Holster rig help needed

[etwinam]

Hello all,

I am in the market for an all around Holster rig.... There are lots of options so I'm a little confused which route to go. Also cost is important. I'm not trying to drop $300-400

I've seen the ELS rig from safariland and I'm very intrigued however it's a bit 3 gun focused, and I'm really just going to need a holster and mag holders... Not sure I need all the adjustments available for the extra cost.

I have also seen the black scorpion rig with holster for about $200. I like that option too. Anyone have experience with them?

I like the padded duty belts with the drop offset holster setup but I wonder if they will ride up or be uncomfortable later on. I really like the drop offset safariland set ups. I like the easy swap clip on set up too so I can switch weapons faster. This seems like the best option cost wise (under $100). And easy to clip on and off.

The battle belts are cool but a bit on the tacticool side of things. And high-speed gear is really expensive for what it is.

Am I missing something? Is there a better way to go?

[boopiejones]

What are you using it for? When I take handgun classes, I use a basic thumb retention safariland holster and tacos for my magazines on a sturdy 1.75" belt.

[OCEquestrian]

What are you using it for?

^^^^This..........holsters are more specialized than the guns they carry.

[Tasty]

You could always get some HSGI tacos or G Code scorpion soft shells to carry mags and whatever holster you decide you like (retention, no retention, injection molded, kydex, etc.) and strap it all to a regular gun belt. That might be your most versatile option. Just keep in mind, none of this stuff is cheap.

[etwinam]

Use will be for pistol classes, mostly holster work and faster magazine changes... I have a 5.11 kydex core leather belt but I'm looking for a set up I can put on and off rather easily instead of clipping a bunch of stuff on my belt or feeling it through the belt loops and then clipping a bunch on..

That's why the duty belt seemed like a better option. I can just clip it on and go about my class then take it off and throw it in my trunk etc

I also like the option of being able to add AR mag holders as well which kind of eliminates black scorpion since it mostly a pistol rig

[L84CABO]

Use will be for pistol classes, mostly holster work and faster magazine changes... I have a 5.11 kydex core leather belt but I'm looking for a set up I can put on and off rather easily instead of clipping a bunch of stuff on my belt or feeling it through the belt loops and then clipping a bunch on..

That's why the duty belt seemed like a better option. I can just clip it on and go about my class then take it off and throw it in my trunk etc

I also like the option of being able to add AR mag holders as well which kind of eliminates black scorpion since it mostly a pistol rig

Then what you want is likely a double belt system...like the ELS system. There are several variations on this...

Safariland ELS (as you already know)

G Code Contact Series - G Code makes great stuff. I have several of their holsters but not this specific belt setup.

https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/contact-series-operators-belt-175/

AWS Inc - Getting more expensive here.

http://www.awsin.com/products.asp?id=164

Ronin Tactics - Senshi or Taskforce Belt...probably as expensive as you will find. Note that AWS supposedly makes Ronin's belts

https://www.ronintactics.com/store/c12/Belts.html

There are a variety of competition belts like the Safariland. Shooters Connection makes one. These are all variants of the inner/outer belt format. You can probably google "competition belts" and get a lot of hits.

https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/Shooters-Connection-Ultimate-Competition-Belt--P4644.aspx

There are also the traditional "war belts". These are usually padded over belts of some sort. The padding makes them comfortable. But they can also be hot. And there can be problems with them shifting unless they are somehow anchored to an inner belt of some sort...although some have a friction liner of some sort that are supposed to help keep them from slipping. You can probably just google "war belts" and you'll will get a ton mfgs.

Keep in mind that good gear is probably going to be expensive. That G Code setup is actually pretty reasonably priced, but I have no idea how stiff that belt is. I suspect G Code is using regular webbing in their belts vs. AWS and Ronin who are likely using Scuba webbing...at least in their higher end belts. Scuba webbing is probably as stiff as you will find. And stiff is good if you're going to be running multiple pistol mags, multiple rifle mags, med pouch, holster, light, etc. But you'll pay more for scuba webbing. Buy once/cry once and all that.

