someone please school me on holsters

[hairtumor]

I am planning on going to a front sight class and am a newbie when it comes to holsters. I picked up an Uncle Mikes kydex on sale a Turners. It comes with paddle and a belt loop attachment. Which one is the preferred between the two. It seems like the belt loop would be more secure. Also which cant (muzzle forward, vertical, or butt forward) makes for a smother draw. Thanks for any advice.

[SGT Loco]

You should know right off the bat that almost everything you read here is going to be 100% personal opinion- not just from myself, but from everyone. Holsters are a very personal matter, and opinions vary widely.

That said, personally, from the setup you describe having bought I would prefer the paddle (assuming you have a good, sturdy gun belt) and a slight butt forward cant set at about 3:30 on my hip. That's how I carried while I was deployed, and that's what worked for me. A lot of guys prefer vertical because you don't have to rotate the weapon so much on the draw- I always feel like that torques my wrist at a weird angle, and I can't ever seem to get the best grip that way. A lot of guys also prefer the belt loops, because it is more secure- I always felt the paddle provided more stability and comfort.

I highly suggest experimenting before your class. It sounds funny and you look a little foolish (jokes on them!), but just find a mirror practice your draw with various set ups and find out what combination feels most comfortable for you. Body type and other gear will have a big effect, so wear whatever it is that you'll be taking to this class, because you don't want to have to change everything again once you get there.


I don't have any personal experience with the uncle mikes holsters, but I can't recall hearing anything very negative. I used (and still have) a Blackhawk Serpa holster, and I loved it. Maybe not the best on the finish, but it's definitely sturdy, and the retention system was great.

[daybreak]

loops, vertical, 3 o clock on my hip. Loops vs paddle may also depend on your particular model. The above poster gave good advice.

[TahoeTim]

spelling police

hey - take some schoolin' on how to spell school.

the little red squiggly under a word is telling you something is wrong.

[hairtumor]

spelling police

hey - take some schoolin' on how to spell school.

the little red squiggly under a word is telling you something is wrong.

thanks, that's what happens when you post before coffee

[zfields]

Personally I like paddle, just since they seem to get it a little more off the body than other styles.

I have a custom kydex that I mainly use for my gun, and The only thing I dont like is it holds so close to me that it sticks me in the gut.

[not-fishing]

What are you trying to do?

For IDPA the boys and I use Blade tech holsters which come with a belt loop and paddle attachments. You have a couple of cant choices and if you get the competition kit they also come with a double mag holder.

For Concealed Carry R Grizzle Custom and you get to pick the carry style. After a few thousand draws you find the cant you want is what feels the best not-drawing. (seated, standing, walking etc)

[sholling]

If you're spending the money and ammo on a class then my advice is to spend the money on a decent holster. In my opinion Uncle Mikes and Fobus are junk and Serpa holsters are bloody awful. You'd be much better off investing in a top quality Kydex holster from Comp-Tac or Blade-Tech. The last thing you want to deal with is fighting your holster for your weapon. Both Comp-Tac and Blade-Tech provide plenty of retention while giving you a butter smooth draw. If you want a concealable (higher riding) OWB on a budget then you might want to consider Black Dog Concealment.

Getting back to paddle vs belt I personally prefer the comfort (no slab of plastic in your pants) of a belt holster but a good quality paddle like the ones offered by Comp-Tac won't move on you. Good quality paddles are easy off and on but I've found that cheaper paddles tend to move around.