Retension strap - or no?

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P95Carry

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Overall - I favor no strap - I do not want anything that will impede the draw, tho I know folks with them reckon to be pretty slick breaking free. (I have a couple of rigs with straps - one is for the R9 - a belt slide.)

I do as a result want a rig where I can all but do a handstand (ha - used to - no more since arm got bust) ... and it stays put.

There are those who want the piece to be harder for a BG to wrestle into his possession - valid point but - for me, I would hope sufficient situational awareness would have me at very least with hand close, if not on gun.

So - your choices?
 
Concealed - no strap, already covered and hard to grab.
Open - strap, one more thing to help with retension if someone makes a grab.

I'm no expert, JMHO.
 
I used to think I'd want one with a retention strap. Once I got my IWB though I'm glad I didn't, no handstands for me. It'd just be one more thing in the way if I needed to get to my gun, especially if for some reason I decided to have it as a tucked IWB that day. Now if I was doing open carry I'd definitely want something with a strap though, because at least with IWB my side and belt tension help for retension.
 
Right now I have a kydex IWB that is so-so, but I have a Galco Fletch on order for my CZ for those times I may need more retention (as mentioned, open carry or whatever).
 
It Depends Upon The Type Of Strap..

As we all know, there are different types of holster straps. One type has the strap permanently attached to the back of the holster.. and has a snap at the front. The problem with this type is that it takes one hand to unsnap (release) the snap.. while the other hand pulls the handgun.

On the otherhand, if you're talking about a "thumb break", then this type of strap offers the best of both worlds. There's a actual strap for safety purpose.. but it offers the simplicity of one handed strap release and drawing the weapon.

FireStar_M40
 
I don't like anything that will get in the way of the draw, so I tend not to get them on my holsters. I have used them, though... I suppose each has their place. :)

How did you break your arm, Chris??? You doing okay?

Wes
 
The "Thumb Break" holster works for me. I carry my BullDog .44 in a Bianchi 5BHL. :)


:evil:
 
I don't own a holster with a retension strap and have never tried one. So far haven't seen the need. I carry both IWB and OWB and have never had a gun come loose (I don't do handstands though). Also something about the idea of that strap laying over the holster opening while reholstering bugs me but that is probably just lack of experience with one on my part.
 
depends on the situation... when out in the boonies, i definitely favor a strap, flap, or hammer loop of some sort. a lanyard often makes the trip as well
 
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Right now I have a kydex IWB that is so-so, but I have a Galco Fletch on order for my CZ for those times I may need more retention (as mentioned, open carry or whatever).
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The Galco Fletch had a bad reputation for cocked-and-locked carry. The retaining strap passes under the hammer, and the snap itself bears on the safety. After drawing my M1911 a few times and finding the safety OFF, I got rid of mine.

For IWB, which is how I usually carry, I prefer no strap -- in fact, I designed and made my own holster with a leather "button" or cam that forces the safety into the ON position.

For field carry, I like a retaining strap -- especially since I'm usually on horseback.
 
Sounds like someone is missing a business opportunity. Most people seem to dislike the strap for CCW. But in the bush, I can see it being a good idea. So perhaps someone needs to make a holster where you can remove, or better yet, store the strap out of the way. For regular day to day work, leave it be. Gotta scale a mountain? Pull out the strap, viola! Thumb break preferably.
 
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But in the bush, I can see it being a good idea. So perhaps someone needs to make a holster where you can remove, or better yet, store the strap out of the way.
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There are holsters made like this -- with removable retaining straps.

However, most CCW holsters aren't really good woods holsters. I carry a .45 in an IWB for concealment, and often carry it in a GI holster in the woods. (Since I have a couple of M1911s with .22 conversion kits, I carry that style pistol in the woods quite a bit.)

Similarly, I often carry a Colt M357 or Officer's Model Target in the woods(basically the same pistol, one in .357, the other in .22LR) with 6" barrels, or a Colt New Service with 7 1/2" barrel -- hardly concealment guns.
 
I'm just old fashioned and horribly out of touch.

I only buy holsters with thumb breaks except for those few that have a full flap.
After 30+ years of carrying I have determined, that for me, a thumb break is not a liability. It is an asset. I can draw just as fast with it and the peace of mind is well worth it.

