Carry Options

"How do you carry your pistol?  OWB kydex?"

Nah.

"Milt Sparks, IWB?"

No.

"Pocket?"

Not any more.

"Ankle?!" 

No, I Clog-Carry in my TactiCrocs.  The pockets of my Cargo Shorts were all spoken for for other gear.

!BLACKHAWK!

Saw this.  Did Serpa change it's holster retention mechanism from that horrible finger button?

Why yes they did!  I did not know that.

They still have the button kind (bottom) that folks grew to hate and now they have something different.  And you can tell by the price that something else is going on there because of the price difference. 

I'd go to the holster store to check this out, see how it works, but there are some problems.  Gun stores in Maryland aren't TOO het up about selling holsters.  So I have to go further afield.  And Rona is infecting the public places so availablity of retail establishments is hit or miss.  A Fun Show would be an option, but, Rona again.

So...  what do?

Help me Obi Wan Internet, you are my only hope.

Huh, that worked. Interesting. It is different with the button placement, with a non-trigger finger press.

Easy/Hard

It's easy to find the perfect pistol.

You know what's hard?  Finding the perfect holster.  And if you DO find a perfect holster?  You'll never find a perfect pistol to put in it.

Wait.

I may be getting a little screwy.

"What is the perfect holster, T-bolt?  You seem super knowledgeable, with nigh-perfect judgement, good taste, and are very trustworthy."

Yer shining me!  I don't know doodily.

"C'mon."

No, seriously.  I haven't laid my eyes on even a fraction of the decent holsters out there, much less all the chaff.  I'm practically groping in the dark.

"Well, where do you lean?  Personally.  You and imperfect ignorant trying to make your way as best you can and have chosen something to use.  What solution are you using now?  A flawed as it might be."

Now you are asking the right questions.

I can tell you what I like and why.

I like to have a holster for every pistol.  That way I gain a measure of safety handling an uncased pistol, because all guns are always loaded.  Since that is the case, a thing that protect the trigger area so I can't get my finger or thumb in there inadvertently is something I like.  I semi-stiffened $12 Uncle Mikes nylong POS holster was what I used on the S&W 686 revolver.  I'd never strap that to my belt, (it's a crappy holster for all other purposes) but it was fine for securing that pistol, loaded, in my gun cabinet. 

For my J-Frames, I use a pocket holster.  Uncle Mikes may be find for this, but mine was getting soft over time.  I don't want a supple holster, personally.  It could lead to exposing what is inside that trigger guard.  DeSantis pocket holsters are what I prefer.

For a belt holster, it depends on what I am using if for.  Competition style draws from the holster?  Walking around open carrying in public?  The first I want little to no retention protection, the latter I want a LOT.  But a Safariland Kydex types in both cases.  Decent quality, and duty grade.  I like the convenience of a paddle, but I am getting away from those and preferring to use the loops.  I don't have much call for a belt holster.  I wish I did.  Training and competition and whatnot.  Not ever again for 'duty', at this point. 

I have a couple of kydex IWB holsters, but my preference is my Milt Sparks VM2 is my favorite.  It looks good (tho few people can admire a IWB holster, really, besides the owner) but it is also well made, and has wide apart belt loops I like.

Is this the be-all end-all recommendation for holsters?  We already established it isn't.  It's just the way I went.

I see others talking about "This is a GREAT holster, the bees knees!" and I go to their website and find out there is no left hand option a lotta times.  So I am kinda limited. 

Standard Monday

I shoulda saved my canteen post for today.

I obviously compose Monday posts on Sunday.  Or before if I have a lotta post ideas in my tank.  But Sunday's are lazy, I guess.  So I come up empty.

Tam, on Facebook, posted a nice picture of Melody Lauer doing some range instructing.  Part of that picture showed a double holster at the 6 o'clock position on the gentleman (in a red t-shirt) she was training.  Sorta like this:

You know, for dual wielding.

I don't know if I need one or want one, but I kinda like that this exists.  With this rig, a holster at 3 and 9, maybe opposing Appendix carry, both pockets, something small on both ankles, and double shoulder holsters you could be carrying...

Carry the two...

ALL the pistols.  All of them.

Boy, howdy, but don't fall in water that is over your head.

There are good holsters

And then there are bad holsters...

Sasquatch

So, Bigfoot has ads.  They sell a $75 belt that is reinforced.  I don't have to tell you that if you have a holster you want to hang it off a decent belt.  Bigfoot is trying to sell you a decent belt. 

Except here is the ad.

Well, yes a flimsy standard belt is no bueno.  Hey, wait a minute.  Is that a nickel Beretta in a $12 nylon holster? 

