I use a shoulder holster whenever I am wearing a suit. It provides for easier access when seated, and it gives my hip a rest. I have both a Bianchi nylon modular rig, which is configured similar to the Jackass rig, and a vertical one from Massimo Gunleather. I prefer the vertical, but have, at times, used the Bianchi.

 

yes.......for detective work.
jacket and tie for standard wear. Sitting behind the desk a bunch gave me an appreciation for a shoulder rig. It also taught me a lesson....stay with leather...nylon shoulder rigs will fray the heck out of good dress shirts...

 

I wear light weight button ups and a shoulder holster about 98% of the time. When it’s real cold I switch to a jacket when it’s real hot I switch to fishing shirts. It allows me to easily conceal and comfortably wear a large gun as well as easy access to magazines all while being in a nice handy rig.

It does have cons just as it has pros. That said training with your equipment and using proper equipment and practices mitigates these in my opinion. I prefer the Galco Jackass and to help offset the weapons weight in addition to the two magazines on the strong side I also have a pair of cuffs. They take time to set up properly and adjust to fit you and your body type.

ETA: I’ve carried everything from PPK’s to Government Models and from J-Frames to 3” L-Frames in then. For revolvers I prefer the Bianchi 9R sadly they are long out of production and command a premium.

 

I wear light weight button ups and a shoulder holster about 98% of the time. When it’s real cold I switch to a jacket when it’s real hot I switch to fishing shirts. It allows me to easily conceal and comfortably wear a large gun as well as easy access to magazines all while being in a nice handy rig.

It does have cons just as it has pros. That said training with your equipment and using proper equipment and practices mitigates these in my opinion. I prefer the Galco Miami Classic and to help offset the weapons weight in addition to the two magazines on the strong side I also have a pair of cuffs. They take time to set up properly and adjust to fit you and your body type.

ETA: I’ve carried everything from PPK’s to Government Models and from J-Frames to 3” L-Frames in then. For revolvers I prefer the Bianchi 9R sadly they are long out of production and command a premium.

PPK? In a Berns-Martin?

 

I have some for use in the woods, but have been considering for daily carry, like Henry said, to give my hip a break.
I have no natural padding and my offside gets sore. It’s been better since I ditched a certain belt I used for a couple years.

My opinion is that you should stay away from shoulder holders made by large companies and pay the extra for one from a custom maker. Life is too short to walk around with an inexpensive holster.

 

When I lived in Southern California, I rarely wore a suit or sport jacket. Most of the time, I wore Hawaiian shirts or polo shirts, so a shoulder holster would not work in that environment with that mode of dress. I wear suits even less here in Utah (in fact I think I have only worn one once in 7 years). In the winter, I wear flannel shirts and normally wear jackets that have enough stretch that I can pull the jacket up at the waist if I need to access a pistol.

I don't think shoulder holsters are a bad thing, they just don't jive with my lifestyle.

 

Back when I was on active duty and aircrew I used a Safariland upsidedown shoulder holster, I purchased it to replace that sorry issued holster (nothing worse than the feeling of your weapon sliding down your flight suit), it carried a 2-inch S&W Model-10 securely and was easy to draw. I still use the same holster on long trips when driving.

 

In colder months I regularly use shoulder holsters. Easy way to carry bigger guns.

I've got no hips or butt so carrying bigger guns on my belt line is problematic for me.

 

I don’t know about Every Day, but I have considered one for my 1911 Commander. I doubt horizontal carry would wok for me. I have considered vertical. I had a vertical shoulder holster for my Ruger Super Blackhawk. Made by Safariland and it swiveled allowing a vertical draw.

Most of the work I do know, requires me sitting in my vehicle. I’m considering a shoulder rig. Just not sure if it’s the best choice. The-cost of a good quality leather holster is rather expensive to purchase for testing. I’m thinking of purchasing a nylon rig and if it works, switching to the leather. If it doesn’t, I’m not out much. Decisions, decisions. 😂

 

I would highly recommend a Jackass Rig. They allow a greater degree of Cant on the gun for a muzzle up carry. I use one for both my Governments and my Commander. It is my recommendation you don’t cheap out a cheap one may simply turn you off without getting a fair chance.

 

For further clarification, I have used a Kangaroo Carry holster, which looks like a shoulder holster, but is designed to be worn under a shirt. It works okay for deep concealment, but it certainly is not a fast draw.

I wore mine with the pistol positioned much higher than the model is wearing hers in this photo.

