IWB holsters

[GregW]

Anyone have any recommendations for a IWB holster? I'm currently looking at a Mil Sparks Versa Max II for my Sig 239 - heard some good stuff about them - also heard they can take for ever to arrive after ordering.

Would be interested in hearing about other holsters you all have - pros, cons, etc.

[Superfly]

1. Have always been a fan of Uncle Mikes...

Check them out at http://www.unclemikes.com

BTW, what's the word on gallery access?

[DoNotRefill]

2. Greg, I hate to say this....

but I'm a big fan of a modified "mexican" style. Rather than carry it in the waistband as with true "mexican carry", I keep an unholstered pistol in my front pants pocket, which my wife has been kind enough to sew an addition onto so that it fits easily and can be drawn without snagging.

This technique has both drawbacks and benefits. The drawbacks are that you CAN NOT, NOT EVER, put anything else in the pocket, lest it snag the trigger and accidentally discharge. This is a BAD method of carry if you're forgetful, clumsy, or prone to accidents. It also tends to accumulate lint in the barrel and other working parts, so the once a month cleaning is absolutely REQUIRED. On the positive side, if there's a situation, putting your hand in your pocket is a much more natural act than reaching for your waistband, and can be accompanied by the typical mewling crap heard by defenseless victims, like "take my wallet, just please please don't hurt me Mr Mugger!", which will tactically put them more at ease, right up to the point that you clear the weapon from the pocket and shoot them. I know it's not really fair, but neither is the threat to your life.

I've been carrying like this for quite a while, and it works for me. YMMV.

[GregW]

3. I've thought about a pocket holster ...

But my Sig 239 is just a bit too big for a pocket (3.5" barrel). I will probably use a fanny-pack or similar for hiking - might even take my full-size Sig then.

[1a2b3c]

4. I prefer shoulder holsters.

I buy my shoulder holsters from a guy in Kansas who custom makes them. I prefer shoulder holsters. Why i dont know. I just seem to get a quicker draw. Horizontal not vertical. The guy in kansas has a website. http://www.oldwestplainsman.com/ He will custom make anything you want and is usually fast about it. He is a good guy who works hard for his customers to be happy. The holsters are leather. Browse his site and you can find an email. Im sure he will make you a very nice inside the waistband holster if you dont mind leather.

[jhfenton]

5. Two recommendations:

For a relatively inexpensive, but high quality kydex IWB holster, check out www.comp-tac.com. I carry a Glock 26 in a Shirt-tucker model. The C-Tac has a lot of fans as well.

For leather holsters, I recommend anything by Alessi. I carry a Glock 23 in an IWB Alessi Hideout. For Alessi holsters, try www.rfholsters.com. It's not IWB, but I also carry my G26 in an Alessi ankle holster almost every day. Very comfortable.

[leanings]

6. couple things

I prefer either IWB or an ankle holster. Clothing dictates; the big drawback to an IWB is that you can't carry it with a tucked in shirt. For those occasions I go to the ankle. My usual carry is a J-frame, tho, and the Sig might be a little big for an ankle.

Milt Sparks is excellent. I go with Don Hume most of the time; his stuff is really well made and much less expensive.

239's a great pistol. I had one for a couple of months; won it off of my buddy at darts. I eventually got tired of his whining and sold it back to him for $200.

[beevul]

7. Question for you guys.

I have a model 96 Beretta which I must say, I am verry impressed with. Its verry accurate, its smooth, and its reliable. Never a feed jam, never a FTF in the 10000 or more rounds I have put through it at this point.(when the barrel wears out I'm going to go with a .357 sig conversion for better velocity/accuracy) I got some things taken care of on it by Ernie Langdon at LTT, since it was a LEO trade in, and ....well, WOW. Basically, 96d skellyhammer/hammerspring took some of the sa/da trigger pull weight away, some trigger mechanism work, and a feedramp polish of my own doing. Nothing near far enough to make it an unreliable carry gun though. In fact, quite the opposite.

