Initial Impressions: Little Foxx Holster for the SR9c

Little Foxx Holster with the Ruger SR9c

Tuckable J clip

After learning about Foxx Holsters from a posting on The Ruger Pistols Forum, I contacted Raymond, the owner and brain trust behind the company and discussed reviewing one of the line. I like hybrid holsters and have used and tested a few. These appeared to be well made and not overly large, and more intriguing, is Raymond's policy of zero shipping charges and his unconditional warranty. You can also try it for fourteen days to see if it is the right one for you. All this for $39. Hard to beat!

We settled on the Little Foxx model since I am primarily interested in cross-draw carry. I received a new Little Foxx Holster on Monday.

http://www.foxxholsters.com

Prompt shipment. It arrived in a bubble padded heavy envelope and in perfect condition. This holster is obviously made by someone who takes pride in his work. It was solidly constructed, smooth edges on the kydex and the leather. Leather edges of the backing are smoothed and dyed as well.

All of the rivets holding the kydex to the holster are flush and undamaged. The SR9c fit is right on and the moulding is perfect right down to the sight channel. The big, heavy low-profile kydex clip is fastened to the bottom of the kydex shell with two Chicago screws providing solid lockup and good alignment. The bottom attachment allows the holster to be worn either with the shirt tucked or not. I like that. I also like it that the clip does not have a "tail", which I find may catch on overgarments with hems, like some sweaters or sweatshirts.

Little Foxx, back side - the one next to you.

The SR9c is held somewhat loosely in the holster when the gun and holster are not attached to the belt and inside the waistband. This, I believe, is a design feature. When properly worn, the tension of the belt (and you should always use a belt made specifically for carrying a gun in a holster to get the best benefits from your holster regardless of make) and the fact that the leather backing will give a bit to conform to your body shape, tightens the kydex around the gun enough to make very positive retention yet an easy and smooth draw.

The Foxx holster was comfortable from the first wearing, and has proven to remain so over the intervening days I've been using it, and it is my main carry holster in order to provide good feedback and data for this review. At this point, I am carrying in my usual cross-draw position. If you will look back in the archives here, you will see posts concerning cross-draw and why I believe it has gotten an uncritical hearing and a bad rap. See especially the article by Mr. Campbell I've referenced for an experienced LEO's opinion. So, because that's my preferred carry position, I'll be evaluating the holster against my other IWB cross-draw carry units.

The primary competition for the Foxx holster is the N82 Tactical Pro IWB.

I have taken some comparison photos to illustrate the differences between the two holsters.

N82 Tactical Pro and the Little Foxx

Little Foxx superimposed on the N82 Tactical Pro for a size comparison.

The Foxx is considerably smaller and lighter than the N82. The Foxx uses lightweight kydex for the shell while the N82 uses a moulded thicker plastic. The kydex has 'give', the moulded plastic does not. With belt and body pressure, the Foxx kydex shell conforms a bit to the gun shape and this helps to 'lock' the pistol into the holster against the leather. The N82 depends on a small part of the moulding of the plastic shell to engage the front of the trigger guard to hold and retain the gun in the holster. This works well, but in order to release the trigger guard from the protruding plastic part in the trigger guard, one has to grasp the butt and give a small inward twist to release the pistol before it can be drawn. This is not as onerous as it sounds, but it is one other motion required to draw that is not present in other designs, like the Fox.

At this point, comfort is a toss-up. The Foxx is light, somewhat flexible and no larger than it needs to be. The top part of the slide is covered by leather but the grips are not. Some might call this a combat grip, but I prefer to think of it as an open grip. Combat, like 'tactical', is a term better applied to law enforcement or the military than a civilian rig meant for concealed carry. I might have to draw my weapon in self defense, but I don't plan to be going into combat with it. For that, I'd rather have a rifle.
Even with the open grip design, which I prefer, the Foxx is comfortable.

