All posts tagged Springfield XD

Some say that a shoulder rig isn’t good CCW

Some say that a shoulder rig isn’t a good way of concealing a firearm, but I’d have to say that I think it’s the most comfortable way to carry a medium size auto.   There are considerable differences in the fit of each should rig, but I have actually found that Bulldog and Uncle Mike’s have made some really nice holsters that are very inexpensive.   If you are wearing a good gun belt you won’t have any bunching up where the straps latch on and if you are carrying a firearm in the winter, this can help free up the room around your belt line and give you some other jacket options that aren’t full length.

Galco gun holsters are still making the popular Miami should rig, but I’m not a big fan of the horizontal holsters.   These are banned at most of my CCW courses because it’s hard to actually use the holster and not sweep someone behind you if you are on the firing line.   I prefer to carry large size Sig Sauer pistols when I know I will be wearing a jacket full time and I like to carry them in something other than inside the pants gun holsters. I have recently picked up a Sig 229 in .357 Sig that I hope to get some good practice time in.  I don’t think it’ll be much of a big change from going from a Sig 228 9mm to a Sig 229.   There is a noticeable amount of weight but a whole bunch more punch.

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Don Hume paddle holsters

I have a pile of Fobus gun holsters that have served me well and I don’t ever question the money that I have spent on holsters for the firearms that I now own.  I guess I’ve gotten smarter in regards to which configurations of holsters to have around.   I rarely carry using paddle holters due to the fact that I am usually not carrying openly and when I’m carrying openly I’m usually working with an M4 Carbine.   I have had bad experiences with some belt clip on holsters but I blame 90% of the failures on the gun belts I used, but I still have had them come loose on me.

For anyone that owns a medium to large frame sidearm, a paddle holster is something you should consider having available for your firearm.   Fobus seems to be the most commonly seen paddle holster at my ranges, but since I am a fan of Don Hume holsters especially for concealed carry I decided to pick up a paddle holster from them.   The first thing I noticed when I was wearing it was that it looked nice and felt like the $50 I spent on it unlike the $20 on the fobus.   The only thing I still to this day do not like are the thumbreak release on the top.   If  you practice enough it is something you can learn to get use to, but they really aren’t for me.   If I am going to take a step from Fobus gun holsters, I prefer the Blackhawk Serpa holsters.

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Tactical holsters and combat holsters

I have to admit that I fall under the category of people that have a pile of holsters that I hardly use, but I still don’t think they are worthless.   I think it’s always good to keep spare  holsters around incase you break one, wear it out or have to wait awhile to get one custom made.   I’ve had situations where a favorite gun holster broke and it took a few months to get a replacement.   When it comes to needing gun holsters for hard training, I think it’s always a good idea to know ahead of time on how many magazines you intend to be carrying.  Blackhawk Serpa holsters are outstanding combat holsters due to their superior durability and stability, but some nylon holsters will still work very well.

There is a point where I think people have to be realistic about how many handgun magazines they are willing and needing to carry and how much bulk they want.   At a certain point  you really need to put more thought into carrying  a Carbine if you want that much firepower.   There are gun holsters with a drop leg setup that will allow you to carry more magazines that are off the belt line, this can be a tricky configuration to use and I would put serious thought into whether or not you want that bulk, but it will free up your gun belt for cell phones, flashlights, radio ect.

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What are your options for suit and tie environments?

I will always leave room for imagination when it comes to CCW because there are different types of clothing that give you more possibilities and limitations and then there are variables in gun sizes and types of holsters.   What it really comes down to is comfort.  I don’t believe every firearm has to be carried in such a way that you have to always expect to be a gunslinger.   Deep concealment is something to consider in situations where there may be some unfriendlies and you don’t want to have to deal with the repurcussions of being outed.

I’d say that the closer you are going to be in contact with people the more you have to consider pocket carry or ankle holsters.  I prefer to use J-Frame 38 Special with 110gr Hornandy bullets due to the fact that this is about as light as you can possible get with a firearm without getting into the plinking caliber pistols.   There are situations where you have to consider that a person passing by you may feel the clunk of your IWB Galco Holsters or any other type of firearm that is at the waist line.   People tend to not be as suspicious about pocket gear so that is a office environment consideration.   For weddings I think pocket carry and Ankle Glove holsters are probable your best bet.

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Clip on holsters a bad idea?

I have had some bad experiences with various clip on holsters, but after I retired some of my standard dress belts and got an actual gun belt, the problems disappeared.  Many people really over look this issue when CCW and it’s one of those things that can really bite you at the wrong time.  I have a few firearms instructor friends that swear that they usually see atleast one person pull a firearm from their holster during defensive training classes where the holster is still on the gun.   It’s laughable, but people just don’t really know how stable their holsters are until they are really put to the test.

A good gun belt should be strong and solid and be about atleast 1.5 inches wide.  The skinny belt thing is a no no in the gun carrying world, and this is where I see a lot of failures.   The clip may hold the belt, but a fast draw of the gun may make it wobble or pop off.   The other thing to think about is the support of the firearm.   The first time I ever wore a Wilderness instructor belt, which was the 1.5″ version, I was carrying and using Springfield Armory XD 45acp in IWB gun holsters and I could hardly tell I was carrying the gun.  The support of the firearm was significant and I really didn’t feel like I  had to adjust the belt.   There are various types of Wilderness gun belts that are not as tactical looking which may be more apporpriate for white collar CCW.

