Hobbies And Interests
Accessibility
When carrying a weapon for close personal protection nothing is more important than accessibility. While these two types of holsters both keep your weapon concealed, they require effort to reach and draw from, especially if you're in close quarters. The location of the small of the back holster makes it particularly hard to reach quickly. Shoulder holsters can be equally difficult to reach when space is an issue.
Draw Time
If you are in close proximity with a hostile aggressor, it is important to have a smooth and quick draw. When drawing from a small of the back holster, you must reach completely behind your body, unsnap your holster, and bring it into a practical shooting position. A shoulder holster requires you to reach across your body and underneath your jacket (assuming that your weapon is concealed), unsnap your holster and draw the weapon. For most shooters, these locations take more time to reach.
Gun Security
The locations of shoulder holsters and small of the back holsters on your body can make your weapon easier to be taken from you, especially if you get into a struggle with your assailant. Your pistol can be easily taken from a small of the back holster, especially if your weapon gets exposed during a struggle. Since a shoulder holster is configured with the pistol grip facing your assailant, he can easily grab your weapon and, to make matters worse, will immediately have the barrel pointed at your chest.
Practical Alternatives
When choosing a holster for personal security, you want one that is quickly accessible, will allow you to draw your weapon with the minimum amount of motion, and will keep your weapon from being drawn by anyone other than you. Hip holsters that are worn on your belt are probably your best choice. These holsters are concealable and many feature retention systems that will only release the weapon if drawn in a specific manner and that can only be accomplished if wearing the holster.