Does the paddle holster have a place in CC?

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19-3Ben

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I've tried several paddle holsters (mostly form Fobus, and I believe Blackhawk).
They stick out away from the body. As part of their design, they HAVE to stick out from the body.
Pancake holsters, OTOH by their very nature, pull the gun in close to the body.

Gun close to body= Concealed
Gun away from body = printing.

That being said, why are paddle holsters so popular? It is for the OC crowd, or gun games? Or do people actually use them for concealed carry?

Of course IWB holsters are the closest to the body. But I'm just talking about outside the waistband holsters. (trying to keep it as more of an apples to apples comparison).
 
There are a lot of different body shapes and no single correct answer to holster choice. That's why many of us have at least a couple of holster for each weapon.

Paddles are great for open carry, field, range and games...and sometimes even for CCW depending on the season or even year round depending on your usual style of dress.

I for one, hate IWB holsters and will do almost anything to avoid having to use one...thus driving my dress to allow pocket carry for most CCW needs. I wear carpenter jeans and cargo shorts at home for comfort and my dress work trousers are tailored anyway, so I have my tailor do his magic to conceal any of my several CCW firearms. Never been made yet.
 
I had the same problem with my early choice of paddle holsters. I started with Fobus for the money, went to Blackhawk from the reviews, and ended up with a Safariland 5188. It's the most comfortable paddle holster I have ever owned. It is not the most comfortable concealed carry holster ever but it's great for what it is. I am required to carry at work and we are not concerned about concealment so I opted for a paddle due to the industrial environment.
 
I use my paddle holster for executive protection work. It is easy to draw from while wearing a suit. It is not the most concealable but while in that mode that is not my main concern.
 
i like mine when im out hunting. easy to take on/off and if i fall and it breaks or is damaged, im only out $20. as far as cc, i have only used it when im wearing a duster, but other than that, i have better options.
 
They are popular because they are CHEAP.
They may work for some people, if there is a willingness to dress around the gun to the point of wearing the photographer's vest of tacticalness or a blazer/jacket all the time.

I for one, hate IWB holsters and will do almost anything to avoid having to use one...thus driving my dress to allow pocket carry for most CCW needs.
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I'm the opposite. I hate crap sticking off of my belt, and like it held in close. I value my pocket space, I'm carrying enough crap already.
(keys, phone, wallet, pocketknife, flashlight, and whatever I need for the exact day/trip)
Once I got over the strangeness of sticking a gun into my pants it became natural and comfortable.
Of course:
-I don't even touch the cheapie holsters, I just order a SuperTuck for anything I'm planning on packing
-I don't waste my time with off the shelf belts, I went straight to BeltMan before my permit had even arrived
-I buy handguns with an eye towards IWB carry in the first place

For open carry, I might go paddle, but I'd rather use a belt-slide or pancake type.
(OK, I'd REALLY like a bridgeport rig, but don't know how to set it up for a semiauto)
Speculation on OC is academic though, I haven't felt the need for OC yet, and unless some public-service event comes through, I don't see OC being anything but accidental.
 
The three advantages of the paddle holster are: they are more comfortable than most other concealment belt rigs, they are easy on and off without half undressing, and they work with virtually any size belt.

That's a real advantage if you are working plainclothes and need to take your holster off in the office for security reasons or just general comfort. I have found most models conceal pretty well under a suit coat - almost on par with a pancake style. The recent use of kydex for the paddles has been a big plus, too: some of the other paddle materials used before could break under hard use.

They are popular because they are CHEAP.
Click to expand...

A good quality leather holster on a paddle will set you back easily as much as a belt holster.
 
The draw back to ease of putting on and taking off is that in my experience its easy to fall out of your belt when you are doing day to day things. I always wear my CC stuff around the house for a few days to see if its going to print or other issues before I take it out on the street. The paddle holster that I had printed very badly and after sitting for a while would work its way out of my pants and would need to be adjusted when I stood up. For me thats too much to deal with.
IWB is how I carry with a good belt designed for CC.
 
I use one during the winter months. Concealment isn't a problem with the different coats, jackets and sweat shirts I wear.
 
The draw back to ease of putting on and taking off is that in my experience its easy to fall out of your belt when you are doing day to day things. I always wear my CC stuff around the house for a few days to see if its going to print or other issues before I take it out on the street.
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The problem I had was that it came out with the gun when I drew it.
Click to expand...

just like any other holster you'd buy for serious use, you shouldn't go cheap when buying a paddle holster...different models have different uses

i'm a huge fan of the paddle holster and i've never had one come out when drawing(not even an old Safariland 5181) and certainly not when just moving around. i would suspect that the problem might be belt related...either non-use of one or wearing it too loose. the main advantage of the paddle holster, for me, is the infinite placement options on the belt regardless of belt loops...you just fine the perfect place, tighten your belt and it just stays.

i use the Fobus Paddle holsters (i have a whole drawer full) for easy slip on going to work and for casual range use.

the Uncle Mike's Paddle holster is a cheap loaner for students at classes

the Blackhawk CQC Serpa and Safariland ALS Paddle holsters are great for training classes and casual concealed carry as well as light Duty or Open carry use where you might want a higher degree of passive retention

for serious CCW, my choice is the Comp-Tac Settable Cant Paddle holster. it carries the butt of the gun high and tight to the body, yet allows a very fast draw.

all of my holsters are securely retained on the belt and don't slide around after initial adjustment. the Blackhawk, Safariland and Comp-Tac do require that i undo my belt and button of my pants to remove...maybe i'm getting hefftier
 
When I bought my Springfield XDM .40, it came with the "XD Gear" briefcase, including a little black plastic paddle holster.

I never thought I would have a use for it. But recently, I brought out my XD40 subcompact, and tried the combo out. It does push the grip of the gun out about an inch away from the belt. Though not ideal for ultra-concealed carry, it positions the little gun perfectly for fast and accurate draw and reholstering.

So I just started using this combo while doing yard work at my parent's country property. If I'm raking in the front yard, and the occasional neighbor drives by, a t-shirt hangs over and hides the gun sufficiently. But it's comfortable enough to get on and off a yard tractor, move around doing manual labor, etc. Things that I just can't do comfortably with an IWB.

So for a short-barreled gun, with a sufficient cover garment, a solid paddle holster can work miracles in the comfort and usability departments, especially when doing something very active all day. I'd never wear this combo out on the town, as I'd get made instantly. But for just keeping your weapon out of site while out in the yard, hiking, bumming around the house, etc., it works well.
 
Gun close to body= Concealed
Gun away from body = printing.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you are wearing. I have a Don Hume paddle for a Sig 239 that I like a lot. Fits real tight on the belt and has a couple of barbs to keep from pulling up.

Works great under a loose shirt or jacket.
 
I dont like em, they are goofy silly in my opinion. OWB or IWB the rest are... just hokey.

Its not that hard to put a OWB holster on.
 
I have been using the Fobus products (except for the roto-holster, that seems to project pretty far) for the better part of 15 years. I have not had any problems with concealing. The presentation is rapid, and have never had the whole holster some out with the gun, except when I want it to.
 
I have no problems at all concealing a full sized Sig under an untucked shirt with a Serpa cqc, but that's probably because of my body size. I'm skinny (135-150 lbs), with very broad shoulders. If I don't bend down, its not very noticable.
 
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