Slim autoloader for a 5.11 vest

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Lobotomy Boy

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I just bought a 5.11 vest and found that my Glock 26 is a bit too thick to wear comfortably in the hidden holster pocket. My Bersa .380 Thunder works well. I'm okay with carrying the Bersa. I've owned the gun for years, have run thousands of rounds through it, and am comfortable with my ability to shoot it. But I'd still like to get something with a bit more torque, perhaps a .40 caliber or a .45 ACP. I have a stiffy for the Sig 239 SAS, for example.

Any other suggestions? Maybe a Kahr or a Para LDA or some such thing?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
Let us know how you configure it, I have never been able to make the holster feature work, the 5.11 holster does not seem to work very well, and anything of reasonable size tends to bulge horribly and also fall out, and no one has ever been able to tell me how they carry a 1911 in it like the ad shows. In an open carry situation, I use one of the m16 mag pouches like a flap holster, and for ccw, about the only thing I do with the vest itself is put a keltec in the water bottle pocket.

I think the operative words are flat and light, which sounds like the new keltec or the kahr p9 types.
 
I tried mounting a 26 in the store cross draw style, as shown in the instructions, and the gun fell out on the floor. I felt bad, but I was glad I used the store gun and not my own. I remounted the holster in a vertical draw position, and so far the Bersa seems to ride quite nicely, even without the retention straps in place.

The Bersa seems to be about the perfect size for the holster in that position. I think the grip on the SAS would be too long, so it would poke out. The key seems to be a fairly narrow gun with a short, narrow grip (I think a Glock 36 would work). I don't know how much weight makes a difference, since the design of the vest spreads the weight out pretty evenly. I think a gun that was much smaller, like the Kel Tecs, would be at risk for falling out.

I think the larger Kahrs might be about the right size, and Para's 9mm Carry LDA looks like it has nearly identical dimensions to the Bersa. This may be the excuse I need to get the Para I always wanted.
 
I gather you do not use the strap? I have tried the holster with a keltec k32 and use the strap or thumbsnap, and that works okay, but it is a lot of holster for a little thing, easier to just throw it in the water bottle pocket or in my pants pocket. My problems have been the whole holster coming off the velcro patch, and falling through the liner opening (ripping the velcro closure on that part open in the process). Which holster are you using? The 5.11 or one of the others like the Blackhawk. I have thought of using a different brand, but I tend to weigh down the vest so much (I like to carry all my cigar smoking stuff in it!) as it is that I just decided to carry on the belt and use it as a concealing garment. I had a buddy who would just carry his Browning HiPower loose in the liner and that seemed okay when you were already carrying a rifle and a lot of magazines and were mostly sitting in a vehicle.
 
Bersa?

If the Bersa fits and you like the gun, why not the .45 version?
 
The 1911 seems like a good fit for the vest, but the full-sized versions are a bit of a tight fit in the pocket.

I tried the Bersa with and without the strap, and the strap just seemed to add bulk. The strap would be essential if you mounted the holster in a cross-draw position, but when mounted in a vertical-draw position I'm not sure it's necessary with a gun the Bersa's size.
 
A SIG 239 jumped to mind before I even finished reading your post. Other thoughts are the Springfield EMP, STI LS 9 or 40, or one of the various single stack S&W autos.
 
Might be a stupid question, but...

Why are you letting a vest determine what pistol you carry?
Would it be possible to carry IWB and not use the vests' holster?
 
I have two normal carry guns right now, a 642 in a pocket holster and a Glock 26 I carry in a Galco high-ride trigger-lock belt holster. Both are comfortable enough for most uses, but I lead an extremely active life; I walk long distances and do a lot of hunting and fishing and other outdoor activities. Both the 642 and the 26 can get uncomfortable to wear in such situations. I have a couple of IWB holsters and have carried that way in the past, but under active conditions I find carrying IWB even more uncomfortable than a belt holster or a pocket holster.

Carrying other items in my pockets can increase the discomfort under active conditions. I thought the vest might give me some options for carrying gear without resorting to lugging around some sort of bag or backpack, but both my normal carry guns are too thick to fit comfortably in the built-in holster. As I said, my Bersa works fine and will occupy a place in the vest for awhile, but eventually I think I will try to find a gun of similar size and shape that packs a bit more punch.

As if any of us needs an excuse for buying another gun...
 
I think the EMP is great, but I'm not comfortable enough with an SA gun to use it for concealed carry. The Para Carry 9 has almost identical physical dimensions to the Springfield, and I'm a fan of the LDA trigger.
 
subliminal... SIG P239

Might be a stupid question, but...
Why are you letting a vest determine what pistol you carry?
Would it be possible to carry IWB and not use the vests' holster?
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with an excuse to buy another gun :neener:

Lobotomy Boy: I agree about IWB when leading an active outdoor lifestyle. I go OWB, pocket, or use my Camelbak Goblin for that reason. IWB, for me, is certainly my most common and preferred method of carry; but I haunt the suburbs not the mountains every day. When I'm hitting the bush, IWB isn't my preferred method.

SIG P239
 
The Para Carry 9 has almost identical physical dimensions to the Springfield, and I'm a fan of the LDA trigger.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you just made a decision.:)
 
The Para Carry 9 has almost identical physical dimensions to the Springfield, and I'm a fan of the LDA trigger.
Click to expand...
On the economical end the new Kel-Tec PF9 is one of the smallest and lightest 9mms available at any price. Like the P3AT it also has a new fangled DA trigger modified for a lighter pull. Of course if you've got EMP money then a Rohrbaugh R9 is also close to your price range.
 
I did some research on the Para and found too many people with similar complaints for my comfort. I looked at a 239 and it fit in the vest perfectly. I believe my next handgun purchase will be a 239 SAS in .40 caliber.
 
i would also like to suggest one from the kahr line up i have a kahr k-40 and i love it, and i think that it would do great, and fit wonderfully for the intended purpose.
 
Glad someone has got that holster system to work. Now that I think about it, another thing I have done is carry a j frame revolver in the tall pouch type pocket on the inside of the vest. You have to snake your hand down the pocket, but it is the right size for a snubbie, and keeps the grip oriented properly, and it will not fall out unless doing a handstand.

Another thing that I have done with my vests (and most other pieces of gear) is to immediately reinforce the stitching. Areas like pocket edges and flaps get some extra thread. I find that most stuff, especially when the company starts to make them overseas, tends to unravel quickly.
 
Last night I was thinking about renting a Sig with a DAK trigger so I could see if I liked the gun and I worried that after a thousand rounds or so I would discover that I just don't like the trigger. That has happened too many times. I always seem to end up with Glocks because the triggers just flat-out work for me. I shoot Glocks better than any other handguns. The only reason I was thinking about something else is because my Glocks were all too thick in the grip for the vest.

Then I thought, how about a Glock 36? I had considered getting a 30 because it will take the magazines from my 21, but I hadn't even thought about the 36. I've shot 36s before and find them comfortable and accurate. I checked the specs and found the following:

239 SAS:_______36:
Width: 1.2 in __________1.13 in
Height: 5.2 in___________4.76 in
Length: 6.6 in___________6.77 in
Weight: NA______________20.11 oz

Add the fact that the Glock costs several hundred dollars less, and that I know the tennifer finish will withstand the abuse of being carried day in and day out (I hate the idea of scuffing up that beautiful Sig), and I think I've made my decision.
 
Try A Kahr Are Very Small And Shoot Well.Some Are A Little Expensive,But The CW (Concealed Weapon)Series Are More Economic.
 
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