DRAWING DOWN

ONCE AGAIN OUR GOOD FRIEND, “AA VET” AND HEAD TRAINER AT CALIBRE RANGE, ANDY N, RE-JOINS US, THIS TIME WITH SOME SOUND ADVICE ON HOLSTERS. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DIFFERENT STYLES, WHAT MAKES THEM USEFUL, AND HOW CAN YOU SET UP YOU GEAR TO GET OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO “DRAW DOWN”!

As any good tradesman would tell you, the tools they use are what makes the job good, and with all tools there are accessories that compliment them; our handgun (or secondary) is by far no exception to this rule. The handgun, to those that arm themselves for protection, defence and sports, has many after-market accessories to better the standard factory model. Such accessories include advanced sighting systems, better ergonomic grips, custom trigger works and even advance coatings to name but a few. One of the most overlooked and underestimated accessories though is the holster.

The holster, in my opinion, is part of the handgun. For all intents and purposes the holster is a means to carry the handgun in a safe and convenient way. It’s essentially a pocket specially designed to carry the handgun which affords quick and effective access when the handgun is needed in a hurry. Holsters can be minimalistic offering only a simple sleeve that covers the muzzle and trigger guard, or complex enough to offer full protection and a high security retention system. Size, and colour is, in today’s market, a matter of choice for the individual, but no matter what holster you go for it’s important that your choice is one that fits the handgun and is comfortable to wear throughout the day and meets the standard required for the job.

When choosing a holster there is many considerations to take into account; hot, humid environments would play havoc with a good old traditional leather holster but would be best suited to one of the more modern materials such Kydex. Normal “duty” wear in temperate conditions may best suit leather rather than a bulky synthetic holster. Holsters can be found in leather, Kydex, Spandex, Rayon and Polyester to name but a few. The method of construction is also a consideration for durability and even the possibility of maintenance in the field. Such builds can include one or more of the following methods; rivets, thread, glue and velcro can all be found to play a part in the manufacturing process.

Holster Types

there must be a suitable system in place to ensure that the handgun does not fall out of or move around in the holster during use. There are many retention systems that are built into holsters that facilitate this.

Free Retention Holsters: Free retention holsters offer no retention whatsoever. Holsters like the pocket and kidney holster offer no protection from the handgun being taken or from falling out when being carried. Although speed of the draw is the number one factor here we do sacrifice security for speed.

Friction Holsters: Friction holsters tend to be gun is the holster is designed specific make and model of handgun, although there are universal fitting holsters available. The holster is moulded to the shape of the gun and holds the handgun securely by the contours of the guns trigger guard, barrel and slide cutouts and also by the use of retention screws and clips. This type of holster is minimalistic and can be found in natural materials holsters can be made from any suitable material and offer a much better retention than the friction kind. The use of a strap that wraps around the rear of the slide / hammer and is fastened via a press stud or velcro offers a more secure platform. The strap usually has a stiffened brace, known as a thumb break, on the end to help release the strap during the draw.

Although the holster is a pocket to hold the handgun

Hood Guards and Button: This type of holster offers maximum security and they are often found in situations of conflict and high risk environments. The hood of the holster rides over the rear section of the

“THE HOLSTER, IN MY OPINION, IS PART OF THE HANDGUN. FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES THE HOLSTER IS A MEANS TO CARRY THE HANDGUN IN A SAFE AND CONVENIENT WAY. IT’S ESSENTIALLY A POCKET SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO CARRY THE HANDGUN WHICH AFFORDS QUICK AND EFFECTIVE ACCESS WHEN THE HANDGUN IS NEEDED IN A HURRY” slide on a semi auto handgun and over the hammer of a revolver, preventing it from being taken from any undesirables, whereas the button holster secures the handgun in the holster by the trigger guard and can only be released by the operator indexing a button that releases the locking mechanism. These holsters are found in plastic holsters or leather holsters built on a solid frame.

There are so many holsters on the market today that it can be a minefield of choice, so before we purchase a holster we need to know exactly what role it’s going to play. Although some manufacturers claim that their holsters are universal, this only applies to the fit of the handgun and not the use. As time goes by you will come to realise that you will probably need more than one holster, even if you only own one handgun. A full retention holster may be totally useless for concealed carry or competitions. If this is the case then you will find that you have one gun and three holsters, one for duty, one for CCW and one for competitions.

Body Talk

There are two main areas we need to address when considering job roles; on body and off body.

Off Body refers to a holster that is not going to be worn when the gun is in place. Such off body holsters are the use of a “Fanny Pack” or “Bum Bag”. This is a small bag that is secured around the waist and gives access to a holster secured inside. These are very popular with plain clothes operatives (or OPFOR players in airsoft) and CCW. Briefcases can also be used as off body carry. The briefcase offers maximum space for a large frame handgun and also enough space for extra magazines and ammunition. Purses are also a popular choice for off body CCW, these are usually carried in a larger bag or in the hand during travel. The off body method is mainly used when the threat levels are low or the handgun is not being used and in transit. This method is slow on the draw and is of no use for immediate defence.

