Trouble with holsters

JSalcedo · March 26, 2002, 01:09 AM

I just received my CHL but I'm still having a
great deal of trouble finding the right concealment holster for my full size 1911

I bought a fobus molded inside the pants holster
it works ok but the butt of the gun jabs my love handles and after a couple of hours it feels
like I've been been kicked in the kidneys a few times.

I bought a Galco MOB (middle of back) it seems ok except for the fact that it tends to pull my pants
down somewhat and when I sit down the gun flops
out almost 45 degrees away from my back and yes I have a very thick heavy duty belt.

I bought a world war II surplus shoulder holster
and believe it or not it is the most secure and comfortable but living in south Texas its not really an option since it will require a jacket.

I am 6ft 5 inches tall 290lbs my gut isn't huge but its there.

Anyone out there have any suggestions on what to try next? I've already spent $200 plus

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

J Salcedo

AK103K · March 26, 2002, 06:21 AM

Didnt they tell you you have to sacrifice to carry a gun? Its true, you will suffer, your clothes will suffer, your car seats will suffer. I know what your going through. When I first started carrying, it was hell. Nothing seemed to fit, and I was sure EVERYONE knew I had a gun under my coat! After spending about $2,000,000 on every different holster known to man, I've settled on Blade-Tech's kydex IWB holster. If your going to use this type of holster, your need to break your body in like a pair of boots. Try wearing it a couple of hours at a time each day till it starts to break you in. After a little while, you wont know its there. I think this style of holster is the most concealable, although not the most comfortable. The big advantage to the kydex is it wont sweat through. As for belts, I'm sold on the Wilderness "Instructor" belts. They are infinitely adjustable (no holes) allowing for switches in holsters, inside or out, and "dinner" changes

Good luck and dont give up, it takes a little while and effort.

WESHOOT2 · March 26, 2002, 09:56 AM

First, get a real good belt; Milt Sparks, Hellweg, Rosen, Galco, Bianchi.

Then try your holsters again..........

Coronach · March 26, 2002, 11:30 AM

What he said.

Spend the loot on a good gunbelt. It has to be stiff enough support the holster and associated crap without bending. I used to wear a plain dress belt, and I was unimpressed. Then one day I lost track of it when in a hurry, and I had to wear the inner belt of my duty gear (a Safariland leather velcro job)...what a difference! Now, its wasn't exactly stylish, but my run-of-the-mill holster wore a lot better. That clued me in that the belt was the problem, not the holster.

Mike

jimsbowies · March 26, 2002, 11:52 AM

A Yaqui slide type...a belt slide...small, inexpensive, secure and flexible...

JSalcedo · March 26, 2002, 03:20 PM

Thanks a bunch for all of the replies.
They are certainly helpful.

Time to dust off the credit card

Best Regards,
J Salcedo

Jhp147 · March 27, 2002, 06:26 AM

Welcome to the "I have a whole box of holsters I can't use" club. You will find many members here. My observations: The Fobus may be cheap, but I don't think it was designed with casual concealment in mind, it was designed with cheap in mind. Not cheap any more since you paid for it and it doesn't work, right? I'm glad the MOB carry works...sorta...for you. The above advice on buying a good, real, gunbelt may bail you out there. Ditto on Blade-tech as far as a brand, but I can't abide ISP holsters. I use one of their "normal" holsters regulary. Since you are in Texas, you should know about www.comp-tac.com or www.comptac.com. These kydex rigs are in the 50-60 dollar range, and you can get an excellent belt slide/paddle rig or whatever pleases you QUICKLY. And you will be done buying holsters. Money spent on GOOD holsters saves so much in the long run, because you don't spend so much on experiments trying to save money.

swampgator · March 29, 2002, 04:54 AM

Quote:

It has to be stiff enough support the holster and associated crap without bending.

My all time best "support" belt was a double thick 8/9 oz (16/18 oz) reinforced with a 1/2" by 24" spring steel band centered along its length.

The thing is almost 3/8" thick! Needless to say it never bent while carrying.

Kentucky Rifle · March 30, 2002, 10:44 AM

However, the double thick gunbelt will give you a better chance at finding the right one for yourself. (Oldfart-hood and a few extra pounds around my middle make IWB carry torture!) Mark Waldon makes an interesting belt. Looks good. I think I'll try him out the next time I buy a belt. Most of the time, your holster will never work correctly with a regular belt.

KR

Romulus · March 30, 2002, 12:15 PM

Lou Alessi makes a belt-slide (pancake) holster that is a joy to wear, slightly behind the hip for me. I'm not 6'-5" tall, but have roughly your height to weight ratio. Alessi's belt-slide is marginally more than a mass-produced rig, and has those wonderful pull-through snaps that should please both those in favor of a thumb-break and those against...

