Best holster for CW carry when wearing jeans?

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Last questions, I promise. (For now, LOL)

I am going to start off by buying a good belt and a pancake holster.
I like the idea of the ones with the snaps for easy removal if it keeps it as close to your side. It seems like it would be nice for when you are in the car etc, when it is in the way.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a snap or slot holster?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of Kydex holsters? I know nothing about it.
Are they soft inside like leather for minimal holster wear on pistols?

Thanks again!
 
What are the advantages/disadvantages of having a snap or slot holster?
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Slot style holsters are a hair less bulky as there is no need for two layers of leather and a snap at the attachment points.

The benefits of the snap type would seem obvious: quick and hassle-free removal and re-arming if you are frequently in places where you must not carry.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of Kydex holsters? I know nothing about it.
Are they soft inside like leather for minimal holster wear on pistols?
Click to expand...
Leather and kydex both cause wear on the gun. Leather tends to wear the finish over a larger portion of the gun as it is more flexible, and can capture and hold grit. Kydex wears a few very specific contact points instead of the whole surface, but does so more aggressively. It also has the benefit of retaining less dirt/grit and being easily washable.

Kydex is more easily formed than leather and can be molded to the form of the gun without the hand-work required to make a high-quality leather holster. (That means they can be a little cheaper, sometimes.) It also is far more rigid meaning that a thinner and simpler kydex holster is less likely to collapse when the pistol is withdrawn (important for re-holstering) and that they tend to provide a more "positive" draw release. Speaking in broad generalities, guns tend to "click" into a kydex holster where they ride in more of a friction fit in a leather one.

Again, very generally, many users prefer leather for carry holsters as it tends to be more flexible and comfortable. Many users (even the same ones!) prefer Kydex for competition uses for a fast and highly predictable draw stroke, and the surety of that "click" retention fit. But there is a lot of cross-over and conflicting opinion on those subjects.
 
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Leather, especially new leather, creaks when you wear it. Kind of like a new pair of dress shoes. And like shoes, it'll break in and quiet down. Kydex doesn't creak.

Leather is quieter on the draw. If you need to perform a surreptitious draw, you won't be able to do that easily with Kydex.

If you bump the holster against something - lean against a wall, bump a chair, whatever - leather muffles the sound a bit so it could be mistaken for something else, like a phone. Kydex will have a distinct clunk that doesn't sound like it could be mistaken for much anything else.


Snaps? I do think slots are a bit more secure, stable and rigid on the belt, and have a slightly thinner profile. Unless you forsee taking the holster on and off much during the day, slots are just fine.
 
I think the easy-on/easy-off holsters may be a good idea for a lefty carrying strongside or a righty carrying crossdraw since that is a lot of belt to undo to get to the holster. However, for a righty carrying strongside, I think I could probably undo my belt and get the holster off easier and faster than some of the easy-on/easy-off models. Of course if I'm using the Wilderness belt it may be a different story. It is a little more work with the velcro and threading all that extra belt.

In your earlier post about carrying at the hip or forward, one thing to consider is the cant of the holster. An FBI cant with the muzzle to the rear is better suited to carry at the hip or to the rear. A straight drop would be to your advantage if you plan on carrying at the hip or forward.

If you want a kydex holster with leather lining you can try Garrett Industries.
http://www.gimagclip.com/
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Ok, I am going to get a leather pancake with slots on a good leather belt.
I just need to decide if I want an FBI cant or not. That will be a personal preference depending were I decide to wear it. (hip or sightly to the front)

I also need to decide between black or brown holster.
I am getting a dark brown belt, most probably since it will go with anything I wear. I like the way the natural tan leather looks, but don't you think a black holster would hide/blend more natural with an all black gun?
 
Too weird.
Capp35 and I live in the same city,both own new PM9's and at the very same time we are looking for the same thing which is probably the non existent perfect holster.
JTQ,I just so happened to see a photo of a guy that was wearing a Raven Concealment Phantom right next to a Comp-Tac and was amazed how tight and close to the body it was compared to the other.
The Raven site does not go into enough detail for the prospective buyer imho but you said enough to help me understand it a whole lot better.
And it's priced right too!!
Sam1911,your description of the different types holsters and their rigging helped a lot too.
More!!
 
On the cheap side, with a little bit of trimming you might have some luck with KHolster. I've found that reducing the material on the leather backing (which doesn't void warranty) gives you a more comfortable and less detectable holster.
 
Capp35 said:
Thats the only thing I do not like with using a IWB holster, changing your wardrobe.
Maybe I am just a Novice, but when you buy a pair of jeans 2 sizes larger, what do you do when you come home? Take off your weapon, have baggy pants and tighten your belt? :)

If I can use a IWB with my current clothes, I will give it a try. Otherwise I am thinking of OWB or some other option.
This is my first time to try to carry full time, not just when I am feeling uncomfortable with my surroundings.

