Holster selection tips

[JTQ]

A member asked for some help with an IWB holster for his S&W Shield in another member's thread. To avoid fouling up the other member's thread, I've started this one.

A good place to start, from a holster education standpoint, is the High Noon FAQ page https://www.highnoonholsters.com/faqs

They have their own take on stuff, and you (or me) may not agree with everything, but it is a good source for holster information.

Horseshoe Leather is another with holster design information. http://www.holsters.org/holster-design.htm

The late Paul Gomez on choosing carry gear



Everybody looks for something different in a holster, so what I may value, you may not, and vice versa. One advantage hybrids have is they are generally pretty comfortable, but I think they compromise reholstering and drawing, since most have overly large sweat shields that make getting a full firing grip difficult, and and often security since only one side of the holster is molded to the gun's shape (Greg Ellifritz on holster design http://www.activeresponsetraining.net/features-to-avoid-when-buying-an-iwb-holster , the late Todd Green on similar https://pistol-training.com/archives/9692 ).

The other advantage hybrids have is their wide spaced clips are good for spreading out the weight of a gun. The Tucker "Answer" ( http://www.tuckergunleather.com/the-answer-iwb-holster/ ) is probably the original hybrid and was probably designed for a big gun like the 1911. Spreading out the weight of little gun like an S&W Shield is not much of a concern, and a hybrid seem like an awful large footprint for such a little gun.

For IWB, I'd recommend a Summer Special ( http://www.miltsparks.com/products-summer-special.php ) type holster, either in leather or kydex. Generally, they work better for the slim guys, are size efficient for a small gun, and are available from just about everybody that makes holsters. Here's an article from Heirloom Precision's Jason Burton on the 5-Shot Leather IBS (Inside Burton Special, Jason is the Burton in the holster's name), where he compares the Summer Special type with the Versa Max II type with the wide offset loops. Unfortunately, the excellent photo links became another PhotoShop victim and are not available. https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=265817

 

[JTQ]

If you're looking for a sweat shield, the Summer Special II has one. http://www.miltsparks.com/products-summer-special-2.php

Kramer's #2 or #3 http://www.kramerleather.com

Davis Leather 455 Security http://davisleathercompany.com/concealedcarry/

Ritchie RO or Stakeout http://www.ritchieholsters.com/catalog

Alessi PCH http://www.alessigunholsters.com/pch-1/

As mentioned above, 5 Shot Leather IBS http://www.5shotleather.com/ibs.htm

Tauris http://www.taurisholsters.com/itp.cfm

R Grizzle http://rgrizzleleather.com/iwb-holsters.html

Galco Royal Guard Gen 2 https://www.galcogunleather.com/royal-guard-inside-the-pant-holster-gen-2-_8_7_1254.html

IHL http://shop.ihlusa.com/product.sc;j...E2.p3plqscsfapp004?productId=113&categoryId=3

Horseshoe Leather http://www.holsters.org/iwb-holsters.htm

Those are some of the leather makers. There are also kydex versions.

 

[SteadyD]

And you think these might be better when worn at 3 o'clock than a hybrid? Thanks!

 

[JTQ]

And you think these might be better when worn at 3 o'clock than a hybrid? Thanks!

I can't guarantee comfort, since that is a personal matter, but hybrids aren't designed for 3:00 wear, especially for a thin guy. The leather will bend around your body, but the kydex won't, and usually the kydex at the attachment point will eventually fail.

Here's an example of a wide footprint kydex holster (RCS Gear Phantom - that mimics what the kydex portion of a hybrid will do) worn IWB vs a wraparound holster IWB at 3:00. This guy has a 30" waist and while the Phantom would work much better for him at 3:30 or 4:00, you can see how much better the wraparound works for him at 3:00 with the little G26.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?67458-Raven-Concealment

You've commented you prefer a canted holster. There are really two reasons for canting a holster. The primary one (for muzzle rear cant) is if the holster is worn aft of your hip, it allows you to more easily get a grip on the gun without severe contortions of your wrist. Second, it rotates a long grip or muzzle off the horizontal and vertical to aid concealment. With a little gun like the Shield, worn IWB, there really isn't a concealment advantage for canting the holster, and if worn at 3:00, a straight drop should give you an easier hand/wrist movement and draw stroke.

