All posts tagged Galco Leather

Galco Kingtuk Reviews and lots of feedback

Galco holstersI have a ton of holsters in my closet, mostly nylon ones I picked up at various points of my gun carrying carrier.   Most of them don’t get used but they are still there because I may occasionally use them for open carry or when I am going on a hike.   I use various IWB holsters in the summer but have retired my leather ones because they don’t hold  up very well in the Pennsylvania summers because it can get pretty darn  hot up here and Kydex holsters are what I switch to.  I have tried various kydex holster companies, and some of them fit me well, but there are always small things about them that I wish would get improved.   Most of the kydex holsters I’ve used in the past broke up on me in less than 2 years and I just stopped buying certain brands.  There is still a desire for leather holsters because they look nice, but leather is not as good in the long term for re-holstering firearms.

I have checked out some of the Crossbreed holsters after many of my friends have suggested them, but after looking through some of my dealer product lines I found something very close.   The Kingtuk holster made by Galco Holsters are a great find,  I’ve sold many to Detectives and CCW holders that have not come back and complained about them.   Some of the Desantis IWB holsters like the Scorpion didn’t hold up because the clips were made of kydex and broke after several weeks of wearing them.  The Kingtuk holsters are a tuckable holster that work well with the Sig 229, Sig 220 and most all of the Glock holster including the larger framed Glock 21.

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Shoulder holsters, still a useful method of ccw?

You bet it is but don’t go to a Carbine Course and expect your firearm instructor to let you carry that way on a firing line.   There are a lot of really nice CCW shirts from 5.11 tactical and Woolrich Elite that can actually be quite useful if you are carrying a firearm in a shoulder holster.   There are many different types of shoulder holsters so don’t think everyone of them is going to make you look like a Miami Vice character.   Not all of them are going to cost you $100 either.  The one thing that seems to have changed though is a direction away from Vertical carry.

I’m not a big fan of standing in front of firearms and I do understand why should holsters are not allowed on many live firing training but they are still one of the most comfortable ways of carrying a large firearm.   Galco holsters are probable the highest prices shoulder holsters while Uncle Mike’s holster, Bulldog holsters and Elite Surival holsters are far less expensive.   The magazine holders are something that  you may have to think about because not everyone is going to want a 2 double stack magazines on them.  Sometimes that can be a bit too much tug and pull on your and your shoulders will know it.

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Women bitching on the tactical gear and accessories market

We have gotten lots and lots of feed back from Women that work in the Law Enforcement Community about how they are constantly forced to wear and buy men’s clothing and there are not  a lot of options.   We have been selling the Woolrich Elite women’s pants for several years in contrast to the 5.11 tactical pants and we still get lots of complaints about the fit of the clothing and how well they work for the various shapes and sizes of women. Tactical clothing that men wear rarely works with women and we hear it all day long at work.   Smaller sizes for men doesn’t mean hip sizes fit for a woman.

One product line we are proud to be selling is the Original Swat boots for Women.   There are 3 products in the Original swat boots line for women.  The Standard 1150 the Zip up 1152F and the most casual or street friendly 1151F.   The boots size variations are pretty broad and not just meant for petite women.   It’s amazing to see the product fit and variations that need to be made for women.   Just because it’s made for women doesn’t mean that it’s meant for dancing.   There are more women seeing combat situations and by the number of customers that we have had over recent months that call up before being deployed and are ordering tactical gear and accessories for combat, its a whole new world.

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Levels of concealment in close contact situations

I never thought about this all that much  until the first time that it happened.  In the Advent of cell  phones it’s actually easier and easier to get away with  now, but it can be a problem in unfriendly territory.  Many first time CCW holders start out with a paddle holster and a large size auto, but slowly transition to IWB.   IWB may not be the most comfortable for everyone, but there are problems that can come up with OWB in office, weddings, social environments.   There are gray areas where CCW may not be acceptable, but not illegal, and you may have problems.

I am speaking from experience here and not about what happened to me, but what happened to a friend of mine.    A women he worked with brushed up against him in a door way and hit the side of him where the firearm was.   She felt a clunk and then pushed up against the part of his body where she felt the gun holsters protruding area and start to say “what the hell is that” she kept poking and prodding him until she broke out into a cold sweat and realized it was a gun.   You’re average citizen isn’t going to look for a CCW, but if they find one, they may announce it.   It’s not just about hiding the gun from sight, sometimes concealment means not being able to find it in close contact situations.

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Comfort vs convenience

There is going to be a argument with your body between comfort and convenience whenever you put on a holster.    IWB may work for you, but if you start carrying larger guns you’ll start to feel it pretty fast.  I have already seen guns go from carrying fat compact guns and transitioned back to a 1911 which is longer, but is thin and more comfortable to carry IWB.   If you are expecting to get into street combat then do something other than wear a concealment holster.   I have had years of experience in carrying guns IWB, but recently I’ve gone to pocket carry because I’m getting tired of feeling it when I’m out on golf course or batting practice.

