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Lately I've read a few discussions regarding appendix carry and the pros/cons. For the most part the comments have been positive.

On the pro side, it's easy to access your pistol, fast and concealable. And with the right size pistol, it's comfortable. I've tried it a few times around the house without a holster and my limit seems to be a Commander/Glock 19 size pistol. If I remember correctly, I read that Bruce Nelson used to carry appendix when doing undercover work.

The biggest con, of course, is where the muzzle is pointing. Also you're limited by your build on the size of the pistol you can carry, as well as holster availability. My guess is that there are not specific holsters for appendix carry due lack of demand.

For compact or mid-sized guns, why isn't appendix carry more popular?

As long as you don't have to sit down, I guess it's ok.

Carrying a gun in the 'vasectomy position' has never held a great deal of interest for me personally.....

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CT Brian Custom
'Blending Art With Firepower'

It only works if you of a certain body style, anyone over a 32 inch waist is going to have difficulty with it. Its also harder for me to do a covert draw if a situation appears to be heading south, and you do not want to give away your status.

I've used appendix carry for smaller guns like J-frames but I'm not sure I could make it work with a larger pistol like a 1911 or even something medium sized like a Glock 19/23. It works well with smaller guns for me, big guns would probably be too uncomfortable.

I have one of Lou's APX for my S&W 642 and it is well used. I routinely carry the 642 as a BUG in this holster and only wish that Lou would have gotten around to making a tuckable version of it. I just scruch my shirt around it and then play with it to carry as a BUG. While I have grown accustomed to this I think the J-frame is about as large as I would want to go. I agree a lot depends on your body shape or no shape and the gun you are trying to carry. Lou actually sent the APX to me as a Birthday present a few years back so in light of his passing it has special significance to me.

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And this eternal resting place Is known as Fiddlers' Green.

My appendix has grown too much over the years!

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Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse!

While I agree with everyone about a BUG being easier to use/conceal in this manner, it's really not that bad with a Compact/Officers sized pistol. I'm 6'2", and not exactly slim, and I don't have a problem with it being uncomfortable. Of course, that's without a holster.

The reason I'm interested in this mode of carry is that I'm left-handed, and while in the car (which I seem to be a lot lately), with the seat belt on, I can't easily get to my pistol. From the appendix position it's a much easier propisiton. Anyone have any other ideas (I've ruled out should holsters, and cross-draw).

You may want to take a look at Ken Null's Vampire Holster specifically designed for seated carry in a car.

http://www.klnullholsters.com/

HTH,
John

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NRA Endowment Life Member
I may be big, old, and slow, but so are the ball rounds in my 1911.

Hi Terry:
Hope I'm not too late for this discussion

Did you get the idea about appendix carry from Todd Green's posts on other forums? I've been experimenting this method of carry also. Back in the late 80s when I first started carrying, I did carry a J frame revolver in that position in a soft IWB holster. But I never carried anything bigger. I read about Bruce Nelson's appendix carry with his Summer Special and 1911 guns but I never tried it since I thought the full size 1911 was too big for that type of carry. Fast forward to last year when I met a student in Ken Hackathorn pistol class that carried his Sig 226 appendix style and was quite proficient with the draw. Top that with Todd's posts it got me interested in trying out that carry.

From reading Todd's post, the trick is to find the right spot on your waist to carry it. For my physique, I can comfortably carry up to a commander/glock 19/M&P/K frame revolver (2"). The holster has to be in front of your body about 3" or so to the right of my belly button (I'm right handed). The holster height is also important. If the grip is too low, i.e barely above the top of the waistband/belt, the muzzle end will dig into your sensitive area when you sit. Too high will be unstable. For a semi auto, I think the grip has to be about 1" above the belt.

From Todd Green's recommendation, I ordered a Custom Carry Concepts Looper (appendix) for the 2" K frame wheel gun. It's pretty comfortable and very concealable under a loose t-shirt or a "camp" style buttoned shirt. Those nifty EOTAC discrete shirts and the same from Woolrich and 5.11 make ideal garments. I had Mike Benedict at Talon Tactical made me an IWB for my M&P and with a little modification and tweaking of my own, it's a pretty darn good rig.

As for the safety issue, yes it does point the gun at "mr. happy" and some vital arteries. But for a carry gun that you don't draw and holster every 15 seconds, I think it's an acceptable trade off. Practice with a dry gun hundred of times to make sure you don't get trigger happy. It is not for a novice first time gun packer as displayed by that NFL football player in NY.

If you prefer leather holster, stay tune. Mark Garrity made up a prototype rig for Todd Green and is being tested by Todd. He gave his input to Garrity and the second prototype is being tested. He will post pictures after they finalize on the design.

All I can say is hold on tight, Garrity's new rig should be debutted in the next couple weeks. I know cuz I have one of the prototypes and shot the photos...
Kurt

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Kurt von Rice

Body type and holster/belt combo are key for AIWB. I got the CCC Looper for the G34/35 right before Xmas with a set a mag pouches. The set up is great. The pouches take up less room on the belt line then the Rafter S and factory Glock singles they replace. My belts are a mixture of Ligers, Wilderness 5 stich and Rafter S leather.

The holster has far exceeded my expectations. Fast, secure and sets the gun low enough to be concealable and high enough for a good grip upon presentation. I used it in a recent AFHF class with good results.

4 hr road trip no problem. 10 hour road trip to Memephis for AFHF no problem. Do you know you have a gun on -yes. Is it any more uncomfortable that carrying the platform in any other IWB or OWB holster I own- No. I would go as far as to say AIWB was more comfortable than conventional IWB/OWB given the bolster angle of the seats in my rental 2010 Fusion SEL.

I am 6 2 ish , 200 ish, 34 waist ( I buy 36 for IWB) 34 inseam. 44/46l jacket. If you are my "size", AIWB with a full sized gun you presumably shoot better than a smaller gun is absolutely doable given a quality holster and belt set up.

YMMV greatly,

david of vcdgrips.com