I guess he blew his upgrade money on the belt and will have to wait til his Milt Sparks VM2 gets made and shipped (and charged) to him.  Hope he got the shark trim.  I really like the shark trim.  But that should spread the payments out. 

But yeah, if you are going to advertise your high end product, maybe don't use low end accessories with it.  That's like getting an ugly misshapen creature like me to be your butt model.   Not good for bidness.

Look!

Really expensive CCW friendly khakis.


Well, they aren't utilikilt expensive.  Have you seen those? $200 buck for that?!  A simple manskirt costs more than fancy denim pants I could wear to a Texas wedding?  Phew.  I'm not usually afraid of paying for quaility, but this kilt thing...  (also, RIP American Woolrich)

Anyway, the internet thinks I need to see lots of ads for them Stryker britches with a nice pocket designed for better pocket carry.

I do like the retention features.  You could take a tumble down a hillside into a creek and get up and keep running and your j-frame would still be where you left it.  And on the thigh, there is easier access when sitting in your vehicle.  These features make it a bit slower, but life is tradeoffs.

I have carried in the 'grenade pocket' of the military style BDU pants.  I don't like that position.  I'd have to get used to weight over there.  My sciatica is also RIGHT there, so that's also annoying.  I imagine this Stryker thing would feel similar.

Most of my long pant have deep enough pockets that pocket carry in a regular pants pocket works fine.

But that short pants version has a bit more appeal.

So this advertisement isn't totally effective.  It didn't make me slap the plastic down and order it to be shipped to me.  It got me to look at it.  There is a long lead time to get one shipped.  If I really liked it, I'd get more and there are volume discounts to get your short pants price down from MSRP of $90.  By the time I got the shorts delivered it would be fall. Almost winter.  The long delay probably means they order an Asian factory to make a run, and I have less and less lucky with consistent sizing from Asian mills.  (I assume Asia, too, because if they were made in America they'd crow about it.)  So, not quite there.  But it got me to talk about here.  The pants do look well though out.

I wouldn't use it for anything but a pocket carry sized gun, personally.  I want service size pistols in a holster on a belt.  But a decent holster costs as much as this pant.  And a belt to hang it on costs as much as this pant.  So why am I complaining about pant prices?

Since I started this blog

The word back then was kydex holsters are shite, get a good leather holster.

Now it's eschew most leather holsters and get a good kydex holster.

Took 10 years.

But back then the kydex holsters were fragile and the best one on the market was the Serpa.  You get made fun of if you have an old school Serpa one now, for all their inherent flaws.

But yeah, there are a lotta crappy holsters out there.  Easy to spot early on in a gunnie journey.  The harder part is figuring out which middle-tier-and-price holsters are good and which ones are unnacceptable.  That's harder.   Like, I'd like to know which holster is doing this on the regular.  I bet it isn't low end, but middle.

Now Tam isn't really kicking me out of the cool kid's club for having a leather holster.  It's a Milt Sparks, those are on the high end side, and she likes em her own self.  It's not a floppy Turkish import making the rounds a year ago.  And it's not the only holster I own.  Yes, I have kydex too.  Hard to find really good positive, mutli-layer, retention features in leather holsters, after all.  And the good one cost about as much and the good leather ones.  What Tam in trying to get across, methinks, and I agree, is don't cheap out on holsters.  Decent holster selection is as important as decent weapon selection.  Hope I am not putting too many words in her mouth.

Oh, I was enamored with paddle holsters way back in the day.  I am less so now.  But not a full convert to strictly belt loop holsters.  I think the belt loops hold up better in a tussle for control, if it comes to that, and paddles aren't really that much more convenient and heck may be damaging to your pantaloons. 

---
Fobus!  The name finally came to me.

So you been training a lot

"But you haven't talked about holster work, T-Bolt.  Done any of that?"

Sure!

"I bet you are real good at it then, with all the practice you been getting with an instructor critiquing."

Oh, no!  No no no. 

First, it's not enough holster work.  And it's not enough dry fire draws at home.  It's some.  It needs to be more. 

But it is timed.  So that is something objective I can share.

"Oh goody!  1.4?  1.6?"

No, again!  I am pleased as punch when it is 2.0.  I think I got 1.9 or 8 once or twice?  Consistent two and a quarter is a good day where I am not screwing up.  So, pretty wretched.  I need to hope for guile in a gunfight, because I am no San Saba Songbird in the speed department.  My tactics will have to get downright Archimedean. 

And this is with a Glock, with a non-retention style holster, on the belt, at 9 o'clock, with no cover garment to worry about.  If I was getting 1.5 I might think I am hot stuff, but in those circumstances?  Get better, bruh. 

