Cavalry draw

[towtruck]

I need a new holster for my 4.5" Blackhawk 45 Colt. I really like the cavalry draw for this gun. I practiced carry with it on my left side and it makes it easy to sit and draw left handed. I am right handed so I will need to buy a lefty holster to use on the right. My thought is I could also use it for left handed draw as well if I were to carry two guns. 

 

I am finding the cavalry draw to be a very comfortable draw position for me. It's a more stand up draw than with my standard holster where you lean forward as you grip the gun.( which is a good thing).  

 

I'm just not sure I want to mix draws with my carry guns. 

 

Anyone use the cavalry draw?

[Rampy]

Last I knew it was outlawed in SASS as to dangerous.....have never seen anybody use it outside of reactors....

[wish2no]

Had to look that one up.  The youtube video I watched on it was great at showing it.  Seems like it would be more comfortable to carry, especially seated.  However more difficult to conceal.  Not sure I could do that with my non-existant rotator cuff.  My favorite most comfortable carry and draw position is the cross-draw.

[towtruck]

16 hours ago, Rampy said:

Last I knew it was outlawed in SASS as to dangerous.....have never seen anybody use it outside of reactors....

Done right it's no different then a straight draw but I can see where folks would get lazy or in a hurry and turn it to sweep themselves. My Blackhawk draws really nicely that way with my left hand in the current holster I have and it is very easy to carry and sit down with the bigger gun.  My only worry is any retention device you have on the holster is going to be awkward to manipulate with the wrist twisted around. 

 

I have just been toying with the idea and practicing that draw. I think finding the perfect holster is going to be near impossible though for CCW as the gun would need retention and a leather loop over the hammer or a snap strap is all I see made for that gun....so that makes it a four step process to fire instead of a two step with a double action straight draw. You would have to unhook the retention strap, draw, cock, and fire. Not a bad deal for a woods carry option but far from ideal either. I may just keep practicing with it left handed and seeing how good I can get with it and just carry it that way. 

 

Edit...I stumbled on a better way to carry two guns on me......the Blackhawk on my right hip and the Colt on the left backwards. I can use the cavalry draw on the Colt much faster as there is no retention strap on the Colt holster. Both guns hide very well under a t-shirt with a wool shirt over that. I think I just found my new range practice scenario.....draw and shoot my Colt lefty and draw the Blackhawk right handed. I've always needed more off hand practice.....I'm going to see where it takes me. 

[GLShooter]

You are certainly doing things I never dreamed of. The closest I'd come to this would be a Browning in the IWB  holster and one around my ankle for a back up. I'm way too small to carry one on each side.  I'd look like one of the dancing hippos in Fantasia in the tutu if I did that.   I might get away with a suit coat and a double shoulder rig  tucked in tight but that's about it. Unfortunately  my being retired in AZ doesn't make it likely in that though...lol

 

Greg

[Rampy]

7 hours ago, towtruck said:

Done right it's no different then a straight draw but I can see where folks would get lazy or in a hurry and turn it to sweep themselves. My Blackhawk draws really nicely that way with my left hand in the current holster I have and it is very easy to carry and sit down with the bigger gun.  My only worry is any retention device you have on the holster is going to be awkward to manipulate with the wrist twisted around. 

 

I have just been toying with the idea and practicing that draw. I think finding the perfect holster is going to be near impossible though for CCW as the gun would need retention and a leather loop over the hammer or a snap strap is all I see made for that gun....so that makes it a four step process to fire instead of a two step with a double action straight draw. You would have to unhook the retention strap, draw, cock, and fire. Not a bad deal for a woods carry option but far from ideal either. I may just keep practicing with it left handed and seeing how good I can get with it and just carry it that way. 

 

Edit...I stumbled on a better way to carry two guns on me......the Blackhawk on my right hip and the Colt on the left backwards. I can use the cavalry draw on the Colt much faster as there is no retention strap on the Colt holster. Both guns hide very well under a t-shirt with a wool shirt over that. I think I just found my new range practice scenario.....draw and shoot my Colt lefty and draw the Blackhawk right handed. I've always needed more off hand practice.....I'm going to see where it takes me. 

