Help with Holsters

[drclark]

Hi,

I'm relatively new to handguns. I purchased my first (XD40) in July of this year. I am going to be attending a defensive pistol course where they will be teaching presentation from a holster.

I will be buying this holster primarily for the course. Ability to CCW is not really a concern as I am not a "well-connected" citizen of California. So a basic outside-waist-band holster will do fine. Shoulder & Thigh holsters are not allowed for this class.

The first question is kydex vs. leather? I have heard that certain leathers can cause accelerated corrosion (though I won't be storing the pistol in the holster). I'm currently leaning toward Kydex due the face I won't be using it on a day-to-day basis. I imagine kydex requires less care than leather.

The next question is paddle vs. belt holster. I really have no knowledge here. I imagine that paddle-style is more versatile since it essentially "clips" to the top of your pants like a giant paper-clip where as a belt holster has to be attached to your belt. It would seem to me that a paddle holster would be less confortable. The paddle-style also seems to feature an adjustable-cant which I assume means the angle of the pistol relative to vertical when in the holster.

Lastly, are there any particular brands that are recomended. I've been looking on xd-gear.com and they seem to carry bladetech, uncle-mikes, and fobus. From the pics they all look about the same but the bladetechs are about double the cost of the others ($55ish vs $25ish).

I definitely intend to try to do some local shopping to get a hands on feel for the different types before I buy.

thanks,
drc

 

[armoredman]

Best custom maker I have ever used - all my rigs are from him - http://www.imageseek.com/hbeleather/

 

[Car Knocker]

I'll second that about hbeleather. Eric's a great guy and turns out a great product!!

 

[GigaBuist]

I just got my GS Tuckable from HBE Leatherworks yesterday. Fits me like a freaking glove. I'm really impressed thus far with the design and workmanship The COM/COM2 design is also pretty popular on here it seems, so I might get one for another gun sometime soon.

http://kdholsters.com/ makes some good durable stuff too. I've only seen one example and I'm not an expert but it seems like his OWB design with a thumb-break would make a good "duty" holster. If I ever get myself a BBQ gun it's probably going to reside in one of his holsters.

Uncle Mike's paddle holsters, I've got one and it's actuallyl difficult for me to take off. Always gets hung up on some pocket lining or something it seems. A bit of "jiggle" when drawing too.

I've for a Fobus belt holster (straight drop, no frills, nothing fancy) too and it's okay. It's pretty cheap, but it'll hang onto the gun.

 

[diplomat]

I understand that this is a purchase for a specific purpose (class) but as you will be training with it and since you probably have the pistol to protect home and hearth, get a holster you can live with.
That said, and I may seem a bit extreme here, but if all hell breaks loose in your neighborhood one night and you feel the need to have your gun with you while you are home, you are going to have it in said holster, correct?
Get one that will move with you, sitting, standing, or here 's a thought, running.
Will your gun be in your holster when you stop running, squating, bending over? I ain't talking exercising here.
Here is what I recommend for a holster.
Best quality you can afford. Leather, reinforced mouth so you can reholster cleanly, thumb break retention device, belt loop security. Easy paddle is fine but it can also come off at the worst possible time.

 

[dairycreek]

Dear drclark

Let me join that which appears to be a bandwagon. I am also a very satisfied and very devoted customer of HBE Leatherworks. The accompanying pic is a custom variation that I had Eric make for my CZ RAMI.

It is basically a COM2 with clips instead of belt loops. Easy on and easy off and very, very stable. I recommend HBE without reservation. Good shooting

 

[DigMe]

DrClark,

I have an XD-9 subcompact and I like Comp-Tac's products. I have a C-TAC IWB holster for my XD and I used to have a kydex FBI slide paddle holster from them as well. Both are excellent in fit and build and both retained the gun very well. Comp-Tac makes holsters for the entire line of XDs. Another brand that a lot of XD owners seem to like is Tucker Gunleather. www.tuckergunleather.com

If you haven't already visited www.hs2000talk.com then stop by. It's a message board for XD Owners.

brad cook

 

[MrMurphy]

The Comp-Tac FBI paddle or Locking paddle will serve your needs for a training class, is very very stable on the belt and fast to draw from. If you decide to start shooting IPSC Limited or IDPA this holster will qualify as well.