I am working on a hitch in my giddyup.  Bad transition from the count where you are out of the holster and you've transitioned to a forearm parallel to the deck at right angle to your upper arm, elbow touching the body.  From there, that point, to push out is the hitch.  A pause. 

The other problem is meeting my support hand to my shooting hand.  But I gotta a good tip from this podcast Tam recommended.  I am meeting too soon instead of in front of the sternum.  Like a handclap.  Where your two hands meet, naturally, when you are clapping.  Also maybe because of that hitch.  Don't want my other hand to sweep that muzzle.  With the hand clap that point in my push-out, my muzzle is much further forward. 

Buster Scruggs

In The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the first outlaw Buster has a significant interaction with has this holster, and I can't quite make out the name.

You can see this clip your ownself here, and I enjoyed the whole movie.

But anyone know who that is?

Heavy Ads

Been seeing a LOT of adds for Vedder holsters recently.  LOTS. 

Dunno why.


More than usual after I have shopped for holster online and the internet ad disease senses my interest and blitzes me on every platform.  Shot of a shirt on Duluth's Trading Company's website directly and now Facebook AND google and serving up Ballroom Underwear ads. 

But all three of those are biggish companies.


Why is Vedder, a company I had never heard of 3 months ago going for a big ad buy?  Or, not big, but somehow targeting me and a few other very specifically?

They look sorta middling, quality wise.  Based in Florida.  I dunno if I'd get one, but they look to be a bit better than Fobus, Blackhawk!, and Uncle Mike's.  Maybe?  The OWB holster look to be a little lacking.

If a new shooter got one I'd be pleased.  I recommend to all new shooter to order a decent holster in the one-week waiting period.  They haven't convinced me to use their company by name, yet.

You all been seeing these, like, everywhere?

Holster

I am sorta stuck with this custom gun.  I have few holster options.  It's like an STI 2011, but there are subtle differences.  For instance the slide near the muzzle isn't radiused the same.  That alone keeps me from being able to buy a 2011 holster off the shelf.  I got mine custom made.  $65.  Not bad.  We'll see how they do.  The gun doesn't fall out when you hold the holster upside down and shake it.  Good start.  Rekkr Custom Kydex

I could prolly use a competition holster, off the shelf, because it only 'grabs' on the open muzzle and trigger guard.  Like this.

But that's not practical for day to day.

Tam posted some holster makers.

Raven, Keepers Concealment, Custom Carry Concepts, Dark Star Gear, JMCK, PHLster

None of them carry 2011 holsters that I can find.  Wait JM Custom has one.  But believe all of them will make a custom holster for you and your custome gun.  If they are taking appointments.  The trick of that is you have to go there with your gun.  If you have a Glock and can find a dealer nearby you might get one of their holster right now for your ownself.

"So why did you take the trouble to get all those links preserved, T-Bolt, Mr. Fancy-Pants Custom Gun snob?"

Because I might get a Glock or M&P or summat someday and I want a list of reputable makers.  And is Maryland goes CCW I'd prolly not carry that 2011 much anyway, and many of those makers DO have 1911 version I could avail myself of.  (I already have a nice Milt Sparks 1911 holster though)

BLACKHAWK!

BLACKHAWK?

Best holster on Optics Planet.

Hmmm.  That could be better.  It could be worse, too, I guess.

Wait, is it worse to have a floppy nylon holster, or one with occasional issues with the trigger finger wabbling into the trigger guard on a draw when you push that little release button?  Especially under stress.

I've heard of the locking mechanism getting some grit in there on a BLACKHAWK! and just not letting go.  Which can be a very bad thing, too.

Those are bad things, but there is good things about a BLACKHAWK! holster.  The kydex is pretty strong on these.   There are other brands that can fall apart on you.

A Blackhawk! holster is certainly better than NO holster.  Shove my glock into the waistband of my sweatpants then go hit the clubs?  No thankee.

I still am not happy with the holster options for my new custom 9mm.  But that's what you get when you step off the path.  Glock?  M&P?  J-Frame?  Standard 1911 flavors?  Got PLENTY of holsters to choose from. 

Had a Dream

A dream of blog fodder.  Woke up thinking "that'd make a great post!"


It's a truism.


The most dangerous time you will have with your pistol, assuming you aren't a clod, is the going in and out of your holster.


Solution.  Ban holsters!


Ok, that's not right.  This dream post is only half right.  Yes, you are probably most likely to have an unwanted loud event with holster work compared to any other operation, but getting rid of holsters is a non-starter for all the other great thing a holster brings to the safety table.

Monday Blahs

Standard Bupkis.

Coming offa Gun Skool weekend, too.  You'd think I'd have something to yammer about.