March 26, 2002, 01:09 AM	#1
JSalcedo Member Join Date: February 22, 2002 Posts: 84	Trouble with holsters I just received my CHL but I'm still having a great deal of trouble finding the right concealment holster for my full size 1911 I bought a fobus molded inside the pants holster it works ok but the butt of the gun jabs my love handles and after a couple of hours it feels like I've been been kicked in the kidneys a few times. I bought a Galco MOB (middle of back) it seems ok except for the fact that it tends to pull my pants down somewhat and when I sit down the gun flops out almost 45 degrees away from my back and yes I have a very thick heavy duty belt. I bought a world war II surplus shoulder holster and believe it or not it is the most secure and comfortable but living in south Texas its not really an option since it will require a jacket. I am 6ft 5 inches tall 290lbs my gut isn't huge but its there. Anyone out there have any suggestions on what to try next? I've already spent $200 plus Thanks in advance for any suggestions. J Salcedo

March 26, 2002, 09:56 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	STOP! First, get a real good belt; Milt Sparks, Hellweg, Rosen, Galco, Bianchi. Then try your holsters again.......... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

March 26, 2002, 11:30 AM	#4
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	What he said. Spend the loot on a good gunbelt. It has to be stiff enough support the holster and associated crap without bending. I used to wear a plain dress belt, and I was unimpressed. Then one day I lost track of it when in a hurry, and I had to wear the inner belt of my duty gear (a Safariland leather velcro job)...what a difference! Now, its wasn't exactly stylish, but my run-of-the-mill holster wore a lot better. That clued me in that the belt was the problem, not the holster. Mike __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

March 26, 2002, 11:52 AM	#5
jimsbowies Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Charlotte Posts: 332	try A Yaqui slide type...a belt slide...small, inexpensive, secure and flexible...

March 27, 2002, 06:26 AM	#7
Jhp147 Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 1999 Location: Texas Posts: 597	holster Welcome to the "I have a whole box of holsters I can't use" club. You will find many members here. My observations: The Fobus may be cheap, but I don't think it was designed with casual concealment in mind, it was designed with cheap in mind. Not cheap any more since you paid for it and it doesn't work, right? I'm glad the MOB carry works...sorta...for you. The above advice on buying a good, real, gunbelt may bail you out there. Ditto on Blade-tech as far as a brand, but I can't abide ISP holsters. I use one of their "normal" holsters regulary. Since you are in Texas, you should know about www.comp-tac.com or www.comptac.com. These kydex rigs are in the 50-60 dollar range, and you can get an excellent belt slide/paddle rig or whatever pleases you QUICKLY. And you will be done buying holsters. Money spent on GOOD holsters saves so much in the long run, because you don't spend so much on experiments trying to save money. __________________ Sometimes...days are just something you get through.

March 26, 2002, 06:21 AM	#2
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Didnt they tell you you have to sacrifice to carry a gun? Its true, you will suffer, your clothes will suffer, your car seats will suffer. I know what your going through. When I first started carrying, it was hell. Nothing seemed to fit, and I was sure EVERYONE knew I had a gun under my coat! After spending about $2,000,000 on every different holster known to man, I've settled on Blade-Tech's kydex IWB holster. If your going to use this type of holster, your need to break your body in like a pair of boots. Try wearing it a couple of hours at a time each day till it starts to break you in. After a little while, you wont know its there. I think this style of holster is the most concealable, although not the most comfortable. The big advantage to the kydex is it wont sweat through. As for belts, I'm sold on the Wilderness "Instructor" belts. They are infinitely adjustable (no holes) allowing for switches in holsters, inside or out, and "dinner" changes Good luck and dont give up, it takes a little while and effort.

March 26, 2002, 03:20 PM	#6
JSalcedo Member Join Date: February 22, 2002 Posts: 84	Thanks a bunch for all of the replies. They are certainly helpful. Time to dust off the credit card Best Regards, J Salcedo

March 30, 2002, 10:44 AM	#9
Kentucky Rifle Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 1999 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 2,687	Yep, lotsa holsters I don't use much. However, the double thick gunbelt will give you a better chance at finding the right one for yourself. (Oldfart-hood and a few extra pounds around my middle make IWB carry torture!) Mark Waldon makes an interesting belt. Looks good. I think I'll try him out the next time I buy a belt. Most of the time, your holster will never work correctly with a regular belt. KR

March 30, 2002, 12:15 PM	#10
Romulus Senior Member Join Date: January 18, 2001 Location: Kettle Moraine country Posts: 897	Lou Alessi makes a belt-slide (pancake) holster that is a joy to wear, slightly behind the hip for me. I'm not 6'-5" tall, but have roughly your height to weight ratio. Alessi's belt-slide is marginally more than a mass-produced rig, and has those wonderful pull-through snaps that should please both those in favor of a thumb-break and those against... __________________ I knew Thomas Jefferson, he was a friend of mine...Governor Clinton, you're no Thomas Jefferson Ti faccio vedere come muore un italiano