[Adam Helmer]

gregarat,

I prefer a leather, thumb-break, strong side pancake holster for my 3-inch M65 Smith. I carried it as an agent and carry it now, after retirement, as a civilian CCW. A good holster will cost $30 to $50 and is money well spent. If I carry a Colt M1911, I merely stuff it into my weak side waistband.

I have used shoulder and ankle holsters undercover and do not like them, but they have their applications. Just practice with them if you are going to use them. At the agency, one had to "show proficiency" to be authorized to use an ankle holster. There was no prescribed method to draw from the ankle holster. I asked, "Does one kneel and draw, or remain standing and hop about on one leg and effect a draw?" I never got an answer. I know of an LEO who shot himself in the weak arm while drawing from a shoulder holster in a high stress situation, an agent shot his left butt cheek drawing from a behind the back holster and another plain-clothes cop shot himself in the left foot drawing from an ankle holster when he walked into a bank robbery in progress. The bad guys fled and the cop is the only one who bled at the bank. When the adrenelin rushes, be damn sure you have "grooved" your drawing technique no matter what mode of carry you employ. Also, KEEP your finger off the trigger UNTIL you acquire the target and are ready to fire! A good holster COVERS the trigger so one cannot pickup the trigger until after the draw has been made.

Adam