All posts tagged Handgun Holsters

Another way of doing things, the Fobus Level II

I don’t carry with a Fobus paddle holster very day, but I’m probable sporting some of their stuff a few times a month.   I recently found out about the Level II holsters from Fobus with the thumb lever.   I have to say that I have not had a lot of experience with these so I’m not going to rave about them or pass any criticism on them.   There are many ways of doing the same job and the job that a gun holster is suppose to do for you is hold your firearm.   I have tossed a few holsters in the trash after wearing them out, but I spent a lot of money on upgrading some of my primary medium and full size holster selection after sitting in on a few Carbine courses.

There is no difference in my opinion between a 1911 cocked and locked and a Glock 19 in a Blackhawk Serpa holster.  Each one of them is not ready for firing until a finger, take your pick, releases a safety in one way or another and the gun comes out and plays.   Fobus holsters are very well made and I have yet to ever break one.   They are not bullet proof and they will hurt to roll on, but they get the job done for $20-$30.   My Beretta 92FS always goes in a Fobus holster because it’s the most comfortable way of carrying it.

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Glocks and the Blackhawk Serpa holsters

I remember all of those arguments about the 1911 being a bad CCW back in the 1990’s and the early part of the last decade.  There was a big move towards large capacity firearms and Glock firearms pretty much became kind of that world for awhile.  I also remember seeing more and more stories on the news about shoot out involving 50-100rds of exchanged fire and nobody got hit.  In the inner city, there were more innocent people killed in fire fights than the people that were actually shooting at each other.  The Military dropped the M16A1 and went to the M16A2 because they realized that the full auto option really just meant wasting ammo and not more insurance.

There is something to be said for knowing your firearms.   I have along with several of my counterparts witnessed experienced shooters use a 45acp 1911 and engage 100yd targets and another friend learned to shoot from a guy shooting a Glock 40 at a 200yd target and did better with it than most people would have done with a 30/30 lever action.  Blackhawk holsters have a retention device that will help retain your firearm and keep it from falling out or being taking from you.  Every gun has it’s good an bad points and there is no difference between the 1911 thumb safety and the Blackhawk Serpa holsters.  Train to use what you have an know why you are carrying it.

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Don Hume H715 holsters, are they reliable?

Concealed carry is a market that has dramatically expanded in the last 10yrs.   I can hardly believe it has been almost 10yrs since September 11th, but that event changed a lot of peoples opinions about being safe in your own Country.   With an economy that is sluggish, there have been more types of crimes in neighborhoods  that were safe where home invasion  are not that uncommon anymore.   Recently there were several home invasions against elderly people because they were easy targets.  There are things you can do to prevent yourself from being a target, but being able to retreat into your home and be able to stop a threat is important.

Inside the waistband or IWB is the most common method of concealment, but it is not the only one.  There are too many variables for me to get into right now, but Don Hume holsters are very reliable and the disclaimer for anyone that I would suggest carry IWB should be that they get a good reliable belt.  Gun belts are the key to keeping your clip on gunholster in it’s place and not coming off.   I have noticed that a lot gun holster makers have modified the designs of their clips to make them stronger.  There will always be some restriction on comfort and movement with a holster like this, but it will take some time and tolerance to get use to.

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Pocket holsters, are they necessary?

The answer to all of your CCW questions should  be “does it work for you?”    Some people can carry full size Beretta 92FS in their pockets and if  you think I’m joking I’m not.   People forget that just as our pants sizes are different, so are the dimensions of the pockets of various types of tactical clothing.   I’ve known a few people that have carried things like Desert Eagle 44 magnums as CCW guns, but one was legit and the other was a nut case.   One of the guys that carried that gun was also in a gun accident that ended up on the local news because he was showing it to someone outside of a bar and ended up shooting himself in the leg.

Pocket holsters are really pocket protectors.   Most pocket guns will point down even if they move around in a pocket, but not always.   Don Hume holsters are very good in the pocket gun arena.  They will keep your gun in place and help keep pocket lint off of the mechanical parts.   I still have to wipe off my guns every month even if I don’t shoot them and in the summer they get cleaned once a month due to the potential sweat build up.

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Save a buck and get the job done

Gun HolstersUncle Mikes holsters have been around for a long time and I know some people have it in for them because they aren’t very expensive and many of them are made out of Nylon.    After being in the gun industry for so many years, I’m starting to be amazed at the number of people I have respect for that are walking around with 38 Specials and 32ACP pocket guns and believe me, they aren’t underpowered.    The experts don’t always carry the most expensive holsters and gear, sometimes they just use when is neccessary and don’t waste money.

The move away from leather holsters is about as common as the move away from steel guns to polymer.   Both are time tested products that work in certain conditions, but there are many advantages Kydex and Polymer have over the stuff your Daddy carried.    I’ve got lots of nice leather holsters that look nice, but I don’t like the idea of using them in environments that get muddy or places I know I’ll be sweating.   Uncle Mikes gun holsters are a very inexpensive investment, but it’s an inexpensive investment in something that gets the job done

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Walk slowly

Galco HolstersSelecting 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.

If you get a good belt like a Wilderness Instrcutor belt or something that has real support, you’ll be amazed at how those heavy pistols don’t really feel like their dragging around with you. Galco holsters has a diverse product line, people need to really know what it’s like to tote a pistol around IWB all day to know where to wear it on their belt and what their tolerances are.  If you are constantly readjusting  your gun while you are out and about, you may want to consider a different belt, holster, or firearm.   Thats one way to giveaway your concealment if you are being monitored by a BG.  Galco leather holsters come in IWB, OWB, Shoulder holster, belt slot holster, ankle, waist pack (or commonly known as fanny pack).   It may also be wise to consider summer/winter holsters and possible a t-shirt and suit and tie holster.    No one holster is going to work for all of these situations so walk slowly.

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Tactical Holsters

Tactical HolstersThe more gear you put on your body the more you’ll worry about placement, and like every other mode of carry, there are different tools for different tasks.  Blackhawk gear has some of the top notch products for your needs.   You can choose from different levels of retension, too.  There are always paddle holsters or something like Fobus that are fairly inexpensive, but our highest recommendations are always the Blackhawk Tactical Holsters.

Tactical Holsters are another category of holsters for todays gun owner or LEO.   While many may not be Law Enforcement or Military,  there are reasons for civillians to desire a holster for carrying on the range or for training.   One of the most popular ways to carry a sidearm is on the leg.   If you’re toting an M4 or similiar Carbine, you may not want a sidearm on your waist, inside or outside.

 

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