Revolver competition type holster??

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WestKentucky

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I’m building a toy out of a smith model 10 4” and I want a holster for it that is geared towards shoot/move games (think ipsc, icore, uspsa). I’m not finding much that is really in line with what I want, but the speed beez holster and the safariland cup challenge holsters fit the basics of what I want. Who has experience with these, and what recommendations would you make? I have a guy begging me to let him build me a custom Kydex/leather rig for another gun, so that’s another option. I don’t know what his work would be, as I haven’t ever seen it, but he shot me a number that’s not bad for that one.
 
A custom made holster is one way to ensure you get what you want. Just keep in mind - quality comes with a price. I have made all my own gun rigs,,I shoot SASS. In my own experience, leather is the only way to go, but we all have our own comfort guide lines.

Thank you,

Henry
 
I’m building a toy out of a smith model 10 4” and I want a holster for it that is geared towards shoot/move games (think ipsc, icore, uspsa). I’m not finding much that is really in line with what I want, but the speed beez holster and the safariland cup challenge holsters fit the basics of what I want.
It's not clear to me what you're looking for (mostly because I don't know what a "speed beez" is and I'm not familiar with the Sarailand "cup challenge" holster), but here are some I'd would choose if I were looking for a competition holster for that gun

Comp-Tac https://comp-tac.com/international-holster-belt-paddle-drop-offset-holster-comp-tac/

Mitch Rosen SPT Holster (this particular one is at Dillon) https://www.dillonprecision.com/mitch-rosen-spt-revolver-holster_8_22_26070.html

Davis Leather Gunsite Omega or T-Omega http://davisleathercompany.com/concealedcarry/

Mernickle probably has several options http://www.mernickleholsters.com/index.htm

Milt Sparks HSR (PMK is another option) https://www.miltsparks.com/products-hsr.php

If I was sure what you were looking for, I'd give more options.
 
Looking more online at entire rigs I found this write up of a few rigs. Pretty stinkin sweet, and I like everything except the fact that these guys guns are cut for moon clips. Granted a moonclip is faster, I just like a speed loader a bit better for a more positive hold on the cases until they are actually in the gun.

https://www.revolversonly.com/2018/06/revolver-rigs-of-icore-southern.html
 
As far as USPSA goes no one uses a leather holster for them. Unless you already have a leather one and don't want to get something else, which apparently is the case here. I do in-fact see shooters using something like the Safariland cup challenge holsters, I think there are other companies that in a similar Kydex construction. These seem to work fine, not as fast as a race holster but better than a regular holster because you don't have to lift very much to draw. In other words, a regular leather holster, the muzzle has to be clear of the top of the holster before you can start to swing the gun in the direction of the target. This might sound like a little thing and to some it is but these competitions are all about speed.

OK. About your gun.

In USPSA (IPSC in the US) there is currently only 1 revolver division. You can use a race holster (or any other) as long as the trigger guard is covered. Iron sights and no porting so your model 10 is fine. However .... everyone ...and I mean literally every single revolver shooter in USPSA Revolver division uses an 8 shot revolver and moon clips. Can you do it with 6 shots and speed loaders? Yes. Will it be fun? No.

ICORE this is where you belong with this gun. For 6 shot revolvers there are two divisions, Classic and Limited 6. In either division you can use any holster as long as it passes a "jump" test and the trigger guard is covered.

Classic uses speed loaders

Limited 6 uses moon clips

This is not a recommendation but for ICORE L6 and Classic I use a Ghost holster on a DAA 2 pc belt. The Ghost holster is a race holster and (at least for me) it was a bit of a pain to get dialed in. For Classic I use a Safariland (two) triple cavity speed loader holders and I use Safariland comp 3 speed loaders but there are others.
For Limited 6 I use the same belt and holster but I have a moon clip holder made by Revo-Gear which is a little less expensive than the post types but you are probably looking at classic anyway.

ICORE allows any kind of aftermarket grips, thumb latches, Iron sights (or FO) and so forth.