A guy in class had one of these Veil Holsters for his Glock.  They are a pretty minimal holster with only one belt loop on the model he had.  He found it didn't shift around much that way.  And the holster was very comfortable.  An important consideration as 99.9+% of the time comfort is critical factor.  Don't you think?

Got a New Belt.

The thick kind.  Double thickness.  Good for a holster type belt.  Stiff. 

My old belt was de-laminating and had seen better days.  If I could carry more then I'd have had to replace it a lot sooner.

I like these belts when knew.  They are hard to get the buckle buckled and they creak like a wooden schooner.  It makes it feel even more substantial.  It gives you confidence.

N00b Shoulder Holster review

"T-Bolt, how can YOU review a CCW holster? You live in the Gun Crow state of Maryland, and if the local constabulary catches you, they'll lock you up and throw away the key."

How?  About the house, I'm working from home this week.  It's not perfect, but it's sumthin.

I wanted to see how the old style shoulder holster felt for me, doing office type stuff.  Sitting, going to the powder room, making lunch, that sort of thing.

First you do muzzle that off side arm when you draw.  For some reason I thought it would not.  You'd have to contort your "other stronghand" when getting the gun to keep from not pointing the dangerous part at main cables.  I'd rather have a stripe on my ass than a hole in that area.  So, a down side

It's not as easy to draw as hip holster of various flavors.  It's like the holster needs lube.  Or baseball mitt treatment.  Or just lot of holstering-deholstering.   You gotta pull up and out to free it.  When it cooperates it is gentle and easy, but if you rush it, it's gonna jam in there. 

It leans toward the right.  Even with 2 mags to counter balance.  If it was the no mag type of holster? sheesh I'd list to starboard with a 1911.  Some to get used to, or use the tie down on that side

The advantages of this holster:

• it don't pull pants down
• convenient spare mag toting
• easy on and off, if not that stealthy
• more comfy in a car

n00b holsters

Talk of holsters and myearlier n00bs post.

I encourage them to buy a safe to secure a first firearm in before buying a gun. But I also need to encourage them to buy a holster soon after getting the gun. Even if they NEVER intend to ever carry it outside the house or range. For just in case, so they don't have to shove it in their front pants under their belt and then end up serving as an example to others when they ND. (Don't forget trigger guard cover is the most important part of a n00b holster...)

I was trying to come up with a list of holster makers that meet minimum functional requirements at the lowest cost. When they get more enthused about toting they can do their own research to get the high quality fancy expensive stuff with exotic leathers and whatnot.

But I don't know a list, off the top of my head. Oh, I know some yes. Comp-tac, Galco, Safariland, Bianchi... I steer them away from Fobus and Uncle Mikes unless it is just a pocket holster for a j fram. And Serpa because I don't like that button's reliability.

Lists of holster manufactures are out there, but which meet the criteria?

Sciatica Carry

Anyone got sciatica and like to carry IWB? Does the position of the holster aggravate the nerve issues back there?  Have you addressed the issue in any way if it does?

Noobs and CCW.

Did a light anthropological study...

A mess of co-workers are relatively gun friendly, but not gunnies.  They are also Marylanders.  Of this group most own one pistol.  And no holster unless a cheap one came with gun in that little plastic case. (Keep the holster stuff and upgrade the 2 mags to Chip McCormick or something Springfield.)

My question posed to them:  "Let's say Maryland went all carry, and the next day you had an urgent need to carry and could then do it legally, and a plethora of holsters were presented to you, at no cost to you.  Select the style, on instinct, you grab to use that first day."

These are people that haven't put a single thought into it until right then.  I then listed a buncha types and what they did.

1. pocket
2. ankle
3. SOB 6 o'clock
4. IWB 4 or 7 oclock
5. OWB 3 or 9 o'clock 
6. shoulder, Sam Spade styel
7. shoulder, Miami style
8. appendix
9. WWII 82nd Airborne chest style
10. drop leg with a trench coat

One chose SOB, like Axel Foley.  Everyone else went for a shoulder holster or 82nd.  None Miami, tho.  That just, to them, seemed like a bad idea.

I did ask them in winter, when they were already wearing jackets much of the time.  If I asked them in August and they might have gravitated elsewhere.

Me, I actually carry where I can.  And it's usually pocket carry.  ~sigh~.  I don't own an ankle holster and am not itching to get one.  I fall on my ass once every other year so SOB is sorta out.  I'd prefer OWB, but it's hard to cover.  I have IWB holsters but they could be more comfy.  I like shoulder holsters and a 44 magnum just disappears under a jacket for me.  I wouldn't appendix carry on a bet and don't do any repelling so drop leg is sorta out.