A WORD ON CONCEALMENT HOLSTERS
By Jim Stouffer
Someone in every class asks, "Where can I buy a good holster?" There are several things to consider when purchasing a holster for concealed carry purposes. First things first. The old saying that 'you get what you pay for' certainly applies here. I realize that it may be difficult to plunk down upwards of $75-$100 for a holster. Relax, there are lots of good quality holsters on the market for less than $50.00. By saying, 'you get what you pay for' I mean to say stay away from those nylon all purpose one size fits all things you can buy for under $20.00 They are unfit for concealed carry purposes. Just ask anyone who has a box full of holsters they have accumulated through trial and error. I suppose nylon holsters have a purpose, the only thing I can think of is you can hang you handgun in them at the range so you don't have to lay it on the ground!
Four cardinal rules for purchasing a holster:
Rule #1 is.......the trigger must not be exposed while the gun is holstered. (For obvious reasons I hope)
Rule #2 is .........your gun MUST fit the holster. Your gun must fit snugly in a holster made for your particular gun. A good rule of thumb is WHEN you turn you holster upside down you gun doesn't fall out.
Rule #3 is ........ The holster must be of such style and quality that it doesn't 'print' under your concealed carry garments. That's why we call it 'concealed' carry.
Rule #4 is ........ Your belt is just as important as your choice of holsters. It needs to be STIFF. ....made for concealed carry. They aren’t cheap. Price range is from $39.95 to over $100.00.
This is where the work comes in to play or is it that the play comes into work? You need to shop around. There are several things to consider when it comes to concealment of a gun/holster. The first thing is this..... What works for me may not necessarily work for you. Everyone's body shape is different. Certain holsters lend themselves to thin folks while others lend themselves to more robust types (like me). There are open top holsters, thumb break holsters, inside the waist band holsters, behind the back holsters, ankle holsters, shoulder holsters, concealed carry purses, fanny pack holsters and a few more.
My suggestion is to pay attention in class, observe the various types, their pros and cons, visit a local gun show, go to a gun shop etc. If you are serious about concealed carry you will study the options, ask questions, try different types then settle on the one you want to invest in. Even at that, over time, like most of the instructors you will have a box full of them! Play or work?.......depends on your attitude.
A word on belts. A limp sagging belt will allow the holster to sag away from your body and thus affect the conceal ability of your rig. You are better off with as wide a belt that your belt loops can handle. Most concealed carry belts are double thickness leather and some of the better ones are reinforced with a plastic, nylon or steel insert. Well worth the expense if you are serious about concealed carry.
There are two companies that have seen fit to donate holsters to us for demonstration purposes. They are both top quality top notch companies. I highly recommend their products. They are USGALCO and DON HUME holsters. You can purchase their products from reputable gun shops and at the gun shows or directly from their web sites. For your connivance here are their web addresses:
Galco Gun Leather A great place to purchase all of your gun leather needs.
Don Hume Leather Good quality leather products to satisfy you concealed carry needs.
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