I'm getting ready to have the rotator cuff on my dominant arm repaired, which means my right arm will be immobilized in a sling and a waist strap for about six weeks, with full rehab taking 6-12 months.
I've been reviewing my options for a CCW firearm while my right arm is out of commission. One friend, a trainer I respect greatly, suggested a full sized autoloader, like the G19 I usually carry AIWB, but on my left. He raised the point that reloading one handed will be a bitch, and that this would be unlikely to be needed with 15+1. I purchased a left handed IWB holster, and ran into an interesting problem. Even without a holster hanging off my belt, it's hard to pull up, fasten, and belt my pants one handed (with a holstered gun hanging from the belt, it's practically impossible). However, once I get my pants up, I then need to shove gun-in-holster down my pants and engage the belt clip, all with the non-dominant hand, which is pretty difficult, as well. The (slightly easier) alternative is to position the empty holster on my belt, and then re-holster the gun -- something I do VERY CAREFULLY with my right hand under ordinary circumstances, and something I'd be even more cautious about doing with my left hand.
The other option that I see is pocket carry, either a snubbie revolver or a DAO autoloader. While the DAO autoloader may be a little easier to pocket carry, I've decided against it for several reasons. First, small pocket-able DAO autoloaders are generally chambered for .22, .32acp, or .380, not really as good as the rounds that snubbies are typically chambered for. Second, many of the little pocket autoloaders have magazine capacities not all that much greater than snubbies. Third, if I have to fire the gun, I'll be firing left handed, and will be more likely to limp-wrist, which could cause a malfunction with an autoloader, but not with a revolver. Finally, those recoil springs on blowback autoloaders are stiff, so the one-handed malfunction clearances that I can do left handed with my Glock are nearly impossible. So, if I go with pocket carry, I'd plan to carry a snub.
Everything is a compromise -- the G19 is what I'm used to carrying, but it makes dressing and using the toilet truly a bear, and I'm a little more likely to have a limp-wrist malfunction shooting left handed. The snubbie is easier to carry and won't malfunction, but only carries 5 (or 6) rounds. The question would be, then, what is more likely -- my limp-wristing my Glock, or my getting into a jam that can't be solved with 5 rounds.
I'd be curious if any others have had to consider this problem, and what others might suggest.
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