Everybody is different, and these are mostly the "book" answers. Also, different people value different features. I'm willing to give up some comfort for improved access and security. Others value comfort over all. If something different works for you, rock on. This is why most of us have a bunch of holsters as we search for the holster that works best for us.

 

[JTQ]

Aholster is the wraparound holster in the above link, but there are also lots of kydex versions.

Aholster http://www.lefthandholster.com

Blade-Tech Nano offers cant adjustability, that may allow you to experiment https://shop.blade-tech.com/?cPath=1_13_16&osCsid=dtru072d9k3meflqvs7ri4j1t5#.WjFDpSPMzR0

Dale Fricke https://dalefrickeholsters.com/product/nehemiah-strong-side-carry/

Custom Carry Concepts http://www.customcarryconcepts.com/The-Uno-version-2_p_47.html

Garrett Industries http://www.giholsters.com/category-s/361.htm

Talon Tactical https://www.talontactical.com/georg....html?OBNsid=6d5505c2dc7549859b6073c0d0eaf7e9

Comp-Tac http://www.comp-tac.com/inside-the-waistband/infidel-max-holster-10520

There are a lot of options.

 

[SteadyD]

Thank you kind sir. I'll poke through those links the next few days

 

[bnolsen]

Why leather? For my shield I bought a foxtrot concealment tuckable IWB and I'm more than satisfied with that holster. It's a vedder lighttuck clone which works well and tucks well when needed. Also its only 30usd:

http://www.foxtrotconcealment.com/apps/webstore/products/show/7303272

If you want maximum configurability in a kydex holster I'd suggest harry's holsters, this model and add in the raven wedge to complete it. I don't have the holster below but people seem to like it and it has all the adjustability one would need. There are also 10% coupon codes around:

https://www.harrysholsters.com/coll...ers/products/right-hand-belt-clip-holster-kit

Hate to be mean to JTQ (and just my opinion!!!!!) but the harry's will be superior to any/most of the kydex options he offered.

 

[SteadyD]

I'm guessing that at 3 o'clock on a bony hip leather will be more comfortable

 

[JTQ]

I'm guessing that at 3 o'clock on a bony hip leather will be more comfortable

I'm not specifically recommending leather, it's just that the Summer Special, which is leather, is the originator of the IWB style that is copied by nearly everybody. My earlier post was all leather options to keep it manageable, but my subsequent post listed some kydex options.

The late Paul Gomez, in the linked video, preferred leather holsters for security reasons, and kydex for mag pouches. I think he makes good points on the subject.

 

[JTQ]

https://www.harrysholsters.com/coll...ers/products/right-hand-belt-clip-holster-kit

Hate to be mean to JTQ (and just my opinion!!!!!) but the harry's will be superior to any/most of the kydex options he offered.

I don't consider it "mean". They may be better, I don't know, I've not heard of them before. Noting the maker is all of 23, it's not surprising. It's always good to have more options and that looks like it's worth a look.

 

[bnolsen]

The late Paul Gomez, in the linked video, preferred leather holsters for security reasons, and kydex for mag pouches. I think he makes good points on the subject.

Holsters certainly are devilishly personal. I've tried a few leather ones in the past and found all the negatives: sweat, bulkiness, deformation over time, to be big issues for me. So I'm on all kydex now with a undershirt for protection against both the holster and aggressive grip textures. I've changed the position that I carry over time too. Conceal carry holsters have dramatically improved over the last 15 years.

 

[Summer Bell]

Holsters certainly are devilishly personal. . . . I've changed the position that I carry over time too. Conceal carry holsters have dramatically improved over the last 15 years.

I totally agree with you! It takes time finding the right one for yourself and even more additional time to find the right position for conceal and carry holsters! I find that I'm often switching up the position of my holster every 2/3 months for no other reason than to accommodate my subconscious comfort lol.