Adventures in CC

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gobsauce

gobsauce

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I recently got my LTC, and now I need holsters for CC. So far, I've made these and really don't like them. Maybe I'll just not carry. IMG_20210807_181148606.jpg IMG_20210807_181200012.jpg IMG_20210807_181221722.jpg IMG_20210807_181317029.jpg

Since they fit my Zastava M70, they naturally fit my Type-54. Dunno, maybe I just need to find he right position, but I really don't like CC holsters. Could be I'm too fat off the front, not gonna lie.

How did y'all go about finding the right holster (s)?
 
sparkyv said:
Those are fine leaterwork examples. Getting used to CC may take time, and may take extra determination or motivation.
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Thank you!

Well, what was your process? Did you find something you like and just stick to it?
 
Very nice work on those holsters, @gobsauce . :thumbup:

Those guns are a bit heavy compared to the modern polymer or aluminum framed offerings, which means your personal "break in" period may be longer than it would be with something lighter and smaller.

My first daily carry gun was an aluminum framed 5-shot revolver weighing about 17 ounces empty.
 
gobsauce

Your leather making skills are obviously very good so I can't find fault with your craftsmanship. What is it that you don't like about your own holsters? Is it in the overall design, quality of the leather you're using, or you just can't find find a spot on your waistline that you're comfortable with? Or is it as TarDevil asked: are you using a good sturdy gun belt to help secure the holster and hold it close in to your body?
 
Those look great. But won't work for me, at all. The finest leather makers out there are nothing but junk to me.

Try kydex, and a thin polymer pistol. Like a Crossbreed Supertuck and a Glock48. Bigfoot belts.

I burned through thousands of dollars before finding this combo that works well for me.
 
@chicharrones The guns are heavy, I'll admit, but I don't own anything light. The other iron I own is a model 10-5.

@bannockburn | @TarDevil The belt I use is a heavy duty work belt, but I'm in the process of making a new belt anyways. It's made of 9-10oz leather, really heavy and sturdy stuff.

I don't like having the irons being held close and tight on my body, it's the doctrine imposed on me by my old man (served in '86 in Afghanistan). I'm used to lower, field holster type of things.

@Zerodefect | @sparkyv Assuming my buckle is 12 , I tried IWB around 1,maybe to 1:45, and didn't like it much. For the black holster, as much as I dislike this type of holster , I enjoyed having it between 4-5. But I still don't find it particularly comfy. have a kydex sheet, mostly since nobody has an M70 holster, but I don't think I'll like it much. Still, I'm gonna give it a try. I dunno how to feel about you calling the finest leather makers "junk", but I think I get what you're tryna convey.
 
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Yeah, you get my point.

My Crossbreed Supertuck goes over my kidney at 5:00. 3-4 o'clock would have to be OWB, like a Ravens, KT, or Bravo Concealment syle.

Knife kits.com has kydex and rivets. Crumpets and such. Hardest part is getting the right parts. I use Ravens or Crossbreed loops. I gave up making my own loops.
 
How did y'all go about finding the right holsters? You can get suggestions from others here but in the end it's often trial and error unfortunately. That's why many of us have a drawer full of holsters. Carrying is more comforting than comfortable. Good luck, keep trying
 
stonebuster said:
You can get suggestions from others here but in the end it's often trial and error unfortunately. That's why many of us have a drawer full of holsters.
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Yep, and yep.
And the good news is you keep collecting as you age, body form changes and aching backs demand an alternative method.
Be flexible.
 
@stonebuster | @TarDevil

Man, don't say that. I can't really afford to do that, there's a reason I'm trying to get this down to a science. My poor, 21st century university student ass is gonna pay 5k this semester to take Electromagnetics, Discreet Math, Circuits and Digital Systems & Design.

I do appreciate everyone's input. Hopefully I'll find something, and maybe I'll let y'all know what I found to work for me.
 
I have a final request, if y'all don't mind. If it's not too much of an inconvenience, can you show me what you currently use for CC?
 
For many of us, it really was trial and error. That's why there are so many references on THR to the proverbial "drawer of holsters." It's not cheap, unfortunately. With that said, I've mostly settled on an OWB pancake as my go-to carry setup. Specifically, I use a DeSantis Speed Scabbard, but I'm hoping to upgrade that when the time to replace it comes along. The good news, @gobsauce, is that it looks like your leatherworking skills are sufficient to make it yourself. Two quick points: (1) Yes, you need a good, sturdy belt. (2) If you wind up making a holster yourself, consider stiffening the mouth of the holster (maybe by adding an extra leather 'plate' on the outside), to make reholstering easier.
 
The first thing to realize is usually carrying a gun is not as comfortable as not carrying a gun. Even a little gun, in a great holster, on a great belt won't be as comfortable as not carrying a gun. You just have to get used to carrying a gun.
gobsauce said:
Well, what was your process? Did you find something you like and just stick to it?
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gobsauce said:
Man, don't say that. I can't really afford to do that, there's a reason I'm trying to get this down to a science.
Click to expand...
It is easier if you use common guns and common holsters. There are reasons why these items are popular.