The N82 uses a kind of neoprene sandwich, with soft leather against the body and leather against the gun. The neoprene inside provides a good level of 'softness', comfort is a better word, and prevents sweat from migrating through to the weapon. However, I suspect the leather backing on the Foxx will provide an equally effective sweat barrier. No part of the gun touches your body with the N82. This does contribute to the outstanding comfort of the holster, but adds mass, area and closes the grip area to an extend. Combined with the need to twist then draw I find this is an inhibiting draw factor compared to the Foxx and similar 'open grip' holster designs. Bear in mind, however, that these factors are highly personal. What might be a negative for one person may have no effect, or be a positive attribute to another. I can only state my personal preferences.

Back sides of both holsters. The N82 showing the result of sweat marks from last summer.

So, it is early in the game but at this point I like what I see. And what I feel. The only negative issue relates to my cross-draw preference. I've come to find that most holster makers do not consider the effects of the cross draw position in their designs. And, I'm not speaking of strictly cross-draw designed holsters, but only for those that are designed to be worn IWB and can be positioned effectively in the cross-draw position. I've yet to examine other IWB holsters for this aspect other than the Foxx and a short while ago, the Versacarry. (See this blog: Versacarry Review and Field Notes post.)

In short, some holsters may position the Ruger SR9/40 series semiautomatic pistols such that, in the cross-draw orientation, the magazine release button is underneath the waistband material and the belt. If the belt is thick, as a good gun belt should be, and the wearer bends forward sharply, the pressure of the body pushing the gun and holster outward against the belt, can cause the magazine release button to be depressed enough to eject the magazine. This is definitely not good.

Note the top of the J clip, where the top of the belt will be, in the cross-draw carry, positions the belt over (covering) the magazine release button. This can, in certain circumstances when bending severely forward, press the button and release the magazine. However, the J clip is adjustable to prevent this.

If carrying the SR9 series in the cross-draw orientation, radical negative cants, such as pictured above, should be avoided to eliminate the magazine release issue possibility.

I have verified this issue with the Versacarry. With the Foxx holster, if the clip is positioned with too much negative cant (possible by using a left-hand carry clip on a right-hand cross draw orientation - see the photo above) this can happen as well. However, with the normal clip positioned in its most up-and-down (straight drop) orientation, the configuration of the clip, holster and gun is such that the magazine release button should never drop below the top of the belt line. So, there should be no concern about this if the proper clip is used and positioned right.

With the proper clip and orientation, the top of the belt should never rise above the magazine release button.

For most people, this is not a concern since only a small minority of us cranks insist on carrying cross-draw. (Good luck getting to your weapon in a hurry when you are belted into your seat or sitting down wearing a shirt, sweater and/or coat and your pistol is somewhere behind your hip.) Sorry, had to get that in... However, I do wish makers of good IWB holsters that can be worn cross-draw take into consideration protection of the magazine release where appropriate to do so.

I've only begun to evaluate the Foxx IWB for my SR9c. I will continue to give it a real-world field test and report back here on my findings. At this point, I am very pleased with the holster and anticipate it will become a regular in my small lineup of IWB holsters for this gun. And, I forgot to mention, the Foxx holster

FoxX Holsters - new evaluation

Next week I will be taking delivery of a new IWB holster from FoxX Holsters. I learned about this company from one of the members on the Ruger Pistols Forum. Upon visiting their web site I was impressed with the style, price and guarantees offered by the company. Try it for fourteen days, and if you don't want to keep it, send it back for a refund on the holster cost. Also, if it breaks or there are any other issues, they will fix or replace it for as long as you own it. Nice.

I still have not solved my IWB issues with my SR9c. A few of the holsters I now use are close to what I want in an IWB holster, but each has its shortcomings: the Remora is comfortable, flexible in terms of where one positions it and is easy on the draw, but it can shift and change position under certain circumstances. I expect a concealed carry holster to stay where I put it, regardless.

The N82 Tactical Pro I have is extremely comfortable even for all day and most of the night wear. It is tuckable, although this is not a feature I often use, but, it can shift a bit around the single clip, and I have not been able to torque the screw enough to keep the clip from rotating about its mounting point. Also, the Pro has a moulded plastic, not kydex, shell to hold the pistol in place. It "locks" in with a part of the plastic that holds the forward part of the trigger guard. To get the pistol to release from this "lock" requires you to grasp the pistol grip firmly and give an inward twist to the gun as you draw up and out. If I carry the SR9c with the manual safety in the "off" position (rendering the Ruger, in operation, to be much like a Glock) this is not an issue. However, if the safety needs to come off with the draw, the hand position necessary to grab, twist and release positions my thumb such that it is not in a good place to sweep the safety. Fumbling with a manual safety is not something I want in a stress situation.

