Holster Boot Camp

I now suspect that when moving to concealed carry, after which gun would be best, the question of concealment is next in importance, namely, which sytle and make of holster will do the job. Unfortunately, there is no recourse but to try out a number of them in order to decide.

Everyone is different: different shape, size and preferences. By preferences, mean the kind of wardrobe one is accustomed to wearing and where is it least objectionable to carry a holstered handgun.

In general, semiautomatics are the best to conceal, given they are much thinner than revolvers. Even a model 1911 .45 is often easer to conceal, and wear, than a large frame revolver. So, sticking with semiautos as the point of discussion, and with male shooters, there are only a few places to carry concealed that are effective in concealment and access. They are:

1. IWB - Inside Of Waistband.
This is probably the most used type of carry. The gun is carried in a holster of varying designs that fit between the wearer's waistband and body. This arrangement covers the holster and gun that extends below the upper belt line so less will show should the outer garment ride up momentarily.

The holster is held in place by various means - metal or plastic clips that attach to the belt on the outside (or sometimes, inside) of the belt. The inside attachments really rely on gripping, or clipping to, the waistband and the clip is mainly there to keep the holster from being pulled out of the waist on the draw.

Some holsters of this type also depend on leather loops attached to the holster and through which the belt is threaded. They are also made to be "tuckable" if desired, by attaching the clip, or loop, at the bottom of the holster so that it will hinge outwardly enough to tuck a shirt tail between the hook or loop and the holster body, covering the gun and holster from view. This, of course, makes access more difficult, but not excessively so. One can yank the shirt up with the non-shooting hand while grasping the gun with the other.

Among this type of 'tuckable' IWB holsters are the so-called hybrids. They are typically composed of a wide and rather tall piece of leather cut to offer some protection to the body from the gun that sticks up out of a synthetic, usually kydex, holster that is moulded to the gun's shape for retention. The broad leather backing goes next to your body and is secured to you by metal clips, fore and aft, that clip to your belt. For almost any handgun, these are very comfortable although they can be a small hassle to put on and are not amenable to being moved to a different position without taking the entire rig off and repositioning it and re-clipping it to your belt. Most have different mounting holes for the metal clips so that the holster can be adjusted for ride height, and for cant - up to a point. Also, most designs now are 'tuckable' since the clips are held to the leather backing at their bottom ends, enabling the user to tuck his shirt over the holster and gun and below the clips. The only down side to this is the fact that your belt will bulge out over the holstered gun and you will have to yank your shirt out of the way before you can get to it.

Another more recent innovation is the "clipless" holster, pioneered by Remora. It is a synthetic holster, slick on the inside for easy draw, but made of a high friction material on the exterior which grips the waistband and inner garment, like the shirt, tenatiously. These are surprisingly effective, lightweight and inexpensive.

2. OWB - Outside Of Waistband.

These types are what most people think of when they think about holsters. They are worn primarily on the belt outside the waistband secured by a loop, slots or metal clip. They are the most comfortable and the least concealable without a coat or other covering garment. They are often equipped with a security device like a thumb break snap or other locking device that makes it easy for the person carrying to release it but difficult for anyone else to draw the gun. For all day comfort I prefer the OWB style.

Some holster makers are designing OWB holsters to be more concealable. D. M. Bullard, working out of his shop in Azle, Texas has a new design called. BTB (Between The Belt) which is very compact and holds the gun snug to the body. This, and keeping the bottom of the holster close to the bottom of the belt will make a very concealable OWB holster for wearing under a light shirt or T-shirt. The biggest advantage I can see with this style is its rounded bottom, which, if exposed below a garment, does not look like a holster.