The only other place I have first hand experience with is IDPA. Your gun will work there (6 shot, 4" barrel) you need a holster that is suitable for every day carry (leather will work here) and in the case of 38 special (minor power factor) you need speed loaders and single cavity speed loader holders that attach to the belt. Safariland makes another holster that looks like a traditional holster, I have one for IDPA. It is sort of like a molded plastic with a suede like lining material. It's inexpensive but the lining really grips the gun. I have tried everything within reason to get it to lose to no avail. I think if you went to a gun show and paid one of those guys to make a custom kydex holster (the while you wait vac-u-form guys) you would be better off than using that holster unless you want to get really radical trying to losen it up.

But to recap, I have seen shooters use the Kydex holster similar to the Safariland Cup Challenge and they work. In my opinion, if you have ICORE nearby then look no further.
 
Looking at the link to the Speed Beez I have seen guys use them in ICORE also Steel Challenge. Also I think Blade Tech makes one similar? Maybe. I like the smooth finish on the speed beez better than the texture of the Safariland but that is just me.

I personally don't own anything from Speed Beez but they have a great reputation amongst competitors and they also make good speed loaders. Another good make of speed loaders is Jet.

I'm not trying to get you to buy anything from anyone but there are several web stores that are good for ICORE shooters. They are Ranch Products and The Revolver Supply Company.
 
As far as USPSA goes no one uses a leather holster for them. Unless you already have a leather one and don't want to get something else, which apparently is the case here. I do in-fact see shooters using something like the Safariland cup challenge holsters, I think there are other companies that in a similar Kydex construction. These seem to work fine, not as fast as a race holster but better than a regular holster because you don't have to lift very much to draw. In other words, a regular leather holster, the muzzle has to be clear of the top of the holster before you can start to swing the gun in the direction of the target. This might sound like a little thing and to some it is but these competitions are all about speed.

OK. About your gun.

In USPSA (IPSC in the US) there is currently only 1 revolver division. You can use a race holster (or any other) as long as the trigger guard is covered. Iron sights and no porting so your model 10 is fine. However .... everyone ...and I mean literally every single revolver shooter in USPSA Revolver division uses an 8 shot revolver and moon clips. Can you do it with 6 shots and speed loaders? Yes. Will it be fun? No.

ICORE this is where you belong with this gun. For 6 shot revolvers there are two divisions, Classic and Limited 6. In either division you can use any holster as long as it passes a "jump" test and the trigger guard is covered.

Classic uses speed loaders

Limited 6 uses moon clips

This is not a recommendation but for ICORE L6 and Classic I use a Ghost holster on a DAA 2 pc belt. The Ghost holster is a race holster and (at least for me) it was a bit of a pain to get dialed in. For Classic I use a Safariland (two) triple cavity speed loader holders and I use Safariland comp 3 speed loaders but there are others.
For Limited 6 I use the same belt and holster but I have a moon clip holder made by Revo-Gear which is a little less expensive than the post types but you are probably looking at classic anyway.

ICORE allows any kind of aftermarket grips, thumb latches, Iron sights (or FO) and so forth.

The only other place I have first hand experience with is IDPA. Your gun will work there (6 shot, 4" barrel) you need a holster that is suitable for every day carry (leather will work here) and in the case of 38 special (minor power factor) you need speed loaders and single cavity speed loader holders that attach to the belt. Safariland makes another holster that looks like a traditional holster, I have one for IDPA. It is sort of like a molded plastic with a suede like lining material. It's inexpensive but the lining really grips the gun. I have tried everything within reason to get it to lose to no avail. I think if you went to a gun show and paid one of those guys to make a custom kydex holster (the while you wait vac-u-form guys) you would be better off than using that holster unless you want to get really radical trying to losen it up.

But to recap, I have seen shooters use the Kydex holster similar to the Safariland Cup Challenge and they work. In my opinion, if you have ICORE nearby then look no further.

I dont plan to actually get into games any time soon, I just like the way that things are set up, and I would like to use my cheap revolver to beat on and practice with until I get serious about things in the distant future (10 years at least) what I really like is the fact that this type of training would get me moving around more than my desk job gets me and I might slow or stop the weight gain, while working on FAST draw and target aquisition. If I can get these basics down pretty good over the next few years then I should be ready to go about the time that the revolver popularity dies off to where nobody plays anymore.

