Finally fed up with my IWB Crossbreed for CZ PO1 or PCR (compact).

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Ignition Override

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No matter how it is positioned at 8:30-9:00, the grip protrudes far too much. Wearing striped sports shirts makes little difference, and just bending a little bit allows the shirt to snag, with much more protrusion.

Soldiers don't walk on the top of a hill or mountain in the daytime or moonlit nights (except for SEALs once forced onto a bare mountain face).

Any successor with also be an IWB, and must have a similar leather 'shield' for both comfort in the car and reducing exposure to sweat.

Numerous guys claim in person or online that Alien Gear (IWB) keeps the grip closer to your body. Other additional ideas?
 
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I have a CZ PCR with thin aluminum grips and use a Vedder LightTuck with Claw attachment, and it works great for me carried at 3:00.

I know it's not a cross draw as you would like but it works great. The cant adjust ability coupled with the claw attachment really shoves the grip into my side so it disappears. I have no affiliation with them just promoting a good product that works great for me. I don't know how the Alien Gear is setup and whether you could implement a claw attachment to shove it into you body or not, if not maybe see if Vedder can make a crossdraw version of what I have. I purchased another kydex IWB holster (can't remember the name off the top of my head) but it didn't have enough cant adjustment and didn't have the claw attachment.

I really think the claw attachment is what pushes the grip into the side of the body. It is simply a piece of offset plastic that protrudes behind (or in front of the trigger guard on crossdraw) so that your belt hits that and it forces the grip of the firearm into the body.

https://www.vedderholsters.com/lighttuck/
 
As a Lefty, I never really thought that Cross Draw must mean reaching across for a Right-handed person.
This Kydex holster was my first Kydex type, after the Remora IWB used for the smaller Russian .380 Makarov.

Pardon me for being so ignorant (blush), that it's always a literal description .
 
Ignition Override said:
As a Lefty, I never really thought that Cross Draw must mean reaching across for a Right-handed person.
This Kydex holster was my first Kydex type, after the Remora IWB used for the smaller Russian .380 Makarov.

Pardon me for being so ignorant (blush), that it's always a literal description .
Click to expand...

One can also have Cross Draw for a left handed person as well. It's not as simple as having the pistol on the opposite side, the pistol is also facing the opposite way so the grip is facing forward. I can't tell if you are realizing this or not, I don't mean to patronize you, just was point that out.
 
Ignition Override said:
No matter how it is positioned at 8:30-9:00, the grip protrudes far too much.
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As Stubert says...
I carry a Colt Defender .45 in an Alien gear IWB at 4 - 4:30, It disappears with an untucked shirt.
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This type of holster really should be worn farther back. Lots of guys actually end up breaking their hybrid holster due to wearing them at 3:00/9:00 since the leather backer will wrap around your waist, but the kydex is rigid and won't. The kydex ends up breaking due to the stress. You need to find a flatter spot on your body, usually farther back, which will improve the concealability of the holster and help it last longer.

Numerous guys claim in person or online that Alien Gear (IWB) keeps the grip closer to your body.
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They are pretty much the same holster. I'd not expect one to conceal better than the other. One may have a feature you prefer, but they are pretty similar.
 
At post #29 in this thread, forum member tmoore912 shows some excellent pictures of his holster positioning which may be helpful. These really are great pictures and I often use them to demonstrate holster positioning and cant. Thanks tmoore912.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/1911-guys.567867/page-2

Note how he has found a wide flat part of of his body to place the holster, and how the grip of his 1911 is tucked up against his body. If he were to move his holsters forward, most likely the grip would be levered out away from the body and not conceal as well.
 
I would agree with others suggesting you try wearing it farther back. I have both Crossbreed and Alien gear holsters. If you are don't like Crossbreed I think you would like the Alien gear even less.
 
Not a fan of the hybrid holsters. A Milt Sparks VM2 or one of the many clones for the win when it comes to IWB.
 
I have a Crossbreed Supertuck and it has to be is by far the most concealable IWB out there. However it is so uncomfortable I quit wearing it. I have a Sparks Criterion and VM-2. A little harder to conceal but a whole lot more comfortable. Doesn't matter how concealable if it is so uncomfortable as to not be worn.
 
Blackpoint Tactical Mini Wing is a great IWB holster, still can't be worn right at the 9:00/3:00 position though. It needs to be positioned just behind the hip bone.
 
I have a lot of people who don't believe I carry a full sized Colt 1991A1 IWB without it being noticed.

Kinda fun to tell them "I'm carrying now" when they don't believe!

I carry at about 4 O'clock with a Milt Sparks Criterion IWB holster.

https://www.miltsparks.com/products-criterion.php

The 25 degree forward cant really helps in both concealability and ease of drawing. It really, really makes a difference.

Mine is the CR1, smooth side out black, with the neodymium magnet belt loop clips. Makes for easy donning and doffing without having to do more than loosen my belt.

The leather back keeps the slide portion of the gun off my skin. It also keeps the safety covered when the gun is holstered. I find it very comfortable to me, as well.

