How to find the perfect holster?

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CubDriver

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I am looking to purchase my first carry holster. I am kind of overwhelmed by the possible selection. I have pretty much settled on a leather IWB or OWB of some sort. How did you get from this point to owning the one you like? I am willing to make an investment in a good holster, but as a student I can’t afford to buy one after another until I have tried them all. Are there stores that you can try different models? If so do you know of any in the Portland/Salem Oregon area?

Thanks in advance,
CubDriver
 
IWB is a good choice, but only if you've got an extra hole or two on your belt. For leather, I like the Milt Sparks stuff, but depending on your preferences and pistol you should check out Mitch Rosen or Eric Larsen (sp).
 
I bought one after the other and spent over $700 till I found one that:

Didn't rub me raw
Could be worn in hot weather
Didn't poke my internal organs
protected the gun.
Was easy to draw from
Easy to reholster,
Doesn't print
Doesn't flop around
Doesn't catch on chairs
Can be worn while sitting standing and reaching
Can be worn with different styles of clothing
Will be appropriate with the desired carry gun

Whew! Tough criteria...all necessary.

I ended up with a S&W 642 in a Bianchi IWB on right hip.

I also carry a nylon uncle mikes IWB with a makarov in the same position when I might need more firepower.

Luckily I was able to sell the failed holsters and make a decent profit on Ebay.



Failed holsters:

Bianchi shoulder rig -impractical

Pager pal -plain stupid if you have any stomach at all

MOB Small of back flops and catches on stuff

Beltster- pretty good but you lose a pocket and it doesn't feel very secure after a few months of wear.

Paddle holster- looks like a cantaloupe strapped to your waist

Outside waistband high ride- very comfortable but prints and you can't reach for theings on high shelves unless you are wearing a shirt that goes to your knees.

Hope this helps
 
http://www.masterofconcealment.com

Safari's are nice. This is the ULTIMATE WEBSITE for holsters!!! http://www.masterofconcealment.com/
gangster.gif
 
i was EXTREMELY lucky... my friend gave me a Galco Jak-Slide holster the day i got my CCW permit, and i tried it and loved it... i carry anything and everything in it, from a NAA Black Widow, to a Smitty 4506, a H.S. Double-Nine Longhorn, a Ruger MK1 pistol, and they all fit, and stay put...

I have since bought and tried a few others (always quality brands) but go back to the old Galco...

all you can really do is try them out until you find one you like...
 
CubDriver,

Check out what I had to say, here.

http://www.tedblocker.com/gallery.html In the letter titled "So comfortable I forget it's there"

I don't write letters to people very often to compliment them on good work and friendliness. I posted this in a forum and told them about it and they asked if they could use it.

They have a showroom at their place in Tigard and you will be surprised by how accomadating they are.

Give them a call, visit their web site and go see them. They are truly nice folks with a great product.

Let us know what you decide.

DM
 
Basically cub, as noted, you're going to want to try various different styles and makes of holsters to see what works for you. Thanks to the multitude of variance in the human body, there is no single carry method or holster design that is right for everyone. It depends on your preferences and your body.

For me, it took 8 years of trial and error, but when I finally bought my Milt Sparks VM2, I quit looking. A friend was looking for an IWB holster for his 1911 and I loaned the VM2 to him. It didn't ring any bells for him, and he wound up with a Ken Null holster that gets the job done for him, but chafes me something fierce.

I will say this though, just like scopes, you get what you pay for in a holster. I've known people that toted pistols for years in cheap mass-market holsters and didn't know what they were missing in comfort until they finally got their hands on a decent semi-custom or custom holster. You might get by with a cheap Uncle Mikes or Galco if you're going to be carrying maybe once or twice a week for a few hours at a time. BUT. If you're going to be dedicated to carrying a gun for 8+ hours a day, everyday, then you really owe it to yourself to check out some of the models from the top makers.
 
+1 on the galco

I carried one with a 1911 for a while and liked it although it was not perfect for me.
 
I agree with Marinetech, what works for one may not work for another , and usually , you get quality in leather for a little more cash .

I've bought about 40 holsters , and generally found that the best makers have a solution that will work for many folks if not most. I include but am not limited to , Alessi , Brommeland, Bulman Gunleather , DelFatti, Null, Sparks.

Of course I have my own favorites , and I'm going to suggest an OWB and an IWB . For an OWB masterpiece by the living master of holstermaking , Lou Alessi , get a CQC-S . They are a bargain at about $80 . My current favorite IWB is Josh Bulman's PDL holster . I prefer it to some better known favorites primarily due to it's thin profile and wide footprint , which result in all day comfort for me ...Tom

www.bulmangunleather.com

[email protected]
 
CubDriver said:
I am looking to purchase my first carry holster. I am kind of overwhelmed by the possible selection. I have pretty much settled on a leather IWB or OWB of some sort. How did you get from this point to owning the one you like? I am willing to make an investment in a good holster, but as a student I can’t afford to buy one after another until I have tried them all. Are there stores that you can try different models? If so do you know of any in the Portland/Salem Oregon area?

Thanks in advance,
CubDriver
Click to expand...

Hello there fellow Oregonian.

How are you planning to use the holster? Concealed carry, range carry, etc? If concealed carry is a possibility then I strongly suggest that you buy a quality IWB holster. If not, then consider a quality pancake holster. Don't forget that you need a very, very good belt to pull off carrying a gun, any gun.

I do not know of any store in the Portland/Salem/metro area that has a stock of holsters available for trying on.
 
Holster

I've had Alessi belt slides for six handguns, great price, great quality.

Carry a vintage Dick Special day to day, crossdraw. great holster.
 
I'm amazed that I'll be the first to suggest looking at the Milt Sparks Versa-Max II.

VM-2_small.jpg

Photo reproduced with permission from http://www.miltsparks.com/


I've owned many hundreds' of dollars worth of IWB and OWB CCW holsters -- and now have only three left.

Milt Sparks VM-2 (C) for my Sig P220
Milt Sparks VM-2 (H) for my Sig P245
Milt Sparks VM-2 (H) for my 1911

Very comfortable and well-made, but a bit pricey. You should be able to find one, in cowhide, for about $130 shipped from a reseller (e.g. http://www.lightningarms.com/ or http://www.topgunsupply.com/ ). Otherwise -- expect to wait about 6mos to a year from Milt Sparks directly. The $20 savings is not really worth the wait IMHO.

One legitimate reason to buy direct is if you want to customize, e.g. sharkskin, special colors, etc.

Have a great one!
Rich
 
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