Billmanweh
Member
I wanted to go ahead and get some gear so I can get used to it before the academy starts. I've never bought anything but the IDPA type kydex stuff. What brands should I be looking at?
who makes some of the better duty (retention) holsters, mag pouches etc?
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Dave Williams
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Safariland is the standard for holsters, I use a 6280, and it has a few features I couldn't do without, namely a huge opening allowing quick reholsterting, and the rotating hood, which allows quick securing when it's time to go hands on, much easier than a snap.
Bianchi makes a great OPEN TOP duty double mag pouch. There is no reason to have flaps over your magazines.
Uncle Mike's makes a great 6P pouch, and universal radio holder.
And I picked up some unkown make latex glove pouches that also work great for 12ga Slugs.
Dave Williams
Bianchi makes a great OPEN TOP duty double mag pouch. There is no reason to have flaps over your magazines.
Uncle Mike's makes a great 6P pouch, and universal radio holder.
And I picked up some unkown make latex glove pouches that also work great for 12ga Slugs.
Dave Williams
Having picked up a Glock magazine for a cop that deserted his duty gear when he went over a fence (and he didn't realize had left him), yes, there is a reason for flaps over your spare mags.
Safariland, Bianchi, and Uncle Mikes are a good start.
Safariland, Bianchi, and Uncle Mikes are a good start.
Steve in PA
Member
If you have a problem with magazine flaps and getting the magazines out, you've got serious training issues you need to deal with asap.
I stick to magazine cases with flaps. No problems here.
I have never seen a LEO carry his duty mags in an open case.
I stick to magazine cases with flaps. No problems here.
I have never seen a LEO carry his duty mags in an open case.
Dave Williams
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Mr Murphy,
Been in plenty of chases, fights, gone over fences. No problems with the Bianchi gear losing the mags, it has plenty retention, but is still mucho fast.
Steve,
Had plenty of training. The Bianchi is a better unit than any flapped unit. Plenty of good cops use them around here, because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not a good option. Alaska State Patrol, and Anchorage PD issue the same mag pouch, FYI. I'm sure more do as well. Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it.
Dave Williams
Been in plenty of chases, fights, gone over fences. No problems with the Bianchi gear losing the mags, it has plenty retention, but is still mucho fast.
Steve,
Had plenty of training. The Bianchi is a better unit than any flapped unit. Plenty of good cops use them around here, because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it's not a good option. Alaska State Patrol, and Anchorage PD issue the same mag pouch, FYI. I'm sure more do as well. Give it a try, I'm sure you'll like it.
Dave Williams
c22m22c
Member
blackhawk makes a nylon based mag carrier using something called nytaneon, i think. its a cloth mag pouch (1-4 mags) with flaps IF YOU WANT to use them. if you choose not to, there is this thingy in the pouches that basically presses your mag against the inside wall of the pouch. i wish i could describe it better...but they are awesome. some buds of mine and i, had to wrestle this dude down in iraq. we were all using those things, and none of us lost anything. coulda been luck though. i chalk it up to good gear.
one more fish in the sea.
holsters...safariland. by far. i've only dealt with the 6004 series, and i don't know if you'd be allowed to use it. regardless...they are awesome, and strong. i have no direct personal experience with any of the other gear stuff you need to know about so i'm no longer useful to you.
good luck on your decision.
one more fish in the sea.
holsters...safariland. by far. i've only dealt with the 6004 series, and i don't know if you'd be allowed to use it. regardless...they are awesome, and strong. i have no direct personal experience with any of the other gear stuff you need to know about so i'm no longer useful to you.
good luck on your decision.
Steve in PA
Member
As a follow up, if these so called instructors call magazine cases with flaps "death flaps", what do they call Level II, III and IV holsters????
I think its time for a new instructor.
Whats so good about them? I use open top mag cases when I'm shooting at the range, there is no difference between them and using cases with flaps. Alaska and Anchorage use them huh? Hmmm, hope they aren't rolling in a snow bank before they have to use them.
I can see way too many problems and zero positives to justify the use of open top cases for normal duty gear wear.
I think its time for a new instructor.
Whats so good about them? I use open top mag cases when I'm shooting at the range, there is no difference between them and using cases with flaps. Alaska and Anchorage use them huh? Hmmm, hope they aren't rolling in a snow bank before they have to use them.
I can see way too many problems and zero positives to justify the use of open top cases for normal duty gear wear.
Dave Williams
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Steve, you said:
"Whats so good about them?"
-They are very fast, secure and well made. Quality gear. They are faster than pouches with flaps. Period.
"Alaska and Anchorage use them huh? Hmmm, hope they aren't rolling in a snow bank before they have to use them."
-You better get on the horn to them and warn them. Those idiots! LOL
"I can see way too many problems and zero positives to justify the use of open top cases for normal duty gear wear."
-What problems? You've never tried them yourself, and don't know anyone who uses them.
Dave Williams
"Whats so good about them?"
-They are very fast, secure and well made. Quality gear. They are faster than pouches with flaps. Period.
"Alaska and Anchorage use them huh? Hmmm, hope they aren't rolling in a snow bank before they have to use them."
-You better get on the horn to them and warn them. Those idiots! LOL
"I can see way too many problems and zero positives to justify the use of open top cases for normal duty gear wear."
-What problems? You've never tried them yourself, and don't know anyone who uses them.
Dave Williams
Steve in PA
Member
Fast?? Faster than what???
Please enlighten me to the time differential between drawing from open cases and drawing from cases with flaps.
