What is the best choice for concealed holsters ?
Ankle, ISP, Back holsters........ Which type of holster is the best all around and why ? I'm looking for a holster for a glock 27, and I would appreciate some insight from someone who has actually carried a concealed weapon and not some random comments from someone who has not. Please explain which style you like and which brand.
Tagged with: glock 27 • holster • insight • random comments
Filed under: holsters
I prefer a strong side leather belt holster. Might be a chick thing I hear guys all the time say how they like iwb holsters. I’ve tried a couple and they just don’t work for me.
All my holsters are leather Galcos. Here are links to two (both available for the Glock 27) that I have and like a lot.
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=537&GunID=51
http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=288&GunID=51
In cold weather, a simple, strong side holster is best. For warmer weather. I suggest Iinside waist carry. It isn’t the most comfortable, but it offers good concealment, with easy access.
I’ve never tried ankle, but it just doesn’t sound good. Takes too long and is a bear of a weight difference.
I’ve got some mouse guns that go in my back pocket for all other occasions.
i use an inside the waistband holster and it works great with my 45 and i had it custom made by one of my buddies that makes leather gun holsters it was $60
ankle holster… very awkward and slow presentation… I would never carry a primary weapon in an ankle rig.
Belly bands and some of the other deep cover options are a problem too.
Small of back holster… for a small or flat pistol they are OK… unless you sit or drive a lot. If you fall on a SOB holstered gun you can really hurt yourself too.
I favor strong side behind the hip.. and have carried everything from J frames, K frames and Govt Colts in this fashion. I like pancake holsters with thumb breaks… the belt slots pull those in tight and retention has always been good.
For stock holsters I have done well with Galco, Bianchi and Gould and Goodrich.
If you carry long enough you will end up with a box full of holsters. How you dress, the gun and how you dress create a lot of variables.
J and round butt K frames work good for me inside- the- waistband in holsters similar to the old Bianchi Pistol pockets
i love iwb because i find them the most comfortable, no matter the size of the gun, and for me it’s a nice tight fit, so it doesn’t move around as much as a belly band or shoulder holster or even a conventional holster. The gun you’re talking about is a smaller gun, so you shouldn’t have to worry about making sure it is concealed, as long as you position it wisely on you’re body. But the main factors in a decision like this is experimentation with different options, and taking into consideration your own preferences, size, and type of clothes you wear. personally i’ve had bad experiences with ankle holsters, it’s awkward on your leg, and i know someone who carried a backup on his ankle (responsibly, he was an experienced law enforcement officer) and something caught underneath and caused the gun to discharge in a crowded room (this is rare however)
I like the small of the back holsters, especially in the summer. They seem to offer great concealment because of the natural shape of your body. They also have a comfortable draw. IWB holsters for the glock 27 sit to deep for me. That makes for a slower draw. Strong side hip is good too, but bulges a little. Desantis and galco make good ones. There is also a guy named bob mernickle (www.mernickleholsters.com/) that I love. He makes the absolute best magazine holsters I have seen. If you prefer hip, He make a high ride low draw with blocking that is great too.
John,
You are the only one who can answer that question. Choice of holsters is just as personal as choice of a sidearm. Most gun cranks end up with a box full of holsters they’ve tried over the years.
Inside the Waistband holsters are a good choice if you are not a really big guy and if you don’t wear your pants skin tight. I’ve used IWB holsters often but I’ve gotten to danged fat for them to be comfortable.
Ankle holsters are alright for second or third guns, but for your main or only weapon, they will get you killed. Having a pistol in an ankle holster will lull you into a false sense of security.
To draw you will have to either stand on one leg while lifting the other as high as possible, clawing desperately to pull up your pants leg to access your pistol. Any ten-year old bandito could knock you on your arse with one good push and then dance a fandango on your face.
Or you will have to kneel on one knee while desperately clawing at your pants leg to access your pistol. While doing that, the bad guy has a perfect opportunity to display his field goal kicking prowess using your head for the football.
Small of the Back holsters can lead to severe injury. I’ve known two guys that required major back surgery after falling and landing on the S.O.B. holstered pistols. And if you aren’t careful, every time you sit in a hard chair or bench, you will announce the fact that you are packing heat by the loud "THUNK!" your pistol will make as you sit.
My personal preference is for a high ride strong-side holster with a thumb-break safety strap.
Check with my friend Rob Leahy at http://www.simplyrugged.com . Rob makes some very good concealment holsters.
Good Shooting,
Doc
I prefer strong side belt holsters with a forward cant. I prefer them worn about the 4 o’clock position on the belt. For full size I will always like belt holsters. While going smaller and with a good holster Inside the pants does start to work. The Glock 27 is one of those middle of the road, might work, might not work in a inside the pants.
Ankle is poor choice. Slow to draw, and I tended to kick the firearm when worn properly on the inside of the leg. It is best suited to very small firearms, not a Glock.
Small of the back holsters have one big problem. If you were to fall backwards with a firearm right over your spine it could put extreme force at that one point and cause unwanted injury.