Thumb Snap Poll: Yes or No?

[SwampWolf]

For most of my thirty year le career, I carried my pistol in a thumbbreak holster of one design or another. No other "tension" retaining device is as secure and proper training negates any tardy draws. When you're rolling around on the ground with the bg, you need that pistol to stay in your leather. Most of the time, trouble can be anticipated and, if getting the gun out quickly is a concern (duh!), the thumbbreak can be surreptitiously unsnapped in advance-but, again, training and practice will allow you to draw from a thumbbreak every bit as quickly as a non-thumbbreak design.

 

[hnk45acp]

I voted yes because I carry in a crowded enviroment where a gun grab is a real possibility. I train with the same holster and have no problem drawing from concealment and unsnapping the holster. It's something you get used to.

 

[Geronimo45]

No. There's a snap in place around the trigger guard, which makes for excellent retention. Will probably get a thumb snap for any belt holsters I get in the future. I like retention.

 

[Bridger]

Yes. Dept mandated, but I don't really find it such a big deal. As others have said, practice

 

[CountGlockula]

Yes, for retention.

 

[Grunt]

Being a CATM instructor, we open carry and our issue holster is a Safariland 6005 so I guess I have to vote yes. However, when I CCW off duty, none of my holsters have any snaps so maybe I should have voted no.

 

[greyman01]

I voted yes. I have tried many holsters, if it doesn't have a snap it'll work loose. For me there is no difference in draw time. Re-holstering is done at my leisure so that's not a problem. If I'm busy using my hands the pistol can sit a bit without the snap.

 

[38SnubFan]

Retention is crucial

I voted YES. I use a Bianchi belt-slide holster with a thumb-break with my Taurus 24/7 Pro, and a Bianchi Black Widow for my .38 Spl. snub-nose.

I've occasionally used an inexpensive Uncle Mike's IWB for the snubby for "dressier" clothing when I need to print less, but that option is usually ditched for just wearing an OWB holster under a suit jacket.

I may have to consider a new option for the snubbie though. I'm giving the Better Half that gun for carry, and the OWB holster for that tends to ride too high for her (the grip is practically in her rib cage...she only stands 5'3").

Like another poster said, if you end up in a ground struggle with a BG and wrestling around (and the possibilities of that are more real than you'd think), I don't need the gun dropping out and hitting the ground where he/she could get to it.

I can draw from any of my holsters in the same amount of time, thumb-break-equipped or not.

-38SnubFan

 

[XDKingslayer]

I have both.

For casual carry I have a good leather holster with out a strap.

For more active carry like hiking, jogging, fishing, walking the dog, I have a nylon holster with a strap. The nice thing about it is the strap is held to the holster with velcro. If need be, you can yank the gun and the strap will detach itself but it's strong enough to hold the gun during activity.

 

[Ala Dan]

Nope

Open Top, all the way~!

 

[BigGunsMoreFun]

Yes I do

I'm with Rainbow Bob and I quote "Yes I do because I want the extra security of weapon retention and hammer control."


Joe

 

[PPGMD]

If you are open carrying, or at a shooting school for carbine or other long guns a retention holster might be a good idea.

Though I prefer ones with a hood rather then a thumb break. I would also get a brand known for durability like Safariland.

For concealed carry, the weapon is concealed so you shouldn't have to worry about weapon retention as much.

 

[-v-]

My holster has a snap, but I keep it un-fastened and draped over the gun. Its leather and holds the shape fairly well, and the pressure of the gun against my body keeps it in place. So if I feel lazy or cautions, its off, if I feel that the risk of it flopping on the floor outweigh all concerns its closed. Either way its unintrusive enough for me that it is a non issue closed or opened.

 

[Cavalier Knight]

Bianchi Lok Holster Family

BIANCHI LOK

 

[dhoomonyou]

lotsa people call them SUICIDE STRAPS.

no thanks

 

[Cavalier Knight]

lotsa people call them SUICIDE STRAPS.

no thanks

Some feel the same about seat belts oh well

 

[Hardtarget]

I voted no . I carry IWB and the gun stays put.

Mark.

 

[whatbrick]

Nope, no thumb-break. Not against the idea but all my IWB holsters (all two of them) from Comp-tac hold the gun snuggly enough where they don't move at all.

My only OWB holster is a Comp-tac belt holster that I wear around the house. It also holds the gun snuggly enough where it doesn't move, even when jumping, running, doing handstands (swear to God, I tested it just to see), etc.

 

[Autolycus]

The Alessi holster I have for sale has a pull through snap that is excellent. It is not really interfering with the draw as you just pull the pistol out.

 

[budder]

No, but only because my "everyday" holsters are all for concealed carry. When I OC (cellphone time), I'll wear something with a thumbstrap.

 

[Aran]

Yes, because I have a cheap Uncle Mike's.

And it gets the job done.

 

[Glockman17366]

I prefer a thumb strap type holster.
For my SP101, it covers the spurred hammer which makes less wear on the covering garment.
Also, in my experience, strapped holsters break in easier then retention (non-strapped) type holsters.

 

[Arkady]

No thumb breaks for me--if I was open carrying then I would most likely have one, but a good quality leather IWB shouldn't need one.

 

[Ala Dan]

No Doubt

Safariland, Bianchi, and Galco all make some top-of-the-line real leather
holsters with thumb snaps; but they are not for me; as stated in my
earlier post~!

Please add Don Hume too the list also.