Tactical thigh holsters

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dbooksta

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You can get an Uncle Mike's thigh holster for under $40, or easily pay $140 or more for others. Are there good reasons to pay up for thigh holsters if you're not using an employer's account? Or is the $40 Uncle Mike's just fine?
 
Why do you want one? They aren't that comfortable...most guys wear them overseas just because it moves the holster off of your beltline and away from your bodyarmor. They aren't particularly fast either. I ditched mine a week into my first tour.
 
Dan which one did you have???
I had a Safariland 6004 in Afghanistan and loved it. Not fast??? just as fast if not faster then my duty rig. I wish I could find a cheap Safariland left handed one for my 4506.
 
I have a Blackhawk Serpa thigh system. I only occasionally use it for the range and hiking. Primary purpose for it for me is hiking on National Forest land when you have to keep it openly carried, and if it's cool out, a light jacket could cause some partial coverage problems with a belt holster.

Nice for hiking if you're carrying a slinged rifle as well; helps keep it from banging into the pistol or getting caught on the butt of the pistol. That annoys the hell out of me.

I don't get the 'not fast' thing. Puts the pistol at a more natural reach of the arm, providing an easier draw. Perhaps there are exceptions when you're squatted down and scrunched up against something.

And again with hiking, if you're carrying a backpack, vest or something with a waistline belt system, it's also handy because again, it puts the pistol lower and away from your belt for less interference and more comfort.

Some see it as a tacticool range gear piece, but I think it has legitimate uses for some. For those with skinnier legs, some may find it uncomfortable due to the wide paddle-like design of the holster's base.
 
The difference between an Uncle Mike's and say Safariland, and quality of construction, and ease of use and security of the retention method.

There is a video that I haven't seen in a while, but it's of a rail road cop that gets beaten up two too yahoos, and they attempt to take his gun. They didn't know how to work the retention device so they were attempting to just yank his gun out. At one point he was lifted off the ground by his gun, and the holster still held.

That is the difference between a $40 Uncle Mike's and a $140 Safariland.
 
Hey JW, I had the Safariland. Yes, you can get the gun out fast, but to get it up to firing position isn't as fast (for me, anyway) as coming up from a belt. What part of the Stan were you in? I spent the last year in Kabul.
 
Dan, it should only be a fraction of a second slower, for me the height difference between thigh, and belt mounted is only a couple inches. For me the hardest part about transition to a thigh holster is remembering to disengage the retention device.
 
Dan I was in Kabul in 2003, working with ANA. The thigh rig worked great as It was down out of the way. ie secondary firearm. My AMD65, then M4 were primary.
PPG depending what firearm you are looking for you can get a good used Safariland off Ebay for $15-70, well at least I have.
 
I think in any open carry situation it's preferable -- doesn't get in the way of clothing, vests, belt accessories, slung long-arms. And it's right where your hand naturally hangs.

I hadn't considered the retention question. Obviously Uncle Mike's is just thumb strap and tension. I guess with it being so exposed it might be worth paying up for Level III....
 
+1 on Blackhawk Serpa thigh system W/ M&P .40

I use this for Bow Hunting wear it all day long, Best Purchase I ever Made.
I attribute two Coyotes to the System
 
Thanks for all the tips.

possum: What makes the Safariland better than others? Is there some ergonomic or performance advantage?
 
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