Holster & EDC Selection

[Joe_K]

This is a repost of an email I sent to a group of Men and Women I assist in training. I?m posting it here merely as some decent FYI.

*Note to the Mods* There are some links that go to products for sale. I have no financial interests or stake in those companies, nor do I sell gear, aside from things out of my own personal stash of extra/used gear.

Holster Selection Considerations

We are carrying our guns to defend the lives of others. If we are going to carry or use our firearm, we must do so safely. A good safe holster MUST do all of the following.

1. Retain the firearm when worn, and allow for a fighting grip on the gun when the Gun is holstered.

2. COMPLETELY cover the trigger area so that nothing can enter the trigger guard.

3. Retain its shape regardless of whether the Gun is in the holster or not, and allow for safe holstering/ unholstering with one hand.

4. Adequately protect the muzzle, and front sight from damage.

5. Adequately conceal the Gun from view of a potential threat.

Holster Recommendations

The following Holsters are safe, well thought out holster designs. This is not an exhaustive list, and if you have questions about your holster, or one you are considering purchasing remember, don?t believe marketing hype, does it exhibit ALL of the 5 points listed above, and can you afford it.

Appendix Carry Holsters

https://www.phlsterholsters.com/shop/phlster-classic-holster/

https://blade-tech.com/products/klipt-holster

https://blade-tech.com/products/ultimate-klipt-holster

https://tenicor.com/products/velo-aiwb-holster

https://rcsgear.com/eidolon-appendix-or-strongside-iwb/

https://www.henryholsters.com/product/aiwb-iwb-light-bearing-holster/

https://www.henryholsters.com/product/aiwb-iwb-holster/

Revolver Holsters

https://www.phlsterholsters.com/shop/city-special-revolver-holster/

https://darkstargear.com/product/jframe/


Strong Side Carry Holsters

https://tenicor.com/products/arx-holster

https://blade-tech.com/products/total-eclipse-holster

https://rcsgear.com/perun-strongside-owb/

https://www.blackarchholsters.com/products/protos-m

Guns

I challenge each of us to honestly answer the following questions.

1. In the last 18 years, what highly trained First World Military or Law Enforcement Unit/Agency, (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Uk, USA), has adopted for en-masse issue my handgun that I currently choose to carry to protect the lives of those around me?

2. If I knew I would be in a gunfight tomorrow with 3 well trained adversaries carrying rifles, and I was limited to a handgun I can carry covertly concealed, would it be my handgun? Would I carry it the way I do now? Would I train and practice more often? What would I do differently?

Be honest, your life, and the lives of those around you could very well depend upon it.

Ammunition
Test to ensure your ammunition will reliably function in YOUR Gun, Stock up on it, and swap it out annually.

.380 ACP
Ball

9x19mm,.38 Special, .357 Magnum, .357 Sig
.40 S&W, & 10mm
Federal HST
Speer Gold Dot
Hornady Critical Duty

.45 ACP
Ball


https://www.ammunitiontogo.com/lodge/best-self-defense-ammo/

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

Belts
If you buy the best holster in the world, but wear a cheaply made belt, you wasted the money on the holster. With firearms, the adgage of but once, cry once is almost always true. Again, not an exhaustive list. Always do research and use reputable sources before making a purchase of anything gun related. For every good quality product on the market, there are thousands more that are junk. Belts are very personal items, do preference and style will play a part. Make sure it does all of the following.

1. Keeps your pants up! Please, we?d all appreciate that.

2. Will support whatever equipment you are going to carry with it.

3. Won?t stretch over time.

4. Is comfortable enough for all day use. For strong side carry, or lots of equipment, most find a thicker and stiffer belt is desirable. While appendix carriers typically find a slightly more flexible belt to be better.

https://www.bigtexoutdoors.com/product/magpul-tejas-gun-belt-el-burro/

https://www.first-spear.com/line-one-belt-biothane-r

http://store.volundgearworks.com/index.php/volund-gearworks/aesir-belts/new-1-5in-aesir-cobra-biothane.html

https://thesuperbelt.com/

If your belt looks like this, it?s probably time to switch it out anyway.

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Lights

Carry at least one. SureFire or Streamlight. At least 500 lumens of output.
Large enough to get a full fighting grip on the light, without covering up the lens.