On Body refers to the handgun being carried in the traditional way, on your person. Usually the holster and handgun are secured by a waist-belt secured to the trousers. This is a much quicker method of carry for drawing the handgun in times of need. Once more we need to think of what role the holster has to play in our carry situation. There are so many different holsters to choose from that it is quite easy to purchase the wrong holster for the wrong job. I have listed here some of the more common holsters and a brief description of their use.

So, with this in mind let’s look at holster types, along with their strengths and weaknesses!

Shirt Holster is a snug fitting shirt, usually worn under a dress shirt that has a small pocket sewn in under the arm pit. This small pocket is suitable to house a small semi-automatic handgun with ease and with minimal printing (visible sign) of the handgun if worn with lose fitting over garments.

Shoulder Rigs are designed to home the handgun under the armpit area. Due to the configuration of the shoulder straps used to secure the holster, the holster

“ALTHOUGH THE HOLSTER IS A POCKET TO HOLD THE HANDGUN THERE MUST BE A SUITABLE SYSTEM IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THE HANDGUN DOES NOT FALL OUT OF OR MOVE AROUND IN THE HOLSTER DURING USE. THERE ARE MANY RETENTION SYSTEMS THAT ARE BUILT INTO HOLSTERS THAT FACILITATE THIS” is more than adequate to hold heavy large frame semi autos. There are two methods of carry with the shoulder holster, horizontal and vertical carry. This refers to the direction the muzzle points during carry. Shoulder holsters are a cross-draw holster only and are comfortable to wear for long periods and ideal for use in vehicles where the more traditional beltcarry holster causes problems when seated. Although shoulder holsters are considered CCW they do tend to be bulky and have a habit of printing unless they are used in conjunction with lose or baggy clothing.

Chest Holsters are more of a “duty carry” holster. Wearing the holster on the chest frees up room on the duty belt for other items. The use of some body armour can hinder the draw of a handgun being carried on the belt due to the thickness of the armour causing the handgun to catch or snag on the armour during the draw. Securing the holster and handgun on the chest can also reduce the weight of equipment on the belt, especially if the hand gun is a heavy large frame semi-auto. The chest holster is only suited to overt carry and plays no part in concealed carry.

Belly Bands are a kind of holster that are simply a band of elastic material that wraps around your middle. The band itself has many sections sewn into it that uses the elastic friction to hold the handgun in place. There are many other pockets sewn into the band that can carry extra magazines and other accessories such as a small torch and small personal items and ID. This system is slow on the draw and is best suited to lose or baggy outer garments as the contents of the band have a tendency to print if many items are carried.

Inside Waistband (ISW) is a truly concealed carry holster. Unlike the traditional holster that sits on the outside of the trouser, the ISW is secured to the trouser belt but sits between the trouser and the body. When correctly fitted the only part of the holster that can be seen that secure it to the are made of both natural materials, such as leather and shark skin, and modern manmade materials such as Kidex and Nylon.

Although quite comfortable to wear the ISW holster may need to be used with a pair of one size larger than your normal fit. The retention on the handgun whilst in the ISW holster comes from the pressure exerted from the trouser belt. Once the handgun is in the holster the only part of the gun you should see is the grip, the rest of the handgun is hidden inside the trouser.

Outside Waistband (OSW) is the more traditional carry holster. The holster sits, usually, on the strong side and is secured by a quality belt, via either, loops or clips secured to the rear or side of the holster. This method of carry is most suited to open carry, although it can be used for CCW in some circumstances. All materials can be used for OSW carry and almost all retention systems are suited to this type of holster.

Cross Draw Holsters are usually OSW holsters that are situated on the weak (opposite to the shooting hand) side. Not many shooters favour this type of draw as the muzzle tends to sweep a large area when being taken from the holster to target. Mainly used for back up guns (BUG) it’s an ideal place to carry secondary weapon.

Pancake Holsters are so called because the lay flat along the belt and keep the handgun tight into the body. Traditionally made of leather the belt passes through two loops either side of the holster. This allows the holster to become close to the body

“CHEST HOLSTERS ARE MORE OF A “DUTY CARRY” HOLSTER. WEARING THE HOLSTER ON THE CHEST FREES UP ROOM ON THE DUTY BELT FOR OTHER ITEMS. THE USE OF SOME BODY ARMOUR CAN HINDER THE DRAW OF A HANDGUN BEING CARRIED ON THE BELT DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE ARMOUR” and creates a good retention through friction. These holsters are very popular with open and concealed carry in civilian use.