 

Trying to wrap my head around this.......it’s nothing like anything I’ve ever thought of....

[towtruck]

2 hours ago, Rampy said:

 

Trying to wrap my head around this.......it’s nothing like anything I’ve ever thought of....

Kinda goofy how I came about trying it. I don't have a really good holster for the Blackhawk. It holds the gun a tad too high for me. It also has a pretty good forward tilt. I was playing with it as a cross draw on the left side and had the holster too far back, I went to take the gun out left handed and drew it so easily I looked up the method. 

 

The Blackhawk is just too heavy to ride high and when dropped lower the barrel is going to peek out. I really want to carry that 45 Colt but CCW and it are not going to happen unless under a coat and even then it's not comfortable in it's current holster. The Holster I have for the Blackhawk rides so high I have trouble getting my hand on it. I am so hesitant to buy another holster for the Blackhawk knowing I can sink a lot of money into them and not get what I want. I would have to start wearing baggy pants and stuff that gun IWB to make it work. It is such a sweet gun for packing in the woods for big critters  I want to be able to carry it concealed when I head out to my property and other places. I just cannot get it right. 

 

Playing around with my other guns and wearing them backwards on the left actually works pretty well when done with my two  smaller 357's....I just don't see the need for two guns, that are nearly the same, to be worn at the same time except for range fun and left handed practice. What I did like about the reverse carry is the butt of the gun does not dig into the car seat so I don't have to adjust my position when driving. It has it's pluses and I wish I could have a box full of holsters to try out. 

[Rampy]

6 hours ago, towtruck said:

Kinda goofy how I came about trying it. I don't have a really good holster for the Blackhawk. It holds the gun a tad too high for me. It also has a pretty good forward tilt. I was playing with it as a cross draw on the left side and had the holster too far back, I went to take the gun out left handed and drew it so easily I looked up the method. 

 

The Blackhawk is just too heavy to ride high and when dropped lower the barrel is going to peek out. I really want to carry that 45 Colt but CCW and it are not going to happen unless under a coat and even then it's not comfortable in it's current holster. The Holster I have for the Blackhawk rides so high I have trouble getting my hand on it. I am so hesitant to buy another holster for the Blackhawk knowing I can sink a lot of money into them and not get what I want. I would have to start wearing baggy pants and stuff that gun IWB to make it work. It is such a sweet gun for packing in the woods for big critters  I want to be able to carry it concealed when I head out to my property and other places. I just cannot get it right. 

 

Playing around with my other guns and wearing them backwards on the left actually works pretty well when done with my two  smaller 357's....I just don't see the need for two guns, that are nearly the same, to be worn at the same time except for range fun and left handed practice. What I did like about the reverse carry is the butt of the gun does not dig into the car seat so I don't have to adjust my position when driving. It has it's pluses and I wish I could have a box full of holsters to try out. 

 

Normally I’d say your ducking crazy, but knowing the time, thought and research into this project and how anal you are at doing it right.....

 

it really holds merit and I’m intrigued by it and would like to see pictures to help me understand better what you are doing as I’m a visual learner 

[towtruck]

16 hours ago, Rampy said:

 

Normally I’d say your ducking crazy, but knowing the time, thought and research into this project and how anal you are at doing it right.....

 

it really holds merit and I’m intrigued by it and would like to see pictures to help me understand better what you are doing as I’m a visual learner 

Okay, I had to trick the camera a bit to show what a right handed position would look like but this is what I'm after.....this is my Colt and not the Blackhawk.....I want to keep the butt of the gun from digging into the seat and hide a larger gun better. I still most likely won't be able to do it with the Blackhawk but I would love to try it with my Colt or SP101. I need to borrow a left handed holster to try it out as playing around trying to draw left handed really is not giving me what I need to see. 

 

Shirt in normal position....

Shirt tucked in to show what is under it. 

 

This holster has a forward cant when worn on the right so the butt is riding a little higher than it would be if the gun had no rearward cant to it when on backwards.

