What % of the Value of your Handgun Will You Spend on A Holster?

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SharpsDressedMan

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Personally, I consider the purchase of a high quality holster for my handgun a worthwhile and lifetime purchase. I can't see putting a $600-$1500 gun in a $30 nylon holster made for "one size fits all". I sometime buy a horsehide holster for its durability, if it's available. My holsters seem to run lately between $110 and $150 if ordered from a custom maker, so I guess if my gun averages $500-$600, it would be around 25%. I know a lot of guys who just can't fathom spending over $100 for a holster, but all of mine do what they are supposed to do, whether it be concealment, security, or both, and they seem to do it well and last forever. I have holsters that are still performing as intended after 25 years. Do you have a limit on what you will spend on holsters? I do find some great deals on ebay, or gunshows, and have a few holsters that cost under $20, but would be over $100 if ordered from a maker.
 
I am a firm supporter of quality over cost. When it comes to guns and their holsters, cost is a small factor. I have guns that are very fairly priced, but just so happen to be some of the most reliable and durable guns in the world. I have holsters that are cheap as hell and have held up over the years and are still holding up. That being the case, my primary IWB carry holster that I'm using right now is of great quality, and it cost me less than $100. I admit, there are holsters out there that cost over $120, but they are amazing in quality and comfort, but the same exact quality and comfort (if not better) can be had for under $100.
 
I'm loathe to apply a percentage or ratio to my gun/holster combination as some do for a rifle/scope. I like leather, and for my Colt, I wanted the very best, so I chose a Brigade Gunleather holster and gun belt. It's my most expensive holster, and I believe it ran around $500.00 or so, a little less than half the value of the gun:

ColtSAAholsterEveMemDay098.jpg

Conversely, I tote my thousand-buck 1911 in a $75.00 Gould & Goodrich pancake holster with which I'm quite pleased. Currently, I'm eyeballin' a Tucker Gunleather/belt for my CZ75B, but they're running 3 or 4 hundred bucks with all the bells and whistles and I'm not sure I can justify that. They sure are pretty, though.

Most of my leather holsters run about 100 bucks or so. For me, it's largely a matter of aesthetics and I seldom consider the gun/holster percentage.
 
Holster cost is unrelated to the cost of a handgun. You needn't spend a fortune to get a quality holster. A plain-jane Don Hume works fine for me and is a lot of value for the money.
If you want something dressy or unique for a OWB holster and open carry that's another story.
 
I usually find myself hovering around $100-120 for a holster. I tried the cheap holsters when I got my first pistol and just found that those things are more trouble than they're worth. Now my $100+ holster does exactly what I want it to do and is very comfortable at the same time. The only problem is I don't have enough money to throw all my guns in hundred dollar holsters. My G17 for instance will be carried concealed IWB and openly in a Safariland 6004 as part of a carbine class rig. That's over $200 in holsters and I only paid $400 for the gun :eek:
 
Maybe it wasn't a well thought out question, but already we have personal views that are quite different. Most of us want a holster that protects and retains the gun against normal rigors, and well designed so it conceals well. If it is made of quality materials and worksmanship, and comes in a fair price, that is all most of us could ask. Some would like it to be less expensive, but we rarely get it "all" on the cheap. I have lucked into a few Kramer holsters for $15-$20, one for a Browning HP, and another for a CZ75. I couldn't be happier with them, but SOMEBODY paid the full price originally. I just got a break at the gunshow (the seller didn't know what they were worth:D). I also believe for every pistol that you intend to keep and carry, you ought to have one good holster for it. You deserve it, and the gun deserves it.
 
I would go up to as much as 25% for the holster only, 30-40% for the complete rig with a belt and spare ammo carrier. Many very good rigs can be obtained for less than that, however.
 
I don't put a money number on it. I just try to avoid anything that is nylon and one-size fits most.
 
LEATHER!! Be still my heart. Ain't fair to ask a cowboy shooter that question. Here is a couple. The cowboy rig with a shotgun belt lookalike ran a little over $700.00. Cant remember what I paid for the George Wm. Davis rig circa 1975.
 

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I have some very expensive holsters that are uncomfortable and some rather inexpensive holsters that are great.
Holsters like Boots are a pretty personal choice, all of the good ones cost more; but every once in a while you find a inexpensive one thats a true gem.
 
When I competed in the World Championship I used this rig. It is the same style as Sleazyrider. Except lower on the belt and a 12 degree forward cant. The holsters were continually "customized" over time. They ran around $600.00 in around 2001.
 

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I've never spent more than $50-60 on a holster. The ones I have work well for their uses though. I use a lot of polymer and kydex holsters for general range and target work. I only have a few leather holsters (most of which were bought used) and they're ALL IWB models for concealed carry.

Truthfully the only time I'd CONSIDER going to a fancy looking holster would be if I got into Cowboy action shooting, where presentation is pretty much part of the activity. That said, if I remember right, I once heard someone mention that most actual cowboys during the old western era were too poor to even afford a holster, so many didn't even use them. I'm sure many who COULD afford them were using pretty spartan ones as well.
 
Around 20-25%.I have tried several brands but have been the most happy with a milt sparks versa max 2.
 
This sounds almost like the UN -- dictating what percentage of revenue governments must spend on "poverty" and so on. Get the holster you need, without regard to how much the gun cost!!

For myself, I make my own holsters. I can make 20 holsters for the cost of one quality commercial holster.
 
Whatever it takes to allow me to carry the gun for the intended purpose without sacrificing function - that's what I will pay.

Comparing holster cost to percentage value of the gun doesn't make any sense to me. An SAA/clone and a New Vaquero will use the same holsters, but can have astronomically different costs.

But FWIW, my carry revolver cost me about $450. The leather fitted holster it rides in cost me about $85. So I dunno, about 20% is how it shook out for me? I don't really buy expensive guns though...
 
I carry all of my handguns in a proper fitting real LEATHER holster; with the
exception on my KEL-TEC P3AT .380 ACP, which I carry in a Uncle Mike's #2
kydex/nylon rear pocket holster. Percentage wise, I can't say for sure; but
many times, I have spent well over $100 a pop~! ;) :D
 
You ask the question as though you will select the right holster the first time and only buy that one. Yet we are told over and over here that the proper procedure is to have a pile of holsters that didn't work as well as planned. That's just how it's done, or so I'm told, then reinforced.
 
My suggestion, if I might (after years of trial and error), would be to have at least one quality made, efficient holster for every gun that you intend to use for CCW or field use. For myself, I have several different holsters for my main CCW and favorite guns, so that I can carry them different ways and with different attire. Your needs may be different. It is wise to AVOID buying a bunch of cheaper holsters that dont work well, which you won't use. I don't think we are suggesting that here.:confused:
 
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