Holster retention

[flintknapper]

My shoulder rig obviously has a retention strap, but my belt rig is open top no retention. Between the two holsters.. I have managed to "carry" for 10 years now...and never lost my weapon (imagine that).

[txinvestigator]

My shoulder rig obviously has a retention strap, but my belt rig is open top no retention. Between the two holsters.. I have managed to "carry" for 10 years now...and never lost my weapon (imagine that).

Have you ever had to shoot someone? NO, then why carry a gun?

[flintknapper]

My shoulder rig obviously has a retention strap, but my belt rig is open top no retention. Between the two holsters.. I have managed to "carry" for 10 years now...and never lost my weapon (imagine that).

Have you ever had to shoot someone? NO, then why carry a gun?

Huh?

I'm supposing there is a point here.

[OverEasy]

Butt pack, now that's retention!

Everything else is open top.

OE

[Paladin]

Open top.

You don't need a retension strap on a concealed kydex holster.

Who says? Thats a pretty blanket statement, and IMO wrong.

You're entitled to your opinion, but I'm gonna have to ask you for an example of where a retension strap on a concealed kydex holster is worth having?

[Greybeard]

Personally, two that have retention, one more (not currently in service) that needs it.

But ... I predominantly utilize holsters without retention. It's typically situational for me. If headed into the concrete jungle, a semi or j-frame is typically snugged up IWB with no retention. But, if hog huntin' and packin' Glock 10mm as back-up or "tree climbing gun", it's often OWB with retention.

To me, the "with or without" question is but one of many personal choices that carry people must evaluate and determine individually. With that said, a semi-modified cut and paste below that was intended for another thread that recently got locked. It can work both ways.

"Discussing certain issues with certain people is like trying to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time, and it irritates the you-know-what out of the pig."

Y'all carry on.

[kw5kw]

I've already stated that I cary OWB w/o retention with a cover garment.

I have a SA XD-9 that came with a 'factory' holster, and that's the one I use, and yes, I do like the holster.

I have used it strong arm, and on the weak side cross draw, and it kinda depends on the situation of what, where and when as to how. I might sound like a hyprocrite here, but let me explain:

On the ranch, it's strong side, easy to draw against them snakes, etc. Of course it's open carry on the ranch.

While wearing a vest or a coat/jacket I like it cross draw, then I can cross my arms in anticapation if I recognize a threat. Plus, it gives me the added advantage of having it more readily accessible while driving. My weak side hand doesn't have to do anything (like pulling clothing out of the way) until the weapon is drawn. Using this method, I can actually draw the weapon long before it is presented and still have it consealed, if not needed then it is simply reholstered. This method was actually taught to me by a bodyguard.

Remember this is concealed carry, so nobody knows you have a weapon--right? Right! Then you draw it and surprise everyone! So, chances of somebody knowing you have one and then rush up and pull it out of your holster is nill, that is unless you're breaking the law and showing it off in the first place.

Now with open carry, I can definatelly see the value of a retention strap.

[The Bandit]

Open top only for me. Usually OWB with occasional IWB.

[Greybeard]

' Been putting in some "windshield time" for the last couple of days and the following incident came to mind.

Back in early '96 IIRC (Richardson TX ?), BG attempting armed robbery of Mom & Pop jewelry store. BG's gun went "snap" instead of "bang" at in-the-hubby's-face distance. In the midst of adreneline dump, pucker factor and RETENTION on hubby's own holster, he wound grappling for BG's malfed pistola (which was subsequently determined to have loaded mag, but no round in chamber!). Wife, a recent CHL student, had revolver handy (and obviously more proficient in getting it out) came to hubby's rescue, putting 5 of 5 into BG.

Moral of story: Whether LEO, security guard or CHLer, VERY important to PRACTICE presenting safely, but quickly from WHATEVER type of holster.

[gigag04]

I don't currently have retention on my primary holster, a galco OWB open top.

I sure would like it though. When A&M was in the Big Dance and killing syracuse I got up to celebrate but heard a resounding thud (this is in the living room so no worries about being outted). Freaked me out, not that it would go off, but that it happened that easily.

As soon as I can I'll get one with a snap and break it way way in before I carry with it.

-nick

[ShootingStar]

I just bought my wife a Blackhawk CQC which has a retention button that has to be pressed to release the gun. I'm in the process of "encouraging" her to practice with it so she doesn't forget about the button. Like someone before me said, this is critical.

It comes with a padle and regular belt attachments. The padle is a little hard to get off the belt, but that's what you'd expect with a retention holster. No good locking your gun in a holster if they can pull it off your belt.

I also noticed that if you pull up on on the gun before hitting the button, it will never come out of the holster. You have to hit the button first. So far, I like it. However, the little woman needs to work with it some more before I would recommend it. I say this because if the person using it doesn't practice with it, it then it's pretty likely they won't hit the button and the gun will stick in the holster when they need it most.

-SS