Im building the revolver as a toy. Straight up know it’s not good for much, but it is what my mind thinks is the perfect balance of tech, old school cool, and sporty. At best it would serve well as a deer hunting sidearm for quick shots in thick brush where a scopes rifle is not very handy. The biggest gripe I have with the holsters I like is that retention seems to be lacking. I want just a little more in case I decide to actually use the gun as more than a toy.
 
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I think that the Speed Beez will do it for you. I don't know about using it for hunting because I personally haven't tried it and not sure if it could be bumped out of the holster unintentionally. This is just don't know.

Let me say a few things about competitions. First as a general rule of thumb if you want to do it but are waiting to get yourself better practiced then you will never get into competitions. It is true that USPSA in particular is competitive on a massive scale. But ICORE is really laid back. I know guys that shoot ICORE that can barely walk, literally. Do they win? No they don't but they still have tons of fun. ICORE is fun for revolver shooters of all kinds and it's a real shame it isn't more popular. ICORE also has postal matches which are fun also.
 
My big reason for not getting into it now is that I’m a parent. I will not sacrifice time with the kids to go across the state to play a game. I am adopting and have limited time anyways so I don’t want to cut that time any shorter than it already is. The way I hope to do things is to build the gun as a souped up version of my other revolvers and let it be more fun for the whole family to roll through fast firing situations. Once they are in or near college I will consider getting into shooting games again because school will eat up their time.
 
what I really like is the fact that this type of training would get me moving around more than my desk job gets me and I might slow or stop the weight gain, while working on FAST draw and target aquisition.

I have a desk job also so I know what you mean. If you look at my avatar obviously I'm skinny but in recent years have put on a bit of a gut. I'm 637 years old ... no really I'm 60 so I have all of the associated aches and pains. I just started riding my bicycle and that seems to help with my shooting actually but it's not like you are running 20 miles in an ICORE match and no real moving in steel challenge.

For fast draws/target aquisition nothing beats steel challenge. just saying.

Holler if there is anything you think I can help you with. I don't know everything but I know a few.
 
what I really like is the fact that this type of training would get me moving around more than my desk job gets me and I might slow or stop the weight gain

If you want to compete to up your all-around shooting skills, by all means do so - there's no better way, IMO. But shooting matches, by no stretch of the imagination, are an exercise regiment. If you showed up at most any shooting match, you might think you crashed a "middle aged fat guy" convention ;). You'd get far more exercise going for a 30 minute walk. Even better would be daily 30 minute walks :thumbup:

it’s not good for much, but it is what my mind thinks is the perfect balance of tech, old school cool, and sporty.

Speedloaders and an old Model 10 can be quite sporty in the right hands:



The biggest gripe I have with the holsters I like is that retention seems to be lacking. I want just a little more in case I decide to actually use the gun as more than a toy.

Retention can be an issue with those race holsters. I know of at least one really good USPSA shooters on the Enos forum who's eschewed them in favor of a standard kydex (and a few others who didn't eschewed them, but have been DQ for dropping their revolver) for this reason. I have a DA Race Master - you manually lock the gun in place when you're not on the firing line waiting for the beeper. In the unlocked state, though, the gun is pretty much just sitting there, and can certainly be dropped if bobbled. If/when you "use the gun as more than a toy", you definitely wouldn't want to walk around with the gun unlocked, nor would you have time to unlock it if/when you really needed to draw.

I used a custom kydex holster in IDPA, but have also used, and can recommend one from ReadyTac, which offers a good balance of retention and concealability.
 
You can take your choice:
1. They only have two left and they want to clear inventory
2. It is in basket weave and isn't very popular
3. Most folks shooting competition are shooting a L-frame or a N-frame
 
Speed Beez is probably the closest to what you are describing. I know guys that run that set up in steel challenge and ICORE. I’m not as familiar with the other disciplines. That said, I do think Blade Tech makes a similar competitive type holster. Good luck in your search!
 
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