[Bansh88]

I've tried quite a few different holsters and mag pouches. At this point, I'm good with simple kydex.

[etwinam]

Then what you want is likely a double belt system...like the ELS system. There are several variations on this...

Safariland ELS (as you already know)

G Code Contact Series - G Code makes great stuff. I have several of their holsters but not this specific belt setup.

https://www.tacticalholsters.com/product/contact-series-operators-belt-175/

AWS Inc - Getting more expensive here.

http://www.awsin.com/products.asp?id=164

Ronin Tactics - Senshi or Taskforce Belt...probably as expensive as you will find. Note that AWS supposedly makes Ronin's belts

https://www.ronintactics.com/store/c12/Belts.html

There are a variety of competition belts like the Safariland. Shooters Connection makes one. These are all variants of the inner/outer belt format. You can probably google "competition belts" and get a lot of hits.

https://www.shootersconnectionstore.com/Shooters-Connection-Ultimate-Competition-Belt--P4644.aspx

There are also the traditional "war belts". These are usually padded over belts of some sort. The padding makes them comfortable. But they can also be hot. And there can be problems with them shifting unless they are somehow anchored to an inner belt of some sort...although some have a friction liner of some sort that are supposed to help keep them from slipping. You can probably just google "war belts" and you'll will get a ton mfgs.

Keep in mind that good gear is probably going to be expensive. That G Code setup is actually pretty reasonably priced, but I have no idea how stiff that belt is. I suspect G Code is using regular webbing in their belts vs. AWS and Ronin who are likely using Scuba webbing...at least in their higher end belts. Scuba webbing is probably as stiff as you will find. And stiff is good if you're going to be running multiple pistol mags, multiple rifle mags, med pouch, holster, light, etc. But you'll pay more for scuba webbing. Buy once/cry once and all that.

Thanks for all the input, really helpful and I didn't know about highspeed gear low profile set up. I actually like that a lot. I have a dermo'd military molle belt and a few dump bags, smoke grenade holders on it etc. And always found it clunky and hot. I was leaning toward lower drag and that highspeed gear isn't bad likes their other war belts they offer.

I think after all that I've seen and your input I'm leaning a little more towards the Els rig. I can put what I need on and to off as needed. I guess I'll just need to start small and add as I can afford. It seems to me to make the most sense.

Thanks again.

[L84CABO]

Thanks for all the input, really helpful and I didn't know about highspeed gear low profile set up. I actually like that a lot. I have a dermo'd military molle belt and a few dump bags, smoke grenade holders on it etc. And always found it clunky and hot. I was leaning toward lower drag and that highspeed gear isn't bad likes their other war belts they offer.

I think after all that I've seen and your input I'm leaning a little more towards the Els rig. I can put what I need on and to off as needed. I guess I'll just need to start small and add as I can afford. It seems to me to make the most sense.

Thanks again.

Welcome. One other thing to pay attention to is the various accessories and how they attach to the primary belt. Ideally you want something that will support a wide variety of different types of pouches, holsters, etc. Or at the very least that you're happy with the pouches/holsters that can be used with a particular belt. As an example, some of the mag pouches I've seen for some of the competition belts are quite pricey. And/or if you get a competition belt, you probably want to make sure you can attach some type of first aid kit to it, a light or a holster/pouch for the light, etc. The point is, make sure you look at this stuff up front and that you will be able to run everything on the belt that you want and/or that it's flexible enough to adjust to your needs as they change.

[FeuerFrei]

OP
When choosing any belt/holster combo just know that it won't be your last and you'll need to eventually make room in the house to store them all.

I made my choice a simple one.
Started with an uncle mike's duty belt that a leo friend recommended to me.
Then I shopped for a series of holsters that fit pistols I intended to carry.
Safariland and Blackhawk has some good stuff for me.
Mag pouches are stiff molded Bianchi that secure my 1911/XD45/G17+19/CZ75 magazines. I don't remove any mag pouches. I just switch mags/holster.

The uncle mike has plenty of real estate on it to add or subtract gear as needed.