I need more input please.
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Why take your weapon off when you get home?

I carry a full size XDM 9 all day, every day in a Kholster IWB and it is by far the most comfortable and easily concealable holster I've ever used.

While I do buy my pants a little loose, honestly they still fit just fine without the holster in place.
 
I second that as well. Typically I'm a 29 (skinny sunuvagun, I know) but wearing 30-31 is perfectly comfortable and fits a Kholster just fine. As an added bonus, those sizes are easier to find! :p
 
Thanks Capp35 that was a really good link.
Also the fact is that those XD's,even the sub compact are as they say,fat,compared of course to our Kahrs and that holster set up really concealed the thing very well indeed.
I am definitely going to give this holster a really strong consideration.
The only rub is I *think* you have to pay extra for the other attachments and if so the holster could easily scale to the hundred dollar mark.
But then again it's well worth it if it keeps the gun from printing because we both well know in Texas concealed MEANS concealed.

To our more experienced carriers,I was also looking at the supplied links on the belts and have never liked wide belts and would never want a 1.5" belt and was wondering how well the 1.25" belts would do supporting a relatively light Kahr PM9??
Personally a belt of 1" would be more to my liking but I can deal with a 1.25" belt as I have yet to see a true gun belt that is an inch.
Anyway what a joy it will be to have a quality leather belt as I have actually gone through no less than two dress belts for work in less than five months because they are so stinking Chinese cheap POS BELTS!!
 
Hmmm... a 1" belt? A leather-working buddy of mine made a 1" gun belt (1/4" thick, two layers) for my son. But he's got a 20" waist and just turned six. :)

Will a narrow belt support a light gun? Sure. Better make sure it is as high quality as possible, but a good one probably will just fine.

Beltman has a page for 1-1/4" belts: http://www.thebeltman.net/bh114.htm

Now, one problem may be that most holsters have attachment points cut to fit wider belts (most will fit a 1-3/4" easily, perhaps 2"), and giving a half inch of slack in those slots might make it ride a little less securely than an arrangement where the holster fits the belt closely.

(Further, when you grab the gun and the holster rides up 1/2" before you start actually drawing.)

But it really might not be a problem for you -- and if you find a style you really like, many custom holster makers will build to whatever specification you give them.

And, if you switched to a style that is "modular" and/or has replaceable straps/hooks/loops, you could swap out for 1-1/4" ones easily.
 
Point well taken Sam.
I really had not thought about what the half inch difference might do or be like.
So much to take in and learn.
I do believe the Raven system has attachments for the 1.25 belts.
I will have to double check that of course because I have been reading so many holster websites the last few days that I am getting mush brain.
 
I just got my carry license. Been carrying a P3AT with the belt clip, covered by a shirt tail or light jacket. But I'm looking a LH holster to fit a CZ-82. Will probably get some kind of high-riding paddle holster if anybody makes one the right size.

But my main point is, some of use can't wear pants that are even 1 size too big because they'll fall off! I've got no butt (kind of like Hank Hill) and I have to wear pants that fit snug and wear my belt tight, so IWB is kind of out of the question. I did get a "last chance" belt to replace my worn out leather dress belt and that helped tremendously but not enough.

Wife says I need to get some suspenders. That might fix some of the previous posters' problems too.
 
Well, there are some VERY classy business attire style suspenders, if you could pull that off, but it helps to be Michael Douglas.
 
Can pancake holsters be worn on the side or are they only for behind the hip? I would like to find something that rides on my hip or maybe a few inches forward.
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Not everyone may agree, but for me it depends on the way the gun is held in the holster. Most "behind the hip" holsters are designed to hold the gun in a "butt forward" orientation (were the muzzle is angled backwards). This orients the grip to match the position of the hand when you reach behind for the gun.

For forward of the hip or "appendix" carry, I prefer the opposite or "muzzle forward" orientation of the gun, as this matches the angle of my hand when I draw the guns from this position.

YMMV.
 
I just purchased a Cuda holster for my CW9 from Simply Rugged. I also got the IWB straps for it, in case I want to carry IWB. Very good quality leather, sits tight on my body and well priced package, I highly recommend them.

2011-02-14205842.gif
 
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milq,how well does that Cuda do as an IWB holster?
How's the comfort?
Nice setup and I am interested in one now that I have seen yours and also SR's website.
This company got past me I think.
 
I wear the Crossbreed SuperTuck holster in everything, including jeans. It's by far the best holster I've ever owned. I can make my Five-seveN comfortable on my back, and it is not a small gun by any stretch of the imagination.
 
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