Training: How to Get Your Ankle Gun into Action Quickly

Grip, ankle holster — When you’re down drawing from an ankle holster, be sure to keep the head up to see potential threats.

Rotate Toward Target, ankle holster — As soon as the gun clears the holster, rotate it toward the target. You can fire from here if necessary.

Aim Low, ankle holster — If you have time, bring the gun up to the shooting position. This can be performed while low or in the process of standing up.

There are all kinds of locations to carry a gun, from strong side to crossdraw and shoulder to ankle. And while I typically carry IWB on the strong side, I sometimes prefer to carry an ankle gun.

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Most of the time when I’m carrying on the ankle, it’s serving as my backup gun. However, there are times when I place a Smith & Wesson Model 637 into a Galco Ankle Glove as my primary. When this occurs, it’s usually because I need to go with deeper cover for a variety of reasons. And while there are many benefits to carrying on the ankle, a quick draw from a standing position isn’t one of them.

Benefits of an Ankle Gun

While it might not be easy to get a gun into action standing, ankle carry is great for sitting. In fact, an ankle gun provides excellent options for discreetly pulling it if needed. This can be especially useful in a vehicle, where other options might be blocked by a seatbelt.

It’s also a good method for carrying a backup gun, providing another option if the primary is unreachable. It’s particularly useful if one gets knocked down to his or her back.

I often carry backup on the ankle in certain situations, such as in large crowds. I like the idea of having a few extra rounds just in case, as well as having a piece I can hand to the wife if needed. However, every time I carry on the ankle, I unload and perform two or three draws to reacquaint myself with the motions required to get the gun into action.

How to Draw From the Ankle

There are basically six steps for going from standing to a completed ankle gun draw. And while some believe the best method is bringing the leg up, I prefer to keep both feet firmly on the ground in a fight. Additionally, it is best to place an ankle holster on the weak ankle for easier access by the strong hand.

Pull the pants leg up to expose the gun and holster.
At the same time, drop back on the strong leg to widen the stance.
Bend at the waist to reach the gun; be sure to keep the head up and focused on the target. Some folks prefer to drop to a knee.
Draw the gun, immediately rotating the muzzle toward the target. At this point, folks can fire if needed.
Bring the support hand up to complete the shooting grip. Fire from this position if needed.
Finally, rise to a standing shooting position and prepare to fight.

Carrying on the ankle can be an excellent method, but it requires commitment on part of the shooter. Those who are going to try this method, must conduct training regularly with an unloaded gun to ensure speed of draw.