Tourniquets

Carry at least one of the following, and be trained and practiced in its use.

SOF-T Wide.
CAT-T.
RMT.

Extra Ammunition/ Reloads

Carry one. Ideally larger one than the one in your gun. Put it in a pouch, even if it?s in a pocket.


Unsafe Holsters

In order to better understand what makes a good safe holster I will explain and illustrate in detail what makes an unsafe holster.

1. Poor/insufficient tension that retains the Gun. (Gravity, Fall, and Run Tests)
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2. Exposed Trigger Guard. You are just waiting for a painful or deadly lesson to occur!
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3. Flimsy cheap materials and construction, weak under designed attachment methods: Paddles, J-Hooks/Clips, FOMI plastic clips, Loops/Clips made from Kydex.
Some Examples include:
99% of all Hybrid holsters, Alien Gear, Blackhawk, Bianchi, Bravo, Clip Draw, Crossbreed, DeSantis, Galco, Fobus, Uncle Mike?s, Urban Carry, Versa Carry, etc.
7729777306

https://youtu.be/BUvpH1u3c-0

https://youtu.be/jM6ERorBLQQ

4. If the holster leaves the muzzle and front sight completely exposed can easily allow the Gun to be pushed up and out of the holster.
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5. Bulky, poorly thought out and designed Holsters that will print through all but the heaviest winter clothing.
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6. Holsters that prevent a full fighting grip from being acquired while the gun is completely holstered.
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7. Holsters that require the trigger finger to press/push/manipulate a lever or button in order to release the gun from the holster.
BLACKHAWK! SERPA Holster, and similar products.
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Here are just three examples of why I will not train students in the use of an inherently flawed design, nor will most reputable instructors.

http://soldiersystems.net/2017/06/23/lapd-bans-use-of-blackhawk-serpa-holster/

https://www.fletc.gov/sites/default/files/imported_files/reference/public-information/freedom-of-information-act-foia/reading-room/training-information/holisterStudy.pdf

https://youtu.be/ug36_5hJ59I

8. Holsters that will not retain their shape when empty. Either by design, or material selection.
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Our gear and equipment choices should not be taken lightly. I hope and pray that all of us will think and reevaluate our choices in regards to what we carry and how, as well as our training to subconscious competence.




Behind every blade of grass is a Threeper trying to get his budget AR-15 to work.

[kidicarus13]

.45ACP Ball?! da fuq?!

It's 2019, not circa WWII

[.455_Hunter]

Like most commentary- some good points, some crap.

[Joe_K]

.45ACP Ball?! da fuq?!

It's 2019, not circa WWII

Most non .45 ACP caliber defensive handgun ammunition, (9x19, .40 S&W) replicates .45 ACP ball in terms of penetration and expansion in testing. If your gun will reliably cycle some of the modern hollow points available for .45 ACP, then by all means.

But if I?m erring on the side of not knowing what handgun a person owns and chooses to carry, and having to recommend something that will work, I?d opt for the one round that has the best chance of reliability in that unknown handgun chambered in .45 ACP.

.380 is a similar story, except that for all the
.380 defensive ammunition on the market, a majority has difficulty in reaching FBI minimums for consistent penetration. And many older .380?s and some newer just flat work better with the ball variety.

In very simplistic terms Bang beats click every time, and as long as we?re not talking about a round with significant penetration like 9x19, then ball .45 ACP, and .380 ACP is something that will work. Trust, but verify, especially with potential life saving pieces of equipment.


Behind every blade of grass is a Threeper trying to get his budget AR-15 to work.

[Joe_K]

Like most commentary- some good points, some crap.

Thanks .455.
If you have time, I am genuinely interested in what part is crap. I appreciate constructive criticism/informed debate.


Behind every blade of grass is a Threeper trying to get his budget AR-15 to work.

[.455_Hunter]

Thanks .455.
If you have time, I am genuinely interested in what part is crap. I appreciate constructive criticism/informed debate.

One really good thing you mentioned was "Put it in a pouch, even if it's in a pocket." with reference to reloads.

A few things I think could be improved:

Complete neglect of the "pocket carry" method used by a high percentage of carriers (both civilian and LEO).

