Versa Max II at CCW class today

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

hillbilly

Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2003
Messages
3,165
Location
Iowa
I had my first "Versa Max II" experience today during a CCW class I taught at my home.

I got my VMII after a 10 week wait, and this was the first chance I had to wear it "for real."

I had a Kimber Ultra Carry II in the black horsehide VMII just behind my right hip. I wore a regular white T-shirt under the holster, and tucked a green polo in over the top of it.

Not one of the four CCW students noticed that I was carrying all through the class. About 2:00 pm, right before we started the range portion of the class, I asked the students if they had thought about how they would carry their pieces.

They said no. I asked is anybody had noticed I had been carrying a gun all day long. None had. I turned around, lifted my hands into the air, and asked if any could see the gun. Nobody could. One student said, "Let's see it" so I lifted my shirt to reveal the Kimber in the VMII.

I was within close contact with four people who were all thinking about, talking about and handling guns. None of them could see my concealed gun. Even when I turned my back to them with my arms lifted and told them to look for the gun I was carrying, they could not see it.

I'm sold on Versa Max.

hillbill
 
IMO, the ultimate holster for carrying a full sized gun concealed.

I bought one on here not long ago for a 5" 1911.
First day I had it, I went shooting at my local club with two friends. We were shooting rifles. I was wearing the holster with nothing but a t-shirt over it. After we were done shooting , I showed off my new holster. Nobody knew I was carrying.
 
If you don't want to wait 8-12 weeks try Lightning arms sports the cost is a little more but they have some in stock. I purchased mine from them and had it within 3 days. No, I don't have anything to do with the company, however I am a happy customer.

Tim
 
I'd love to have a VMII. They seem great. However any decent concealed carry holster could have given you the same experience that you had today.

I used to conceal under a t-shirt all the time with a 10 dollar Uncle Mike's POS holster. Then I moved up to a 25 buck Don Hume clip-on and now I conceal in a Comp-tac C-TAC. They've all concealed just fine under a t-shirt. I'm just saying this because some of your students probably won't be able to afford a VMII and you should be able to tell them that they have other options that will conceal just fine.

Again, not knocking the VMII, but that's just normal. There are other reasons to be sold on the VMII though!

brad cook
 
Last edited:
I've CCW'd with several different holsters and while I've never had the scratch to get a VMII I do currently have a dual clip holster.

I think thats the key, holsters with a single clip (or loop) are just nowhere near as secure and comfortable as a dual clip holster like the VMII (or the Watch 6 ... or an HBE COM).

Only problem I have with the VMII is the high price ... there are other similar holsters (quality ones as well ... like the HBE) out there for half the price.
 
Brad, how long have you had your Comp-tac? They never held up well for me. I have had two of them and both times the belt clip broke (second was a tradeout for the first one by the sales rep). First time on the secondary extension clip, and this time on the holster itself. A shame really. It's a pretty comfortable holster, but my next holster will be a Milt Sparks. Although I loathe wasting money and having to spend it twice for the same type item, I wore that holster for about 3 years so I feel that I probably got my $65.00 worth out of it.
 
I'm wearing my P7M13 in my VMII right now. Very comfy. Worth every Penny IMO.

BTW, there are plenty of holsters out there that sell for A LOT more than the VMII.
 
I've standardized on the VM2 for all my IWB carry. I've used many other holsters in the past, but the level of comfort and security of the VM2 is so much better than all the others that I decided, why mess with less than perfection? :D

I have three of them now, and will be ordering a couple more this year, to round out the collection. Worth every penny!
 
Great story. I own a couple of WMII's and plan to buy others in the future. I have found the VMII to be the ultimate holster for my carry needs. I too have not problem concealing my CCW in my VMII with just a T-shirt. As a matter of fact I am wearing one of my VMII's right now and no one is the wiser! :)

Mac
 
Does anyone use those clips that you can use to tuck your shirt over the VMII? I purchased them and have yet to use them. As the weather gets warmer I'll probably give them a try.
 
I have the clips and used them a couple of times but frankly I find a tuckable CCW is not the fastest firearm to bring into action. If I need a deep concealable piece I will take pocket carry over a tuckable.
 
I got the Kydex clips with my holster, and in fact was using the clips when I wore it during the CCW class.

Yes, tucked in makes it a bit slower to get the gun, but only a bit. How many seconds does it take to grab a handful of shirt and rip it out before the draw?