 

It may be an option to just run it left handed when driving and swapping it over after doing the long drive. I can still get it drawn right handed if needed.

 

Today, sitting on my shooting chair the butt of the gun was digging into the seat and causing much discomfort....carried this way it would not dig into the chair back.  I really need that big box of holsters to play with 

 

edit...normal carry puts the small bump of the butt under my arm. It's more visible from the rear but the arm hides it better.

 

Here is a video of the draw......he needs more practice getting the gun on target after the draw...

https://youtu.be/dYrE7e1VmgY

 

 

What I have decided to do is practice a left hand cavalry draw with the Colt and the SP101 in their right hand holsters as those are my two go to guns. This way I will not be messing with my standard right hand draw and learn a whole new way to shoot and draw using my left hand....a hand that has had zero conditioning to pulling a gun and firing, and very little off hand work period. If I can get good with it I will use off side reverse carry for driving and sitting and not have to worry about cross training my right hand other than a two handed left grip. The speed loaders can stay on my right front.  Cross draw is out for me as I am not flexible enough to reach over quickly with the gun  at 9:oclock.  If I want to be bad ass I can carry both at the same time 

[Rampy]

Ahhhh, ok, now I’m totally tracking and understanding what you want to do & why....

 

Totally makes sense seeing it like this

[TomJefferson]

Actually, nope, never have.  Seems like it would be fun if you have time on your hands.

[towtruck]

I have spent all day packing my Colt on the left backwards. I put the speed loader in the normal right front location. I popped in 6 dummy rounds and  practiced drawing it throughout the day. I have the draw down pretty good but my right hand does not want to take the same support hand grip as my left will when shooting righty. My right hand wants to go for the trigger finger straight out as well. I may just let that be how it is as long as I can get a good grip. 

 

I loaded up real ammo and went to town and had no issues with the off side carry. It is taking getting used to having something on that side where nothing has ever been. It also makes it nice for getting my wallet out better and into my pocket for my keys. 

 

For now I need to keep practicing my draw and support hand grip.....I think I may actually get this to work well if I can get my support hands grabbing the right way from left to right sides. I may eventually put two guns on the belt and go back and forth between the two to cement the muscle memory for each side. 

[Rampy]

20 hours ago, towtruck said:

I have spent all day packing my Colt on the left backwards. I put the speed loader in the normal right front location. I popped in 6 dummy rounds and  practiced drawing it throughout the day. I have the draw down pretty good but my right hand does not want to take the same support hand grip as my left will when shooting righty. My right hand wants to go for the trigger finger straight out as well. I may just let that be how it is as long as I can get a good grip. 

 

I loaded up real ammo and went to town and had no issues with the off side carry. It is taking getting used to having something on that side where nothing has ever been. It also makes it nice for getting my wallet out better and into my pocket for my keys. 

 

For now I need to keep practicing my draw and support hand grip.....I think I may actually get this to work well if I can get my support hands grabbing the right way from left to right sides. I may eventually put two guns on the belt and go back and forth between the two to cement the muscle memory for each side. 

 

 

How does it do with more physical exertion, like shoveling snow out from under a truck, hooking up tow ropes/chains, all that silly stuff some of us idiots got stuck doing??

 

wonder how it would feel, jab ya, print

[towtruck]

1 hour ago, Rampy said:

 

 

How does it do with more physical exertion, like shoveling snow out from under a truck, hooking up tow ropes/chains, all that silly stuff some of us idiots got stuck doing??

 

wonder how it would feel, jab ya, print

I had no issues working with it backwards. You do hit the butt with your arm more. Driving and sitting is where it shines but I had no issues wearing it backwards. I actually wore my sp101 backwards and the colt on the right and it was glorious. No issues with either gun. 

[Rampy]

7 minutes ago, towtruck said:

I had no issues working with it backwards. You do hit the butt with your arm more. Driving and sitting is where it shines but I had no issues wearing it backwards. I actually wore my sp101 backwards and the colt on the right and it was glorious. No issues with either gun. 

 

Very cool