A Fobus twin-mag holder will serve for ammo carrying.

 

[drclark]

Thank you for your opinions and recomendations. The holsters at HBE do look very nice.

Can anyone go into specific details of the pros/cons of leather vs kydex (or is this a 9mm vs .45-type debate where there are diehards on either side an it truly is a matter of personal preference?)

I was also hoping to hear any specific pros/cons about belt vs paddle/pancake attachment methods?

The reason I ask is the class specifically recomends a kydex holster and I was wondering why that might be. The class does not recomend a specific attachment type.

thanks
drc

 

[MrMurphy]

Kydex: less abrasion, faster to draw from, cannot rot or mold in humid enviroments.

Leather: For IWB (inside waistband) holsters, leather can be a bit more comfortable.

Kydex: thinner and lighter, cannot stretch out like leather eventually (after 10-15 years) will.


Leather: traditional.
Kydex: Always works, unless you literally rip it apart in a hand to hand fight.


Leather can be scuffed up, Kydex is harder (case in point, a cop I know was dragged across a parking lot atop his Safariland 6004 Kydex holster by a 300lb Mexican guy. All he got was a little scratch on it. Leather would have probably been destroyed by the road rash).

Kydex or plastic holsters are often cheaper (quality handmade Kydex is just as expensive as leather, but the Uncle Mike's and Fobus type holsters are usually $30 and all you really need for a training class).


Belt holsters: Once it's on, that's it. Good and comfortable for long wear all day.

Paddles: Some aren't quite as stable on the belt as a typical belt rig, but good for on/off a lot (detectives going into/out of a jail, etc). The Comp-Tac paddles are the most stable paddle rigs out there, and I've tried most of them. They also don't come off unless you want them to when the paddle is correctly placed inside the pants and you're wearing a belt.
For range work where you want the holster on at the range but nowhere else, the paddle is good. Belt rigs are for 10-15 hour days where it'll be on all day.

 

[JerryM]

MrMurphy has given good advice and info.

I recently bought a Comp-tac paddle for my Kahr P9. I ordered it by phone and got it within a week.

Give them a look.

Jerry

 

[drclark]

Thank you for the advice

Everyone, thanks for the help.

Thought I'd let you know I went with the comp-tac "set-able cant " holster.

It is a modular design that lets you adjust the cant angle as well as choose between belt and paddle mounting styles. I went with the belt option and I will most likely start out using 0 deg angle (straight drop). I suppose that I can order the paddle mounting kit later if I wish to try that style of attachment.

After the class, I'll try to post a short summary of my impressions/experiences with this holster.

drc

 

[another okie]

For your purposes a Kydex belt holster, open top, would probably be the best choice. There are lots of good ones. Your choice looks good. Very high riding holsters can be a little awkward to draw from.

 

[BobCat]

Question on lead time

Not to hijack this thread, but armoredman, GigaBuist, and dairycreek - approximately what was the lead time for a holster from Eric (HBE Leatherworks)? Was it weeks or months?

I've read many good things about HBE here and on CZForum, and want an IWB holster for my CZ75B. Seems like the right choice but I wonder how long it typically takes.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Purrrs,
BobCat

 

[Sawdust]

I placed an order with Eric in mid-September; L/T then was 6-8 weeks.

Just email him; very friendly and helpful.

HTH,

Sawdust

 

[Mulliga]

Woot! I just got my GS Tuckable from HBE. I have a CZ75B as well, and it's certainly a big gun to conceal, but the holster is top-notch and tough as a dump truck. Now I only need a nice gun belt...

 

[C. H. Luke]

In leather consider Lou Alessi or Milt Sparks.....

Kydex for OWB or IDPA, etc. have tried BT, C-Tac & others but find KyTac & Cen-Dex to be superb. Cen-Dex models can be had in 2-3+ ride heights to use for comp. or CCW, etc.

www.cen-dex.com