500 lumens is too bright for nighttime indoor operations where you could be blinded by your own light reflecting off mirrors, windows, even white gloss walls.

OWB holsters with hammer retaining straps and exposed triggers are perfectly fine for hammered revolvers and hammered DA/SA autos carried fully decocked.

[Irving]

Do you have experience blinding yourself with a 500 lumen light? I certainly have, but only when I'm trying to do some administrative task or something like looking into a small hole in the wall. My light is 900 lumens.

[.455_Hunter]

Do you have experience blinding yourself with a 500 lumen light? I certainly have, but only when I'm trying to do some administrative task or something like looking into a small hole in the wall. My light is 900 lumens.

Yes. Maybe I have senisitve night vision, but I have zinged myself with reflected high lumen lights to the point that my response effectiveness would have been compromised. My EDC lights are generally 50 - 100 lumens.

[ray1970]

I have a 1000 lumen light on a long gun and it?s great for outside.

I recently stuck a 500 lumen light on one of my handguns and I?m thinking it might be a bit much. I lit up a wall in my bedroom in total darkness and it pretty much blinded me for a second. Actually thinking about replacing it with something a little less bright.

[.455_Hunter]

I guess my biggest concern about threads like this is that they ignore the fact that dude who puts 50 rds downrange per year and carries a .38 snub loaded with five rds 158 gr LRN on a Walmart belt in a Uncle Mike's holster is already about 90-95% on the graph of defensive preparedness. The last 5% is a lot of fuss, bother, and cost for not much return, but sure is fun to talk about.

[lex137]

Maybe you should get better training or take a low light class if you think 500 lumens is too bright... Why are you blinding yourself in your own house, don’t you know where decoration are, or distance to white walls. If the answer is no I can’t remember maybe you shouldn’t be clearing your house. Most people don’t have the training to clear a house in the day let alone night, I certainly don’t!

[.455_Hunter]

Why are you blinding yourself in your own house, don’t you know where decoration are, or distance to white walls.

I can see it now...

"Excuse me, Mr. Home Invader, I have this really bright flashlight I want to shine on you, but you are standing right next to my wife's full length mirror. Can you move over in front of this walnut paneling instead?"

[ray1970]

Walnut paneling? What is this? The 1970s?

[Irving]

If you have a guy standing next to a mirror, and you shine a light in his face, and some light gets on the mirror and blinds you, why is he not also blinded in this scenario? Even more so since you were expecting it and he wasn't, not to mention you're looking at where you think he is, and not likely directly into the mirror.

[ray1970]

If you have a guy standing next to a mirror, and you shine a light in his face, and some light gets on the mirror and blinds you, why is he not also blinded in this scenario? Even more so since you were expecting it and he wasn't, not to mention you're looking at where you think he is, and not likely directly into the mirror.

Valid points.

I?m new to weapon lights on handguns so I?m really in the learning phase. I?m sure the guy looking directly into the light will be blinded more than the guy behind the trigger.

I have been experimenting on and off again with my setup so I?m figuring some things out. One of my first lessons was if you wake up in total darkness and your eyes are fully dilated and you suddenly introduce a bright source of light into your environment you will struggle to see anything for a second. You don?t have to have the light bouncing off mirrors or anything silly like that. It?s like waking up at two in the morning in total darkness and flipping on your bedroom light.

So far I?ve determined that popping the light on in a low ready position is much more tolerable than lighting up any sort of wall.

[.455_Hunter]

If you have a guy standing next to a mirror, and you shine a light in his face, and some light gets on the mirror and blinds you, why is he not also blinded in this scenario? Even more so since you were expecting it and he wasn't, not to mention you're looking at where you think he is, and not likely directly into the mirror.

I would prefer not to do something that could reduce my effectiveness on the chance that it also reduces the bad guy's effectiveness.

[Joe_K]

One really good thing you mentioned was "Put it in a pouch, even if it's in a pocket." with reference to reloads.

A few things I think could be improved:

Complete neglect of the "pocket carry" method used by a high percentage of carriers (both civilian and LEO).

500 lumens is too bright for nighttime indoor operations where you could be blinded by your own light reflecting off mirrors, windows, even white gloss walls.

