The Gun Blogs

Recently, a poster at the warriortalk forum wanted some advice on what concealed carry gear to get.

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No matter what firearm you choose, a good belt, holster, and magazine holder are essential.

A good belt will not only support your firearm, it will help prevent back problems. It will reduce fatigue and extend the time you can wear the gun each day.

Most of the guys on this board have a box of holsters they no longer use. In order to avoid this horrible fate, you'll want to shop around a bit at gun stores to become familiar with the different types of holsters. I have found that inside the waistband (IWB) and pancake holsters hold the gun most tightly to the body. This imparts stability for consistency in the draw and increases concealability.

Most folks end up with a combination of kydex and leather gear. They're both good materials to work with. Trying a holster is generally not sufficient to *fully* determine suitability; this is why we end up with a drawer full of holsters. However, over time, you'll get a feel for what you like and dislike.

Some holster considerations (almost all have tension adjustments):

1) Soft vs Hard

Kydex and some leather holsters are very stiff. These can be uncomfortable, especially IWB holsters. So long as there are no pressure points on the body side of the holster, you may be able to get used to it.
Softer holsters will generally be more comfortable. Beware of rough holsters (both Kydex and leather -- especially some Galcos). If you wear an IWB holster without a t-shirt between you and the holster, you'll experience chafing.

2) Collapsable vs. Noncollapsable

The DeSantis Cozy Partner (IWB) is an extremely comfortable holster that has lots of forward cant to improve concealability. However, it is a collapsable holster. It has a leather band to assist in keeping it open, but does not keep it all the way open. Various manufacturers will use metal to reinforce the holster. Kydex does not have this problem.

The reason you want a holster that won't collapse when the gun is drawn is for reholstering the weapon. In a CCW situation, this is not necessarily a problem. However, you can see where this would be a problem at a shooting class where the gun is holstered hundreds of times.

3) Sweat shield

This is a flap of leather or kydex that extends upward to protect the gun from contact with skin and sweat. It generally increases comfort.

4) Cant

Forward and reverse cant may increase concealability depending upon how the gun is worn. Forward cant angles the handgun such that the grip does not stick out as far. This reduces printing.

5) Loops

While loops are necessary to attach the holster to your belt, some loops are better than others, depending upon the circumstances. For belt holsters, there are three types: 1) close, 2) separated, and 3) rocker. For close loops, the loops are generally set close together and often spaced one belt loop width apart. If the holster is supporting a heavy gun, these loops impart the least stability. The gun will tilt back, possibly bending the belt and decreasing concealability. Separated loops, such as on the Milt Sparks VM-2, keep the gun stable on the belt. A rocker system, such as on the Comp-Tac Gurka, help prevent rearward tilting.

Belts:

There are many belt types, but thick leather seems to work well. Narrow belts (1.25" or so) must be rigidly constructed. This is the most "socially acceptable" belt width. Inch and a half wide belts (or greater) look like gun belts, but are sturdier.

Conclusion:

Most gun people wind up with a box of unused holsters and gear. You can reduce the size of the box by purchasing high quality gear and targeting the holsters for particular purposes.

I have found the following seems to work well:

Belts:

Don Hume Belts are low priced and sturdy. I use model B109 with 1.25" in width. I also have a Wilderness Belt, which is a thick nylon belt.

Holsters:

DeSantis Cozy Partner

Most comfortable lower priced IWB holster. It has lots of forward cant, but collapses. It is durable and has survived 9 years of daily concealed carry.

Milt Sparks VM-2

Heavier IWB holster. It features separated loops and a metal reinforced mouth. There are several loops and it is tuckable (meaning a shirt may be tucked over the holster).

Milt Sparks Heritage

Another good offering from Milt Sparks. It has a layer of plastic sandwiched between the leather layers to keep moisture away from the gun. The loops are close.

Blade-tech IWB

This is a decent IWB kydex holster. The loops are plastic and closely spaced. Cant is achieved by changing the angle of the loops. The back of the holster is "open" so lint will accumulate on the gun. It offers a very fast draw.

Comp-Tac Settable Cant Belt Holster

This is an outside the waistband kydex holster. You can set the angle up to 30 degrees in either direction (for crossdraw carry). I use it for open carry or as part of my tactical gear.

DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard

This is a pancake holster with set belt slots. It has a thumb break for security. It holds my Glock 21 close to my body and has pretty good forward cant for concealability.

Magazine Holders

I like Galco dual magazine holters. I also have a DeSantis single magazine holder with a clip. Both work well.