Holsters/ mag carriers for IDPA

[Ukraine Train]

I'm looking to do my first ever IDPA match here pretty soon. I need to get a holster for my Arcus, though. I'd prefer to just buy one IWB that I can use for CCW and matches but I'm thinking maybe an OWB is preferrable during competition. Thoughts? Also, what do you guys use to carry spare mags? Where do you stow your partially full/empty mags after reloading during the course of fire?

 

[OF]

I'd prefer to just buy one IWB that I can use for CCW and matches but I'm thinking maybe an OWB is preferrable during competition

This kind of depends on what you want to get out of IDPA. If you're looking to win, then yes an OWB is going to be a must-have. If you're looking to get some 'stress-time' with your carry rig, than get a carry holster you like and compete with that.

Also, what do you guys use to carry spare mags?

Spare mag carriers. Seriously, single-mag belt pouches. I use Comp-Tac kydex pouches now. I wouldn't bother with leather mag pouches.

Where do you stow your partially full/empty mags after reloading during the course of fire?

IDPA rules specifiy that when you stow a mag (for a tacload or reload-with-retention) that it has to go in a pocket, and I believe you can't use a shirt pocket. I just stick it in my front-left pocket or rear-left pocket if i'm kneeling. If it's a slide-lock reload, you just drop the empty on the ground.

- Gabe

 

[Treylis]

Spare mag carriers. Seriously, single-mag belt pouches. I use Comp-Tac kydex pouches now. I wouldn't bother with leather mag pouches.

Why no leather magpouches?

 

[faustulus]

Why no leather magpouches?

Too slow. Kydex usually costs less and it grips your mag less.

You can use a IWB holster but it will be a tad slower. I would go Kydex though for several reasons, (easier on gun's finish, faster, less mainaince, and if it gets wet while shooting in the rain, it doesn't screw it up.)

I like Comp-tac and blade tech, although i have heard nothing but good things from kytac, cen-dex and Uncle Mikes.

Where do you stow your partially full/empty mags after reloading during the course of fire?

Might I suggest cargo pants. Fold those flaps into the pocket, and bam perfect place to stow mags. fast and it stays wide open during most courses.

 

[OF]

Why no leather magpouches?

While the draw from a kydex pouch is typically going to be better, the real reason I don't recommend leather is water. I've known more than one person get their leather pouches wet (shooting in the rain) and then go to pull the mag only to have it stuck fast. Louis Awerbuck (I'm pretty sure it was him) has a story about the same thing happening to his gun in it's leather holster after a day of hard work (sweat re-molded the holster and the gun wouldn't come out).

So, from where I sit I see several possible serious downsides to leather, and no real benefits over kydex.

- Gabe

 

[OF]

PS: "easier on the gun's finish" is not necessarily the case with kydex. My experience is that kydex is very hard on finishes. My parkerized Springfield looks like someone took some steel wool to it after only 9 months or so of working from kydex gear. But how harsh my carry gear is on the finish is not high on my list of concerns...

 

[Ktulu]

Ukraine Train, I don't know where in MI you're located but Linden Sportsman Club holds IDPA practices every Wednesday night at 6:00. If your close, check it out. As long as you've got a pistol, holster, and three mags your good to go. Even if you have to pull your mags out of your pocket it's trigger time.

http://www.lindensportsmenclub.com/

 

[OF]

Even if you have to pull your mags out of your pocket it's trigger time.

That's the truth! Don't hold back for lack of gear. Get on down there and shoot!

- Gabe

 

[Ukraine Train]

Thanks ktulu, I'll have to check them out. I go to school at Kettering in Flint so I'm not too far from Linden.

 

[nonquixote]

If I'm shooting my carry pistol in competition I can use my IWB holster and a Fobus paddle double mag carrier, but I also have a Safariland 560 "custom fit" paddle holster which can be adjusted to fit any auto that I have, allowing me to shoot my other pistols without having to buy a separate holster for each.

Nonq

 

[CZ52GUY]

As others have recommended, going cheap at first can make financial sense until you get the hang of things.

