Concealed carry holster question--Importance/significance of "cant"

[calibased]

Concealed carry holster question--Importance/significance of "cant"

....

[L84CABO]

Keep in mind this varies depending on personal prefence and factors. However, generally what I find is that I prefer no cant from the 12 o'clock to 3 o'clock position. In fact, I find having a cant on a holster that I'm wearing at 3 o'clock is extremely troublesome.

As I begin to move past 3'oclock, however, I find a canted holster to be very helpful, given that the farther back I go, the harder it becomes for me to draw straight up...hence the desire for cant.

And none of this takes into consideration that the cant...or lack thereof...of a holster may aid in the concealability/printing of a holster.

I do feel your pain here as it is very challenging to sort things out in the beginning when you first start carrying. To this end, an adjustable holster may be a good first investment. Even if the holster isn't quite ideal, the adjustability will allow you to sort some things out so you can figure out what you really need.

[Kappy]

[Citadelgrad87]

I wouldn't personally call that 3 o'clock. It looks like it is a bit in front of the point of the hip...2:30?


Then it come down to the comfort of the draw stroke.

I can't even imagine how much I'd have to roll my shoulder forward and how far I'd have to over-pronate my wrist to get a Master grip on the gun at that angle.

The rule of thumb is that as the gun is placed forward of the point of the hip, the cant should start being reversed...barrel angled forward of grip.

Might I suggest that you take some pictures of yourself with your hand on the gun in the holster. Note:

1. How far you're leaning forward
2. How you need to roll your shoulders
3. The angle of your wrist compared to your forearm while attaining the master grip on the gun

Well, I am intending to carry at about 3. Nothing is overly comfortable or uncomfortable until it comes forward enough to be appendix carry, at which point it impales me when I sit, or when it's far enough back to dig into the seat. I'm wearing those jeans now, but without the holster, and the loop is about 2 good inches behind my hip crest.

I tried to center the weapon on the 3 o'clock belt loop on my jeans, but I can push it forward or back several inches before I encounter a loop problem.

[caliberetta]

Impressive how well concealed that 1911 is but i cant help but notice that half the grip is concealed as well. Its almost like you need to dig into your pants to draw it. Might be the angle of the picture though.

It's not so bad at all, no need to dig, it comes right out:

The Remora has zero weapons retention. You end up with your *** on the ground that gun is sliding across the pavement.

^^^ Sure that is true if you are wearing only panties.

.

[1CavScout]

Cant makes it easier to draw when carrying behind the hip. It also places the butt of the grip more vertically so that it doesn't print as much.

^^^ This. I usually IWB at the 3:30-4:00 position, and a forward cant will definitely help with printing (as well as drawing the gun).

Additionally, I don't like double stack guns for IWB. I carry a G27 as one of my CCW guns, but only OWB when I am wearing a jacket or sweatshirt. I have found over the years than single stack guns are much better for IWB, at least for myself. I also buy my pants a size bigger in the waist so there is room for a holster and gun.

All my IWB holsters also have a sweat Shield that is high enough so the gun does not contact my skin. I like the soft material that N82 Tactical uses.

Good luck...

Edit: I would also try sliding your rig back to the 3:30 position and see how you like it.

[ruddogg]

OP - fwiw - I started with a Nightingale Raptor (which is a knockoff albeit a good knockoff) of the Versa Max 2 for my Walther PPQ. I ended up selling it & getting the real thing. I've been ccw since last Apr, almost a year now, I was one of the first in the OC to get my ccw.

I thought that my VM2 was what I'll always carry with... that is until I tried a Crossbreed Supertuck. I carry using both the VM2 & the CB Supertuck around the 4 o'clock. Even when I tried in the beginning to carry at the 3 o clock, for some reason the gun/holster shift to the 4 o clock anyways. The cant is important, as it allows you to the hide the butt/grip of the gun better...so that it doesn't stick out your back & print. I found that the CB Supertuck with the adjustable screws allows me to adjust the cant and the depth of the holster. I still love the VM2 (due to its comfort), but I find myself using the CB more.

YMMV, but I'd also check out the Crossbreed Supertuck.
the 3 on my ccw are Walther PPQ, Walther PPS, and Sphinx SDP Compact. I have the Crossbreed for the PPQ & PPS, Versa Max 2 for the PPQ & Sphinx... although I do also have a VM2 for my Sig P226 & P229.

[SocomM4]

Cant makes it easier to draw when carrying behind the hip. It also places the butt of the grip more vertically so that it doesn't print as much.

This.

