The last few post I have written were more about the "software" side of things, dealing with a defensive mindset and and associated topics. This one is going to be a change of pace, and go back to talking about the hardware and gear side. Holsters and carry rigs are pieces of gear that often do not get the attention that they deserve, and without the right gear, it can be very difficult to successfully conceal a handgun. I conceal full sized service handguns (like a full sized 1911 or Sig 220) on a regular basis, and am able to do so because I have put the time and effort into finding the concealed carry set-up that works for me, and the money into buying it. I am going to focus for this post on waistline, or belt carry, as it is how most people successfully conceal handguns for defense, and it has a lot of advantages. In a future post I will cover more ways to carry, like shoulder holsters, ankle and pocket carry.
A lot of people go buy their gun, and get their permit, and then use the cheapest holster they can find for their gun. This is often either a Kydex belt slide that a lot of makers now ship with the gun, or a nylon one size fits many holster from the local gun store. To me this is the equivalent of buying a high end sports car, and then putting the cheapest discount brand of tires you can find on it. Will they do they job, maybe, but, you can probably spend a little more money, and get much better performance out of the product.
The holster is actually, in my opinion, not the most important part of a carry rig. It is tied in importance with a good, purpose made gun-belt. By gun-belt I don't necessarily mean a gunslinger rig for a six shooter from an old western, or even a police style duty belt. But, there are companies and manufacturers out there who make belts specifically designed to hold up and distribute the weight of a handgun. You can find dressier leather ones that can be worn when needed, or more casual nylon belts that usually have a polymer stiffener in them. You can determine which works best for your fashion needs, but having a good gun belt is a must. When I started carrying I was just using whatever belts I owned from the department stores, and concealing a full sized 1911. I noticed two things, first, is that the top of the pistol had a tendency to flop outward, making it harder to conceal, and second, that I was needing a new belt every month or two, because they couldn't take the abuse. By the time I had gone through 3-4 belts, it wound up costing me more than the $60-100 a good gun-belt would have cost me, and then I had to buy the gun-belt too. Most things in the firearms world, are a front end heavy investment. But spending a little bit more upfront usually saves you money in the long run, belts and holsters are no exception.
I would rather have a good gun-belt and mediocre holster, than a good holster and mediocre belt. A good belt makes a properly designed holster more concealable. Now, holsters are still important. Your basic choices are leather, a plastic like material known as kydex, and nylon. Now, I have never found a nylon holster that works for me. They are generally cheap, generic holsters with weak attachment points that don't work particularly well for any gun. They offer no retention (the ability to keep the firearm in the holster), and make re-holstering more difficult because they collapse on themselves when empty. So, I don't really like them as an option. Between leather and kydex, it really is your choice, both have advantages and disadvantages and can be found in comparable price ranges. First of all though, over time, either one will cause finish wear on your pistol. Carry wear is a fact of life for a pistol that is going to be carried for defensive use, and something which the owner needs to be aware of.
But, taking a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of leather. Properly made leather holsters really can be beautiful works of art. They can come with elements made from exotic animal skins, like shark or snake, and in different colors. When made and properly boned for a firearm, they can offer excellent retention. With the addition of some sort of reinforcement at the opening, one handed re-holstering is simple, and the material is flexible, so that it molds to the shape of your body for better concealment. Some of the disadvantages are that sometimes new leather holsters can squeak like a new shoe, and if not dyed properly it can bleed onto clothing. Over time the leather can lose some of its shape, although this usually takes years with a well made holster. Leather is not the most durable material in the world, and can be damaged if it gets wet. Leather holsters are still mostly made by hand, so there can be a wait of weeks or months for a holster custom made for your gun, but this wait can be worth it for a holster that you will use for years.
Kydex also offers some advantages and disadvantages. Retention with kydex is usually excellent, and there is no need to reinforce the opening, because the material is rigid to begin with. The material is very resistant to the elements, and able to take a lot of abuse before it is really damaged. It is generally more utilitarian looking than leather, a trait which some people enjoy. It doesn't really mold to the user, so sometimes there is a slightly more difficult time concealing a kydex holster. It can also be harder to break in if it is a bit too tight when it comes from the manufacturer. Kydex can usually be had a with a slightly shorter length than leather, although this depends on the maker and their demand. Also, if made improperly or too thin the kydex can be brittle. Kydex can also be rougher on your clothing with daily use, although with daily use leather or kydex can wear through fabric.
Whichever one you choose, make sure you do some research, and buy a quality made product. Some reputable holster makers also offer trial periods of up to 30 days, where if you don't like the product for some reason, you can send it back.
The last part of my carry rig is a spare magazine carrier. I will detail all the reasons why I think carrying spare ammunition is prudent in a later post. But, I will say that spare magazines on my offhand side balance out the rig better, and make it more comfortable for me to carry all day.
When you are going to be carrying a sidearm for defense, make sure you make the investment in well made gear that will help you do so effectively, and also give you years of use. Spending a little bit more up front can help you avoid the dreaded "box of holsters" that many of us who have been carrying for a while seem to accumulate. This is just a short glimpse into things to consider when you are going to start shopping for carry rigs. If you have more specific questions, feel free to contact us and we will share our knowledge with you. And if you have a question you would like to see a post on, contact me through this blog, Facebook or Twitter (@lmtactical), and I will put a post up.
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