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I'm in the market for holsters, and I'm needing some advice.

So, I grabbed an inexpensive IWB holster from Bass Pro the other day, and have been practicing carrying at home. I realize that a cheap holster on a normal belt is not going to compare directly to a good quality holster on a gun belt, however I find IWB very much uncomfortable. I think this might have to do with the fact I'm a heftier guy, but I'm lacking in my rear assets, so I have to cinch my belt up significantly tighter than normal to keep everything up. An additional thing to throw in the mix is I wear concealable body armor (everywhere, even now), which can interfere with the butt of the gun depending on how high the holster rides.

On top of the above, I'm trying to take into consideration how I want to carry my BUG. Currently, I'm thinking of seeing if Bell Charter Oak would make me a custom version of their New York Reload pancake holster for my Sig P239 (Main) on one side (strong-side draw) and my S&W Model 36 Chief's Special (BUG) on the other side (weak-side crossdraw). I've never worn a pancake holster, though, and I'm trying to figure out if I'm better of going pancake, paddle, or some other variation for OWB. I am certain, though, at this point that carrying IWB is probably not going to work out for me.

I wear long shirts already, and I spend most of my time sitting, so that's not really an issue either, so I'm thinking with my larger body frame that OWB might be significantly more comfortable. Any thoughts on this? Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong direction when it comes to IWB, that's something else I've considered. I'm currently planning on carrying strong-side FBI cant at around 3-3:30.

TIA

why do you wear body armor?

pancacke leather holster do work under a suit. Blackhawk serpa works great under a winter jacket.

Well, unless you weigh well over 300 lb, it is possible that I outweigh you (yes, I'm a fat man), and I sometimes carry IWB. But I do it with a gunbelt and a quality holster, and it isn't uncomfortable at all. Take a long look at both the Crossbreed Supertuck and the Minotaur MTAC from Comp-Tac.

As for OWB, I have 3 different pancake type holsters for 3 different pistols. I have two Galco Concealable Belt Holsters (http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?P ... atalogID=4): one to fit a 3" 1911, and one to fit a 5" 1911. And then I have a Kirkpatrick Leather Undercover model (http://www.kirkpatrickleather.com/product/h_2010.htm) that fits my full-sized M&P 45. All both the Galcos and the Kirkpatrick holsters are very well made, with a slight edge in quality and a better edge in actual design going to Galco. It is a most excellent holster, but at $100, they are not cheap.

Overall, the comfort level of my MTAC IWB holster versus that of one of my Galco OWB's is roughly the same.... just... different. Neither is absolutely perfect. There is no such animal in the world of holsters, and if you are like everybody else, you'll buy several holsters for each gun before you find the one or two that you use the most often.

I would ditch the body armor, but that's just me. I don't live the kind of life or work the kind of work that places me daily into situations where I might get shot. I'll bet that even most LEOs who wear body armor as a part of their uniform requirements tend not to wear it on their time off.

I like the Master's Leather OWB Holster.

http://www.jbpholsters.com/servlet/the- ... TER/Detail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Beiruty wrote:why do you wear body armor?

There are several reasons involved, but put simply, my goal is survival above all else. If I can reasonably do something without largely modifying my daily life that has a significant chance of helping me to survive, I will do so.

As to the holster suggestions, I'm looking at the Comp-Tac MTAC and it looks like something that might work. I think invariably I'll probably end up (as you mentioned TheAnnoyedMan) buying several holsters before its all said and done, but I'm hoping to avoid it as much as possible (I'd rather spend money on ammo to practice). I should have my gun belt arrive on Tuesday (ordered a Wilderness 5-Stitch), and I'm hoping to figure out a working holster before my plastic shows up (class is scheduled for the 8th, so I'm predicting plastic by mid-Feb). Thanks for the suggestions on the IWBs, does anybody have any thoughts on pancake-style OWBs? I may try to get say like an MTAC and one pancake OWB and compare, and use the more comfortable of the two until I find something better.

Also, you can do bellyband holster under your armor, and position your pistol to side opening under your arms.

Raven concealment systems is rapidly heading towards the top of owb boosters for me.

I use and love my Galco Combat Master (leather pancake) and my Blackhawk Serpa (kydex paddle/belt). Both are superb IMO and work flawlessly. They are pretty inexpensive and are of GREAT quality.

I agree with TAM on the armor.

I went to the Saxet Gun Show today and there was a big booth of all sorts of Galco products and I tried several holsters. I found that the Galco Combat Master pancake was one of the most comfortable, so ended up walking away with one of those. I'm still looking, but couldn't find any IWB holsters of the several I looked at that felt "right". I still think maybe a Comp-Tac MTAC would do it, but for the moment I'm going to practice carrying OWB in the Galco. I guess I've got plenty of time till plastic arrives to come up with an MTAC or Crossbreed to try out for IWB.

The Annoyed Man wrote:Well, unless you weigh well over 300 lb, it is possible that I outweigh you (yes, I'm a fat man), and I sometimes carry IWB. But I do it with a gunbelt and a quality holster, and it isn't uncomfortable at all. Take a long look at both the Crossbreed Supertuck and the Minotaur MTAC from Comp-Tac.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I agree with the above.

As far as paddle holsters go, I have them and use them when I am slipping a gun on and off, but if I am wearing it all day I find a belt holster more comfortable.