[Grey Bearded One]

I've been toting a gun, on and off, for over 30 years (damn, that makes me feel old). When I was young and thin, I carried with an inside the waistband (IWB) holster under my right kidney. It was comfortable and when I would take my jacket off, it was well enough hidden that people didn't run and scream "He's go a gun."

When I put on a few pounds, I started carrying around 5 o'clock with an OWB holster because I no longer had any extra room inside my waistband.

Eventually, my flab expanded to the point that any belt holster is uncomfortable because the gun digs into my side. Now, I just carry in my pocket.

[M. D. Van Norman]

As 9mmepiphany said, the more forward cant a holster has, the farther back on your belt it should be for a comfortable, natural draw. The Nexus, for example, at 25 degrees should ride at about the five-o’clock position for a right-handed shooter.



However, the first impulse most people have is to try and get the gun square on the hip at three o’clock. For anything but a tiny sidearm, this position will not conceal very well or be terribly comfortable for anything but standing or walking. In this case, a forward cant at three o’clock may improve concealment and comfort, but it will make drawing the weapon much more awkward.

I have selected the highly canted, behind-the-hip position (i.e., five o’clock), because it allows me to conceal a full or mid-sized pistol easily and comfortably. Especially in an IWB holster, the gun is tucked discreetly into the curve of my waist but still naturally accessible to my hand when I reach back for it. The gun also rides flat against my body, effectively keeping it out of my way, so I can comfortably sit or even lie down.

[ConcealedKalifornia]

In my experience, Cant simply changes where pressure is being applied to your body from the gun, which can dramatically change the comfort of the wearer. Changing the cant of the gun will change where the main force from the gun is being applied. It can also make drawing easier, or reduce printing, but I mainly use more it for comfort than anything.

I will use the 3 o'clock to 4:30 position as an example. Many peoples body structure is such that your hips (and Buttocks) are slightly larger (more so for the average woman) than your waist. This causes the muzzle of the gun to lean outward slightly, and in turn the back of the slide (and in your case the beaver tail) to be pushed into your side, due to the waist band of your pants acting like a pivot point.

This can cause some discomfort as a large portion of the pressure the gun exerts on your body is being centered around the back of the slide, which is often edged or has things sticking off of it like safeties and such. (this is why most hybrid holster cover the entire slide.)

In this case a positive Cant can help alleviate that pressure because it moves that pressure from the corner of the sharp slide, to the rounded grip, increasing the surface area being pushed into your body which results in a decrease of force on one small part of the body. (like those have said above, it can interfere with your draw however. Its all a balancing act, comfort, vs speed...)

The hard part though is that your body shape is very different sitting vs standing. which can result in a super comfy holster standing, but not when sitting or vice versa.

This is why I prefer single clip design holsters when I appendix carry. It allows me to adjust on the go when I get in and out of a car or whatever. I find that a slight negative cant gets me the best of both worlds when it comes to Comfort vs concealment. It also allows me to shift and adjust the hoslter in different situations.

Disclaimer - This is all just my experience and observations.... I can't speak for others

[Citadelgrad87]

Ok, thanks for the input. I rotated my rig around to ride well behind my hip, I'd call it at least 4 to 430. It's very comfortable there. I took a 40 minute car ride and despite what I expected it was actually more comfortable riding back there than directly beside me on my hip. I could feel it there, but it wasn't at all uncomfortable. But the beavertail was boring in, and I think I'll Oder one with an extended tab once I decide which can't I prefer.

I really like the sparks nexus with the magnet attachments. They work very well, way Better than I expected. Unless I disengage them to remove the holster, they don't move. I can swap these with the snap loops on a vm, or order a criterion with them.

Decisions decisions. With a 12 week wait, I hope I get it right. That's a potential six months wait if I pick the wrong one.

[Kurgan]

I carry my full size pistols (Milt Sparks VMII IWB and Milt Sparks BN55 OWB) at around 4:00. Double stack 9mm in the IWB and Double stack 45 in the OWB.

I personally don't like to carry forward of 4:00 unless it's an OWB or unless I'm shooting USPSA. I'm not carrying to conceal then.

Carrying anything other than a sub-compact concealed at 3:00 is just uncomfortable for me. As for appendix carry, not for me.

I also prefer a reinforced mouth. I don't like pointing the gun at my weak hand when the gun won't holster easily and I have to pry it open......

As for cant. I only use a no cant holster for competition. Otherwise it's 15 to 25 degrees. My VMII for my P7M8 may actually be more than that.

[M. D. Van Norman]

[Citadelgrad87]