Musings on Holsters for CCW

[Kleanbore]

There really aren't many places you can wear a firearm that don't present a hazard in some falls.

True indeed.

That's why i do not carry in icy weather--at al

SOB holsters are, IMHO, just asking for a spinal injury.

Amen!

IWB or OWB, regardless of holster style, are still putting a big solid chunk of steel/polymer on your body and holding it tightly to you.

In the event of a fall on the gun, yes, but IWB and OWB handle the forces of impact on the grip in various axes differently.

I strongly believe that IWB carry of a slim firearm would have greatly ameliorated the effects of my fall.

But to be perfectly frank, the comfort factor is shat is most important to me. Load paths, again.

Good post, Larry.

 

[Anchorite]

There really aren't many places you can wear a firearm that don't present a hazard in some falls. SOB holsters are, IMHO, just asking for a spinal injury. IWB or OWB, regardless of holster style, are still putting a big solid chunk of steel/polymer on your body and holding it tightly to you.

Shoulder holsters are probably safer if your arm is down, but if your arm goes up (and if you're falling, that's certainly in the cards) that gun and mags are right along your upper ribs and shoulder joint. Ankle carry is probably safer, but anyone who's banged their firearm against some solid furniture and felt the impact in their ankle will tell you it's not risk-free.

Off-body carry has, again, IMHO, too many drawbacks to outweigh the benefits of being able to drop/discard it if you fall. In fact, the only time I use it is on a motorcycle, since the speeds and potential impacts for a body-worn holster significantly changes that equation; I've had a large brass BUTTON on jeans (I don't ride in jeans anymore, BTW) leave a huge bruise in a low-side; I can only imagine what a pistol would have done.

Larry

I actually know a cop that carried for years SOB, thinking he was a bad-a**, then he fell and partial paralysis was the result.

 

[Tilos]

There really aren't many places you can wear a firearm that don't present a hazard in some falls. SOB holsters are, IMHO, just asking for a spinal injury. IWB or OWB, regardless of holster style, are still putting a big solid chunk of steel/polymer on your body and holding it tightly to you.

Off-body carry has, again, IMHO, too many drawbacks to outweigh the benefits of being able to drop/discard it if you fall. In fact, the only time I use it is on a motorcycle, since the speeds and potential impacts for a body-worn holster significantly changes that equation; I've had a large brass BUTTON on jeans (I don't ride in jeans anymore, BTW) leave a huge bruise in a low-side; I can only imagine what a pistol would have done.

Larry

I consider having a gun while riding my motorcycle as transporting, not carrying.
Being right-handed, that hand is married to the throttle and is not able to draw and fire a gun.
Old time police motorcycles had left hand throttles, allowing police to draw/fire their side-arm.
Me, I transport my gun in my tank bag in case things go sideways but the throttle is always my 1st means to escape.


jmo,
.

 

[GBExpat]

I have always gravitated toward OWB and high on the waist pancake style. Just seems the most intuitive. And I’ve tried lots of other positions over the years.

^^^ This ^^^
For me it started with a black leather Roy Baker pancake holster for my PPK/s in 1975. I still have the holster, btw. Extremely comfortable under my suit-/sport-coat and the weight of the pistol would "disappear" shortly after adding it to the belt.

 

[jar]

^^^ This ^^^
For me it started with a black leather Roy Baker pancake holster for my PPK/s in 1975. I still have the holster, btw. Extremely comfortable under my suit-/sport-coat and the weight of the pistol would "disappear" shortly after adding it to the belt.

I still find the old Roy's and Strong and Bucheimer holsters work as well as the modern custom holsters. And a few even till look as good.

 

[Tilos]

Here is another hybred holster I added belt clips to, and wear it between my belt and jeans.
I bought the clips and Chicago screws online and made the slot fillers out of some sheet plastic.
A started with this:
View attachment 1197289
And ended up with this.
Note the zip tied clips:
View attachment 1197310
Adding the clips allows me to adjust the cant and holster height whereas the slots in the leather did not.
From the back showing the plastic fillers/Chicago screws in the leather slots, sorry for the pic quality:
View attachment 1197308
Holster on my body wearing cargo shorts:
View attachment 1197316

jmo.
.

OK, here's a few more of my mod'ed holsters for between the jeans and belt carry.
I tend to carry mostly DAO type guns and most holster makers don't have those blue guns or holsters to fit them.
I bring my guns to gun shows where a local maker will find the closest fit in his inventory and customize it with his heat gun to an exact fit.
This guy+ wife, Craig/Terri Hamilton
they do mail-order...
website:

American Made Holsters | TCH Tactical Gear

American made 2-in-1 Kydex holsters from TCH Tactical Gear present flexibility, comfort and peace of mind. (Formerly Crossfire Tactical Gear)

tchtacticalgear.com

The holsters in my previous posts were bought off ebay.
THESE TWO are from TCH:

Again, zip ties on the open end of the clips.
Note that one rear clip is upside down to get the cant.

Note all the open riveted holes for adjustment of cant, ride height, etc
Putting a shim/spacer under the rear clip will push the gun butt closer to your body.

One feature I like is the muzzle doesn't hang-out the bottom and is partially covered.
Nothing/like the arm of a chair or center council can push the gun up-out of the holster.

jmo,
.

 

[Gork10]

Here's one from my favorite holster maker. Freedom holsters. Local to me. If I have something unusual that needs a holster I just take it up to there shop and talk to the maker. Most times I get it back inside of a week. hides well under a light weight shirt.

 

[jeepnik]

I prefer OWB Cross draw. I tend toward a Yaqui slide. Under my preferred Hawaiian shirt it's pretty much invisible.

 

[Anchorite]

I prefer OWB Cross draw. I tend toward a Yaqui slide. Under my preferred Hawaiian shirt it's pretty much invisible.

