I see vast resources for training all kinds of use of firearms. Does anyone know of any videos depicting putting on your holster? I mean it’s an awkward process and difficult to describe in words. I would love to see how more experienced people do it, tips and tricks for getting the right position every time, the best way to get those clips to spread over the belt as you put it on, etc… I’ve been carrying every day now for a little over a year and every day I dread getting my holster (no matter which brand it is) into position.
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If you’re not carrying the same gun in the same holster every day, it can be difficult to develop the muscle memory to know where to position the holster.
How many different holsters and guns are you cycling through?
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I have these https://tulster.com/h-k-vp9sk-iwb-aiwb-kydex-holster-profile-holster-right-hand/ so it is a 1 second affair on any pants, belt, etc.
If I had to thread it through every time I’d never carry.
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I carry the same gun every day. In a year, I’m on my 3rd holster brand (a few others, but those only lasted a few days because they just didn’t work for me). I like my newest quite a bit and it may be the one I keep. I am just hoping to find some videos out there with what others find as a good technique. There are so many little things that just make it awkward. How far down to you put the holster first? do you insert and slide into position, or attempt to push it straight down into the right spot? being at 4:00, holsters have to wrap around a bit causing the kydex to catch on denim even though the front and back seem to be in position. I can’t twist around far enough to see the back clip. I could go on. all things that a bit of video could assist with.
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@Derrick,
I’m not sure if you find the answer your are looking for. Setting up the holster is like finding best shoes…
We can give some advices… but they’ll always be personal preferences.
Try YouTube, and search something like: “how to properly setup your holster”.… or any other phrase which can point to holster setup. If you are lucky you can find videos with your model.
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that’s a great idea. I’d take tips on any model. many of the paddle holsters are similar enough to make pretty much any tips useful.
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Are you using paddle OWB?
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I’m not talking about forgetting where it is on my body when I refer to postion. I’m talking about the optimal position where the gun is most comfortable as sit and stand, and also best concealment. For example rotating a few degrees for 4:00 to 5:00 exposes the gun through my shirts more, and rotating closer to 3 puts the bulkiest part of the holster up on my hip, also making it much more visible. so there is a place just behind my right hip that is optimal. I’m typically using an IWB paddle, and on occasion a simple leather appendix style holster. Do you put the holster on with the gun in it? do you put the holster in to the front or back and then slide it around, or do you try to drop it right down into the right spot? is there a tip to getting the clips over the belt when wearing a softer fabric pair of shorts? I find when I go to spread the clip open it tugs at the shorts fabric and pulls the clip over my belt so no amount of spreading can help that.
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The first holsters I tried (Alien Gear) came with instructions for wearing and positioning the holster. Did the manufacturer of your holster provide instructions?
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I’ve found an alien gear IWB paddle is giving me the lowest profile and most comfort. I have a nice Desantis inside heat that is very comfortable but a bit more bulky so it’s not always appropriate. I’m a bit overweight, so unless I wear a tent for a t-shirt, I need to keep the bulk down or it shows a lot more than I’d like.
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Lol, yes. There was even a video or two. trouble is what I saw explicitly skipped over the parts I was hoping to see.
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I would contact the manufacturer. Otherwise, trial and error and practice is going to be your best help.
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extra thanks for mentioning it though, Google showed me specifically an alien gear video that was not one I had seen and is exactly what I wanted to find! thank you!
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I carry a Kimber 3" compact 1911 for EDC, mostly at 4:30 position in a 1791 IWB holster on the weekend. During the week driving to and from work I carry appendix with that same holster and it’s quite comfortable. As a local truck driver, I can’t carry at work. I wear a uniform button shirt that buttons down the front and since my weapon has a full size 7 round mag, it tended to print at the mag. I learned to always leave the bottom button, unbuttoned on my shirt which eliminated the mag printing and eases the draw also.
I have a Sig P229 in 40, that I carry in an Alien Gear IWB at 4:30 also. It’s a great holster. After I get the 357 sig barrell, I’ll carry it primarily that way. The AG holster holds nice and close to my body. There’s no printing.
When the weather cools I will primarily carry at 3:00 with those same holsters. For me, 3:00 is best in the cooler weather and it cuts tenths is a second on the draw. I’ll generally always have on some kind of the with an open shirt to aid concealment.
That’s what works for me.
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A lot of great advice here. If your holster is adjustable, I suggest leaving all of the adjustments loose enough that you can force them to move but not so loose that they flop around. Try it in a bunch of positions and then tighten the screws when you find them the one you like.
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%100 agree. I use a CYA holster. Works the same way. This is how I carry %95 of the time. The rest of the time I may use hybrid holster or a belly band. The hybrid holsters have some pluses (an cons), but putting them on can be time consuming.
I use a belt loop for reference so I always put my holsters in the same place. A one clip holster, like Brad recommends seriously take 1 second to do it all.
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That, sir, is what it’s all about. I broke in my crossbreed holster so it has a curve/bend around my hip. It’s a little more tricky finding where the clips go with different clothes. Sometimes it’s in front of belt loop, others is behind. People have drawers full of holsters trying to get it right. Good luck!
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I tend to get very settled in my ways. When I started carrying I discovered that having a thumb break was essential for more than a couple of reasons and have carried that forward for 3 decades. My primary carry pistol is a 1911 Officers Model and I carry cocked and locked. I have on occasion discovered the safety to be in the “Off” position following vigorous movement. That doesn’t bother me as the thumb break physically would prevent the hammer from falling but has caused some delay in draw when the safety didn’t “click” into position. I’m also good with that as it means I am paying attention.
I exclusively use the Bianchi 3S IWB holster as it does not require me to lace in the holster with my belt and britches it has two snaps that are very robust and 1/8" of leather around my gun belt. It also has a “cant disk” which allows you to cant the pistol as YOU desire for comfort and carry. I personally cant the pistol so that the grip aligns with my rib cage and it hides nicely there without the printing. It comes in a variety of platforms to and including the plastic pistols for those of us comfortable with leather in a more modern platform or even revolvers.
I have carried not only my 3.5" officers model but a full size CZ-75 (EAA Witness in 45) and Beretta 92F (same holster). The last I carried while overseas when I was required to surrender my “primary weapon (M-4 ish)” at the door of various facilities. I never got tagged for having a pistol but I’m sure that they would have been exceedingly upset to find out I had it.
Holsters are personal, there is a reason most of us have a box of them.
Cheers,
Craig6
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I saw a lot of great advise on Holsters and which one may be best and all but what I found to help me out far and above anything else is buying pants with the right belt loop placement. I try them on in the store and if my OWB positions nicely in the same spot than it is a pair of pants/shorts I’ll buy.
With that said, I only wear 5.11 pants/shorts and Round House Jeans. Round House are 100% made in America (Oklahoma), they fit great, their belt loop placement is perfect, and they use that thick jean material, not the thin import stuff that Levi’s use.
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I’ve recently switched to an OWB leather holster. (Before anyone jumps in about open carry, most of my shirts are long enough to cover unless I choose to tuck them in.)
It has two slots for my belt and Im finding that putting my belt through one slot, then a belt loop, then another slot is giving me my ideal carry position while simultaneously making sure it can’t “stray” along my belt. Pain in the keester? A little. Worthwhile? To me, yes!
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