But then what do I know? Almost all of my holsters are constructed of deceased quadraped epidermis.
 
I don't carry concealed (am going to take the class soon), so I only open carry while hunting.

I like retention straps because in thick brush and climbing over/under things the gun could easily work its way loose unless it was in something like a kydex molded holster.

When I get my CHP I'll get two holsters, a high riding OWB with thumb break and an IWB with no retention strap because being IWB gives enough tension for my piece of mind.
 
I'm with BluesBear. I found a nice Ruger Redhawk in the middle of a trail once. I met the anxious owner on his way back in. He didn't even notice it fell out of his brand name no strap holster until he got off his machine at the trail head. I spent another half day shuffling through knee deep snow until we found a Fish and Wildlife Officer's Model 66. The retention grommet and screw on his name brand Kydex holster came unscrewed. The gun fell out while he was trotting across a snow covered field. I saw a trooper bounce his 4006 out of a well worn famous brand leather no strap holster while climbing bleachers for a basketball game. It kind of drew the attention of the folks in the immediate area. If you get a well designed holster and retention strap it can be just as fast if you practice. It is dangerous to carry different holsters with and without straps. You should standardize on one type and practice. If you get used to drawing a strapless and then carry in a snap you will muff your draw sooner or later.
 
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It is dangerous to carry different holsters with and without straps. You should standardize on one type and practice. If you get used to drawing a strapless and then carry in a snap you will muff your draw sooner or later.
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I agree that for concealed carry, you should stick with one holster -- and one gun. But when going afield, it's permissible to carry a different gun in a different holster. If it were not, most of us would have much smaller gun safes. :uhoh:
 
Confession time. I have two large Rubbermaid tubs full of holsters ranging from Luger style full coverage types to Yanqui (sp?) Slides. You are entirely correct, I was referring to defensive carry in my comments. I must also confess that my pocket holster does not have a retention strap so I'm in violation of my own advice.
 
For me, it depends on which gun I'm carrying and my mode of dress.

For the .45: El Paso Saddlery high-ride pancake with thumb-break

For the .38: Uncle Mike's pancake-style with thumb break, unless I need deeper concealment, in which case it's the UM IWB holster (open-style).

If I'm IWB with the .38, I'm not expecting the need to run and move around vigorously.

However, I prefer the thumb-break style as my .45 is DA/SA. I'm looking at a 1911 eventually and want retention, so far that I think it's going to be Bianchi Carry-Lok.

Best advice I can give with any mode is practice in both smooth draw AND retention. I can't say much for my IWB holster, but I have no problem executing smooth, quick draws from any thumb-break holster I've used. I've also tried out the Carry-Lok and it feels very natural after a couple practice draws.

YMMV.

-38SnubFan
 
akviper, bless you, my son; Repeat the Four Rules ten times, and you will be forgiven.

My pocket holster lacks a strap, also.
 
Since I don't get in a gunfight every day I don't feel the difference between an open and a thumb break is significant. :rolleyes: Seriously, in all of my years of carrying a fire arm I have never used it so I default to what is practical on a daily basis.

I wear only thumb breaks for concealed carry. I have never had a pistol fall out of the holster using one of these. I prefer the forward cant, high ride with a thumb break. I also get a version that covers the barrel. If you do expose the lower half of the holster people don't get freaked out if they don't see a barrel. The Galco Fletch style hides easy, are accessable and they secure the pistol real well.

I tried a couple of open tops years ago but could not get happy with not having the pistol secured in the holster, especially since my planned primary defense is to run like hell. :D

The only open top I have is a vertical shoulder holster for a hi power. The pistol is retained by a spring clip built into the holster. Works great for carry when I am hunting and have other things on my belt. Its the version used by the British Special Forces people.
 
For CCW, I use a Galco Scout IWB with no strap. While I was working security, I used a Safariland level 2 holster with a strap. Of course a duty holster has to meet different needs than a concealment holster. If I were open carrying, I would use a thumb break. Something similar to the Bianchi model 19L for autos or the 5BHL for revolvers. I use those models as examples, I'm not at all impressed with Bianchi's current level of quality.
 
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