Holster Feedback Thread - Add your reviews, pics, new review added 011215

[Capybara]

I am editing my first post here to turn this thread into an overall CCW holster review thread. Please add your own review below. We want and need pictures, ideally, also with images of you wearing the holster, (close ups and medium shots showing with holster on body and then covered up) as well as shots of the holsters themselves.

I saw their ad in Shotgun News, seems like a great price for a leather pocket holster for my M&P Shield. Any feedback, experience with these?

http://www.idfholsters.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=1043181&CAT=8982

[Capybara]

So it seems that nobody on Calguns uses this holster? I guess I will have to buy one and report on it. It's only $32.00 if I don't like it, guess I can always sell it.

Anyone have any other pocket holster that they like? I have a Sticky Holster that I may try for pocket carry. I have already decided that the Sticky Holster isn't going to work for AIWB for me.

[Capybara]

I just received three IDF Holsters I ordered on Black Friday, got a nice 30% off coupon that day so the prices were very good. For those of you not familiar with IDF, they are part of the Mako Group, all of these holsters are made in Israel.

1. Appendix Carry IWB Leather Holster for Radom P64 Pistol. This holster seems to hold the P64 quite securely, I am able to hold the pistol by the holster and shake it vigorously and the pistol doesn't budge, yet I can draw with the pistol from the waistband fairly easily.

The belt clip is very stiff and retains the holster on your pants and belt very nicely when drawing the pistol. The holster rides the pistol fairly high on your belt line though, this is definitely not a deep concealment holster. IDF/Makp Group do not make a model specifically for the P64 so I ordered the model designed for the Walther PPK on a tip from a fellow buyer. The craftsmanship, stitching and overall construction are nothing to write home about but this was an inexpensive holster that I bought for even less money with a 30% discount for Black Friday.







2. Pocket Carry Holster for S&W M&P Shield 9. I bought this holster to give me more options for when I wear looser cargo type pants with larger pockets. As has been noted, the M&P Shield is a little too large for pocket carry in most circumstances, but I can fit this holster with the Shield into my normal jeans pocket. It looks a little too large to be mistaken for a cell phone but I think I could get away with this type of carry in most casual circumstances. The idea is the "horn" at the end of the holster is supposed to stick to the corner of your pants pocket then drawing the pistol. In use, I found that it was difficult to draw the pistol without the holster riding along, unless I used my opposite hand to fix the holster in my pocket as I drew. Keep in mind though that I just received this holster for the Shield today and the fit is fairly snug. I have a feeling that once the leather wears in and stretches a bit, it may become a workable solution for occasional pocket carry.

In practicing, I can see already that pocket carry, while comfortable and easy, really increases how long it takes you to dig out your gun and present it in comparison to the IWB holster. I can see how this holster might come in handy also for backpack or laptop carry, although I don't plan on doing a lot of that.









3. Appendix Carry IWB Holster for S&W M&P Shield 9. This holster seems nicely made, it was obviously molded to the contours of the M&P Shield as is evident from the scallop marks from the Shield's slide, and the raised recesses in the leather for the slide release and safety. For some reason though, inserting the Shield into this holster has been an exercise in frustration, the fit is incredibly tight. I double checked to make sure that they sent me the correct holster for the M&P Shield and yes, according to the shipping label and plastic bag, this is the correct holster. It looks correct, yet trying to fit the Shield into the holster requires almost all my strength. It's as if the top if the holster where the slide inserts into the holster is very, very tight and the trigger guard area is also very, very tight.

Having grown up around horses, saddles and bridles, I know that it can take a while for leather to loosen up while still retaining fit. Once I worked the pistol into the holster, trying to remove it became a comedy routine. I tried rocking the pistol back and forth, trying to budge the trigger portion out before the slide and vice versa with no luck. The holster seemed to have a death grip on the pistol and would not release it at all. I ended up gripping the edge of the holster with channel lock pliers and pulling on the pistol's handle with all of my might, then the holster finally, reluctantly released it's hold on the pistol.

At this point, I would welcome any advice from any leather experts about how to expedite the stretching process on the leather. The holster seems to fit my belt and to make appendix carry possible with the Shield, but until the holster can be persuaded to release the pistol with a reasonable amount of force instead of with heavy duty Channel Locks, this holster is useless. Hopefully it will loosen up with time while storing the Shield in the holster. If you have any tips on how to help loosen the holster up, please PM me or post here.







I will update this post as I begin using these holsters in day to day carry. As for the Shield Black holster, I will give it a few days to loosen up but if it doesn't, I will be returning it. BTW, my Shield is 100% bone stock, nothing has been changed or altered and it is a California Roster Handgun.