For instance, like them or not, Glock, in G17/G19/G26/etc., are very common guns that a lot of folks have successfully carried. Likewise, nearly every holster maker produces a holster for those guns, and the carry community has, for the most part, sorted out the good holsters from the bad holsters.
 
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gobsauce said:
I have a final request, if y'all don't mind. If it's not too much of an inconvenience, can you show me what you currently use for CC?
Click to expand...
Sig 226 in a Galco pancake usually worn at 3 o'clock, Shield 9mm in a Vedder IWB kydex, SP101 357 IWB Bianchi suede and Model 10 in Bucheimer "Concealer" holster. IMG_1869.JPG IMG_1870.JPG IMG_1871.JPG IMG_1872.JPG IMG_1889.JPG IMG_1589.JPG
 
Make a double thickness belt glued and sewn together flesh side to flesh side. The opposing layers work with each other to impede movement of the belt much better than a single piece of leather.
 
For the past 6 or 7 years I pocket carried a Ruger LC9s in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. I only have, probably, two pants that are too tight for the LC9. This carry method was dictated by an aging and deteriorating back. If IWB is necessary I use a Hidden Hybrid, OWB the pistol goes in a Triple K pancake.
Two weeks ago the back was surgically corrected so I'm hoping to return to my sweet SR9c which I usually carried OWB in a Zlogonje pancake holster at 4 o'clock. On the rare occasion I needed to tuck, I carry either in a Crossbreed Supertuck or High Noon Final Verdict (my preference). Also carred at 4 o'clock.
 
I guess I got lucky. I carry a P365, either pocket carry in a Nemesis holster, OWB Urban Carry Lock Leather. My belt is a Nextbelt. Got all three right on the first try, no drawer full of holsters for me.
 
Niiiiice leather/holster work, gobsauce! You have real talent! :)


gobsauce said:
How did y'all go about finding the right holster (s)? ...
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It took my 2nd CC holster to hit the jackpot.

My first holster was quite like the top one in the OP. My boss really liked the pistol (Walther PP) and I finally sold it to him along with that holster (which he also liked).

I had learned a few things about carrying by that time. With that first holster I did not feel comfortable moving, if you know what I mean. I could not vault over a counter (think hotel Front Desk) without first placing a hand on the pistol (so forget any vault requiring both hands) ... and it was too far from my body to always be invisible under clothing. The way it hung, I was constantly aware of it.

I immediately purchased a replacement pistol (Walther PPK/s, this time), a heavier/wider/thicker belt and ordered a holster that would keep the pistol securely against my body at ~4 o'clock; a black leather pancake w/QR snap retention strap from Roy's Leather Goods of Magnolia, Arkansas.

Still have it and use it, sometimes. Heck, it's been about 45 years now. <sigh>

I have never had a better holster. It was held tightly to my body and "disappeared" under the jacket or untucked shirt. Unlike my .357 or .45s, I did not really notice the weight within a few minutes after donning it. With the Walther snapped in that holster I could run, jump, fight and handle people and that pistol was secure and not an encumbrance ... and right there if I needed it. :)
 
gobsauce said:
Oh... Oh my... Is that what y'all's holster drawer looks like? That's so many. I never expected that.
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Certainly some of us, but Paul Gomez was a professional pistol trainer and no doubt collected a bunch of holsters over a bunch of years. I assume he had some sent to him by holster makers to try out, and some are probably "failures" from students that he collected over the years. He probably also had several different models of handguns that needed different holsters.

On the other hand, let's say you had a simple Glock G19, a very popular gun supported by just about every holster maker. Your holster searching journey may look something like this...

You may start out with a Blade-Tech Classic so you could take a training class to learn to shoot the gun, and maybe for some sort of competition https://blade-tech.com/products/classic-owb?variant=6067252985884

Then you get a Dale Fricke Nehemiah so you can conceal carry the gun IWB, https://dalefrickeholsters.com/product/nehemiah-strong-side-carry/

Next you hear all the cool guys carry AIWB, so you give it a try with a JM Custom Kydex https://www.jmcustomkydex.com/p/AIWB.html

Then you think, maybe leather may be more comfortable so you get a Sparks 55BN https://www.miltsparks.com/products-55-bn.php

Then you think a pancake design may work better and get a Simply Rugged Cuda https://www.simplyrugged.com/ecomme...aled-Carry-Holster.cfm?item_id=407&parent=669

Next a leather IWB, and you hear horsehide is great so a Kramer #3 https://www.kramerleather.com/collections/iwb-gun-holsters/products/iwb-3-holster

Then you saw a fancy exotic leather holster on some forum and want to try a holster in monitor lizard skin from Andrews Leather http://www.andrewsleather.com/exotic/monitorLizard.html

You see the pattern. This generally doesn't happen overnight. It usually takes folks a few years to put this type of collection together, but it can be a common occurrence. Of course, that's only talking about a holster collection for a G19. If you add a 1911, or a revolver, or SIG P365, now you're running down a similar path, but most folks have now taken what they learned in their first gun search and apply it to subsequent purchases, and some holster designs get skipped on subsequent searches.
 
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