IDPA and IWB?

[aguyindallas]

First...is it within the rules to shoot IDPA with an IWB holster?

Second...does anybody do it?

 

[Correia]

Yes and Yes.

 

[Jim Watson]

True, but you must be very careful while holstering a loaded gun repeatedly during a match. Using an IWB with reinforced top so it stays open helps.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

See pp..29-30 of the rulebook easily found on the IDPA web site

A legal IDPA holster MUST fall within one of the following
four categories AND meet all criteria following.

A. Inside the Waistband (IWB) Style.
This design carries the handgun inside the pants and belt and
typically has a hook or loop that attaches to the belt on the outside
of the holster. This design carries the handgun the closest to the
body of all designs and is ideal for wear with a short tail jacket or
vest. It usually carries the handgun with the muzzle rearward
(rearward cant). The tension on the handgun is regulated by belt
tightness. The Milt Sparks Summer Special and the Galco RoyalGuard typify this design.
ALL VERSIONS OF THE IWB STYLE HOLSTER ARE APPROVED FOR IDPA COMPETITION.

Holsters:
A. Must be designed for concealed carry and suitable for all
day continuous wear.
B. Must be worn on a standard belt of no more than 1 ¾” width
that must pass through the belt loops on the shooter’s pants.
C. Must fully cover the trigger of the firearm.
D. Must carry the firearm in a neutral (vertical) or muzzle rear
cant, but have no adjustable cant backpieces. Holster cant that
is adjustable by removing bolts and repositioning the backpiece
is allowed. Exception: IWB style holsters do not have to meet
this particular criterion.
E. Must hold the firearm with enough tension to allow the
wearer to complete normal daily tasks without fear of losing
the weapon.
F. Can have no offset backpieces and/or belt slots. The holster
may not offset away from the belt and/or body. No gap is
permitted in the following areas:
1. From the body to the inside of the belt.
2. From the outside of the belt to the inside of the
backpiece and/or backside of the holster.
3. From the outside of the backpiece to the inside of
the holster.
If you look through the belt slot area of the holster with it on
the belt/body, you should not be able to see any daylight. If
you can see through this belt tunnel area, the holster is not
approved.
Holster/backpiece must be constructed of “normal thickness”
common holster making materials, no filler is allowed to hide
an offset. In simple terms, the back of the holster must be held
tightly against the outside of the belt for proper concealed carry
(for questions, refer to #1 above and re-read the “Purpose”
section in the front of this rulebook).¹
G. Must be constructed of normal thickness common holster
making materials (leather, Kydex, plastic, nylon, etc.).
H. May not position the firearm where the breech face (autos)
or rear of the cylinder (revolvers) is below the center of the
belt. NO drop loops are permitted.³ Holsters for females may
position the breech face of a pistol or rear of the cylinder of a
revolver up to 1 ½” below the center of the belt.
NOTE: IWB style holsters are exempt from this criterion.
I. Must hold the firearm positioned on the body so an object of
¾”width cannot pass between the shooter’s body and the inside
of the firearm when the shooter is standing straight and
upright.²
J. Must be positioned on the belt in a location that will keep the
center of the trigger pad behind the centerline 4 of the body.

As noted supra wearing an IWB holster that is inadequately reinforced for reholstering may be a nuisance and however stiff it starts out wearing an IWB holster without the firearm might compress the holster mouth.

 

[frankt]

Yes IWBs are legal and some shooters do use them. Not very many in the matches I shoot in, maybe one in fifteen or twenty.

The main reason is due to the number of draws and reholsters that are required.I have had to reholster four times in one stage before. It is just easier,less hassle and maybe a little safer to use an OWB during a match.

 

[aguyindallas]

I have only shot one match. My thought is that I want to shoot with what I carry, or as close to it. I carry a Glock in a CTAC. Its Kydex, so it does help with it being firm and easier to reholster compared to some leather or nylon stuff.

In the 4 stages that I shot at my first match, we did not holster at all during the stages.

 

[HSMITH]

I use a Blade Tech IWB, great holster.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I shoot with my C-TAC on, because that's what I carry as well. It doesn't make much sense to me to use a setup different than what you carry, depending on your goals in joining IDPA.

OWB would be handy a lot of the time, though. What gets old for me is having to make sure my shirt is re-tucked around my holster after every round.

 

[HighVelocity]

I have a bladetech iwb that I was considering using in a match. I don't carry OWB in the summer so I figured it might be good practice.
I saw one shooter at the last match using a kydex IWB (don't know which make) and he did quite well.

 

[aguyindallas]

I am going to give it a shot before I hook up on another piece of kydex.

Good thing I bought the "slide" model of the CTAC for my Glocks...fits all bbl lengths.

 

[faustulus]

I used a blade-tech IWB for years in IDPA. It isn't as fast, but I wasn't good enough for it to matter

 

[tarrigoni]

I use a Threat Solutions UCR w/ my Glock 19. It works great for me.