Appendix Carry

[CHEONG_FUN]

I have been appendix carrying for about 5 years now and while in some training classes, I have seen instructors trying to reholster at 4 o clock over clothing and not paying attention to what's in or around the holster as well.

Best advice if appendix carry, is to pull your shirt up with non dominant hand high to your chest and look down. If you see something that shouldn't be there then don't holster. Do that EVERY TIME you reholster.

Not sure how the one person said the ND happened if holstered and pressure caused the trigger to move. If it was kydex, not sure how this would happen.

[LoadedM333]

I carry AIWB sometimes when I carry G19. I try not to re-holster when the holster is on my body but if I had to, I do it slowly and deliberately to ensure that no clothing is in the way.
Use good holster, I use Tier 1 Axis Slim, very good AIWB holster.

[NorCalRefuge]

I disagree with that. Depending on your vocation, it may be a better idea to carry without one in the pipe. For instance if you spend a lot of time crawling around in attics or things where you are rolling around awkward positions it’s probably best to not have one in the chamber. The one thing I will say is either always carry with one in the chamber or always carry with An empty chamber. Don’t mix it up.

What? If you have a gun that might go off because you're "crawling around", you either need A) a better gun, or B) a better holster, or C) more training because...

Guns do not just go off on their own.

Heck... I'm confident I could throw my holstered, chambered EDC down a flight of stairs without it going off. Seriously... fix your setup if there's any chance of it firing without you deliberately pulling the trigger.

[Pupulepeter]

Index the holster away from the body with your other hand while re-holstering and keep your finger off the trigger. The holsters I use all have a pad on the back that do this by design, but an extra inch is never a bad thing. Always check to make sure a zipper pull or part of your shirt got tucked in too.

I carried at 4 o'clock for a few years, but appendix is much more comfortable and easier on many levels. An unmodified gun in a quality kydex holster shouldn't pose a threat.

[tawadc95]

I carry Shields and 2.0 compacts in JM Kydex appendix, with one in the chamber.

I have the sound and feel of reholstering slowly quite memorized. As one instructor said in a class, " There is no prize for fastest reholster, do
It slowly and carefully after looking."

[SnWnMe]

I don't even use a holster for appendix carry.

[KINGSFAN IN OC]

I don't even use a holster for appendix carry.

You're my hero! Straight gangsta style in the waist band. Do you hold it fully extended at 90 degrees too?

[LoadedM333]

You're my hero! Straight gangsta style in the waist band. Do you hold it fully extended at 90 degrees too?

[emoji23]


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[SnWnMe]

You're my hero! Straight gangsta style in the waist band. Do you hold it fully extended at 90 degrees too?

[dawgcasa]

I've seen one video of a guy in a gun store who had an ND in his appendix carry. His hands weren't anywhere near the holster and the ND happened when he bent over. Best theory is he had an aftermarket trigger or shoe that was wider than stock and bending over applied enough pressure to activate the trigger while the pistol was in the holster.

So that's the one outlier I can think of where an appendix carry (combined with other factors) contributed to an ND. But generally speaking appendix by itself isn't less safe than other carry locations, it's just that an ND in that carry position has the potential for more catastrophic injuries.

Some may not agree with me ... but I wouldn’t use a modified gun as my everyday carry gun. First issue is even if you have a righteous self-defense shoot, you’ll still likely end up in civil court explaining why you carried a modified gun, and whether that contributed to it “going off” unintentionally (i.e. negligently) versus an intentional shoot, perhaps paying lots of money to the dead perps family (and lawyers). Second, I’ve witnessed a ND by someone else who was attempting to chamber a round in their recently modified handgun. They hit the back of the slide with their free hand. They didn’t have their finger on the trigger. It went BANG. That’s NOT supposed to happen. Yet it happened. After the shock wore off ... they tried that again. It went BANG again. I suggested to my companion that that handgun was a poor carry candidate . Then that gun went on the DL. That re-doubled my conviction that I’m happy I only carry a factory original Glock.

And yes, an unreliable gun that goes BANG upon a sharp impact is definitely the wrong weapon to appendix carry .

[Gun Kraft]

Depends on the modification. Generally speaking I think modifications that do not affect the firing mechanism (trigger to firing pin) are okay. Different sights, weaponlight, grips, maybe even the slide catch and mag release if they don't protrude too much to cause problems. You want to mill the slide to mount a red dot? Okay. Mill some pretty lightening cuts, anodize or cerakote for looks? If that floats your boat.
Start messing with internals that can affect function, safety or reliability and I question whether that's appropriate.

[vandal]

If someone can't explain the contextual drivers, identify the risks and mitigation measures, distinguish good equipment from bad, and connect cary methods with related defensive skillsets ...then they shouldn't be carrying appendix (or weighing in on whether any given person should carry that way). IMHO.

It's not for all body types. It's not for all skill levels. It's not for all contexts.

A new shooter who hopes to carry asked me "I need to get a holster. What's your favorite?" Which is about 180 degrees the wrong direction to start. "Is appendix carry good or bad?" is about 179 degrees the wrong direction to start.

I told him to ask the question that will lead to more relevant answers: "Why do you carry how you carry?" or "What should I consider when choosing a carry method?"

[Someday]

I've been carrying appendix for almost a year now. Mostly I carry my G19. I use a good Comp-Tac holster and feel very comfortable carrying it. I played Laser Tag with my daughter's youth group yesterday without any problems. I've even been known to take the occasional nap with it on (mostly because I forgot that I had it on). I've never felt the need to take off my holster to re-holster my gun, but if it makes you feel more comfortable, then do it. I will admit, however, that I did carry without one in the chamber the first few times just to prove myself that it was safe.

[drunktank]

I carried appendix for many years with an unloaded chamber. I’ve never recommended that to anyone else but I was comfortable and practiced that way. Reason being was the amount of crawling I did and scraping on my belly. That and it was more about at least having something on me vs nothing at all. Quick drawing wasn’t a major concern. Not ideal, I know, but I could draw and get a good shot off faster than some people in condition one.

That being said, better to carry with one in the chamber. Run a good holster and take your time/make sure there’s no obstructions when re-holstering..

[blkside]