There is a new design called the "3-Speed" holster, made of softer materials and held about the waist with a soft, integral belt, secured with velcro. This is demonstrated to be worn at the 12 o'clock position and can be pulled down deep into one's pants so that the gun does not show at all. One would have to wear pants loose enough to get a hand under the belt and waistband deep enough to grab the pistol and yank it out. It can also be made to ride higher so that the grips are above the belt line, but still at the 12 o'clock position. I would think that this might be acceptable for a small gun, like a Ruger LCP, but something larger would require a big gun and holster to be stuck right down the middle of your pants behind your fly. I think this might prove to be uncomfortable both when sitting and when having to heed nature's call. But it might work for some. I will watch for reviews of this product.

3. Pocket
A good pocket holster, for either front or back pockets, is a fine way to carry a small gun like a Ruger LCP either as a primary carry or back up gun. There are many fine holster makers who cater to this type of carry, so there are many quality designs and holsters to choose from. Most effective designs incorporate some kind of panel that lies between the gun and the front, or outside, of the pocket, to prevent the gun's outline from "printing" through the pocket. The panels are attached in such a way that one's hand is easily inserted between the panel and the grips of the gun to draw it from the holster, which stays in the pocket.

Obviously, the larger the gun, the larger the pocket needs to be to conceal it. This is a matter of diminishing returns. Some guns are o.k. for pocket carry and most are not.

4. Ankle
It's what it says it is. A holster for your gun strapped to your ankle. Suitable for a back up gun, should you lean that way, but difficult to get to. Certainly, some situations would favor this style of carry, but not many. If you are down, for whatever reason, it might be easier to grab your gun from an ankle hoster than, say, an IWB carry. But, maybe not. I've never fancied having a gun strapped to my ankle, so I can't report on this style from any personal experience.

5. Shoulder
The classic "detective" rig. A gun slung under the weak-side armpit, secured by an arrangement of straps and buckles and concealed by a loose shirt or coat. I would consider that this is a good choice for someone who sits a lot during the day and may need quick access to his or her firearm. There are many different rigs running from $40 or so for the synthetic materials rig, to well over $100 for leather.

I hope this helps those new to concealed carry and who are dealing with holsters. No matter what you end up with, you can count on having probably three or more holsters per gun. The only way to know which suits you and your lifestyle and wardrobe is to try some out, and the used holster market isn't all that great. If you know someone who is a licensed conceal carry holder and has a few extra holsters (and who doesn't) you could ask to borrow a few to try out. Otherwise think carefully about how yo think concealed carry would work best for you, given the gun or guns you will be carrying, and get the best holster(s) you can. Buy one good holster be done, or buy three or four bad ones and spend more.

NRA and Politics

I am a member of the NRA, and plan to remain so. However, I am getting fed up with the continual barrage of emails and magazine content devoted to scare tactics and outright political distortions meant to make people vote for the candidates of their choice (regardless of the other issues on the table - not just Second Amendment rights), and to generate more money for their cause.

I want the NRA too get back to its roots as an association of gun owners and enthusiasts who support gun rights, safety, education and public awareness, not some "political action committee" dedicated to getting the candidates of the President and the board elected to office. For the NRA's information, there are many liberal minded citizens who support gun rights and the second amendment who do not also support right-wing conservative evangelical "the sky is falling" candidates or viewpoints. I am one of them and am tired of the NRA pushing the idea that since I am liberal in my political views, I must somehow be a gun hater and want to outlaw guns.

I will continue to be an NRA member in order to support their activities in support of our Second Amendment rights, education and safety, but will not give to their misguided and sometimes insulting political rants. In fact, NRA, reserve my annual membership money for activities directly related to gun rights legislation and educational programs, and don't give any of it to support political candidate activities.

 

Law Enforcement and Concealed Carry

Often the subject of what to do when questioned by a law enforcement officer (LEO) and you have a concealed carry permit and are carrying a weapon. Many concealed carry (CC) gun owners state that they will not divulge that they have a permit and are carrying unless asked. Others think that informing a LEO right away is the correct thing to do.

