Galco miami vs the jackass

[Armadeli]

I am getting a bunch of guys together to make a group buy on some XD45Cs. One concern I will soon be facing is how to carry. I have liked the miami concept for a long time. The jackass seems like it would conceal better and be faster on the draw. Does anybody have thoughts on the 2 compared?

[KnightHawk]

Galco does not offer a Jackass rig for the XD and probably won't ever get one into production. Currently, they are dropping many of their Jackass models due to lack of sales.

The Jackass rig goes back to the early 70's and hasn't changed since then. It still has a narrow harness and inverted/flapped mag carriers and its only unique quality is that it carries the gun in a muzzle-high position.

The Miami Classic is very similar to the Jackass except for the horizontal carry but the Miami Classic II is a definite step ahead.

The MCII is available for the XD but has a wider and improved harness and the mag carriers are horizontal and open-mouthed. The options are endless and you can choose from things like mag carriers that also carry a tactical light or even choose a mag carrier that will hold 4 magazines.

That would be my choice and I wouldn't consider the Jackass, even if they made one. Just my opinion and everyone has one of those.


Miami Classic II

[Armadeli]

I have noticed that the option was not available. A lot of people have said they like the JA with other pistols. It seems like it might conceal better than the miami, but that is my opinion . I'm really looking for a shoulder holster that I can wear at work, so the wider harness would be more comfortable. I am in a business environment and wear a button up shirt w/ slacks on most days. Have you had success with the miami in this attire?

[KnightHawk]

I'm down here in deep south Texas where normal "business attire" is not normal for most of us due to the heat and humidity.

I use a custom rig with an SSII wide-comfort harness attached to a vertical Explorer holster component and a UCII horizontal mag carrier with an additional position for a T6 tactical light. I have sometimes worn it fully loaded from Oh-dark Thirty to 9 or 10 in the evening in complete comfort. An open light shirt over a t-shirt or a very light vest is all that is needed to conceal.

I can vouch for the comfort and utility of the rig but concealability is up to you and is largely a matter of how you dress. You can wear a shoulder rig with a business suit but not if you have it cut quite trim. There has to be enough room for the gun.

[Doomd]

I keep hearing from shoulder holster users that the vertical mag carrier is the way to go. I am ignorant, and probably a bit tied up in my mother's apron strings in that I've got this over-active safety-first thing which isn't always reasonable. What I fear with the vertical carriers is lost or dropped mags should I have to run, sprint, jump, go over an obstacle quickly, or any other such foolishness. Mags are not cost prohibitive, but they cost. An extra mag or two can be a world of difference at one point in a life. And some conceal carry areas mean exactly that, and since they don't want us to have guns, taking them and the license is their ultimate pleasure.

Could one of you speak to that? Thanks.

[KnightHawk]

The flapped, inverted vertical mag carrier has been the defacto standard for a long time.

The mag carrier is usually carried over the strong side hip and is a long reach for the offside arm but you must exercise dexterity to open the flap and get the mag to fall into your hand and not onto the ground.

The horizontal mag carrier retains the mags with an adjustable friction setting and positions the "grab" end of the mags near the chest, closer to the weakside hand and closer to the mag well of the gun. They don't fall out accidently but they are noticeably easier to access.

[jtkratzer]

any reason why an IWB tuckable holster wouldn't serve your needs? shoulder holsters leave you vulnerable to someone pinning your strong arm against your body making it very difficult or impossible to draw.

[Doomd]

Just in my opinion now, there isn't a "perfect" holster. Using a paddle holster and taking your arm back to draw makes it easier for a BG to "arrest" that arm, taking it back and putting himself in control of the event. If the BG knows you are carrying, knows your reaching, knows what he is doing, and is that close, your in for a tussle no matter which holster you choose.

Given that, there are several reasons for my choice in a shoulder holster. It's great for when I am driving. It will conceal a larger pistol (my XD tactical in this case, and, at least in my case). I don't have to worry about a facilities issues, just drop, drop, and or go. And, not at the head or in the back of the list... the coolness factor. Hey, I'm only human.

Now, given that too, I will probably buy another holster or two, and probably another pistol or revolver or two, for various situations. I find no fault in keeping options open.

[snolden]

I tried a shoulder holster a while back. It was an Uncle Mike's rig for a beretta. did not conceal near as well as I would have liked.For the xd compact, I would highly recommend appendix position (~12:30 position), from a good IWB holster. Draw is much faster, much easier to conceal (I conceal a standard XD45 4" under a t shirt there), and you can access it with both hands or while driving.

If you must do a shoulder rig, you are gonna have to wear a jacket or really firm loose shirt.

[shipwreck]

I have owned many shouldre hosters over the years. While they don't look as "cool" generally, I find a vertical shoulder holster is easier to conceal - as U don't get that bulge sticking out of the back of your shirt.