There are plenty of custom holster companies for you to research, but you may spend a lot of money on a holster that doesn’t work for you and the best thing to do is go to a gun show or a gun shop that carries them and ask if you can try them on.  Galco holsters have a stow n go holster that is an easy fix for IWB concealment holsters.  If you don’t want to blow a ton of money on a holster look at Galco or Don Hume first.   There are belt loop, paddle and pocket holsters that are very reasonable priced.

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Are pocket holsters necessary?

And before you read much further, the answer to that is a resounding yet.   I know you don’t always need to have a holster, but it’s a darn good idea.   There are some safety issues that need to be considered when pocket carrying.   The first thing this is you have to be consistent in where you are going to put your gun and gear.  If you forget to put and put your keys on the same pocket as your gun and you don’t have a pocket protector, bad things can happen.    Lint build up may not b e a major concern for revolvers, but it is a serious issues with semi-auto guns.

I was fortunate enough to have witness someone show up at a gun range for training that brought his Glock 17 to the range.   He was told to clear his chamber and when he did, a pile of pocket lint came out of the guys gun that it was amazing that so much could build up in it.   This guy didn’t even pocket carry, but he said that it  had been about a year since it was cleaned last.   It’s amazing how clothing sheds and frayed strings.  I have a few pocket guns and use the Don Hume gun holsters I know Dean Speir keeps a good account of Glock accidents, but sweatshirts ect that are not designed for CCW can be dangerous and not using any type of holster is not advised.

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Keeping it lightweight and simple

I know the idea of keeping it simple may mean carrying a larger auto and no spare magazines for concealed carry, but my idea of keeping it simple is usually pocket carry.     Sometimes people can go overboard with the CCW and even though you are well withing  your right to carry a gun legally, if you are packing too much gear, there’s a pretty good chance you will eventually be outed or “made” by someone that you don’t really want to know what you are carrying.   I have had atleast 2 times in my life where someone I barely knew, figured out real fast that something metal on my belt line, that wasn’t where my cell phone was. was there.

Every time you walk past someone in a close environment, there is a good chance you will get an “excuse me” and they will bump up against you.   People don’t realize how often it actually occurs, but elevators stares, doorways ect, are known for bumpin.   Carrying at social environments like business meetings is something that even more bumping can occur.   Sounds funny, but I speak from experience.  Sometimes I carry a Kahr K9 in 40 in one of my many Galco holsters that is an ankle holster.   This is one of the best ways to avoid bumping and being made in a white collar or close quarters social environment.   Find a good gun shop that allows you to try them on.

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Pistol caliber evolutions

Galco HolstersThere seems to have been a major evolution in concealed carry methods and calibers in recent years.   I remember all through the 1990’s there was a big shift away from the 45acp caliber in Police and Military style weapons.   Everyone and their dog was switching to higher capacity handguns.   I guess to the average citizen, packing more rounds in a handgun was comforting.   In the early part of the Millenium, many of the departments that originally went from the 45acp handguns to the 9mm, were slowly working their way from 40 S&W and up to .357 Sig.   The 45acp has now started showing up in more and more departments and I’d have to probable say that I’d credit the Smith & Wesson M&P pistol for doing that.

I have a few Sig Sauer pistols that in my opinion can rotate through my weekly carry rotation, but I still feel like I’m wearing the same gun.   My collection of Galco holsters for IWB Sig 239, Paddle holster Sig 226, ankle holsters for J-frame ect for street work all work very well.   I’ve worn a few out, but considering I never had to custom make them and their consistant fitting, I’d highly recommend adding them to your CCW or duty work.

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More Shoulder Holster Options

Galco Shoulder Holster

From what many people seem to like about shoulder holsters is the stability of carrying a larger size revolver or duty gun. Something like a Glock 17 or Sig 226, Beretta 96 ect are all a little large for IWB and OWB limits the defensive movement inside a vehicle.

Galco  shoulder holsters come in a very diverse variety. You you use them for concealed carry purposes or for open carry or duty. One of my favorite ways to carry a Sig 226 is a Galco shoulder holster. I like the idea of being able to sit down in a car and still be able to grab the firearm without fiddling with a seatbelt. The only other car friendly variation of carrying a firearm in a car and being able to reach it quickly is with an ankle holster. Galco has several shoulder holster and ankle holsters on the market.

 

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Galco Miami Classic Shoulder Holsters

Galco Shoulder HolstersFrom what many people seem to like about shoulder holsters is the stability of carrying a larger size revolver or duty gun.  Something like a Beretta 92 or 1911, Sig 228 ect are all a little large for IWB and OWB limits the defensive movement inside a vehicle.

 

Galco holsters come in a very diverse variety.   You you use them for concealed carry purposes or for open carry or duty.   One of my favorite ways to carry a 1911 is a Galco shoulder holster.   I like the idea of being able to sit down in a car and still be able to grab the firearm without fiddling with a seatbelt.  The only other car friendly variation of carrying a firearm in a car and being able to reach it quickly is with an ankle holster.  Galco has several shoulder holster and ankle holsters on the market.

 

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