I would like to try a D.M. Bullard IWB holster, but I haven't had the chance to use and evaluate one. As many of you know I have a number of Bullard's holsters and like them. However, this new Little FoxX holster may resolve my IWB issues.

One of the things I think I will like is the kydex positional "J" belt clip. There is no tail to interfere with a shirt or sweater when pulled up to clear the holster, and it can be positioned solidly with a cant or straight drop, important for me since I favor a cross draw holster position. Also, it appears to be no larger than it needs to be and possibly very comfortable.

Anyway, I will soon be able to put all this to the test and report back here.

Posted with Blogsy

Versacarry Review and Field Notes - Update

Versacarry Lineu

I took two of the Versacarry holsters provided to me by the company and sent them to two forum members to try out and report on their impressions. You'll see those two reports below. One of the testers is male, and one female, so we get good feedback from both which is important due to the differences in sizes and body builds between the sexes.

I provided these reports to Versacarry for comment. I have included those below the two reports, and also a followup to an issue I experienced with a Versacarry and my Ruger SR9c yesterday.

First report from Ms. X:

Testing done with a Ruger LC9

Design
I love the simplicity of the Versa-Carry design, even more so since they’ve added the trigger guard plate, which is reversible so it can be used whether you’re a righty or a lefty. The clip is a nice C shape, so there’s nothing for clothes to get caught on like some of the metal clips available out there.

Comfort
Comfort level is excellent, since there’s no bulky leather or kydex to deal with. (I’m pretty small, at 5’2” and 115# - so most IWB holsters that I have tried take up nearly 1/3 of my waistline). I tried the Versa-Carry in many positions – appendix, cross draw, and everywhere from 3:00-5:30 positions. Appendix and cross draw felt great for me, with minimal printing from my firearm.  I suspect a larger frame firearm might rotate a bit, and cause more printing in just about any position, but I only tested on the LC9.

Draw/Re-holster
The draw was difficult at first, due to the post on the Versa-Carry being very form fitting in the barrel, but after a few dozen draws, it seemed a lot smoother. I can get a fairly solid grip on my firearm, and the draw is quick once the holster is broken in.
I don’t always wear a belt, so I tested both ways. With a belt, the clip holds tight and the holster stays where you put it with no movement or rotation. Without a belt, however, normal movement seems to make the holster clip rotate a bit, which means the butt of your gun may not be exactly where you expect it to be if you have to reach for it, and/or you may find yourself printing more than expected.
Re-holstering is not as easy, however. If carrying in the appendix or cross-draw position, I can suck in my gut, and get the weapon back on the post (but it’s not quick). In any other position, the holster must be removed from my waistband, the gun mounted back on the post, and then the whole assembly put back in the waistband. In everyday life, this isn’t a big deal, since 99.9% of the time you would holster up in the morning, and remove it at night before bed. 

Overall Thoughts
I didn’t think I would be comfortable using the Versa-Carry due to its minimalism, even though there is a trigger guard. I found the opposite to be true, however. Since the LC9 not only has a long trigger pull, but also an external safety, I found that my initial worries of accidentally shooting myself were mostly unfounded. I do carry with a round in the chamber, even though the folks at Versa-Carry recommend that you don’t (that is NOT an endorsement to go against the manufacturer’s advice – you have to weigh the pros/cons of that for yourself and make your own decision). I typically will put the external safety on though, just for that extra piece of mind. This could create a problem if I ever have to draw on someone though, since I train with safety off, and carry in my other holsters with the safety off. 

The Versa-Carry isn’t something I will use every day, and maybe not even on a regular rotating basis. But I do feel like there’s a place for it in my holster line up – I just have to figure out where that place is. 