The two belt loops on the holster are widely spaced, and they keep that holster exactly where I put it. No shifting whatsoever unless I adjust it myself along the belt.

Not a picture of me and mine, but here's what it looks like when worn. Mine seems to have thicker leather loops than what's shown here, though:

Milt Sparks Criterion.jpg
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
I have a lot of people who don't believe I carry a full sized Colt 1991A1 IWB without it being noticed.

Kinda fun to tell them "I'm carrying now" when they don't believe!

I carry at about 4 O'clock with a Milt Sparks Criterion IWB holster.

https://www.miltsparks.com/products-criterion.php

The 25 degree forward cant really helps in both concealability and ease of drawing. It really, really makes a difference.

Mine is the CR1, smooth side out black, with the neodymium magnet belt loop clips. Makes for easy donning and doffing without having to do more than loosen my belt.

The leather back keeps the slide portion of the gun off my skin. It also keeps the safety covered when the gun is holstered. I find it very comfortable to me, as well.

The two belt loops on the holster are widely spaced, and they keep that holster exactly where I put it. No shifting whatsoever unless I adjust it myself along the belt.

Not a picture of me and mine, but here's what it looks like when worn. Mine seems to have thicker leather loops than what's shown here, though:

View attachment 801744
Click to expand...

Part of the beauty of the 1911 and MIlt Sparks (& MS knock-off) holsters is being able to CCW a service-sized auto with little effort. I own MS VM2 knock-offs for both my Govt and Cdr sized 1911s. One by HBE and one by Monica Kuehn. The former has functioned perfectly for 10+ years. The latter, the same plus it is a work of art that nobody but me & mine ever see. Heck, my 5' tall barely tween son can CCW my GM sized 1911 with a VM2 clone.

Interested in those magnet belt loop clips, but more of a 15deg/VM2 cant. I see that they can be added to the VM2 when purchasing for an extra $6. Maybe I can give my old HBE VM2 clone to my son and get a shiny new MS VM2 + magnet belt loop clips.
 
roo_ster said:
Part of the beauty of the 1911 and MIlt Sparks (& MS knock-off) holsters is being able to CCW a service-sized auto with little effort. I own MS VM2 knock-offs for both my Govt and Cdr sized 1911s. One by HBE and one by Monica Kuehn. The former has functioned perfectly for 10+ years. The latter, the same plus it is a work of art that nobody but me & mine ever see. Heck, my 5' tall barely tween son can CCW my GM sized 1911 with a VM2 clone.

Interested in those magnet belt loop clips, but more of a 15deg/VM2 cant. I see that they can be added to the VM2 when purchasing for an extra $6. Maybe I can give my old HBE VM2 clone to my son and get a shiny new MS VM2 + magnet belt loop clips.
Click to expand...

I was a bit dubious about the magnetic belt loop clips, but I've had my Criterion holster for 5 years now, with almost daily use the whole time. Not a single problem.

Some may prefer the traditional snap clips. I've no problem with this...that's what choices are all about.


I had another IWB (Galco N3 IWB), but my experience with it lead me to the following concerning IWB holsters:

1. Two belt loops are FAR better than one. Two belt loops positively anchor the holster in place unless YOU want it to move. No sliding on the belt and no shifting of the cant of the holster AT ALL. Changing the drawing angle is bad juju, more so if the gun and holster design may cause the gun to "hang up" in the holster while drawing. (If the cant on my Galco changed enough, then drawing my Colt caused the ejection port to "snag" on the leather at the mouth of the holster, preventing me from smoothly drawing my firearm.) A single belt loop benefit is a smaller holster...but I found this to be a serious problem with my Galco/gun combination.

2. A reinforced holster mouth is a must. It provides for far better consistency in retention, drawing, and reholstering.

3. Snap loops of some kind are EXCEEDINGLY convenient when it comes to donning and doffing my holster. I do not have to unbuckle and pull my belt through belt loops on my pants and holster. As a side note, the apparent trade off here is that snap loops make the loop portion of the holster where they're attached a bit "thicker". But I've never had a problem with this.


ONE FINAL NOTE:

It's been said that everybody who's carried for any significant amount of time has a drawer full of holsters. Not me. (Well, I've got one for sentimental value, but honestly it now belongs to my oldest daughter, so...)

Not that I haven't gone through my share of them...I just don't hang onto them if I've found a better replacement. All they do is take up space, since I'm not going to use them any more.

They make PERFECT gifts to someone else who may not have a holster. They also make a little pocket change for someone else who may not have a holster who would like to buy your old one.

Good holsters can rarely be called "cheap". So passing your old ones on to someone else who may find it a good fit for them is an excellent plant. And if they find a better one later? Pay it forward.
 
Sparks IWB holsters, VM-2 and Criterion, are very comfortable. I doubt that anyone that owns a Sparks is going to say something else more comfortable. The magnetic snaps sound like a gimmick but do work very well. There may be other brands more concealable but not by much. When it comes to all day comfort Kydex doesn't work for me.
 
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