Wanted: Shoulder Holster Opinions

[markmac56]

For some reason, I have an itch for a shoulder rig. Yes I know that it's summer, it's 100 every day in Dallas. It won't be for summer-carry. Well, maybe in the backyard after I get home from work at midnight, playing with the mutt. I carry my Bersa UC9 IWB in a UBG Becker, and like it very much; run around town with it, and drove from Dallas to Mississippi, 9 hours, it wasn't uncomfortable at all.

Anyway, back to the shoulder rig. I've been looking at a High Noon Under Armor; Galco Classic Lite, Miami and Jackass, but apparently the Miami and Jackass don't fit a UC9 (maybe another pistol make/model fits?); and a Masters model 9019. The Classic Lite appears to be kind of generic, unfitted and all, but I saw a video on YouTube and a guy put in a Sig and a Glock, said he liked it for both. I like the options of the Galco, because I like the spare mag/flashlight carrier. I think 26 rounds oughta be more than enough, and I like having one of my Surefire G2's close by.

Has anybody had any experience with any of these holsters? Or maybe recommend something else that I haven't looked at yet?

[RHenriksen]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

I bought a cheapie nylon generic shoulder holster 20+ years ago, and found it handy for certain occasions. Struggled long & hard over the choice of a proper shoulder holster, fitted for my gun, to ensure good retention, extra mags, etc.

Finally swallowed hard & spent the $$ on an Andrews Monarch rig. Couldn't be happier :-)

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a Galco Miami Classic II shoulder rig, with two sets of holsters and mag carriers. One fits my 1911s, the other my M&P 45. They are great in cold weather, and they are great if you have back issues and can't stand the weight of a gun on your belt because it causes pain—both reasons I bought mine.

I don't use it as much as I do my other holsters, but that isn't the point for me. It is another carry option, and one can never have too many options.

[Dub]

+1 on the Galco Miami Classic. Only beef I have about it is the weight when racked up with three high cap mags. Have not weighed it as all I have are the bathroom scales, but it does get heavy. Typically I only carry one spare mag with it.

[C-dub]

+1 on the Galco Miami Classic. Only beef I have about it is the weight when racked up with three high cap mags. Have not weighed it as all I have are the bathroom scales, but it does get heavy. Typically I only carry one spare mag with it.

How is the balance with three mags on once side and your gun on the other side?

[The Annoyed Man]

+1 on the Galco Miami Classic. Only beef I have about it is the weight when racked up with three high cap mags. Have not weighed it as all I have are the bathroom scales, but it does get heavy. Typically I only carry one spare mag with it.

How is the balance with three mags on once side and your gun on the other side?

I carry two spares, plus the loaded gun and mag on the other side. Balance is pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. The gun side is a bit heavier if you really check it out and think about it. But most of the time I'm not so much aware of the balance as I am the weight of the total package. My M&P has two backup 10 rounds mags. That's 20 rounds of 230 grain .45 ACP plus the weight of the magazines (which is negligible) on one side, and the 30 oz weight of the gun on the other side plus one 10 round mag +1 in the chamber on the other side.

[v-rog]

What is the model # for your particular Galco Miami Classic? I wasn't aware that they made one for the M & P. If you had it to do over again, would you purchase it again? I'm on the fence.

+1 on the Galco Miami Classic. Only beef I have about it is the weight when racked up with three high cap mags. Have not weighed it as all I have are the bathroom scales, but it does get heavy. Typically I only carry one spare mag with it.

How is the balance with three mags on once side and your gun on the other side?

I carry two spares, plus the loaded gun and mag on the other side. Balance is pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. The gun side is a bit heavier if you really check it out and think about it. But most of the time I'm not so much aware of the balance as I am the weight of the total package. My M&P has two backup 10 rounds mags. That's 20 rounds of 230 grain .45 ACP plus the weight of the magazines (which is negligible) on one side, and the 30 oz weight of the gun on the other side plus one 10 round mag +1 in the chamber on the other side.

[gwtrikenut]

These are all nice, but I don't wear a suit and tie. I wear tee shirts and want a shoulder rig that fits under them, and does not show my carry. Remembering the Texas heat also. Went to the local Army Surplus and found a harness built into a tight shirt. Nice, but I will be wearing this everyday. Still can see the printing. At $55.00 per shirt, just a little expensive. Guess I could wear the same one every day. But then I wouldn't need to conceal. Nobody could stand to be close enough to see my weapon hidden under my shirt.
And did I mention, it needs to be not touching my skin. Must be cloth between me and the weapon.

[C-dub]

These are all nice, but I don't wear a suit and tie. I wear tee shirts and want a shoulder rig that fits under them, and does not show my carry. Remembering the Texas heat also. Went to the local Army Surplus and found a harness built into a tight shirt. Nice, but I will be wearing this everyday. Still can see the printing. At $55.00 per shirt, just a little expensive. Guess I could wear the same one every day. But then I wouldn't need to conceal. Nobody could stand to be close enough to see my weapon hidden under my shirt.
And did I mention, it needs to be not touching my skin. Must be cloth between me and the weapon.

It sounds like you are planning on wearing two t-shirts with the shoulder rig between them. Whether one or two t-shirts, this doesn't sound very easy to draw from. Have you given this any thought? A shoulder rig, given your criteria, doesn't sound like the best way to carry.

[gwtrikenut]

These are all nice, but I don't wear a suit and tie. I wear tee shirts and want a shoulder rig that fits under them, and does not show my carry. Remembering the Texas heat also. Went to the local Army Surplus and found a harness built into a tight shirt. Nice, but I will be wearing this everyday. Still can see the printing. At $55.00 per shirt, just a little expensive. Guess I could wear the same one every day. But then I wouldn't need to conceal. Nobody could stand to be close enough to see my weapon hidden under my shirt.
And did I mention, it needs to be not touching my skin. Must be cloth between me and the weapon.

It sounds like you are planning on wearing two t-shirts with the shoulder rig between them. Whether one or two t-shirts, this doesn't sound very easy to draw from. Have you given this any thought? A shoulder rig, given your criteria, doesn't sound like the best way to carry.

Planned on wearing a snap up tucked in shirt over the shoulder holster. Never planned to do any Billy the Kid drawing anyway. Wear a Super Tuck right now, and even through they say you can wear it with your shirt tucked in, not with my shirts. But with the Super Tuck, you can n ot wear it and drive any long distance without it pinching your side.

[C-dub]

Okay. I got you now. Still, the over shirt will have to be looser and even then they just don't conceal as well as a jacket or sport coat does for a shoulder rig. So far, my first and only shoulder rig, fobus roto shoulder harness, I wore how you describe, but with an over shirt one and two sizes up. It worked okay in the winter, but, as you pointed out, no way in the summer in Texas. I didn't own a sport coat then, 9 years ago, but I have two now and depending on how things go at work, due to the parking lot changes, I'm hoping that CHLs will be allowed to carry inside and I'll get more use out of them. The look works on me, but I'm pretty plain and can pull off just about any look.

[gigag04]

That rig will print like crazy

[C-dub]

That rig will print like crazy

I thought for sure it did, but not enough for anyone to say anything.

[paulhailes]

Sounds like you are looking for this, http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products ... Shirt.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.