A holster that can retain with or without a light.

[ShootThemInTheCrotch]

I'm looking for a holster that can retain the gun (G17 or 19) with or without a light attached. I have heard that the Safariland ALS can do this. True? Is it any ALS holster? Are there any other holster lines that can do this?

 

[JTQ]

There is at least one concealment type kydex holster, but I can't think of the maker right now. I see if I can come up with it.

Most concealment holsters do use the light as a retention point, so if you have a light capable holster, it would normally only work with the light attached. Relatively speaking, holsters are pretty inexpensive. Buy one for use with the light mounted and another for without the light.

 

[herrwalther]

I am not aware of any. And I doubt the ALS does retention with or without a light attached. I work with police officers every day and most use ALS holsters for their duty weapons either with or without a light. But I never see any carry without a light in a light holster or vice versa. Most officers who do that have separate holsters.

Blackhawk makes a holster called the Omnivore which can accept firearms that have a rail using a rail adapter for the holster to clamp onto. They also make holsters that attach to TLR or X300 lights, just not sure if they interchange to without lights.

There is at least one concealment type kydex holster, but I can't think of the maker right now. I see if I can come up with it.

Active or passive retention? If active, please share. I might be interested in changing my setup.

 

[IlikeSA]

G-Code makes an SOC holster that is modular, with a two part holster. The holster itself comes with a smooth part for your pistol without a light, and undo 6 hex screws and place another kydex part on it and it holds the same pistol with the light.

I use the XST holster as a duty holster and am well pleased with it. It is also modular in the fact that I can change both cant and has a quick detach so that I could move it from strong side to vest, to drop leg, should I wish.

 

[JTQ]

Active or passive retention? If active, please share. I might be interested in changing my setup.

It is passive. I still can't recall the maker, but it sits in my memory because in a thread similar to this, somebody came up with one after I scoffed that there was one. I'm not a light on a holstered gun guy, so it wasn't important enough for me to actually remember the maker. Sorry.

 

[herrwalther]

It is passive. I still can't recall the maker, but it sits in my memory because in a thread similar to this, somebody came up with one after I scoffed that there was one. I'm not a light on a holstered gun guy, so it wasn't important enough for me to actually remember the maker. Sorry.

There are several that come to mind. T rex arms makes several light bearing kydex holsters. White Hat holsters is a hybrid style that makes holsters for quite a few different lights.

 

[JTQ]

There are several that come to mind. T rex arms makes several light bearing kydex holsters. White Hat holsters is a hybrid style that makes holsters for quite a few different lights.

I'm not sure you're following the original question I was answering, which was - is there a holster designed for a gun with a mounted light that works with the light not mounted.

From T.Rex Arms FAQ page...

https://trex-arms.com/contact/#_weapon-lights_light-compatibility

• If I get a light-compatible holster, will it retain without the light?
  No. The retention on a light-compatible holster is built around the weapon light – without it, the gun will not retain adequately.

 

[Doc7]

I have modified the retention on my crossbreed (kydex) with a heat gun until I could do a cartwheel / play with kids on flor without it falling out. Couldn't one just reshape any such holster so it captures the (front) of the trigger guard like a typical non-light holster does? The trigger guard will be in the same place light on or off?

 

[JTQ]

Couldn't one just reshape any such holster so it captures the (front) of the trigger guard like a typical non-light holster does? The trigger guard will be in the same place light on or off?

The light comes right up to the trigger guard and is wider than the trigger guard.

If I'm understanding what you're saying, I suppose you could use a heat gun every time you went from mounted light to unmounted light, but I don't think that is what the OP is looking for. I also don't know enough about kydex to know if repeated reshaping would weaken the material to the point of failure.

 

[Doc7]

Got it. I didn't realize the light geometry you explained above.

 

[herrwalther]

I'm not sure you're following the original question I was answering, which was - is there a holster designed for a gun with a mounted light that works with the light not mounted.

I wasn't. I was going off what you said in post #5 about concealment holsters that can accept lights. Not staying on the original post topic.

I am not aware of any. And I doubt the ALS does retention with or without a light attached.

I do want to correct this though. I was talking with a local PD officer at work today. He uses an ALS holster (I think its a 6360, I don't know the models well.) It fit his duty weapon (M&P) without a light. The only notice was it sort of wobbled in before locking in place. But it didn't pull the trigger with the light off the weapon, so that is good.

 

[Zerodefect]

Is really too hard to just get 2 holsters? Or two pistols? I gave up on juggling and have two Glock 23's, one for night, one for day, with suitable sights on each. A holster for each. No compromise.

Check out Ravens, Bravo, KC for your night holster, Crossbreed for your day IWB.

 

[JTQ]

I wasn't. I was going off what you said in post #5 about concealment holsters that can accept lights. Not staying on the original post topic.

Post #5 was in regard to the original subject which was answering a question you had about my post #2. There is at least one light capable concealment holster that will work with or without a light attached. I just cannot remember the maker.

If you just want a light capable concealment holster, there are dozens available. My point is there is at least one concealment holster that will work with or without the light mounted.

 

[herrwalther]

Post #5 was in regard to the original subject which was answering a question you had about my post #2. There is at least one light capable concealment holster that will work with or without a light attached. I just cannot remember the maker.

I was reading post #5 as you couldn't think of a light bearing concealment holster, so I threw out companies I know about who make them. Minor tangent of topic.

Is really too hard to just get 2 holsters? Or two pistols? I gave up on juggling and have two Glock 23's, one for night, one for day, with suitable sights on each. A holster for each. No compromise.

Personally if those are the options 2 holsters are easier to manage if setup correctly for a duty or carry belt. An even better option would be to have one weapon that works fine for day and night shoots like keeping a flashlight on your weapon and not worry about a second holster.

 

[Zerodefect]

A Surefire XC1 is no wider than a Glock. No reason you couldn't carry one on a pistol day or night. A couple onces of weight maybe, but it doesn't turn a Glock into a lead 1911 or anything.

I carry my 23/XC1 in a Bravo holster. But I could toss my Crossbreed Supertuck in the oven and refit it for a light.

 

[mcmurry]

Why doesn't someone make a kit so you make your own holster? I mean if there are kits to pour lowers for an AR, and even get kits to build an AR, why doesn't someone make kits for holsters?

 

[Zerodefect]

knifekits.com has a kydex press, kydex drills, kydex rivet tool (simple hammer style), chicago screws, and kydex. I suggest .090 Kydex now.

You'll also need a toaster oven, dremel tool, vertical table bench grinder with a cotton like polishing wheel (for smoothing edges), and the plastic belt loops from Bravo or Ravens.

I have all of the above, but I rarely make holsters due to low prices right now on holsters. I still make tool holsters and cell phone holsters though.

 

[TheRyno865]

This is the exact model that I carry on duty everyday.
Model 7377 7TS™ ALS® Concealment Belt Slide Holster

It will retain both with and without a light without a problem. I have carried it for almost 3 years now and you couldn't pay me to change to another one.