*Tip: make sure you get some gear keepers for the belt.

The belt like mine is HERE

[IVC]

Let's start from the beginning.

First, decide on the belt width. The standard competition belts are all 1.5". The more duty/tacticool belts tend to be 1.75". If you're looking for classes and to speed up skills, you're more likely to need a 1.5" belt. Here is why.

Belt attachments (holsters, pouches) will be designed for a particular belt width. Some can be mounted on both 1.5" and 1.75" belts (e.g., Blade Tech TekLok), buy many are hard-wired for the specific width. Short of thigh rigs and super-duper tacticool setups, if you have a 1.5" belt you'll find by far the most options for your setup.

ELS is pretty nice, but it limits your choices of the rest of the gear. It's a proprietary system with limited support outside Safariland. Go for it if you are sure you want to have primarily Safariland gear.

The standard setup for action shooting is an "inner-outer Velcro 1.5" belt combo." The inner belt goes through the belt loops on your pants and acts as a regular belt. The outer belt just "sticks" to the inner belt and you can remove it easily. Most belts are comparable. Double Alpha belts are the stiffest and the thickest. BladeTech is thinner and so is CR Speed (I have all of them, so this is personal experience).

For holster, it's not just the type of holster you choose, but also the mounting system. I have used many and the problem is that the mounting system must be rock solid. If it moves or even wiggles, it will not do. One mount I use for production and single stack is "BOSS" (Ben Stoeger Pro Shop). It has become a gold standard in competition, even if it's a bit on the expensive side. The idea, though, is that you're looking for a very stiff connection to the belt.

Holsters will be either your race holster (open, revolver and limited divisions), or a kydex holster (production, single stack, carry optics, local steel matches). My personal choice is BladeTech, but there are others comparable in quality. Again, it will come down to the mounting system much more than the kydex mold. Another detail with holsters is the retention screws. They should be large and tool-less to allow you to adjust it on the fly so you can loosen it to work on your draw, then tighten it when you're off the line.

Pouches can be very cheap and functional. You don't need to pay a lot until you're trying to get your reloads down to vicinity of 1 second. The faster you want to go, the more you'll need to get special ones that allow you to adjust retention and angle while remaining rock solidly attached to the belt.

[etwinam]

Let's start from the beginning.

First, decide on the belt width. The standard competition belts are all 1.5". The more duty/tacticool belts tend to be 1.75". If you're looking for classes and to speed up skills, you're more likely to need a 1.5" belt. Here is why.

Belt attachments (holsters, pouches) will be designed for a particular belt width. Some can be mounted on both 1.5" and 1.75" belts (e.g., Blade Tech TekLok), buy many are hard-wired for the specific width. Short of thigh rigs and super-duper tacticool setups, if you have a 1.5" belt you'll find by far the most options for your setup.

ELS is pretty nice, but it limits your choices of the rest of the gear. It's a proprietary system with limited support outside Safariland. Go for it if you are sure you want to have primarily Safariland gear.

The standard setup for action shooting is an "inner-outer Velcro 1.5" belt combo." The inner belt goes through the belt loops on your pants and acts as a regular belt. The outer belt just "sticks" to the inner belt and you can remove it easily. Most belts are comparable. Double Alpha belts are the stiffest and the thickest. BladeTech is thinner and so is CR Speed (I have all of them, so this is personal experience).

For holster, it's not just the type of holster you choose, but also the mounting system. I have used many and the problem is that the mounting system must be rock solid. If it moves or even wiggles, it will not do. One mount I use for production and single stack is "BOSS" (Ben Stoeger Pro Shop). It has become a gold standard in competition, even if it's a bit on the expensive side. The idea, though, is that you're looking for a very stiff connection to the belt.

Holsters will be either your race holster (open, revolver and limited divisions), or a kydex holster (production, single stack, carry optics, local steel matches). My personal choice is BladeTech, but there are others comparable in quality. Again, it will come down to the mounting system much more than the kydex mold. Another detail with holsters is the retention screws. They should be large and tool-less to allow you to adjust it on the fly so you can loosen it to work on your draw, then tighten it when you're off the line.