[ralph.garmin]

>>>

[sealocan]

thanks for the review & I unfortunately I don't have any tips on how to make them better.

[Capybara]

The P64 is a winner, I can totally work with it, have been carrying it today and other than uncomfortableness when sitting down, it works pretty well. The Shield Pocket I will keep just because it will be useful for certain situations. The IWB Shield holster, I am going to give it a week and if it doesn't loosen up a lot, I am ditching it. As I recall, I might be able to use some saddle oil or baseball glove conditioner, although with the black finish, that may not work.

I think I am going to try an Alien and a Crossbreed for the Shield. Once I find what I like for the Shield, I will then order one of whatever works best for my CZ82 also. Boy, they aren't kidding when they say plan on having a holster collection. Some will work, some won't and none are the right one for every situation. I can conceivably see having ten or twelve holsters for three pistols easily. Yeesh, gets expensive.

[caliberetta]

Nice review and very good pics, thanks

[Capybara]

Thanks Caliberetta, cell phone pictures, all that matters is lighting.
Just ordered a Crossbreed Supertuck 2.0. Supposed to be a very good IWB holster. Appendix works so well when just walking around but for sitting down or driving, not very comfortable. Will report on the Crossbreed when it arrives.

[Capybara]

Please see first post in this thread, let's turn this into an overall CCW Holster Review thread. Pictures, opinions, feedback and recommendations. If you buy a holster and are not happy, post those too with reasons and images that show why we shouldn't buy this holster as well as what is working for you for CCW.

[sammass]

Boy, they aren't kidding when they say plan on having a holster collection. Some will work, some won't and none are the right one for every situation. I can conceivably see having ten or twelve holsters for three pistols easily. Yeesh, gets expensive.

This is precisely the concern I have. Somehow, I hoped that someone - LGS, CCW instructor, Vendor - would have a varied selection of holsters that one could 'test drive' to see what body position, inie or outie, cant, etc etc is going to work for me. I don't mind paying for a quality holster that functions correctly for me. But like OP, I don't want a plethora of cast offs lying around.

Doesn't seem to be a simple solution. If someone is aware of a resource in the Sacramento region, please share. Thanks much.

[Capybara]

This is precisely the concern I have. Somehow, I hoped that someone - LGS, CCW instructor, Vendor - would have a varied selection of holsters that one could 'test drive' to see what body position, inie or outie, cant, etc etc is going to work for me. I don't mind paying for a quality holster that functions correctly for me. But like OP, I don't want a plethora of cast offs lying around.

Doesn't seem to be a simple solution. If someone is aware of a resource in the Sacramento region, please share. Thanks much.

That is a great idea. I wonder if any CCW instructors have a nice holster collection that they let students try? That would be a good way to set yourself apart from the competition.

[pastureofmuppets]

This is precisely the concern I have. Somehow, I hoped that someone - LGS, CCW instructor, Vendor - would have a varied selection of holsters that one could 'test drive' to see what body position, inie or outie, cant, etc etc is going to work for me. I don't mind paying for a quality holster that functions correctly for me. But like OP, I don't want a plethora of cast offs lying around.

Doesn't seem to be a simple solution. If someone is aware of a resource in the Sacramento region, please share. Thanks much.

There are holster makers out there that guarantee there stuff and will either refund if you don't like it, or work with you to adjust/fix the holster to suit you.

It's an attitude I took straight away because I really do not want my holsters to end up in The Box or the Draw.

That is a great idea. I wonder if any CCW instructors have a nice holster collection that they let students try? That would be a good way to set yourself apart from the competition.

Yes. Quite a few, however to have every type of holster in every configuration for every gun would be an insane cost.

Then you have left handers...

[Capybara]

If an instructor just had a Sticky Holster, a leather AIWB, a Kydex combo AIWB, a Combo IWB like an Alien Gear or N82, Paddle OWB, and a shoulder holster, that would at least give a student a crack at trying out the different styles. I agree, it would be impossible to cover everything, but a representative of each style of holster would be so helpful to a newbie.

[JDW67]

I got this for my Shield and am pleasantly surprised that it works so well for me:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EYN9L8Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got it for $24.99 with free shipping as I have Prime. I've used it to carry appendix, in the small of the back, cross, and at 3 o'clock. It works well in any of those positions and I don't need a stiff belt. I use my crappy Walmart belt and it works just fine.

[Capybara]

Just to update my post above, I have called and left two messages and sent four e-mails to IDF regarding the poor fit on the black Shield holster above. Zero response. I highly recommend that you do not buy anything from IDF, their customer service is non-existent.