11-28-2005, 22:16
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa
Posts: 2,530
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Concealed Carry Holster
Greetings All...
Recent events at the Tacoma Mall (right up the road) have tipped the scales for our getting WA State CCW permits. We have both been trained...previously carried other weapons in other states...but now we have new ones and holster technology has changed.
Currently I am going to carry a S&W .40. Looking for suggestions on a paddle (preferred) or high carry belt.
"Ms. Smith" will be carrying her (hydroshock loaded) .380 until we bump her up to a higher caliber that she finds comfortable to shoot.
I am not looking for a fag bag style carry platform. Uncle Mike's "clip suede" holsters have performed poorly for us both in the past when it came right down to it.
There are lots of Fobos paddles on e-bay for about $30...looking for suggestions.
Thanks everyone
Eagle
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Primum non Nocere
"I have hung out in dangerous places a lot over the years, from combat zones to biker bars, and it is the weak, the unaware, or those looking for it, that usually find trouble.
Ain't no one getting out of this world alive. All you can do is try to have some choice in the way you go. Prepare yourself (and your affairs), and when your number is up, die on your feet fighting rather than on your knees. And make the SOBs pay dearly."
The Reaper-3 Sep 04
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Eagle5US is offline
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11-28-2005, 22:20
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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You are in luck.
I use the MSP paddle holster from one of your neighbors.
Kramer Handgun Leather over in Tacoma can hook you up.
Pricey, but worth it. Go with the horsehide. Mine is almost 10 years old and gets used almost every day. Other than some scuffs I put on it, it still looks fine.
They make a nice gun belt, too.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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11-28-2005, 22:41
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#3
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Area Commander
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,355
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I like the FIST paddle holster. It is kydex sanwiched between layers of leather (for which they offer a million finishes). Tension is easily adjusted. The paddle is well-padded and super comfy. Check it out.
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"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither Thou goest." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
"If simple folk are free from care and fear, simple they will be, and we must be secret to keep them so." - JRRT
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jatx is offline
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11-28-2005, 22:51
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#4
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Bladesmith to the Quiet Professionals
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Oregon, Land of the Silver Grey Sunsets
Posts: 3,886
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Horsehide has quite a reputation for durability. Don't dismiss that.
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Bill Harsey is offline
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11-28-2005, 22:54
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Occupied Pineland
Posts: 4,701
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I'm not a big fan of paddle holsters, I've had (and seen) some bad experiences with them. They wouldn't stay put with strenuous exercise - though that's probably not an issue for me any more. That and it's embarrassing to draw your holstered gun. I use Galco IWB's (Royal Guard for the .45s - TR's horsehide comment is a good recommendation) for concealment. The belt loops w/snaps are very secure and they're still relatively convenient to take on and off. Good luck finding the perfect piece - my holster collection is starting to look like the wife's shoe/purse collection. My .02 - Peregrino
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Peregrino is offline
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11-28-2005, 23:57
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,097
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I don't like paddles either. I couldn't run with it and it came out too easily (gun and holster). When I work plain clothes and off duty I use a Galco combat master or a Galco SOB holster. Like Peregrino said "good luck" my holster collection looks like my boot collection.
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18C4V is offline
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11-29-2005, 00:34
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#7
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 152
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Paddle holsters seem ok for a trip to the store, but wearing them all day getting sweaty, etc. just never worked for me. I've seen people try to use them at the range and I've seen them draw the whole shee-bang out of their pants.
I have a video of a Fobus paddle holster being broken in half with little effort in a gun-grab scenario. I'm on the road right now, but I have it at home - I can e-mail it to you if you want to see it, I'd rather not post it on an open forum. But just don't get a fobus.
Spend the extra $20 and bump your holster budget up to the $50-60 range. You'll thank yourself later.
Have you tried IWB? concealed = concealed you know 
I have had great luck with blade-tech... yeah yeah, I'm bucking the leather crowd and going with Kydex. I have a couple Galco IWBs and they have been great as well, Galco is probably your best bet for the .380.
What model of Smith is it?
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.45 GAP: the .41 magnum of the new millennium!
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GackMan is offline
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11-29-2005, 13:39
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#8
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Pacific NW - Puget Sound
Posts: 1,091
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Reaper
You are in luck.
I use the MSP paddle holster from one of your neighbors.
Kramer Handgun Leather over in Tacoma can hook you up.
Pricey, but worth it. Go with the horsehide. Mine is almost 10 years old and gets used almost every day. Other than some scuffs I put on it, it still looks fine.
They make a nice gun belt, too.
