Whether you spend a lot of time driving or working a desk, a shoulder holster may be the best concealed carry option for you. True, you may associate them with suit-wearing federal agents from the roaring 20s or hard-partying Miami cops in the ‘70s. But they’re not obsolete. In fact, shoulder holsters are just as applicable today as they were a century ago. In this post, we’re going to go over some shoulder holster tips and what to look for in a shoulder holster.

Shoulder Holster Concealed Carry Tips

There’s no real comparison with using a shoulder holster for concealed carry. It has its own set of rules and best practices. We’ll cover some of them in this section.

Use Belt Tie Downs for Opposing Resistance

One thing to consider when using a shoulder holster is your draw technique. You’re going to be pulling in a completely different direction than you would if drawing from a belt. As a result, you’re going to need a significant counter-force working on your shoulder holster to actually draw your gun.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. You can tie your shoulder holster down to your belt like a pair of tactical suspenders. Not only does this help keep your pants from falling down, but it also ensures that you’ll be just as quick on the draw as you would from any other position.

Keeping Weight Balanced (With a Magazine)

Do you want to walk around all day, everyday feeling lopsided? Of course not. That’s why you’re going to want to use some kind of counterweight with your shoulder holster. Realistically, you could use anything you wanted for a counterweight, including another gun.

But perhaps the most useful way for keeping weight balanced on a shoulder holster is with a spare magazine. An extra mag can be useful for several reasons. The most obvious one is, of course, extra firepower. You don’t think you need an extra magazine until you really need it.

Second, a spare magazine is helpful for clearing jams and malfunctions. More often than not, magazines are the cause of your gun jamming. Keeping a spare mag lets you quickly clear a misfire and get a fresh magazine into your firearm in seconds. That could potentially save your life.

What to Look For in a Shoulder Holster: Best Shoulder Holster for Concealed Carry

Okay, so we’ve covered some tips on carrying with a shoulder holster. But what should you look for when buying one?

First off, you’re going to want to get a holster that you can attach to your belt. Some super-slick, modern-looking holsters get rid of a belt attachment in an attempt to achieve greater concealment. But this is generally not the way to go, since it can make drawing more difficult.

Second, holster material. When it comes to shoulder holsters, you want to stick with leather. For one, a leather holster is more comfortable to wear under your armpit for longer periods of time than a kydex one. And it’s going to be more rugged, sturdy, and durable than one made out of nylon.

Finally, make sure your shoulder holster includes two design features. You’re going to want at least one pouch for an extra magazine (two is better). In addition, you’re going to want a shoulder holster with some kind of retention, like a thumb break. The way you hold your gun in a shoulder holster, retention is necessary.

Fortunately, if you’re on the market for shoulder holsters, Southern Trapper can help. We carry durable, hardy shoulder holsters, all of which are perfect for concealed carry. We can even build you a custom shoulder holster. And if you’re considering any other type of holster, check out our full selection here.

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