Training with a different holster vs your EDC holster?

Status
Not open for further replies.
bassjam

bassjam

Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
2,352
Location
Cincinnati
I took a "next level" conceal carry class over the weekend, one of the issues I had was my leather holster is a little difficult when repeatedly re-holstering. In my normal carry I always insert my gun and holster together as one piece inside my waistband, and that's what I ended up doing for most of the training (removing holster, placing gun in holster, put holster & gun back inside waistband) but this was slow and cumbersome to keep doing.

I do have a kydex holster that exactly mimics the carry position of my leather holster, but I don't carry it because I find it extremely uncomfortable after just a few minutes while my leather holster can be worn all day.

But what is everybody's thoughts on training with the kydex holster for ease of re-holstering, but still using my leather holster for every day carry? I was trying them both out with some dry-fire drills yesterday and they both seem to function identically, both even have the same level of retention.

Ideally I'd try to find a kydex or hybrid holster that is comfortable, but my gun isn't that popular (K6s with a 3" barrel) so holster options are limited.

PXL_20210729_203820901.jpg
PXL_20210729_203803835.jpg
PXL_20210729_203751779.jpg
 
bassjam said:
In my normal carry I always insert my gun and holster together as one piece inside my waistband, and that's what I ended up doing for most of the training (removing holster, placing gun in holster, put holster & gun back inside waistband) but this was slow and cumbersome to keep doing.
Click to expand...
How would you reholster in an actual defensive encounter?
 
Picture shows a different model but has a K6s - 3inch listed in the menu. I like the hybrid kydex.

Galco KingTuk Cloud Inside the Waistband Holster Right Hand Kimber (midwayusa.com)

***EDIT:^^^ You might have to contact Galco because the k6s is listed but won't add to the cart at Midway. Either way, this type of holster is great for easy re holstering.***

I would not carry a gun that takes two hands to re holster or requires removing the holster. And I always practice with my carry holster.
 
Hartkopf said:
Picture shows a different model but has a K6s - 3inch listed in the menu. I like the hybrid kydex.

Galco KingTuk Cloud Inside the Waistband Holster Right Hand Kimber (midwayusa.com)

***EDIT:^^^ You might have to contact Galco because the k6s is listed but won't add to the cart at Midway. Either way, this type of holster is great for easy re holstering.***

I would not carry a gun that takes two hands to re holster or requires removing the holster. And I always practice with my carry holster.
Click to expand...

I carry appendix, so need a smaller holster than those with 2 clips and a large backing.
 
OP is considering that the training pace at the range requires combat reholstering at speed to optimize use of his time.

I don't see this working out well. That isn't training to standard when in real life you won't reholster after shooting someone, you will place it away from you so that responding officers hyped on Man with a GUN! don't shoot you. Which has happened recently.

OP isn't really trying to learn how to reholster at combat speed, either, I hope. That was also an issue at a defensive carry class where an appendix holster user had his firearm discharge, holstering at speed because of the hasty tempo the instructor demanded. Barely survived. The instructor then banned appendix holsters in his class, and AFAIK, still practices high speed reholstering to get the repetitions in.

Concealed carry isn't competition carry, I would rethink it. The concept is actually based on needing to draw fast to beat being shot by the aggressor, which then admits complete ignorance of their presence until a gun is suddenly presented. Not a very aware posture to practice in public.

A lot of "experts" present these conditions as the only scenario, and I don't think it's realistic. In many cases what did occur was seeing someone at distance carrying a gun and responding to a threat where it wasn't even pointed at them. Very few consider other avenues of egress, it's usually a speed draw contest to see who gets the Hign Noon award.

Practice what you really need to train on, and if that is taking off the holster and putting the gun in it while pointing away from parts of your body, then that is how you survive your own training regimen. It's exactly how you holster up the rest of the day, doing it safely could stand positive reinforcement. Not doing it safely, however, eventually guarantees a negative situation. As many officers who carry Glocks have discovered. Of course, they are now all blaming SIG after changing over, yet their habits haven't, apparently. Habits that were likely unsafe regardless of what firearm they carried, and habits are what keep you out of, or in, trouble.

Develop safe habits, and no harm no foul.
 
Kleanbore said:
Can you ensure that you can make yourself appear completely nonthreatening in the space of two heartbeats?
Click to expand...

I know where you're going, but I'm not giving up my comfy leather holster. An uncomfortable holster means I just won't bother carrying. If it came down to it though, I know my gun fits inside a front pocket.
 
My current philosophy is to train with what I carry, the way I carry it, to the extent it is feasible.

Why is the kydex uncomfortable? If it's because it digs into you, they make holster pads for that. I actually just ordered a couple square pads from V Development Group for one of my AIWB kydex holsters. Comfortable is good.

https://vdevgru.com/collections/all/wedge

I don't know if they're any good yet. But I'll find out soon enough.

As a side note: If you had to put a gun away quickly in a real life SD encounter, being that you carry a revolver (reasonably heavy long trigger pull), you could just pocket it. I'm not saying you should do that. But it's an option.
 
Tirod said:
OP is considering that the training pace at the range requires combat reholstering at speed to optimize use of his time.

I don't see this working out well. That isn't training to standard when in real life you won't reholster after shooting someone, you will place it away from you so that responding officers hyped on Man with a GUN! don't shoot you. Which has happened recently.

OP isn't really trying to learn how to reholster at combat speed, either, I hope. That was also an issue at a defensive carry class where an appendix holster user had his firearm discharge, holstering at speed because of the hasty tempo the instructor demanded. Barely survived. The instructor then banned appendix holsters in his class, and AFAIK, still practices high speed reholstering to get the repetitions in.