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Galco ankle holsters

The ankle holster is a very unique method.   It is not easy to draw from when in the standing position, but for those that do a lot of driving, this is an excellent position to draw from while in the seated position.  Shoulder holsters come as a close second, but a high level of practice can probable equalize them both.   If you are considering carrying a firearm in an ankle holster.  I strongly advise that you really think about carrying the lightest firearm you can.   The Kahr P9 and J-frame revolvers seem to be the most popular because you may feel like the holster is moving around on you even if it is not, depending on how heavy the gun is.

The holsters we sell are broken down into two groups, Concealed carry and tactical holsters.   Much of the clothing we sell also fits into this category.   While some undercover law enforcement may use concealed carry methods and Galco holsters has many options, most of the pocket and ankle holsters we sell are for white colar gun owners that need to be as discrete as possible.   A new market seems to have emerged in the last year with the flood of new .380 pistols.    Many of us may have started out carrying the biggest firearm we owned when we first started to CCW, but we found out very fast that certain climates and physical situations can be very uncomfortable if we have a firearm jabbing us in the side.   Galco holsters have a very good reputation of being consistantly made and in the 4yrs we’ve been selling them, have never had a fitting issue.

 

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Summer wedding options

gun holstersI was trying to think about how to describe the situations that many in the 20-40 age range tend to deal with in the summer months that they don’t normally deal with when carrying.    I’ve found it very difficult to carry a fiream to weddings because there is usually so much human contact from dancing to pats on the back and hugging.    Many reading this might think it is not a concern at all, but you have to realize that not every social environment is going to be gun friendly and considering that there is usually heavy drinking, it is something to think about not bothering to carry.

The biggest issue that I always dealt with when going to weddings was not being there and what gun to carry, but driving through urban environments where it’s a good idea to be carrying.   I think I can name more robberies that occurred to friends when they were dressed up and going out to dinner.   That’s when women are wearing jewelry and when guys are carrying more cash than normal.   The problem is that carrying IWB or OWB is virtually impossible.   Pocket carry is probable the most practical but there is another option.   Ankle holsters are very good for driving situations, but not very good for walking around too much.   Some of the gun holsters that I have tried all varied.   The best I’ve found was the Uncle Mike’s ankle holster.   You really have to make sure you are carrying a lightweight firearm though.  You will feel uncomfortable if the firearm has much weight because it may feel like it’s sliding down  your leg even though it’s not.

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Range holsters another category

Fobus HolstersThere is always going to be a debate with any tactical or firearm accessory.   What is it being used for and is it up to the task at hand.   A concealment holster might not be a $180 leather shoulder rig, it coule be something as simple as $12 pocket holster.    There are tactical holsters that will secure your pistol while your running through the mud and training in a Carbine Course, or you can have a IWB holster for your everyday CCW.

Another thing to think about having in your box of holsters is a simple range holster.   If you are at a gun club and  planning on doing some serious range blasting, you might want to consider a range holster.   A range holster is usually something that you can wear outside your belt which is a clip on our paddle style.    Whenever some of my friends and I are going to be pulling an all day range trip, we’re usually carrying a full size handgun and IWB is not a comfortable carry option.  Fobus Holsters are in the $20 range and if you’re wearing a good belt, you won’t notice the weight of a full size gun like a Beretta 92 or Glock 17.   It’ll make carrying and practicing much easier than constantly picking your gun off a table.

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Keeping sidearms clear of your Carbine

Blackhawk HolstersThere seems to be a big transition in the Law Enforcement community to leg holsters.   Its kind of funny how the old western look disappeared for a few decades but now it’s back again.  If we all road around on horses we’d probable agree that carrying a sidearm on a leg holster is appropriate and its not just for the cool Han Solo look.

Blackhawk Holsters are one of my favorite options, Primarily the Serpa holsters.  The Omega is a less expensive and more versatile when it comes to using different guns, but if you already have a favorite, you’ll want to stick with a holster that works for just that gun.   Whenever you are carrying a Carbine, and you are carrying a sidearm, carrying it in any position other than a leg holster can be a liability, especially when a sling is being used.   I’ve seen many novice operators show up on a training day and end up tangling their slings with a paddle holster or OWB holster.   The Blackhawk Tactical holsters will lock your gun in place and be below the waiste to give you more manueverability.

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There’s not such thing and a do it all holster

Uncle Mikes HolstersA 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.

Uncle Mikes holsters are one of those things you seem to find in every gun shop and every gun show.  The reason you see them everywhere is because they work, get the job done, and they don’t cost $100 each.   If you need to jump over fences and hang out of helicopters they might not be what you need, but I rarely hear anyone say they don’t cut it.  Uncle Mike’s holsters are also very good in adverse climates because the Nylon and Kydex holsters hold up better than leather.  I’d have to be honest that the only other holster manufacturer in the same price range that comes close to this would be the Fobus line.  Uncle Mike’s holsters will work for your Glock, Sig, Beretta or 1911 variants.  Revolvers, whether they’re large or small will also have a companion holster with the Uncle Mikes product line.

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