Upgrade from your army surplus gear holster
As SWAT Teams have changed their gear, so have the holsters they use for sidearms. Something like a leg holster for Police or LEOs were not very common since Sheriffs stopped riding horses and started to drive cars. Now you’ll be lucky to find a SWAT Team where leg holsters aren’t being used. If you’ve got to tote an M4 around there really isn’t a good way avoiding snagging or arm movements if you’ve got a paddle holster or OWB holster on. Galco Holsters, Blackhawk and Safariland are by far some of the more popular brands with a diverse product line for concealement and tactical purposes.
Like people, gun holsters come in all shapes and sizes. Holsters can be made out of nylon or they can be made out of kydex. Years ago there were not as many options other than the military style holter or thumbreak holsters. Most gun holsters were made out of leather and the balance between protecting a firearm and making it easy to draw from was pretty bad. Most holsters were meant for LEO or Military personal, but not for concealment. Pocket guns have been around for hundreds of years, but every since the semi-auto pocket guns came on the market, worrying about lint build up and avoiding gun printing was problematic.
Selecting the right holster for you and going to take some work. The best thing you can do before you start carrying a firearm is figure out what kind of gun you really want to carry and then go from there. Some people want to carry a full size auto right off the bat and then find out which holster works for them. Firearms can be carried in various ways, but situations and comfort are really the key. I have a friend that carries a full size Springfield 1911 and claims there is no difference in carry that vs a smaller auto.
Fobus holsters are probable the most popular paddle holster. Lots of manufacturers have put out similiar items, but Fobus still holds its own in the market. While IMHO it may not be all that comfortable to use too many paddle holder accessories along with your holster, the standard Fobus fobus makes a nice flashlight magazine combo accessory. If you are wearing a good gun belt, they will float very nicely on your waist. Fobus makes a holster for right handed and left handed shooters. One suggestion about choosing the a holster may be to pay attention to the gun angle that you prefer, while I don’t think it’s a good idea to have much movement with a holster, the roto holster may be for you. For those going to Carbine Course and looking for a comfortable sidearm holster, I highly recommend them for your favorite, Glock, Sig, Taurus, Beretta or 1911.
The sythetic duty gear crosses the boundaries between leather and nylon holsters.
A great many years ago I wondered how people really knew which holster worked for them. It’s one of those things people don’t understand when they first start to carry a gun. The reality is that some holster designs are as pretty to look at in the same way we shop for clothing or for a car. Some people just need to get around from point A to point B and don’t need to show off.
When deciding on which type of method to conceal a firearm, one most always remember the environment you will be carrying in. All firearms can be carried in one way or the other, but some firearms will become extremely uncomfortable to carry in certain climates and or situations.
The Bianchi black widow holster can be used with a J-Frame revolver. You will want to choose a good gun belt for any of your Bianchi holsters. Some of the Bianchi holsters are attached to a belt through a belt loop or by a clip. Depending on your preferences, you will have to decide on what works for you. As to which type of belt, we highly recommmend using The Wilderness Belts which come in various styles and colors.