Pouches can be very cheap and functional. You don't need to pay a lot until you're trying to get your reloads down to vicinity of 1 second. The faster you want to go, the more you'll need to get special ones that allow you to adjust retention and angle while remaining rock solidly attached to the belt.

Thanks, great info. I really wish I could try a few before investing hundreds in to the best first. I'll just have to do my research.

[dwalker]

I have a competition setup, and I have a carry setup. There is not a lot of similarity between the two, as these are very different jobs. I do not have a "tactical" rig, although my competition setup would probably do very well as one.

The most effective/best value solution I can recommend for what you are describing is the following:

Safariland GLS 578 Pro-fit holster. Fits 90% of the duty type weapons you will likely have access to. Does not fit the Steyr M9A1, but otherwise fits everything else in my collection. Has POSITIVE retention that does not interfere with the draw of the weapon.

Riggers belt. I use a Blackhawk! and a couple of other brands. These are very good belts for pistol use.

LAG Tactical, Safariland, or similar mag pouches. I personally prefer the Safariland, but they are bulky for any sort of CCW or everyday carry. LAG has solid options for that use.

I do not really recommend an inner/outer belt setup for what you are talking abut doing. First, they add bulk and some of them WILL come loose and fall off when you are active. Second, they are not that comfortable to wear all day and if you are training to be proficient train with gear similar to what you actually will use, not stuff that will hang in a closet except for when you are using it for training class.

IF you feel the need to be able to take the pistol and mag pouches on and off your riggers belt without having to take the belt off, mount your holster etx on Bladetech TekLoks and be done.

[etwinam]

I have a competition setup, and I have a carry setup. There is not a lot of similarity between the two, as these are very different jobs. I do not have a "tactical" rig, although my competition setup would probably do very well as one.

The most effective/best value solution I can recommend for what you are describing is the following:

Safariland GLS 578 Pro-fit holster. Fits 90% of the duty type weapons you will likely have access to. Does not fit the Steyr M9A1, but otherwise fits everything else in my collection. Has POSITIVE retention that does not interfere with the draw of the weapon.

Riggers belt. I use a Blackhawk! and a couple of other brands. These are very good belts for pistol use.

LAG Tactical, Safariland, or similar mag pouches. I personally prefer the Safariland, but they are bulky for any sort of CCW or everyday carry. LAG has solid options for that use.

I do not really recommend an inner/outer belt setup for what you are talking abut doing. First, they add bulk and some of them WILL come loose and fall off when you are active. Second, they are not that comfortable to wear all day and if you are training to be proficient train with gear similar to what you actually will use, not stuff that will hang in a closet except for when you are using it for training class.

IF you feel the need to be able to take the pistol and mag pouches on and off your riggers belt without having to take the belt off, mount your holster etx on Bladetech TekLoks and be done.

How do you keep the mag holders on the riggers belt? From what I've seen you have to thread those through each time or attach via molle. The riggers belts I've seen don't have molle all the way around. As mentioned above though the highspeed gear belt is a low drag molle set up that goes completely around the waist. Lastly I'm not huge on the D ring. It serves no purpose for me as I don't repel out of helicopters. It just gets in the way.

Any suggestions on edc rigger belts with molle all the way around and no D ring? The highspeed gear one mentioned above does fit that bill, but it's not cheap. And the mag tacos to follow it are not either.

Also I have a GLS safariland holster for P320 and I love it! I plan on getting one for my M&P in 5" and that's pretty much all I need. With the els clip I can swap them as needed. I do really like the drop offset attachment that can be added to the safariland holsters as well or the USPSA drop attachment, not sure how the glass will work on those set ups though as you have to use your middle finger to unlock the holster retention. If I can get it attached my belt I can swap out holsters as needed. This is why I was leaning towards the safariland ELS set up. I do see the points mentioned and would like versatility though.

[dwalker]

How do you keep the mag holders on the riggers belt? From what I've seen you have to thread those through each time or attach via molle.

Molle lol... no.