When I consider this I put myself in the place of, say a Highway Patrol officer who has stopped me for some violation or issue. In his or her case, I would feel much better and more secure knowing that I was dealing with a person who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon and who so informed me, right up front. I would not like surprises and would feel that the person I stopped was immediately dealing with me honestly and cooperatively.

From my perspective, I have nothing to hide and I have a legal right and permit to carry my weapon, so there is really no reason to hide that fact. Some states, and maybe all for what I know, have your CCP (concealed carry permit) logged into the records accessible by the police dispatch anyway, so it won't be a secret once the LEO runs your plate and license. My intent - I haven't been stopped while carrying since I'm an old fart driver and seldom break traffic laws - is to stop, turn on my dome light if it is dark, roll down the window and put my hands on the top of the steering wheel. When asked for my license, I will hand it, and my CCP over for inspection, and let the LEO take it from there.

A simple matter, but important. Those LEOs are out there to help us and I believe in giving them all the help I can while staying out of their way.

Lasers for handguns

The topic of "to laser" or "not to laser" is a big one that crops up on our forum regularly. It's been an ongoing topic for a number of years and shows no sign of being resolved. For handguns the main contenders seem to be from Crimson Trace, LaserLyte and LaserMax, the latter being outfitted on some guns from Ruger. If you want to see a laser maker's rationale for using one of their sights, check the Crimson Trace website http://www.crimsontrace.com/ for their descriptions and videos. They are, obviously, pro-laser but you will see on their site videos dramatic examples of where and when lasers can be effective.

However, there is a large contingent of gun owners who do not use or, in some cases, approve of laser sights. I will attempt to describe the competing viewpoints below. Bear in mind, that for this discussion, the intended use of laser sights is for self-defense scenarios, not for improving your score at the target range. And, although it may be obvious to most of you, the laser sight works by emitting a tight, red (or sometimes green) laser light beam which shows up as a red or green dot where the gun is aimed, since the laser sight is aligned with the gun's point of impact at a particular range. The shooter turns on the laser, points the gun until the dot is on the target and shoots. Simple. Well, maybe, and maybe not.

Pro-Lasers

• They are very good, if not essential, in the dark or in poorly-lighted situations.
• They provide a point of aim if the shooter is not able to align his or her gun sights on target, say if you were down on your back, or shooting primarily from behind cover.
• They are good for "point-and-shoot" scenarios when there is no time to present your gun in such a way as to acquire a sight picture before shooting.
• They are good training devices helping you to see where your point of aim will be when you actually pull the trigger.

Anti-Lasers

• In the dark or poorly lighted environments, the laser beam is a dead giveaway to your location.
• And, in self defense situations when quick shooting is essential a good shooter can align his or her weapon well enough without depending on finding a laser dot on or near the targer.
• If you are behind cover, you will have time to aim anyway, and with or without a laser sight, you'll still have to expose yourself enough to see the target.
• Quick point and shoot scenarios are just that: draw, point and shoot with no time to watch for that little red dot. Effective point-and-shoot technique really does not depend on aiming, but on instinctive pointing which comes with practice.
• Yes, they are good training devices, but you should not depend upon them in a self-defense situation.
• And, a laser creates dependency on that technology, and technology can malfunction, especially when you need it most.

There are further nuances to these arguments, such as how the laser is energized, what holsters are the best, etc.

My take on laser sights at this point is that they are very much a personal preference item. Some gun owners love them and are very effective with them. Some are on the fence, even with a sight installed on their carry weapon, and others don't like them at all. What makes it difficult is that there is really no way to try out a laser sight without having to buy it. I do not believe any laser manufacturer has a "try it before you buy it" offer. Many holster makers do, so I wonder why Crimson Trace or others don't adopt this program. If a person got a laser under this program, installed it and tried it for, say a week or two, then returned it in undamaged and operating condition, in the same packaging, the manufacturer would be out little cost. And, I think might sell more units in the long run.