Anyway, back to the topic.

I bought an "unkle mikes" sandwich style holster to use at the range,
its the one that has adjusting screws to set the "pretension" on holding the firearm in it while running, etc and the clamp looking thing on the hip-contoured puck to "grab" the backside of the fabric in the pants on the hip. Once its on, as long as you are wearing a belt, its verry stable, and holds the firearm well. Its pretty much a LEO type holster, but it does work GREAT when I use it.I don't have a CCW, but I have toyed with the idea. Its not a huge issue here, being that in AZ were open carry, and while I don't engage in that practice for the most part, it DOES come in handy for going to the range. Toying with the CCW idea, should I ever decide to get one , since AZ is also "shall issue", has led me to ask this:

I know, its a large gun to consider carrying, but what would you guys do for a ccw setup, if you were somewhere that was 95 degrees or hotter regularly, and 70 to 80 for a few months in winter? Pretty much shorts and t-shirt weather. Just asking for opinions here.

GregW, No intention here of hijacking your thread, it just seemed like this was a good thread to ask in.

[jhfenton]

8. Shorts and t-shirt weather

For shorts and t-shirt weather you have two choices.

1) You can stick with IWB under an untucked t-shirt. If it's an oversized shirt, particularly in a dark color, it conceals pretty well.

2) You can buy a smaller gun that is concealable in a pocket holster. I bought a nice used Kahr MK9 and carry it in a pocket holster. The Kahr MK9 (steel-framed 9mm), PM9 (polymer framed 9mm), MK40 (steel .40), and PM40 (polymer .40) would all be good choices. They run $495-650 depending on location and demand. In the even smaller and lighter category are the Kel-tec P-32 (.32ACP) and P-3AT (.380ACP) both *very* light, very tiny polymer guns (6.6 oz. and 7.2 oz.). They are even suitable for carry while jogging.

www.kahr.com
www.kel-tec.com

[beevul]

10. Thats pretty much......

what I surmised.

You know how it is at the range, you get to know a few people, and you end up trying out quite a few makes and models before too long..........

Without getting too make/model specific, I have tried alot of "smaller" guns,and they are or feel small in my hand. I have BIG hands, almost to the point where the full size beretta feels small, and even then, I had to put a hogue slip-over over the stock grip, instead of just a hogue wraparound, before it felt "right". I have trouble with accuracy shooting smaller handle guns. There have been a few, that were just shortened versions of the fullsize model, which were ok though. But, I'm happy with the guns I have now, and won't have any spare cash even if I did want one, for some time. Decay takes its toll fast out here in the high heat, and keeps us "going up the downgoing escalator" with savings. That, and my granddaddys old winchester model 90 needs a full restoration, which I don't want to skimp on.

1) You can stick with IWB under an untucked t-shirt. If it's an oversized shirt, particularly in a dark color, it conceals pretty well.

Thats pretty much what I figured, but wasn't sure if there was more than 1 "rig" for light clothing. Like I say, I have only toyed with the idea, and then only half seriously. I wont likely get a CCW within the next 2 years. I do like to target shoot though.

Thanks for the insight though, reguardless. It will help if it ever does come to a serious decision, and is much appreciated.

On edit:corrected a word. I sure wish things were civil outside this thread.

[DonP]

9. Galco or Hedley

Both have really nice IWB options.

Mr. Hedley is very cooperative and will spend some time with you on the phone or via e-mail to make sure you get the right kind of rig for your situation. His work is custom, affordable (two words you don't usually see in the same sentence) and very well done.

He also makes a very nice pocket holster with a flat panel to mask the outline and it looks like a wallet or checkbook.

FWIW, you may want to think about a warm weather alternative to the SIG for the T-shirt and shorts days. I have a Colt Govt. Pocketlite that matches my 1911 perfectly and is almost invisible. Of course the new Kel Tec P3AT in .380 is even smaller and lighter. Just an opinion.

Good luck.

Don P.