Summer CCW holsters what do you use

RNMedic

NAXJA Member #659
Location
Dayton, Ohio
Title says it all I have a Don Hume JIT slide and an XD Gear paddle, plus a Don Hume HT 721 open top. Currently prefer the slide and paddle, but obviously have to use a shirt. I am 240 and 6 ft 4, so a really big shirt!!! other options. not a gun discussion. the XD sub compact I like and my wife can shoot well with it.
 
Kimber Ultra CDP II in a Comp-Tac MTac IWB holster.

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=95

One of the things I like about this holster is that you can buy Kydex bodies for other guns you have and use them with it saving you quite a bit of money. The extra bodies only cost $35 each.
G19MinotaurNewClips.jpg
 
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I've been shopping for just the right Kydex holster for a little while now, I'm really sick of the collapsing leather that I have. Mine is from HBE LEatherworks and is top drawer all the way, but I've decided that I'd really like Kydex better. MUCH faster on the draw as well, some guys have actually THROWN their gun the first draw from Kydex after switching from leather, it's just that much faster.

I've looked at the one above, but there is way too much leather on the lower right (as you look at the picture) corner. I carry at about 3:00 and when I'm sitting any leather low in that area will bump my leg, and it gets especially bad when I squating in the yard or doing much bending over. That's the first thing I look for now, and I still really haven't found what I think I'd like.

ETA: I use the same thing, and carry the same gun all year. Commander sized all steel 1911. With a good holster and good belt your shouldn't have any trouble.
 
KRAKER said:
I'm rocking the Galco too. Usually don't have the pistola on me during yard work. :D


You'll regret that when a radish busts a cap in your a$$ one of these days!
 
KRAKER said:
I'm rocking the Galco too. Usually don't have the pistola on me during yard work. :D

That hilarious, the one time I might really have needed my 1911 was when I was mowing the lawn, as I was passing my steps to the deck and kitchen door I noticed a large mountain lion next to my shed about 50 feet away, I about shit a brick, according to the state game commission there are no mountain lions in the pokes of Pa. I maintained eye contact and backed up the 5 steps to the deck and backed into the kitchen where I grabbed my binos to get a closer look. Yup, it was, called the game commission, they said no way so I said 'then I can shoot it', they had a officer out there in 20 minutes, looked at the paw prints and had a capture trailer out there an hour later. Never saw it again but our dog went nuts for the next couple of weeks and I never knew those cats were so dam noisy. The upside was the loose dog population went down as did all the feral tabbys we had.
Now it's baggy shorts, 1911 with a galco OTWB at 3 and two mags at 9 and long hawaiian shirt. We also have alot of bears up here and they tend to be a bit cranky this time of year as they wake up. My development is 2 acre or bigger lots with alot of vacation homes so it's pretty quiet during the week days.
 
RichP said:
Now it's baggy shorts, 1911 with a galco OTWB at 3 and two mags at 9 and long hawaiian shirt. We also have alot of bears up here and they tend to be a bit cranky this time of year as they wake up. My development is 2 acre or bigger lots with alot of vacation homes so it's pretty quiet during the week days.
I think with a 1911 you'll just piss the bear off :D

OK, holsters and summer. I used to be a big fan of crossbread holsters (kydex on leather backing) but couple months ago I picked up a holster from the folks @ ttgunleather. Talk about nicely made leather :D
 
Kejtar said:
I think with a 1911 you'll just piss the bear off :D

OK, holsters and summer. I used to be a big fan of crossbread holsters (kydex on leather backing) but couple months ago I picked up a holster from the folks @ ttgunleather. Talk about nicely made leather :D

I had no intention of shooting the bear, 2 or 3 rounds in the dirt in front of them usually gets them moving in the opposite direction, at least the last 4 or 5 times it's been necessary. I backed into one a couple of summers ago one nite taking the garbage out, she was in my garbage can, I was busy keeping the cat from sneaking out, shoulda backed into the cold steel of the TJ's bumper not something furry and soft. I think we scared the snot out of each other, all I know is that was the fastest I ever covered that 60 feet around the house to the kitchen door and when I looked back out she was gone, she's a 500lb sow thats lived down the street in the boy scout camp for the last 8 or more years, first time she ever went thru my garbage, what a $#$%$# mess that was.

I like the IWB holsters for conceal ability but that would necessitate either I loose 30lbs or get larger pants. I like eating too much for the first option and am too cheap for the other so I stay with outside holsters.
 
I'm currently trying out a Bianchi IWB, also got a Shado OWB but I'm way too skinny to use it. I think if bears lived around here I would carry something a lot bigger than my Makarov though...
 
6' 3" 250# (current) 275-288# (fighting weight.)