OWB holsters with hammer retaining straps and exposed triggers are perfectly fine for hammered revolvers and hammered DA/SA autos carried fully decocked.

This was info provide to folks carrying more in line with carrying while on duty. Pocket carry isn?t an option for said group. Totally a viable way to carry though in many other contexts.

As soon as fog, smoke, backlighting, or longer distances are introduced 500 lumens becomes too little. Proper training and usage of a bright light will negate any issues with self blinding.

If you consider a situation where the firearm might need to be re-holstered with the handgun placed in single action mode then the exposed trigger guard holsters goes off the table as an option. But I completely under where you are coming from.


Behind every blade of grass is a Threeper trying to get his budget AR-15 to work.

[Joe_K]

I would prefer not to do something that could reduce my effectiveness on the chance that it also reduces the bad guy's effectiveness.

Take a bright light, shine it into a mirror and look into the reflected beam, then move the light to a different part of the wall without turning it off. Your eyes will be fine, you will not go blind.


Behind every blade of grass is a Threeper trying to get his budget AR-15 to work.

[Joe_K]

Or watch this.

https://youtu.be/cN2K7UhT6rk

[JohnnyDrama]

An interesting thread. The original post reiterated many of the things the gentlemen who conducted my concealed carry class said.

On the other hand...

I guess my biggest concern about threads like this is that they ignore the fact that dude who puts 50 rds downrange per year and carries a .38 snub loaded with five rds 158 gr LRN on a Walmart belt in a Uncle Mike's holster is already about 90-95% on the graph of defensive preparedness. The last 5% is a lot of fuss, bother, and cost for not much return, but sure is fun to talk about.

This is a valid point and was brought up in the class as well. What the instructors were trying to get people to understand is that this is the starting point and we should all strive to improve.


I'm curious about the lights though. I usually carry a Streamlight ProTac 1L that puts out 275 lumens. I chose that light because it is small enough that I will carry it. What I'm getting at is with a handgun, reload, multitool, and flashlight I'm starting to feel like Batman. I live in a relatively peaceful part of the world. Probably because there are so many guns around. Anyway, at what point do you decide you've reached diminishing returns?

[Squeeze]

It's amazing when I manufacture a kydex holster how some people will scoff at spending $50 on it when it has qualities you mention in your post. Yet, they'll spend $100 on a POS hybrid holster that is complete shit because some tacti-cool guy on YouTube uses it. [facepalm]

That being said, this is a great post and some great points being mentioned. As far a lumens on a light are concerned, use what you are comfortable with. I don't think 500 lumens is a bad choice. I run a TLR-1 HL with 800 lumen output. It's bright as all get out and probably a bit much for a handgun, but it works when I need it to. There are pro's and con's to leather and kydex, I just don't think they belong together. A lot of my customer base is from people wanting custom kydex holsters. If they request something I don't feel is "safe" or so outlandish it makes the holster impractical, I politely let them know.

[rustycrusty]

One really good thing you mentioned was "
Complete neglect of the "pocket carry" method used by a high percentage of carriers (both civilian and LEO).

500 lumens is too bright for nighttime indoor operations where you could be blinded by your own light reflecting off mirrors, windows, even white gloss walls.

OWB holsters with hammer retaining straps and exposed triggers are perfectly fine for hammered revolvers and hammered DA/SA autos carried fully decocked.

*pocket carries
*light derp
*extreme holster derp (retaining straps and exposed trigger in same sentence when talking about ?perfectly fine?. Another reason why we can?t have nice things)
*describes derptastic carry dude who doesn?t train as ?95% in defensive preparedness?
*continues down that road^ to add ?last 5% is a lot of fuss and not worth it?

We get it dude, you are a proud gun owner and don?t wanna hear anything questioning your super sketchy... everything.

Thanks.

Just about everything you said was a shit idea and was detrimental to this excellent content by OP.

And it IS great stuff. Thanks OP.

I was looking for some stuff to hate there and found none. I?ve put reps on most of the holsters you list, and can vouch for them being excellent choices. All of them facilitate a sub second draw to COM A @7yd which is a standard that works well to sort out ok holsters from great holsters.

Glad to see John Correia making an appearance in there too. Good stuff.




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