old .38 Special would be better. How about the guy who routinely carries OWB and a backup gun in the pocket? Is he double safe, or double dangerous? Some trainers will decry AIWB while carrying and advocating for OWB and pocket carry.
No one has yet shot themselves on any range I have been running. Twice though, I have seen people shoot themselves by accident while training. Both times were from outside the waistband holsters, and both people were trying to re-holster. I am aware of at least a few other leg shots, just within my shooting circles. Not a large sample by any means. None of those injuries were life-threatening, so I guess OWB is safer than AIWB, as we all know that a shot from AIWB is game over. Does that mean that some trainers are willing to destroy their leg, but not their femoral? If I had to choose, I too would choose the leg wound over the femoral. Of course, none of us know exactly where a bullet will travel, what it will destroy, and what that will mean for our future health and welfare.
Getting back to reality for a moment, my AIWB holsters do not point my gun at me when the gun is holstered, coming out of the holster, or going in the holster. A properly designed AIWB holster, combined with proper technique, allows for incredibly safe use. Can my AIWB holstered weapon point at me occasionally if I am not standing up? Yes, it can. If I deadlift with my gun on, it can point at me. If I hang upside down off a tree branch, it can point at me. Grappling can see it point at me. Most other times, it points at me less than OWB does. Your mileage may vary, as your body likely varies too.
If you choose your holster position based on how badly you will suffer when you accidentally shoot yourself, have at it. I prefer to ingrain proper safety habits using the correct equipment. Regardless of where you fall on this issue, please don’t think that carrying a gun and training with it can be perfectly safe. Please also don’t pretend that you are violating rule #2 with one holster but not at all with another. Students deserve better than black-and-white thinking.
SLG, thank you for a rational and logical analysis. I’ve carried AWIB for almost 50 years. In the old days with no holster. Like everything else in the world, you have to weigh pros and cons for your personal situation. It’s funny, I never try to convince others but they sure think they should convince me Anyhow, thanks again and forwarded on. DVC45ACP in balmy Wy.
Thank you. I too never try to sell AIWB to other people, they should make their own choices. Too often emotion and bias makes that decision though.