I found my Arcus 98DAC to be an "awkward fit" when it came to holsters and pouches. I finally found that a Blade-Tech injection molded holster designed for a full sized 1911 worked better than anything else I tried.

If using factory mag's or Mec-Gar's you may do alright with Kydex pouches. I found with the KRD mag's, I had to go leather because I couldn't find a Kydex pouch that fit well. I'm using a Hunter Leather pouch for double stack mag's. I'm not saying that suitable Kydex pouches don't exist for KRD mag's. I'm saying I haven't found one yet.

Good luck, and as others have encouraged, find a way to get out there...you can sort out your gear over time. My first match I used stuff I wouldn't take back ever again, but I'm glad I went out there anyway. At the same time, once you dO "get the bug", try not to skimp too much on your gear. After all, it is a competition and you want to give yourself every opportunity to succeed. At the matches, you'll find a wide variety of gear in use and most I encountered were more than happy to talk about there gear and offer good advice.

Safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[faustulus]

My experience is that kydex is very hard on finishes.

run a rag through it after a match. I use kydex on almost all my guns from blue to polycote. the only ones that have serious wear are the ones I have had in leather extensivly. Most kydex holsters don't fit the gun too tightly (mainly around the trigger guard) so unless you are getting dirt between the gun and the holster it shouldn't wear as bad.

 

[jason10mm]

I agree with CZ52, getting a fit for the Arcus (I have a 94) and the beefy KRD mags (seem to be slightly thicker than regular BHP mags) is tough. I would make do with a cheap nylon holster until you could afford a custom kydex or leather one, either some one local to you who can work leather or shape kydex, or send it to one of the big guys who can custom make the holster. Sucks, but that is probably the only way to get a good fit for that pistol.

 

[CZ52GUY]

http://www.blade-tech.com/frontend?command=ProductMatrix&iProductId=939

I'm using this one for the full size Colt Government (I had originally bought for my 1911). Because I have the compact Arcus, I have some empty space at the bottom of the holster but it draws clean and with some careful screwdriver work...I have the tension about where I want it. Depending on which Arcus you have, you might consider the Commander size. Currently on sale for $14.95 PLUS S&H.

I use this with my KRD's...Natchez sells for about $23 + S&H.

Double Magazine Pouch - Open Top
Suggested Retail $35.00

(5600)


Good luck!

CZ52'

 

[OF]

I have to disagree with my buddy CZ52GUY's mag pouch recommendation there. I wouldn't buy a mag pouch that had the mags held in different orientations...only the mag on the left is held properly.

Bullets should be forward. That pouch forces you to have a different reload technique for your second mag...which I don't think is going to be helpful.

- Gabe

PS: I still love ya, Neil, but that mag pouch is the pits.

PPS: Unless it's molded so that you put the mag in the right way, and it's only in backwards for the picture...I still like individual pouches, though. More options if there's a belt loop in the way.

 

[CZ52GUY]

Hey Gabe,

The pouch imposes no orientation of mag' on the operator (dumb picture I agree).

The Arcus is a bit of a different animal, especially if you use the KRD mag's...they're just different.

If Ukraine Train is using Mec-Gar's or Browning Factory or even the rather "suspect" mag's which come from Arcus, I couldn't agree with you more on the single pouch benefits. A good single pouch in Kydex should work very well with those mag's.

If he's using KRD's, he'll need something that works with them. Given the difficulty I had with that piece finding ANYTHING that would allow decent retrieval of a KRD during a rapid reload, I offer up something that at least works. I've used this same pouch with my CZ-75B without incident (another double stack).

I haven't tried the UM's Single in Kydex, but I tried the double Kydex for a practice session and it wasn't pretty. No amount of tension adjustment seemed to help.

I bought single pouch Kydex from Blade-Tech for the CZ-75B...I might try them with the KRD's sometime just for giggles...at about $30 a pop including S&H, it just feels a bit much for use with an Arcus.

Stay safe,

CZ52'

p.s. It's nice to be appreciated

 

[Ukraine Train]

Does anyone make mag pouches on a cant? It feels more comfortable retrieving them from a horizontal position, as opposed to vertical. I can see this posing retention problems, though.