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Old February 17, 2005, 06:57 PM   #1
carpe_01
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tactical leg holsters any good?

i'm looking for a tactical leg holster and i've seen a TON of different types at a TON of different prices. lol, i'm mainly wanting something that will hold my 9mm in place. i'm not going to be running or climbing or anything else like some of the more expensive holsters talk about. mainly for hiking, walking around, nothing too exciting. is something like this any good?

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...712&hasJS=true

give me a yes or no if you don't feel like writing much.

thx alot!

carpe
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Old February 17, 2005, 07:45 PM   #2
fed168
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If you just want something to carry the gun around in, go for a standard holster. Leg rigs are a tad slower, more constricting when fit right, and can get in the way of things. You'll notice a shift in balance between legs when you've got one on.

The example shown really doesn't look too sturdy. If you do buy one though, buy it right the first time. Safariland, Eagle, Blackhawk, etc.
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Old February 17, 2005, 07:57 PM   #3
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I agree with what Fed said. Get a quality, reputable tactical holster if you do get one at all.

Peronally, I have more tactical holsters than belt holsters. I only carry one of my pistols, and I found a CCW holster that I really like for it. Usually when I go shooting, it's out in the woods, and it's just easier to have my pistol on my thigh instead of on my belt, especially if you have something that covers your belt (jacket, backpack, and so on).

If you find a good holster, it won't move around - it'll stay planted well on your leg. It can get hot and chafe after a while, though.
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Old February 18, 2005, 12:35 AM   #4
mikikanazawa
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I had a heck of a time finding a holster for my USP Expert, and ended up going with a thigh holster because it was the only one that would fit that gun. It was comfortable to wear while standing or sitting, but it would flop around while walking and running, twisting my pants around with it, etc.
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Old February 27, 2005, 03:02 PM   #5
"Doc"
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Carpe, I owned the exact same holster you just asked about. I picked it up at a gun show as an inexpensive way to carry a handgun when hiking out in the middle of nowhere. In the end, I had no real problems with it... but in the end I took it back to the gunshow and traded it in for a range bag.

The holster itself is not bad, but a few things about it bothered me. The firearm I was carrying was a 1911, but I also tried using a Berretta and a SW Sigma with it as well. The straps felt quite comfortable with the weight of the 1911, but not as good as others. The "retention system" (no added safety features) was merely a strap that was velcro and attached on each side of the holster. A simple button (like on a pair of jeans) held the two together, and additional fabric was fashioned as a thumb break. This was simple, but not very effective. I had to try several ways of adjusting the straps to fit the gun, and in the end, the thumb break just didn't release easily.

I practiced removing the gun (empty of course), and on a few occasions, I could not break the button, and on 2 occasions, I could not break it at all without being assisted with my left hand. A couple of times I ripped the straps completly off and gave myself a wedge . I just dispised this scenario. In the front of the holster, is a magazine pouch that could hold either a single double-stack magazine, or two single-stack mags. The problem with this for me was, with using just one single stack mag, the covering strap didnt secure it very well. IMHO I did not like having a magazine pouch at the front of the holster, simple because it added a lot of weight and made the holster feel very bulky for my purposes.

In the end, I went an purhcased a safariland holster with a mutiple-step retention system. Granted, I'm not storming through a door or across roof top to roof top chasing after the FBI's top ten, but that holster didn't work well for me.

I would reccommend the same thing previous posters have, and will add these two lessons I've learned. First, buy a holster specific to the firearm you plan to carry, and second... try or view the holster first hand before you buy. Hope this helps, good luck!
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Old February 28, 2005, 03:56 PM   #6
TheEgg
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Quote:
tactical leg holsters any good?
Well they are good for a laugh at the range, as the posers walk around with their leg hosters, LBV, Ranger T-shirts and the like.

Seriously, for anything but Halloween usage, unless you are SWAT or something similar and have a real use for such a thing, just get a good belt holster.
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Old February 28, 2005, 08:38 PM   #7
NSO_w/_SIG
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I pretty much agree with the above

I have a SafariLand leg holster for my p226. I only wear it at work as it is more comfortable when sitting in a car to me. Sometimes the belt holster jams the gun handle into my side. One thing that I don't like about it though is that the strap gets inadvertanley pushed down and foward and the gun is no longer secure and has even dumped out on a few guys, I am in the habit of constantly checking mine though so I have never lost it.

As far as it making me feel off balance though, I have not experienced that, maybe the few extra pounds down there just dosen't bother me as much as some.

I do like drawing from it though feels better than the old belt style to me.
Also seems to protect the gun better as far as wear and blimishes.

