Fun with kydex- IDPA Rig (DIY)

[Livnoutdoorsxd9]

Hey guys,
I decided on shooting my first IDPA classifier next month so I needed some gear. I've got some experience working with kydex so I thought I'd try my hand at a holster and mag carrier

The back of the holster is .080 with a medium sweat shield. The loops are .125 kydex attached with Chicago screws and adjustable ride height. The front is .060 and I flared it out to help funnel the gun back in in the re-holster.

The mag carrier is .080 and has a screw to adjust the retention on the mags. Both pieces turned out above my expectations. Now I can practice my mag changes throughout the house!

Let me know what you think

 

[dab102999]

Very nice. I like that you took it up high enough to encapsulate the safty.

 

[Mauser lover]

That holster looks great!

Since you have some experience (obviously) with making kydex fit your gun, I was wondering if you could give me some details.

I am probably not going to start from scratch, but I need to get a holster to fit a Browning Hi-Power, but cannot find one at a decent price. I figured I would get a 1911 holster (very similar size) and fit the holster to the gun.

so, what do I need to do? What tips can you give me, or is it a trade secret? Any help is appreciated.

 

[JTQ]

Mauser lover wrote,
...but I need to get a holster to fit a Browning Hi-Power, but cannot find one at a decent price. I figured I would get a 1911 holster (very similar size) and fit the holster to the gun.

No doubt you could probably make a kydex holster cheaper than buying one, but are you saying you can find a kydex 1911 holster for less than a Hi-Power holster? I would suspect a Hi-Power holster would cost the same as a 1911 holster.

Raven Concealment http://www.ravenconcealment.com/hol...ular-holster/phantom-modular-holster-browning

Comp-Tac http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=66

Blade-Tech http://shop.blade-tech.com/owb-holster-c-1_23_24.html#.Uc96xxavswQ

Talon Tactical http://www.talontactical.com/belt-holster-autos-p-1129.html

These are all pretty reasonably priced. Don't cheap out on a holster for what is probably a $1,000 pistol.

 

[Sam1911]

That does look GREAT!

If I could make a couple of suggestions for your consideration:
1) I'd go ahead and grind up higher at the bottom to at least somewhat open up the muzzle area. Doesn't have to actually expose the muzzle, but should be open at the bottom to let dust, debris, and water fall out easily. The gun games are a rough-and-tumble business and letting grit and other foreign stuff fall clear is a very good idea.

2) The detail around the trigger and trigger guard is fantastic! I've done ones that were nearly so well molded, but the draw became insanely difficult. Is it actually a little looser than it looks or do you have 50 lbs of retention?

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Livnoutdoors,

That is really cool. I bought a raven concealment holster last year and since then have been thinking about tinkering around with kydex.

When I saw your belt loops I became very intrigued. My raven holster has the standard loops (pic here: http://www.ravenconcealment.com/qui...e-modular-accessories-standard-owb-belt-loops)

It seems to me that the loops you have would change the way the holster rides for the better. Did you make them also or buy them somewhere?

 

[jmorris]

I does look really good, care to share your methods in a photo DIY?

Only thing that might be a problem is that you'll have to be able to holster it with the safety off.

 

[Mauser lover]

I second the motion for a DIY photo tutorial!
JTQ, I was looking at a Blackhawk Sportster holster.
http://gunholsters.com/blackhawk-sportster-standard-cqc-holster
I am not really cheaping out on a holster, because I already have a good leather one. I just want something for fun.

 

[Livnoutdoorsxd9]

That does look GREAT!

If I could make a couple of suggestions for your consideration:
1) I'd go ahead and grind up higher at the bottom to at least somewhat open up the muzzle area. Doesn't have to actually expose the muzzle, but should be open at the bottom to let dust, debris, and water fall out easily. The gun games are a rough-and-tumble business and letting grit and other foreign stuff fall clear is a very good idea.

2) The detail around the trigger and trigger guard is fantastic! I've done ones that were nearly so well molded, but the draw became insanely difficult. Is it actually a little looser than it looks or do you have 50 lbs of retention?

1) Since the kydex doesn't make a 90 degree bend around the barrel, it leaves sort of a "tent" effect. That also leaves sort of an elliptical gap at the bottom to allow water and debris to pass through.

2) Initially, the retention was way too tight, but I didn't want to sacrifice the awesome definition (looks cool!) so I relieved the backside a little bit. Since I used the thinner kydex on the front, and the rivets are near the edges, it allows the kydex to flex open on the draw without excessive retention.

Jmorris- the kydex is molded so that the safety must stay ON. However, the gun does holster with it off.

As for the clips, I made them out of .125" kydex. The way I make them allows the belt to run at the top edge of the holster.

Stay tuned guys, I'll see what I can do for a step by step, but let me know if you have any specific questions. I'd be glad to help!