TR
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I have a three of Kramer holsters and a belt from them as well. They are all VERY well made. (Not horse hide.) I do not have a paddle holster from them; however, if I was in the market for one I'd most likely buy it from Kramer. The one that I use the most is a pocket holster for my little 5 shot S&W 442 .38. The reason for this is its ease of use and convenience... just slip it in your pocket and leave. It is also handy when your dressed up...suit, etc. Or as a back-up for your primary weapon. 
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De Oppresso Liber - RLTW
"To make war upon rebellion is messy and slow, like eating soup with a knife" -TE Lawrence.
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Trip_Wire (RIP) is offline
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11-29-2005, 20:25
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Central TX
Posts: 1,390
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Milt Sparks Makes a GREAT holster in the VM2. Also, consider Matt Delfatti's work. I have one of his belt holsters for my Glock 17 and it is excellent. Downsides to both of these makers are that since they are true custom makers, they do take time (Delfatti was running about a year wait last I heard) and they are expensive ($135 for my Delfatti, about $120 for a VM2).
Comp-Tac makes great Kydex and I have several of their kydex IWB holsters. They take some getting used to, but they work very well. Check out their shirt tucker and their Ghurka, I have used both with great results in the past.
As always, YMMV
Good times,
Blake
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Air.177 is offline
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08-15-2007, 14:03
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#10
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BANNED USER
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,189
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I am also a Kramer horsehide guy. IWB for the H&Kc .40 S&W. At first I did not like the idea of having to purchase a pair of trouser or jeans two inches larger than my waist line. However, an IWB just seems to make more sense for serious concealment.
I also tried a shoulder holster for a short while. The Galco "Miami Classic" made popular with the "Miami Vice" series and Don Johnsons charachter, Sonny Crocket. However, I had to put away the pastel color linen pants and jackets about two decades ago.  It just dont work unless your going to wear suit jacket, of some type, every day, every where. Bad idea unless your a man with a badge. At least Galco has a program to donate holsters to the troops, even though they are the vertical shoulder leather type. Not sure which model that is.
Air.177's advice on the Matt Delfatti leather is also one I'd go with if you dont mind waiting for a while while using another cheaper alternative.
Last edited by 82ndtrooper; 08-15-2007 at 16:03.
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82ndtrooper is offline
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08-21-2007, 17:49
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#11
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Asset
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: KY
Posts: 2
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beaterar is offline
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01-01-2008, 19:37
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#12
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Georgia
Posts: 27
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I too dislike paddle holsters. I either use an Inside the waist band (IWB) or a good outside he waist band (OWB). In kydex my preference are the Comp-Tac Infidel or more to my liking horse hide from Milt Sparks. I am just about always in the Summer Special II or the 55BN. It takes awhile to get the Sparks, they are in great demand and each is hand made . The last one I ordered took 24 weeks but well worth the wait.
Comp-Tac
Milt Sparks
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Firearmz is offline
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01-26-2008, 23:52
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#13
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Asset
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 9
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I've used the Belly Band for almost a year now, with my glock 30. For those who havn't seen it, it's a strip of elastic about 5" wide with pockets for left or right hand draw, and a center pocket for a magazine. I carry a pair of handcuffs in the off-side pocket, works well for me and I can wear it under jogging shorts and a slightly baggie tank top. The draw seems fine, the band doesn't seem to move when I draw and the gun stays secure in the 'holster' with normal walking to light jogging (like from the parking lot to the store). I've never tried to exercise with it.
One problem: mine's already starting to stretch out a bit. Nothing to the point of losing it's elacticity, but it's worth noting.
I also use a Bladetech OWB holster with a mag / handcuff combo.
$.02 more, tis all.
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"The will to win compares nothing with the will to prepare to win."
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Ryval is offline
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01-27-2008, 09:16
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#14
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: DFW Texas Area
Posts: 4,741
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beaterar
I carry a XD40SC most of the time in a holster I made out of Kydex. It took about an hour to make and works very well, I have made several others for friends and such.
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FWIW
I spoke with one of the people, that I think developed Kydex, at Blade or Shot a few years ago. He told Harsey and I that you can "Bond" it with standard hardware store variety PVC Pipe Cement!! I haven't tried repairing anything yet, but it's one of those little known tricks that are worth keeping in mind!!
Later
Martin
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Martin sends.
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Ambush Master is offline
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01-27-2008, 10:00
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#15
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NC for now
Posts: 2,418
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Bianchi has a new Holster called the Carry lock. I only was able to handle a sample model, didn't do much drawing. But we ordered a bunch of them for our Unit. Ill write up a review when I get more use out of one.
It does have one thing a lot of CCW Holsters don't have and that’s a locking retention system. I am never completely comfortable with someone having the ability to grab my gun right out of the Holster. It also rides high on the hip for better concealment. Excuse my typing, I am on a Train.
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