That is my 2 cents
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Old February 28, 2005, 09:34 PM   #8
patentnonsense
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Thigh holster is WAY more comfortable than a belt holster - I got a Safariland 6004 and love it, but there aren't a lot of places you can wear it to!

A good shoulder holster is almost as comfortable, although much slower to draw from.
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Old February 28, 2005, 11:40 PM   #9
dldarrow
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I use the 6004 at work and I like it very much. The drop holster works well in my line of work, however I don't wear it for just casual hiking, as I find a belt holster to be more comfortable expecially if you are scrambling or running. The thigh holster bounces around too much.
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Old March 9, 2005, 03:29 PM   #10
LeatherneckOIF2
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They issued some POS drop holsters to us in Iraq, don't know the manufacturer 'cause I took one look at it and traded a LCpl a pack of smokes for mine. If you don't spend the $$ you won't like it. Buy a Safariland, Blackhawk, etc like the other guy said. Eagle make good ones as well. Don't buy Bianchi's crap drop holster system, it sucks. Depending on what you use it for, they are much better than hip holsters. You can actually get to your sidearm when you need to. I haven't seen one yet that can be worn comfortably when it's cinched down tight enough to not bounce when running. There are a lot of clowns out there wearing ghillie suits to the range and stuff, but I don't think just a drop rig would put you into their category.
I sometimes wear the drop mag rig I used in the desert when I shoot my M4 at the range, but then again I'm not also wearing digis and a boonie with my face painted or anything.
Ok, I paint my face once a month, tops.

Last edited by LeatherneckOIF2; March 10, 2005 at 12:49 PM.
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Old March 9, 2005, 03:35 PM   #11
Jeeper
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Quote:
Well they are good for a laugh at the range, as the posers walk around with their leg hosters, LBV, Ranger T-shirts and the like.

Seriously, for anything but Halloween usage, unless you are SWAT or something similar and have a real use for such a thing, just get a good belt holster.
That about sums up my position on them also.
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Old March 9, 2005, 03:38 PM   #12
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For general use in town a good belt holster or a IWB can't be beat. I wore my IWB/Colt hunting one year though and by the end of the day I thought my hip was going to fall off from the weight.

The next year I wore the same pistol in my tactical thigh holster and it made a big difference. Very comfortable and not a lot of flopping around either. If you're going to be walking a lot or climbing, the thigh holster is the way to go.

I used to do the security guard thing and spent a lot of time in the car, and the thigh holster was excellant for that also, nice & handy while seated.

YMMV.
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Old March 10, 2005, 12:00 AM   #13
hknut
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I was with the 101st Airbourne and when we were hanging from ropes a drpo holster was they way to go. It never interfered with ballistic vest either. If you will not be doing any of these activities or not on a SWAT team, skip the leg drop.
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Old March 10, 2005, 12:02 AM   #14
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I was with the 101st Airbourne, and when we were hanging from ropes, a drop holster was they way to go. It never interfered with ballistic vest either. If you will not be doing any of these activities or not on a SWAT team, skip the leg drop. If you must get a leg drop Eagle, Bladetech, or Blackhawk!
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Old March 13, 2005, 11:03 AM   #15
bendable
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The thigh holsters are GREAT,......at attracting attention out in public.
So if attention and scrutiny is what you desire, go for it. every single person you incounter will see you , notice you, watch you , and form an opinion about the guy with the big bad gun.
ask your self, am I prepared for all of the attention I am about to recieve ? the good the bad and even the ugly.

out in the boonies is one thing or on the job if ou are a L.E.O.,
do yourself a favor, leagaly conceal in public.

like everthing else , there is a time and place for everything
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Old March 21, 2005, 11:37 PM   #16
Erik
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Geared up in level III or comparable body armor leg holsters are great. Ya have to be able to access your pistol, after all. Other than I haven't quite figured out the necessity...
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Old March 22, 2005, 12:33 AM   #17
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a quality model works well if you need to rappel with a handgun
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Old March 23, 2005, 02:25 PM   #18
pointfiveoh
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One of the reasons to use that thigh holster is because you carry your m4, shotgun, etc. on your back. When you need it you can swing it around to the front without getting tangled in a belt holstered gun. I can see wearing one for hunting if you'll be out alllllll day, but not for any other reason. Definitely just stick w/ a iwb or something for cc.
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Old March 23, 2005, 03:22 PM   #19
BreacherUp!
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The drop holster was made to stay out of the way of body armor. Unless you're wearing that, no need. Train like you fight.

Quote:
i'm mainly wanting something that will hold my 9mm in place
I think you answered your own question. IWB or OWB
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