6 Tips on Purchasing A Concealment Shoulder Holster

How to Pick Out Your Concealment Shoulder Holster

Which type should you get? Here are a few things to consider.

Comfort: Look for a concealment shoulder holster (also called a shoulder rig) that allows you to carry spare magazines. A compact to mid-sized firearm weighs a few pounds and having a pair of magazines on the opposite side of the holster helps balance the load and adds to the comfort. If you sit down or drive a lot, a shoulder holster is usually easier to access than a belt side holster.

Concealment Shoulder HolstersHorizontal or Vertical holster: Depending on the size of your firearm, your body size and preference, should your concealed shoulder holster carry your firearm horizontally or vertically? Compact to large sized firearms work well in a vertical holster and conceal better because the length of the holster goes up the side of your body. A horizontal holster allows for a slightly faster draw but it can be harder to conceal a firearm that’s 8 inches or longer when it’s hanging sideways beneath your arm. Vertical holsters work better with 4” barrel and smaller firearms. There are a few holster manufacturers that produce shoulder rigs that allow you to adjust the holster so you can carry horizontal or vertical.

How heavy is the holster rig?  Lightweight, nylon holsters usually weigh less than 4 ounces and dissipate heat. They don’t use extra straps or hooks to keep them from moving around when you twist or bend down. Leather shoulder holsters with belt loop tie downs can weigh a lot more, get hot and when bending over, sitting down, etc. they tend to pull your pants up resulting in wedgie.

How secure is the holster and magazine carry? Nylon concealment shoulder holsters keep the firearm and magazines close to your body so they are not suspended or allowed to move about. One leather shoulder holster I had allowed my .40 cal and two 15 round double stack magazines to bang against my sides. After a few days of this, I couldn’t wear the holster.

Drawing the firearm: Concealment shoulder holsters are designed for a cross draw. This means a right handed shooter carries the firearm on their left side and draws using their right hand across the front of their torso. As for speed, it takes a little longer to draw your firearm due to the cross draw and the possibility of having to reach through a shirt of jacket to access it.

Men or Women: Although a concealed shoulder holster is usually associated with men, it is a great product for concealment for women and they certainly can wear them too. In fact, the contour of a woman’s breast helps hide the holster making the holster and the gun more concealed.

The shoulder holsters that we carry at Gunner Security are some of our best selling products.

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