Second Report from Mr. X

Versa-Carry - Initial Impressions

The holster is definitely more comfortable on me than my leather backed kydex holster with two clips and I’m able to draw faster as well since I’m not messing with the leather.  Concealment is decent in the three through six o’clock range.  On me, appendix carry prints as the butt of the magazine is pushed outwards since there’s no Kydex to keep it from rotating.  Plus, since I don’t like the idea of not having a round chambered. I chambered a round but have it on safe which I feel comfortable with this since I have an ambidextrous safety. (Single side safety weapons would be hard to charge in a high-stress situation I believe).  So, long story short, having a round chambered in such an open holster makes me nervous about appendix carry.  I’d rather shoot myself in the leg or butt rather than my… well, you get the idea!

I don’t see it as a big problem, but there is also no good or quick way to draw and re-holster with the versa still in its carry position.  So, it wouldn’t be a good training holster, but seems to have a fairly quick draw speed which makes me like it as an every day carry option.  Initial draws were stiff due to the barrel post, but that seems to be getting better the more I work with it.

I would like to see the versa made with either an adjustable cant or various stationary position cant options.  For the three o’clock position, which is where I like to carry, a 15 to 30 degree forward cant would be optimal as it is easy and quick to draw and hides the flared extension on my magazine quite well.  Additionally, I’d like to see options for an adjustable clip to ride the weapon higher or lower.  As is, my SR9C rides low which doesn’t allow me to get a full 100% grip on the weapon.  Keeping the length of the plastic backer but moving the clip position down an inch would compensate for this.  Alternatively, an adjustable plastic clip (I love the clip on this thing more than the weak metal clips on most) would be ideal so a shooter could position the weapon based on their own preferences.

Versa-Carry – Extended Impressions

After using the Versa-Carry for a while, I finally gave up on it and went back to my forward-cant Kydex holster.  There are just too many negatives with an open holster that make it less than ideal for everyday carry and, now that I’m running a Smith and Wesson M&P without an external safety, there is no safe way to quickly and easily access the gun in a protection situation.  Sure, there is a trigger protector on one side, but that only helps if you don’t have a round in the chamber and if it doesn’t get snagged on your clothes during the draw.  The lack of an adjustable cant makes it nearly impossible to conceal adequately and the ability to re-holster is non-existent.  I just couldn’t see using this for anything but a back-up gun that was lightweight with an external safety and long trigger pull to boot.  Using an IWB kydex holster for everyday carry and a Fobus for training purposes suits my various needs perfectly well.  I don’t see the Versacarry staying in my line-up of holsters for anything at this point.

Response by Britton Boyd of Versacarry

Note: I have extracted these comments from Britton's email to me.

1- We are working on a unit that will have an adjustable canting feature. This is something we have been planning on doing since day one. We do know that carrying on your strong side almost requires some sort of cant at times. Once again, something we are going to release in the future when we get caught up with our massive amount of orders and production that take up all of our time.

2- With only having one attachment point, the Versacarry does need a sturdy carry belt to be most effective. The one attachment point make for our units to be inserted and removed easy, which is what we wanted in the design. 

The new revolver model has an optional trigger guard that covers both sides of the trigger. We are hoping to release those to the public later this year or early in 2013. ...I actually saw Justin (Owner/Creator) design and begin work for a new trigger guard for the semi-auto models. This new option will cover both sides of the trigger. I'm not sure of a release date on that, but will keep you updated. 

My recent issue:

After carrying my SR9c in my Versacarry all day, involving driving, walking, sitting and a general day of errands and shopping away from town, I had returned home and had accidentally dropped my sunglasses on the living room floor. I bent down to retrieve them and the magazine for the SR9c ejected itself and fell to the floor. I was wearing the Versacarry at the cross draw position clipped to my heavy Bear Creek gun belt. Upon inspecting the pistol back in the Versacarry, I saw that neither magazine release button is covered by the holster. Evidently, there was enough pressure on it from me, the belt or waistband and belt to actuate the release and drop the magazine. This would have been embarrassing at best if it had occurred in public, and unfortunate if I was doing something like ducking or crouching quickly for cover.

I brought this to the attention of Versacarry last night but have received no response as yet. I will post results when I do.

In the interim, if you use a Ruger SR9 or SR40 series pistol with a Versacarry be aware that this situation might arise if you are carrying at the cross draw or appendix positions.

I'm not drawing hasty conclusions from this until I have a chance to discuss it with the Versacarry folks who have been very responsive and positive to my questions and comments.