Concealed carry isn't competition carry, I would rethink it. The concept is actually based on needing to draw fast to beat being shot by the aggressor, which then admits complete ignorance of their presence until a gun is suddenly presented. Not a very aware posture to practice in public.

A lot of "experts" present these conditions as the only scenario, and I don't think it's realistic. In many cases what did occur was seeing someone at distance carrying a gun and responding to a threat where it wasn't even pointed at them. Very few consider other avenues of egress, it's usually a speed draw contest to see who gets the Hign Noon award.

Practice what you really need to train on, and if that is taking off the holster and putting the gun in it while pointing away from parts of your body, then that is how you survive your own training regimen. It's exactly how you holster up the rest of the day, doing it safely could stand positive reinforcement. Not doing it safely, however, eventually guarantees a negative situation. As many officers who carry Glocks have discovered. Of course, they are now all blaming SIG after changing over, yet their habits haven't, apparently. Habits that were likely unsafe regardless of what firearm they carried, and habits are what keep you out of, or in, trouble.

Develop safe habits, and no harm no foul.
Click to expand...

Luckily the instructor wasn't pushing me to go faster, but there were times I was holding up the class for a couple seconds. Not that it mattered, a lot of the other folks were having even more equipment issues and the instructor was good about giving everyone time between drills and personally helping them as needed. I'm just looking to make things better when I'm practicing on my own. Constantly pulling my holster out and putting it back had the side affect of slowly loosening my belt until I had issues with a loose belt. Yeah, I can do better about re-adjusting between practice sets but was just looking for some insight on using an almost identical holster.
 
Ideally I would find a holster which is both comfortable and convenient. Honestly, though, if the "practice" holster holds the gun at essentially the same place, and the draw feels essentially the same, then I would be comfortable using it.
 
bassjam said:
I know where you're going, but I'm not giving up my comfy leather holster
Click to expand...
I use Crossbreed Superslide OWB holsters.

A wide leather piece spreads and eases the pressure on my body, and a kydex body holds the gun firmly and makes drawing and reholstering very easy.

I started out using custom IWB leather. Very high quality, but difficult for holstering and far less comfortable during a long day. particularly with the weight of a K6a.

Tirod said:
in real life you won't reholster after shooting someone, you will place it away from you so that responding officers hyped on Man with a GUN! don't shoot you.
Click to expand...
After and only after you know you will not be providing your gun to another perp, and you reasonably believe that the threat no longer exists.
 
I saw shoot house shenanigans happen more than a few times by guys who kept a collection of different holsters for different purposes in the kit bag. When the time came to pull a pistol, either they couldn't release the retention device, or they forgot the location of the pistol on the kit. Sometimes both. It bred some very interesting looking "jive hands" maneuvers/teachable moments. The saying we've heard dozens of times: train like you fight, because you are going to fight like you trained rings true at these moments.
 
If your instructor's name was Robert, I took the same class. I was the only one in class not carrying AIWB. I carry OWB at 3 o'clock. Great class and very helpful instructor
 
Wearing a Kydex holster in training at the same place as your EDC would not bother me any. Depending on which gun I’m carrying the holsters will vary a little but they are all at the same position.

I would want to have a good plan on what you’d do if you needed to stash your gun in a hurry for some reason on the streets. Dropping it is an option if you don’t need retention or a pocket as someone else mentioned.

Best option would be to find a comfortable holster that keeps the mouth open and start using it.
 
whisler said:
If your instructor's name was Robert, I took the same class. I was the only one in class not carrying AIWB. I carry OWB at 3 o'clock. Great class and very helpful instructor
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was him. I think I was the only one carrying AIWB on the day he taught my course.
 
SteadyD said:
There are leather iwb holsters with metal reinforced openings that might help.
Click to expand...

I might look again, but when I bought the holster last summer there weren't any options with reinforcement. Tucker Leather where I got mine only offered the non-reinforced for my particular gun even though they sell reinforced for more popular semi-autos. I'll shoot them an email and see if anything has changed.
 
bassjam said:
I might look again, but when I bought the holster last summer there weren't any options with reinforcement. Tucker Leather where I got mine only offered the non-reinforced for my particular gun even though they sell reinforced for more popular semi-autos. I'll shoot them an email and see if anything has changed.
Click to expand...

Here is a big thread specifically discussing AIWB revolver holsters. Lots of Kydex but some leather. It might give you some more ideas.
https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?45017-AIWB-HOLSTERS-FOR-REVOLVERS
 
bassjam said:
I might look again, but when I bought the holster last summer there weren't any options with reinforcement. Tucker Leather where I got mine only offered the non-reinforced for my particular gun even though they sell reinforced for more popular semi-autos. I'll shoot them an email and see if anything has changed.
Click to expand...
Here’s some reinforced holsters for IWB. They are backed up right now but they do custom work. Maybe the single clip could work AIWB?

https://rgrizzleleather.com/iwb-holsters.html
 
https://www.miltsparks.com/products-inside.php

You should not need two hands to re-holster for most carry options.

“All models of our IWB holsters feature a metal reinforced mouth (with the exception of our model WS-1). This keeps the holster from collapsing once the weapon is withdrawn, resulting in an effortless one handed re-holster.”
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
CCW holster belt-loop vs clip
Replies
8
Views
719
NorthernExtreme
N
V
  • Locked
Tucker Gun Leather paddle holster review
Replies
2
Views
1K
Vic303
V
S
  • Locked
Holster Wear?
Replies
8
Views
1K
red rick
red rick
P
  • Locked
IWB holster comparison and review – a new and noteworthy contender has arrived
Replies
21
Views
2K
ta4
T
H
  • Locked
Steyr M series and S series holster suggestions
Replies
2
Views
2K
Big Dave
B
Back
Top