I've dressed pretty much the same for a number of years - BDU pants (black or blue - milder colour and baggy enough to move,) loose button-up shirt (winter or summer. Summer is usually a button-up, open, over a T,) and all my jackets are loose. Carry? 1911/1991 in a simple belt slide or SOB available to the left hand. I don't like IWBs - they tend to "dig" on me.

I'm big enough to make a 1911 disappear, so that's not much trouble. Sounds like you've got a decent rig for yourself (just happen to be a huge fan of the 1911, meself.) I'd carry full-sized - an "Officer" or a "Commander" would get lost on me...

If I had to wear something nice (like a suit,) I'd carry in a shoulder rig - balanced with two spare mags on the other side. Take your carry rig in when you get fitted, and a good tailor can make it not "print" for you (and still look decent when you don't have anything under it.) Again, being big can be an advantage.

Key element to any belt carry - use a stiffened belt! Enough are available (I tend to like Rigger's/Instructor's belts - double-layer Nylon with an internal stiffener and a "tri-glide" buckle, plus a triangular tie-in point for climbing/rappelling/utility use...) for a reasonable price that it's not a problem. They can also be had in Nylon or basic leather colours (black and brown, mainly - go neatly with nice clothing) so you can carry with a low profile. I carry enough stuff on my belt as it is ('phone, knife, G2, spare batteries, rescue hook, ...) that I need a stiffened belt even without a sidearm. A Rigger's belt may or may not fit beltloops on blue jeans - it's a 1-3/4" belt, and most jeans stop at 1-1/2" - but it fits neatly in my preferred BDU pants.

Why use a stiffened belt? What's the point in CCW if you spend all your time hitching up your belt? I've caught people carrying because they were farting around with their belt before I could see the sidearm print through clothing...
 
5-90 said:
Why use a stiffened belt? What's the point in CCW if you spend all your time hitching up your belt? I've caught people carrying because they were farting around with their belt before I could see the sidearm print through clothing...
Very good point! I use a 5.11 Trainer belt. Had it for about 3 years now. I wear it with everything, fits blue jeans very nice. 1.5" wide.
They also have a Operator belt that fits BDU better, have this one as well alot stiffer than the trainer but is wider so it won't fit blue jeans. 1.75" wide.
http://galls.com/brandcategory.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=2963&brandcode=278
 
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97XJ Jeeper said:
Very good point! I use a 5.11 Trainer belt. Had it for about 3 years now. I wear it with everything, fits blue jeans very nice. 1.5" wide.
They also have a Operator belt that fits BDU better, have this one as well alot stiffer than the trainer but is wider so it won't fit blue jeans. 1.75" wide.
http://galls.com/brandcategory.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=2963&brandcode=278

I get them locally - can't recall what brand they are. Since I wear BDU pants/shorts pretty exclusively on a daily basis, the 1-3/4" belt works just fine.

If I had to order, I'd go with either Blackhawk, Tactical Tailor, or Eagle Industries. But, I can get them locally - and, currently, sales tax is less than shipping for small stuff.

(I'm not averse to ordering online - it's just a benefits/costs thing for me.)
 
I wish I could get stuff like that locally. I need to get out of Iowa! :D
 
97XJ Jeeper said:
I wish I could get stuff like that locally. I need to get out of Iowa! :D

I'm surprised I can get stuff like that locally, CA politics being what they are.

Check gun shops first - that's where I get mine. Failing that, also look for police supply houses - they're common on cops, and it's no trouble to buy one if you're not. There may be a discount you won't get, but that's about it...
 
Only have one Gun Shop in town and he is more of a pawn shop for Guns than anything. Doesn't even carry gun grease (have to order that also). There is a police Supply store in the Quad Cities about 2 hours away and they are real small and don't keep much on hand, also there prices are higher than what I pay to order online plus shipping. I am beginning to hate this small town crap.
 
97XJ Jeeper said:
Only have one Gun Shop in town and he is more of a pawn shop for Guns than anything. Doesn't even carry gun grease (have to order that also). There is a police Supply store in the Quad Cities about 2 hours away and they are real small and don't keep much on hand, also there prices are higher than what I pay to order online plus shipping. I am beginning to hate this small town crap.

Yeah. Gimme a "small town" about an hour away from a "big city" - that gives me options when I need stuff, but usually gets me left alone. Cities are getting more and more Yuppified - I find Yuppies to be incivil, ignorant, and usually incompetent (three things that really hack me off.)

Probably because I spent most of my formative years on working farms...
 
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Glock 26 w/Galco Ankle Glove $85. Worn daily on and off duty for 8 years...never been noticed wearing everything from uniforn pants, Levis, to dress pants.
 
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