Love a Yaqui. My only complaint is that if I’m not careful as I sit down, the pistol can pop up out of the slide if I bump the chair.

 

[The Night Rider]

When I first got my CHP I carried IWB. I believe that IWB contributed to my Sciatica. I'm not a doctor but it's my opinion that IWB focuses all the pressure on one point and this exacerbates Sciatica. So I carry OWB.

I'm not an expert on holsters so I asked some people who I thought were and quite a few of them recommend Kramer Leather. So that's what I use.

It seems that every time I slip on the ice and fall I land on my gun. Rather than forgo carrying my gun I invested in a pair of cleats

Which I find useful gun or not.

I used to hate Glocks..... until I bought one. Similarly I used to hate Kydex until my last security assessment when my employer required that I provide my own "retention" holster

When I took that assignment I knew I was going to retire within 6 months (turned out to be 3) and I wasn't willing to buy an actual duty type retention holster.

Safariland 578 GLS™ Pro Fit™ Concealment Holster

The Safariland Model 578 GLS™ Pro-Fit brings the unique GLS™ (Grip Lock System) and SafariSeven™ together in a holster designed to fit a wide variety of guns...

youtu.be

That said the Safariland GLS 578 is a good holster for what it is. I most frequently use it when I'm going somewhere I know I'm going to have to lock my gun in my car.

It's surprisingly concealable and it does give at least some level of retention but there's no way I'd use it in a position where I thought I needed a retention holster

 

[DT Guy]

View attachment 1197971
When I first got my CHP I carried IWB. I believe that IWB contributed to my Sciatica. I'm not a doctor but it's my opinion that IWB focuses all the pressure on one point and this exacerbates Sciatica. So I carry OWB.

I'm not an expert on holsters so I asked some people who I thought were and quite a few of them recommend Kramer Leather. So that's what I use.

It seems that every time I slip on the ice and fall I land on my gun. Rather than forgo carrying my gun I invested in a pair of cleats
View attachment 1197972
Which I find useful gun or not.

I used to hate Glocks..... until I bought one. Similarly I used to hate Kydex until my last security assessment when my employer required that I provide my own "retention" holster
View attachment 1197975
When I took that assigly nment I knew I was going to retire within 6 months (turned out to be 3) and I wasn't willing to buy an actual duty type retention holster.

Safariland 578 GLS™ Pro Fit™ Concealment Holster

The Safariland Model 578 GLS™ Pro-Fit brings the unique GLS™ (Grip Lock System) and SafariSeven™ together in a holster designed to fit a wide variety of guns...

youtu.be

That said the Safariland GLS 578 is a good holster for what it is. I most frequently use it when I'm going somewhere I know I'm going to have to lock my gun in my car.

It's surprisingly concealable and it does give at least some level of retention but there's no way I'd use it in a position where I thought I needed a retention holster

I'll admit, after three back surgeries (and the attendant sciatic pain) I've about given up on IWB and even OWB carry. I just don't think it good for MY back (not saying this applies to anyone else) to hang that much weight off my belt.

Lately I've switched over to shoulder holsters, and found they don't aggravate my back issues. You do need to find a good one and spend some time adjusting it, though, or it'll be torture.

Larry

 

[WisBorn]

@Kleanbore mentioned carrying a 642 in a holster pocket carry when he started. This is my preferred method of carry (442 most of the time).
I have never had a problem with this type of carry.
I also carry my Kimber R7 9mm in my pocket, when I want more capacity.

 

[drobs]

I also prefer OWB most of the year and pocket carry in the hot summer / Florida with shorts.

Lately, I've been using a Taqua leather OWB holster worn in front of my hip side belt loop. Call it 2 o'clock for RH or 10 o'clock for Left Handers. My gut hides the gun nicely. My favorite High Noon Kydex OWB holster developed a crack in it that is causing it to making popping noises. High Noon Holsters is working on a replacement for me.

@The Night Rider made a good point previously - leather holsters have a quieter draw than kydex holsters. I have to agree but still like both.
However, now my leather holster is squeaking on my leather gun belt and I still haven't found a comfortable re-enforced cloth or nylon gun belt.

 

[Kleanbore]

@Kleanbore mentioned carrying a 642 in a holster pocket carry when he started

Yes. Pants pocket.

I did so because it fit, not because I had any idea about what I was doing.

A little thought, one scary event involving a robbery that almost required going to the gun, and one defensive training class ended that practice.

There were two main reasons:

• I could not draw while seated.
• i could not draw quickly while walking or "moving off the x".

 

[WisBorn]

Yes. Pants pocket.

I did so because it fit, not because I had any idea about what I was doing.

A little thought, one scary event involving a robbery that almost required going to the gun, and one defensive training class ended that practice.

There were two main reasons:

• I could not draw while seated.
• i could not draw quickly while walking or "moving off the x"

All types of carry have advantages and disadvantages.

 

[Kleanbore]

All types of carry have advantages and disadvantages.

Sure, but some are better than others.

My ranking, from worst to better:

• Small of back
• Off-body or backpack
• Ankle
• Pants pocket
• Cross draw
• Appendix
• IWB on side
• OWB

Shoulder holster? Haven't tried it.

It's okay to disagree, but one should try some drills, and then carry all day.

 

[Zerodefect]

SOB doesn't belong last on that list. I'd put it in the same spot as cross draw. It's a deep concealment spot.

Small Of Back doesnt have to put the pistol over your spine. Mine is at 5-530. With a full leather shield distributing any impact. But my body shape is unique. Knocking me down, I wouldn't hit the SOB. Butt and shoulders 1st.

Shoulder holster sucks. Prints, swings, yuk. You telegraph your intent to draw way too easy. Cross draw, or SOB, I can at least disguise a slow draw.