 

Galco Jackass here. Easy access when driving and doesn't aggravate sciatica.

 

I have never worn one EDC. I live in hot desert conditions and only wear a coat a couple months a year.
I do have a couple. I keep one in case I ever wanted to wear a 1911 while driving. And another that goes over the head and one shoulder. it is made for a 6" S&W model 66. I have kept it as a bump in the night kit. With a flashlight, gun and spare ammo, it used to hang in my closet with a pr of slippers under it. Right now I'm using another gun for bumps in the night, so it is not being used. DR

 

I've never used one. Too much trouble on the concealment end.

 

Why I have never used one: too many limitations IMHO. Must wear cover garment in addition to normal shirt and I only wear suits to Church and Court. For really big guys they are both fiddly and often not adjustable enough.

 

Interesting point. I really gave them up when I was really big at 310 pounds. Since my Gastric Bypass surgery in 2009, I’ve lost 162 pounds and kept most of it off. I put some back on, deliberately because so many folks kept asking if I was dying of Cancer because I looked so emaciated and fragile. I’m now at a very comfortable 200-210 and loving life. I could return to a shoulder rig for the winters.

 

I can't carry on the hips. The only belt I can tolerate is an elastic belt and only with suspenders. In the winter, before a acquired a CCW winter coat, I wore a shoulder holster under the coat. Summer I wear a denim CCW vest. Sunday for church I carry in a shoulder holster under my suit coat.

 

Ain’t no chance of becoming James Bond if you don’t try. I vote yay on the shoulder holster. Bonus points if its with a Walther paired with a suppressor.

 

Voted no.

I live in Las Vegas/Henderson NV. Too hot to always wear a jacket or outer cover garment.

Tried a cross draw but found it harder to conceal with just a shirt.

OWB works best for me under a 2xl t shirt.

 

Quite early on, I learned that the presentation from a shoulder rig was both awkward and slow, and preferentially required two hands to accomplish smoothly and quickly.
With perhaps the exception of Sam Andrews's best rig, shoulder holsters generally present the user with a lot of slack to overcome, which is why one needs to use two hands. The "weak" hand stabilizes the rig, while the "strong" hand accomplishes the presentation.
Further, presentations from a shoulder harness will "sweep," and thereby menace, innocent persons standing behind the concealed-weapon user. While "in gravest extreme" this may not be a serious issue to some, it has always bothered me. I suppose that in terms of "competing harms" the issue is moot, but it still bothers me.
So I don't carry my pistol in a shoulder holster.

 

It’s been my experience that what you point out with the draw is a result of a shoulder holster that’s improperly adjusted to the wearer. While they shouldn’t be tight little movement should be experienced. Additionally they can further be secured with a tie down though I personally don’t see them as needed.

 

I have worn one for decades and still do. Just work around the limitations like anything else. When I do I also carry a J frame AIWB.

 

I have never used a shoulder rig for EDC but I have been contemplating it in the past few years and maybe ready to give it a go.
Wife and I do a bit more travelling by Jeep in past few years and it seems would be more comfortable for that.
It is the cover garment thing that I need to work out as Texas has some long hot summers. I have been thinking of perhaps a very light tropical linen/cotton sport coat.

 

When I lived in Texas and carried concealed for 20 years there I wore Hawaiian shirts all the time...

 

I use a shoulder holster whenever possible. It has certain limitations, but it is by far my favorite means of carry. The most part, I use Galco Miami Classics - both vertical and horizontal. Although it is very hot right now, living in Minnesota allows me to use a SH fully eight months out of the year.

 

I live in Florida. I can't open carry and it's warm here. It would require me to wear a cover garment. I rarely wear a jacket, even in the winter. I think it would be a good alternative for winter carry in colder climates, especially while driving. Much easier to access and more comfortable when driving.

 

Eddie Bauer outfitter shirts or Bass Proshop vented fishing shirts don’t recall the name though Academy and Cabelas offer similar are my solution for heat. I suppose Hawaiian shirts would work but they aren’t commonly seen in my area. The trick is shirts that are light and breathable which allow airflow and either moisture wicking or cotton undershirts. You don’t need a sport coat or jacket basically any button up with a pattern that has stripes or some other figuring to break lines. Just my experience carrying with one for over a decade in various climates.