And I did say I use open type cases when I'm shooting at the range (don't feel like wearing my duty gear) and I said there is zero difference in the time.
Problems, ........loosing the mags, dirt, mud, snow, foreign objects imbedding themselves in the mags, etc........etc.........etc.
I guess we should throw away all those sloooow "death holsters" too?? I wonder what those guys in Alaska use?
Please enlighten me to the time differential between drawing from open cases and drawing from cases with flaps.
And I did say I use open type cases when I'm shooting at the range (don't feel like wearing my duty gear) and I said there is zero difference in the time.
Problems, ........loosing the mags, dirt, mud, snow, foreign objects imbedding themselves in the mags, etc........etc.........etc.
I guess we should throw away all those sloooow "death holsters" too?? I wonder what those guys in Alaska use?
FWIW, I'm one of those Alaska cops using the open top Bianchi pouch for the last 6 or so years. Having used both flap style and the open style I never found much difference in the amount of debris that accumulated on the magazines when going prone in the snow or on the gravel of the range. I have been in many fights and jumped a lot of fences and have yet to loose any magazines. For me, it is a lot quicker to get the proper grip for a reload and not have to mess with getting the flap out of the way. The only time I recall recovering a lost magazine was several years ago when a fellow officer lost both magazines out of a snap flap pouch during a particularly lengthy bar fight. I participated in a Gunsite school in Arizona a few months ago that involved proning out in their wet and dry sand (it rained for a day and a half) and never had any problems there either. I used a different maker's open style mag pouch several years back for off duty. They used a metal flat spring to hold tension on the mags. After a few years the leather stretched and the springs lost tension allowing the magazines to fall out. I definitely would not recommend this style for uniform carry.
Our department is about evenly split on duty holsters with about half using the safariland 6280 or 6285 and the others using the SS III. I prefer the 6285 for reasons already listed above.
Our department is about evenly split on duty holsters with about half using the safariland 6280 or 6285 and the others using the SS III. I prefer the 6285 for reasons already listed above.
Powderman
Member
I have seen some Pierce Co. deputies use the open top mag pouches. Look plenty fast, and they retain their magazines well. I'm thinking about trying some myself.
As far as holsters go, you will find that there are three prominent holsters in use today in most departments. Lots of folks are going with the Safariland Raptor holsters; some are staying with the SSIII (070) holster. I use the 6280 Safariland.
However, your best bet would be to save your money; wait until the Academy and when the department issues your gear. Unless you buy the EXACT holster, and the EXACT gun you're going to use, it doesn't make sense to spend up to 180 bucks for a holster you might not be able to use.
As far as holsters go, you will find that there are three prominent holsters in use today in most departments. Lots of folks are going with the Safariland Raptor holsters; some are staying with the SSIII (070) holster. I use the 6280 Safariland.
However, your best bet would be to save your money; wait until the Academy and when the department issues your gear. Unless you buy the EXACT holster, and the EXACT gun you're going to use, it doesn't make sense to spend up to 180 bucks for a holster you might not be able to use.
Dave Williams
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akviper,
Thanks for the info.
PM Sent
Dave Williams
Thanks for the info.
PM Sent
Dave Williams
Billmanweh
Member
I've spoken to the head instructor at the academy and he's told me that I'll need a retention type holster, he wasn't more specific than that. And I'm not sure where I'll be applying after the academy, so I'm kind of on my own in picking my gear.
Billmanweh
Member
a Glock 17
U
Universal
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There are many good companies out there making duty gear for American law enforcement officers. Sometimes it is worth to mix and match a little. I can recommend the Uncle Mike's Pro 3 holster for your GLOCK. It is very safe but still very fast and easy to use. It is listed as a level 3 but it really a level 2, in my opinion. Another holster I like is the Safariland with the rotating "hood". Sorry, I don't recall the model number. I would suggest a mag holder with flaps as well. My second set of duty gear was mostly made up of Bianchi (sp) AccuMold (sp) stuff. It looks just like real leather but is much lighter and easier to maintain.
Bottom line: Anything made by Uncle Mike's, Safariland, Gould & Goodrich and Bianchi should serve you well. However, make sure you practice a lot with whatever equipment you do get.
If credentials matter, I am former police offcer and firearms instructor. If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.
Bottom line: Anything made by Uncle Mike's, Safariland, Gould & Goodrich and Bianchi should serve you well. However, make sure you practice a lot with whatever equipment you do get.
If credentials matter, I am former police offcer and firearms instructor. If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.
Billmanweh
Member
Actually, I think it's the Safariland 6280 that someone else also mentioned. That's probably what I'm going to order.
stevelyn
Member
Most of us in Alaska are using the Safariland SSIII holster. The rotating hood type holsters are starting to show up more. As for mag pouches, the open tops are faster when rotating mags forward doing tactical reloads and offer tension adjustment screws.
The flap type pouches offer more carry options (verticle support side, horizontal strong side/cross draw) and there is usually no way to adjust the tension on the mags except for non-adjustable springy plastic flanges on the inside.
If you are crawling around in the dirt, you are probably going to get just as much junk in your mags with a flap style mag pouch as with an open top. Maybe even more because the flap could easily trap dirt in the pouch that would fall away with the open top.
The flap type pouches offer more carry options (verticle support side, horizontal strong side/cross draw) and there is usually no way to adjust the tension on the mags except for non-adjustable springy plastic flanges on the inside.
If you are crawling around in the dirt, you are probably going to get just as much junk in your mags with a flap style mag pouch as with an open top. Maybe even more because the flap could easily trap dirt in the pouch that would fall away with the open top.
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