Not very long....like maybe 1.5 or 2 seconds.

I would say that if that 1.5 or 2 seconds actually makes a difference in the outcome of a truly bad self-defense experience, then you'd probably be dead anyway.

If you are properly in "condition yellow" hopefully you've already noticed danger, had time to walk away, or take cover, rip your shirt out, any number of other things to do before having to actually shoot in self defense.

But the advantage of the clips is surprise. The clips grab onto your pants, not your belt. In fact, the belt passes over the clips, thus camoflauging the clips completely.

That's why four people all standing about eight feet from me could not see the gun when I turned my back to them and raised both my arms and challenged them to find the gun I had been carrying all day long. There was literally nothing to be seen on the outside to indicate "gun."

There were no strange loops over my belt. There was no need for a cover garment like a vest. There was only a polo shirt tucked into my pants and bloused out naturally like I wear all my polo shirts.


In most cases, I'd say I'd give up the 2 seconds or so for the element of complete and total surprise. If I had even the slightest bit of time to get to cover or distract the attacker while pretending to beg and plead and cry for my life, I'd have plenty of time to rip the shirt out and draw.



I'd bet that even most folks who are trained to spot the signs that say "gun" couldn't reliably tell you were wearing a VMII with the clips and your shirt tucked in over the top.


But then again, I'm not a betting man, and besides I've already spent all my money on things like a VMII and extra ammo. :D

hillbilly
 
Have any of you VM lovers tried a Tucker Texas Heritage? That's what I'm using right now and I love mine. They are similar in design. I am just wondering if anyone has used both and if so is the VMII worth the extra scratch?
 
I've been using the VM2 as my IWB since 2000. Not only is it everything else mentioned above, it will also give you years and years of solid service. I haven't done any maintenance at all on the holster and am still very happy with it.

It sure did seem expensive at first; but this July I will have five years worth of use out of the holster and it looks like I can expect five years more. $12.40 a year for a quality holster (or $24.80 if it suddenly falls apart on me tomorrow) that lets you conceal a Browning Hi-Power under a tucked in polo shirt isn't a bad deal in my opinion.

The only caveat I'd add is that the VM2 really shines with slim John Browning style guns. Guns that lock up on the hood of the chamber (SIG, Glock, etc.) are still nice with a VM2 rig; but you really need to try a BHP or 1911 to get the full appreciation for the design.
 
The VMII is the boss daddy of holsters.............yes there are others out there that do a good job and cost less. However, that's what I always used as my main reason to not buy a holster like the VMII.....and now I own the VMII anyway and compare it's quality and price to the 2 or 3 "other just as good and less expensive" holsters that now lay in the drawer, almost never get used and total more than the VMII in dollars anyway.

If I would have just spent the INVESTMENT in the VMII to begin with, I would have saved money in the long run and enjoyed several years of reliable, comfortable and quality concealed carry.

It's the same situation with dedicated gun belts. The $10.00 wal-mart special DOES NOT do just as good a job simply because it happens to be a sturdy piece of leather. Besides, most department store belts these days push upwards of $20.00 anyway. I bought a 1.5 inch Rafter S belt and have never looked back. The price was only a few bucks more and I am getting a difference in performance that has to be experienced to be believed.

All learned through experience and made possible by advancement in income. Back in the day, I had to take the trade off for price vs. quality too. Now, I buy once and I buy the best for the money. It works out well.
 
Another vote for the VM/II
I carry a glock 23 (and occatioanlly a 3"colt defender) daily for the last 5 years exclusively in VMII's
I have never tried a more comfortable or versitile holster.
 
Last edited:
just wait, before long you are going to have the itch to conceal a 1911 with a longer barrel now that you know how slick it works :D :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
So I'm taking the CCW class very soon
Replies
19
Views
553
DomMega
D
Airedale1
  • Locked
My New Milt Sparks Versa Max II......
Replies
6
Views
4K
Lennyjoe
Lennyjoe
A
  • Locked
Rafter S Belt with Versa Max II Holster
Replies
2
Views
1K
adrock
A
J
  • Locked
"One of your students is bringing a gun to class today"
Replies
24
Views
2K
Trebor
T
.308 Norma
  • Locked
How Popular Are CCW Classes Becoming Where You Live?
Replies
23
Views
882
PapaG
P
Back
Top