 

If possible, I would now go with a Ritchie Holsters shoulder holster.
It is made to the Lou Alessi design. Extremely comfortable for all day carry. Mine are original Alessi.
The general consensus is that the folks at Alessi holsters are leaving a bit to be desired as a working business.
Ritchie Holsters is where you would want to shop for an Alessi Shoulder Rig - It's a pull-through snap design.
You just grab the gun butt and pull.
Not available for some firearm models.
It's great for an under the armpit firearm carry and the strap system is very comfortable.
In my experience - One of the very finest shoulder holsters for 1911 genre of handgun.

 

Florida's weather is rarely ideal for wearing 2 layers.

 

Ain’t THAT the truth! One serious reason why we retired from Miami to East Tennessee!

 

I have used shoulder rigs for occasional carry, but not EDC. SE Texas weather is too warm and humid for me to want wear that many layers on a daily basis. A road trip, especially in cooler weather, has tended to be when I would be likely to wear a shoulder rig for an extended period of time.

Another relevant factor, is that I carried a duty pistol at 0300, for 33+ years, so, it made sense to carry in that same location during personal time, too, and, so, the shoulder rig has tended to be for a second weapon. At times, that second weapon, in the shoulder rig, would be larger than the weapon worn at 0300. My well-made vertical nylon rig, bought in the mid-Eighties, totes large-frame 4” to ~5” revolvers quite well. (IIRC, its brand is Assault Systems, or Weapons Systems, which seemed to be the same manufacturer.)

During one memorable surveillance/stakeout assignment, in the mid-Eighties, I usually wore a 4” N-Frame Model 58 in the shoulder rig, and an HK P7 on the belt, at 0300, though the true primary weapon was my S&W Model 3000 pump shotgun. (The S&W 3000 was a notably high-quality design copy of the Remington 870, made for S&W by Howa. We were after a dangerous, murderous pair of serial armed robbers, one of whom used a shotgun. They had killed a political ally of the mayor, so, much overtime money, and effort, were put into this.)

I have an Andrews Custom Leather Monarch rig, which was set up for a SIG P229, but is now set up with a lefty Ruger SP101 holster body. I recently added a second Monarch rig, through evil-bay, which has a holster body and mag pouches for Glocks. I may split the component sets, so that I have a lefty SP101 holster body, and a righty Glock holster body. (I have long thought that leather double mag pouches, on shoulder rigs, were an awfully bulky way to tote spare mags.)

 

I have used shoulder rigs for occasional carry, but not EDC. SE Texas weather is too warm and humid for me to want wear that many layers on a daily basis. A road trip, especially in cooler weather, has tended to be when I would be likely to wear a shoulder rig for an extended period of time.

Another relevant factor, is that I carried a duty pistol at 0300, for 33+ years, so, it made sense to carry in that same location during personal time, too, and, so, the shoulder rig has tended to be for a second weapon. At times, that second weapon, in the shoulder rig, would be larger than the weapon worn at 0300. My well-made vertical nylon rig, bought in the mid-Eighties, totes large-frame 4” to ~5” revolvers quite well. (IIRC, its brand is Assault Systems, or Weapons Systems, which seemed to be the same manufacturer.)

During one memorable surveillance/stakeout assignment, in the mid-Eighties, I usually wore a 4” N-Frame Model 58 in the shoulder rig, and an HK P7 on the belt, at 0300, though the true primary weapon was my S&W Model 3000 pump shotgun. (The S&W 3000 was a notably high-quality design copy of the Remington 870, made for S&W by Howa. We were after a dangerous, murderous pair of serial armed robbers, one of whom used a shotgun. They had killed a political ally of the mayor, so, much overtime money, and effort, were put into this.)

I have an Andrews Custom Leather Monarch rig, which was set up for a SIG P229, but is now set up with a lefty Ruger SP101 holster body. I recently added a second Monarch rig, through evil-bay, which has a holster body and mag pouches for Glocks. I may split the component sets, so that I have a lefty SP101 holster body, and a righty Glock holster body. (I have long thought that leather double mag pouches, on shoulder rigs, were an awfully bulky way to tote spare mags.)

Assault Systems! I used to have a bunch of their stuff, including luggage.

 

Decades ago I used to use a Galco Miami Classic, but it was for a .22 auto. I got a good deal on the harness and always figured that I could upgrade the holster later. I've always wanted a Jackass rig for my Glock 20 and now, my S&W 686. But I don't tend to wear jackets here in southern AZ, and though I love my Hawaiian shirts, I don't want the attention that is now generated by them. So I suppose that I'm in no hurry to go back to a shoulder rig.