drop-leg carrier question

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None of the links above had specific border patrol or Jordan type holsters. El Paso's Patton was close.

There are piles of these things moldering away unused somewhere. I wasnt able to find any in current listings when I googled them.

In some instances, a K frame holster can be made to work with a little effort, but the rigidity of the type specifically mentioned, they wont fit, at least in the one I tried.

ETA: I'd be interested in one for a 4" L also, if anyone comes up with a source for the lady.
 
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Look at the people that use thigh rigs professionally. They're wearing vests and having the pistol jammed against the vest in a belt holster doesn't do them much good. Therefore the compromise of the thigh holster to keep the backup (yes, the pistol is a backup in those cases) out of the way, but still somewhat accessible.

Look at what competition shooters use. Not drop legs. Look at what LE use when their not kitted out for SWAT. Not drop legs.

If you're not a vest wearing SWAT or Military sort the drop leg might as well be called the "derp" leg for all the newbs that buy them thinking they're kewl (and I have to include my younger self in that group).
 
Neither of those holsters cover the trigger and the Frontier Gunleather Patton holster has a "suicide strap" retention device neither of which would be acceptable in most classes.
 
Neither of those holsters cover the trigger and the Frontier Gunleather Patton holster has a "suicide strap" retention device neither of which would be acceptable in most classes.

I was wondering if that would be an issue with a class. Covered triggers didnt seem as common at the end of the revolver era. Finding a drop shank duty type holster with a covered trigger may be difficult.

Are any Kydex holster makers doing anything that lowers the holster some?
 
My first issued weapon in LE was a SW Model 65. IIRC we had a Don Hume holster with a covered trigger and a thumb break. But that was 30 years ago so my memory might be faulty.
 
That Border Patrol one looks nice. Besides it sitting lower I like the angle it shows the gun sitting at (Is this the "cant"?), I think that would be easier to draw. But I thought a holster is supposed to cover the trigger?
 
My first issued weapon in LE was a SW Model 65. IIRC we had a Don Hume holster with a covered trigger and a thumb break. But that was 30 years ago so my memory might be faulty

No, you are probably correct. Most that I see in searches looking for them are the open trigger ones. It seems that the few people making them now are also open trigger type.

But I thought a holster is supposed to cover the trigger?

Thats the more recent thought on the matter. It wasnt common for quite a long time though.
 
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The Border Patrol cant was easy to draw from. If you can find a Border Patrol model with a covered trigger that would probably be a good fit for you.

Unfortunately you are about 20 years late considering that virtually all of LE is carrying autos now.
 
probably not terribly helpful if you're concerned about looking a little goofy, but you might consider one of the battle belts with suspenders. the belts are heavily padded and the suspenders would put the weight on your shoulders and well distributed.

do a google image search for 'battle belt suspenders'. dunno if any of those designs work with female shaped chests, but it's worth a look.

most of the belts have molle attachments, so you'd get a holster that attaches to molle. plenty of options there.


also, don't even think about serpa holsters
This one http://www.skdtac.com/Tactical-Tailor-Fight-Light-4-Point-Belt-Harness-p/1tt.197.htm looks like it could work, the front straps are narrow, I'm imagining they could be worn maybe a little wider apart than a man would wear them to solve the female-shape issue, at least for a woman with broad square shoulders. But it looks like they go with a belt from the same folks that has to go over the regular gun belt?!? Or do the Molle things you mentioned make that unnecessary?

Would I be correct in assuming that I could first try with just a heavy-duty gun belt like Jeff recommended, and then if I feel the weight is unbalanced, add these or other suspenders?
 