Pocket Holsters are holsters that have been specifically designed to be inserted into the trouser or jacket pocket. These holsters need to be secured into the pocket with Velcro or by some other secure means to prevent the holster from coming out of the pocket when you draw the handgun. With this holster you are limited to the size of handgun that you can carry. Sub compact guns of 5.5 - 6 inch is the maximum size recommended. This is a true CCW method and adds the extra security that you can have your hand on the handgun ready to draw at a moments notice without anyone knowing that your are in stage 1 of the draw. The golden rule here is not to put other items into the same pocket as the handgun.

Drop Leg Holster was designed to free up space and relieve weight off the belt. Located and tethered on the outer thigh, the main anchor point is on the belt. This is via either 1 or 2 anchor points. The drop leg holster, if positioned correctly, will allow the handgun to be in direct line and position with the shooting hand when at rest. This method affords ease of access and speed to the draw. Used in many tactical situations the drop leg holster can be used for all handguns from the smallest revolver to the largest framed handgun with room to add tactical lights, spare magazines and even cuffs.

Cargo Pockets are very similar to pocket holsters only cargo pockets tend to have various pockets or sleeves sewn into them. Personally I’m not a great fan as they tend to be uncomfortable and the handgun is not very secure. My duty trousers are fitted with such cargo pockets and I only use them to carry rifle magazines. These are very slow to access due to buttons and Velcro fastenings.

Ankle Holsters are nothing else but CCW holsters that are secured to the inside of your calf. The holster itself is a small, usually leather, holster that rests on the ankle with a supporting band that is wrapped around the upper part of the calf muscle. This upper support aids in stability and security during movement. This method of carry is suited to BUG and carrying small frame handguns. If used to conceal carry your primary weapon, then these little gems are worth their weight in gold when it comes to traveling in vehicles. The ankle holster is ideal when seated in vehicles affording immediate access to the handgun with little fuss. When used to carry a primary weapon the ankle holster needs a lot of practice to gain access when in the standing position, however it’s not impossible.

So, that’s carry options, but WHERE should you carry?

Kidney is suited for all OSW and ISW holsters. The holster is carried in the 1 and 2 o’clock or 10 and 11 o’clock position on the belt. Not ideal for the larger framed handguns however, this method of carry is ideal for a secondary / back up gun.

Hip is the most noticed of all the carry methods. The holster is situated on the hip bone on the strong side. The position of the hip bone itself lends a stable platform for the holster. However this is a preference of choice as it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Suited to the OSW holsters it affords quick access and control to the handgun during times of need.

4 o’clock carry sits the holster just behind the hip bone and is suited to both the ISW and OSW holsters. This is a very comfortable position for the holster to be situated. Used with an open jacket the handgun can be out of sight to others around you and also in many cases out of reach from unwanted attention. This natural fit and feel can be a very quick draw and is one of the most popular positions to carry a handgun for protection and defence.

Small of the Back: This is not a recommended carry due to the fact that there has been many cases of injury whilst using this method of carry whilst on duty. Suited to OSW carry, operators have sustained

“THE DROP LEG HOLSTER, IF POSITIONED CORRECTLY, WILL ALLOW THE HANDGUN TO BE IN DIRECT LINE AND POSITION WITH THE SHOOTING HAND WHEN AT REST. THIS METHOD AFFORDS EASE OF ACCESS AND SPEED TO THE DRAW” back injuries when being taken to the ground during hand to hand fighting. If this method is to be used I would recommend only small frame handguns in this position.

Gadgets And Gizmos

The above list is just a fraction of what is available on the market today, but there are so many gadgets and gizmos that come with new and exciting designs that it makes the mind boggle! I have one simple rule in life though, one that the military taught me… “keep it simple”. The less components a holster has, the less that can go wrong with it, and the easier it will be to maintain and fix in the field.

Like all the things that we depend on, especially our lives and the lives of the ones we protect when we use handguns for real, we must make sure that the holster is the correct type and fit for the handgun, clean at all times and in a serviceable condition. If the holster fails to perform due to neglect then it’s quite possible that you will fail in your attempt to draw the weapon and neutralise the threat.

Holsters, to me, are not an accessory, but rather a part of the handgun itself. When carrying a handgun, I don’t want to be carrying it in my hand all the time, that would be impossible. The need for a holster is just as important as the need for a handgun itself. But like making the right choice for the handgun, making the right choice for the holster is just as important. A good handgun in a poor holster becomes a poor handgun in a poor holster and thus leads to poor skills and drills, and none of us want that, do we? AA

“I HAVE ONE SIMPLE RULE IN LIFE THOUGH, ONE THAT THE MILITARY TAUGHT ME… “KEEP IT SIMPLE”. THE LESS COMPONENTS A HOLSTER HAS, THE LESS THAT CAN GO WRONG WITH IT, AND THE EASIER IT WILL BE TO MAINTAIN AND FIX IN THE FIELD”