choosing your ideal concealed carry holster

CHOOSING YOUR IDEAL CONCEALED CARRY

HOLSTER

Consideration Factors

■ Comfort

■ Durability

■ How easy will it be to draw your firearm?

Comfort

■ Everyday carry is when you carry your handgun on you whenever and where ever you

can legally do so.

– For more information on everyday carry visit Bigfoot Gun Belts’ blog about everyday

carry essentials.

■ With that much time using your holster you are going to need something that is

comfortable.

Durability

■ If the holster breaks in a bad situation then you are looking at a major disadvantage in

dire circumstances.

■ In the long run it pays to get the most durable holster you can find.

■ The shell may break down after drawing so many times.

■ Keep the warranty in mind when searching for a good quality holster.

Retention

■ Retention derives from retain meaning “to keep possession of”

■ A great holster will have:

– Enough retention to keep your firearm well secured

– Not an excess of retention making your draw difficult and slower than it should normally be.

■ Retention is a temperamental factor that you may need to play around with a bit until the

perfect amount is reached.

Different Types of Holsters■ There are many different kinds of holsters that people look for when completing their everyday

carry setup. Here are a few:

■ Slide Holsters

– Slide OWB holster are worn on the outside of the belt.

■ Hip Holsters

– Clips on the belt but hangs down your leg and straps around as well

Different Types of Holsters

■ Shoulder Holsters

– Attached via shoulder harness, putting the pistol near your armpit.

■ If you are looking into other holsters for your carry experience visit this blog post

about choosing your first concealed carry holster

Shoulder Holster

■ Shoulder Holsters are well known for a typical cop or detective carry mainly due to the Hollywood portrayal.

■ Shoulder Holsters are effective however they are not the most comfortable.

■ Carrying a shoulder holster may result in constant rib pressure.

■ If you are in the military or police force, the shoulder holster may not pair well with any protective chest setup.

Hip Holster

■ The main problem with a hip holster is heat and comfort.

■ The hip holster may tighten your pants a bit with the strap and also reduce

breathability.

■ It works well for some people, others not so much.

Slide Holster

■ Of the three, the slide holster is typically the most comfortable because it doesn’t

require any straps.

■ There is no excess pressure either.

■ Slide holsters are also usually form-fitting and have a low profile.

Drawing Your Weapon

■ When setting up your retention there are two important things to keep in mind.

– The weapon should stay put given a good shake.

– The weapon should come out with a decent pull in one solid motion.

■ Since the retention can be a little picky, it is usually best to be able to adjust it yourself.

Choice Number One

■ Due to comfortability and reliability reasons, if you are looking to open carry, a slide holster is an excellent option.

■ Many holster companies use rivets which prevents you from adjusting your retention according to your preferences.

■ If you are looking for a good quality slide holster check out the Alien Gear Cloak Slide, with its adjustable retention and life-time warranty.