I don't see anyone addressing the back pain issue. I can relate. Chronic back pain from repeated injuries. Might look odd, but for your class and range work you might try using a good quality set of suspenders connected to a good gun belt to redistribute some of the weight to your shoulders. I laughed at the idea myself,...but now use a set of Perry clip Dickie's when I carry heavier "iron".... It works for me. YMMV
 
From Garrett Industries, here is the Dropped and Offset Mount http://www.giholsters.com/dropped-offset-mount/

If you have questions, call them at 409-454-5015. You'll most likely get either Ron Garrett or his wife Sheryl on the phone. Tell them your issue. They'll help you.
Oh, now I get it, to get the dropped offset style you need a separate item for hanging the holster from the belt. Great example of the proverbial picture being worth 1000 words. :)
 
Think of the battle belt as a big molle covered cushion that goes around a heavy duty normal belt

Definitely try suspenders first
 
Jeff White wrote,
Neither of those holsters cover the trigger and the Frontier Gunleather Patton holster has a "suicide strap" retention device neither of which would be acceptable in most classes.
I got a little sidetracked there. I'm not recommending them, Malamute mentioned the Jordan Border Patrol holster, and his inability to find one, I was just finding them for him.

I'm still recommending Blade-Tech or Garrett Industries for old lady new shooter, just like I recommended to her a couple of weeks ago in another thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=10003422#post10003422
 
old lady new shooter wrote,
That Border Patrol one looks nice. Besides it sitting lower I like the angle it shows the gun sitting at (Is this the "cant"?), I think that would be easier to draw. But I thought a holster is supposed to cover the trigger?
The Blade-Tech Dropped and Offset is cant adjustable for either straight drop, muzzle forward, or muzzle rearward.

The Garrett Silent Thunder is cant adjustable for 360 degrees. Here is an old review from Milspec Monkey of the Silent Thunder, back when they were sold through Tucker Gun Leather. You can see how adjustable the cant is.

https://www.milspecmonkey.com/index...igned-by-tucker-silent-thunder-pistol-holster
 
It wont be cheap, but it will work.

My day job is a full time LE firearms instructor, so I deal with gear for everyone from a 20 year old former Marine to 60+ grandmothers who are in the last year of their time with my agency and everyone in between. To deal with back pain, your best bet is to move some or all of the weight onto your shoulders with suspenders. A good set of duty suspenders like these:

http://nelsonleather.com/product_in...d=227&osCsid=5dea54ab9b00f1af1d125bded04880ba

http://blackhawk.com/Products/Holst.../Accessories/Ergonomic-Duty-Belt-Harness.aspx

Basically these attach about the point of the hip, and as such they stay off the chest and out of the way regardless of how your built. We have multiple officers both male and female who use them and they'll fit a wide variety of body types.

Secondly get a good external belt to carry your holster on. If you're not going to be hip carrying your 686 out and about anyway then no reason to worry about people looking at you funny for wearing a duty belt/sam brown belt with a holster at the range. You don't necessarily have to go with a "battle belt", a padded belt or add on belt pad works fine (see below for example of each):

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1336113671/bianchi-7955-ergotek-duty-belt-2-1-4-nylon

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/dutybeltpad.aspx

From there add a good holster with a drop. This is about the best you're going to be able to do, to get the weight comfortable and not messing with your back. Safariland makes duty holsters and drops for them. They are not cheap, but they do work well. We have yet to have a officer that we can't find a holster and drop combo together to get their holster where it needs to be.

Safariland Holster for a 4" 686

Safariland holster drop plate They sell several different heights, this is just one of them.

Here's a drop and offset variation

It will not be a cheap setup (you're probably looking at $150-$300 depending on how well you shop). But it will be something you can reasonably spend a day at the range with. A lot of companies make things similar to the ones I linked above, and a lot of it may work just as well for range work; I'm just familiar with what works for LE work.

-Jenrick
 
trying to assimilate all this information...

First of all, thanks so much to everybody for all the information and suggestions. :)

If a suitable used holster can't be found, the Garrett holster with the 360-degree adjustable cant looks like a good idea, I like the photo at https://www.milspecmonkey.com/misc1/garrett-silent-thunder-011.jpg, plus it would take away a lot of the scariness of having to buy without trying since I could tweak it as desired.

Not clear to what extent I really need the "offset" part of "drop and offset", is the sideways angle also adjustable? If the sideways angle isn't adjustable and I get the drop and offset piece and it turns out that the grip sticks out too far to the side, then what? Does anybody know whether any of the Garrett attachment pieces drop the gun without offsetting and/or whether the Garrett holster would work with another brand of drop plate?

The A.E. Nelson suspenders look like they would be very good, if I do need suspenders. I still also like the ones at http://www.skdtac.com/Tactical-Tailor-Fight-Light-4-Point-Belt-Harness-p/1tt.197.htm but those apparently need a belt with "attachment points". I'm thinking if a heavy-duty belt like Jeff recommended would really distribute the weight evenly I might be OK without suspenders, guess I could try first with just the belt?
 
Not clear to what extent I really need the "offset" part of "drop and offset", is the sideways angle also adjustable? If the sideways angle isn't adjustable and I get the drop and offset piece and it turns out that the grip sticks out too far to the side, then what?
Offset is usually an advantage to women, as their wider hips would cause a non-offset dropped holster to point the grip at their waist and make the draw more difficult. The "Cornered Cat" "Straight Talk About Curves" article linked above shows how the offset helps with a female figure. http://www.corneredcat.com/article/practical-issues/straight-talk-about-curves/

If this is a holster for range/training use, there is not much disadvantage to the grip sticking out. They are typically designed for competition/training and are an advantage for an easier/faster draw. If this is a concealment holster, the dropped part is a bad idea anyway, so a dropped and offset holster is not a good holster for concealment.

Does anybody know whether any of the Garrett attachment pieces drop the gun without offsetting and/or whether the Garrett holster would work with another brand of drop plate?
I don't think the Garrett holster would work with other's as their adjustment "puck" is unique to them. I really would call them on the phone and talk to them. They are very helpful and really would be able to explain things better than reading them on a forum thread.
 
old lady new shooter said:
I didn't know what a SERPA is, googling found some photos of people wearing the gun on the thigh but the harness or whatever you call it looks much more heavy-duty than the photo I posted at the beginning of the thread, for one thing I see TWO straps attaching it to the belt. But your message looks like SERPA is something different from a drop-leg style?

SERPA is an active retention style holster made by Blackhawk. They are marketed toward police and military. They can be quite modular and can accommodate belt, leg, and web gear carry. I almost got the drop leg kit for the SERPA but it was a bit more than I wanted to spend at the time. I would not recommend a SERPA drop leg for your class, was just mentioning what I preferred to carry my duty sidearm in.

For you I would recommend upgrading your belt and using an OWB holster. That would distribute the weight much more than a drop leg.
 
If this is a holster for range/training use, there is not much disadvantage to the grip sticking out. They are typically designed for competition/training and are an advantage for an easier/faster draw.

OK, thanks for the explanation. :)
 
Why a dropped and offset holster…

The best thing about those links is that I got to see what the BladeTech one actually looks like -- some websites change the product photo when you configure an item but theirs doesn't, it keeps the same 1911 holster no matter what. I like the looks of it.

If I don't find a used one, do you have any thoughts as to relative pro's and con's of the BladeTech vs the Garrett? One question, how does the retention compare between the two of them WRT both effectiveness and ease of removing the gun? Also, how do they compare for replacing the gun? (Some educational material I got said a person should be able to reholster without looking, and I think it was posted here that for that purpose the holster should stay open when you need it to.)
 
One question, how does the retention compare between the two of them WRT both effectiveness and ease of removing the gun? Also, how do they compare for replacing the gun? (Some educational material I got said a person should be able to reholster without looking, and I think it was posted here that for that purpose the holster should stay open when you need it to.)
These are polymer holsters with a "snap in" fit. The actual tension on the gun, and force required to remove it, is adjustable, and can be set from "just barely holding it in" all the way to "AAAARGH! GIMME MY GUUUN!!!" ;)

As for re-holstering, these are going to be about the epitome of a holster design that stays open and positioned to receive the gun. Reholstering smoothly is quite important, and you must not require two hands to accomplish it, but these moulded polymer holsters cannot collapse or deform like some lower quality leather holsters or the dreaded nylon "cheapy-floppy" holsters will.
 
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