The Tactical Holster—What It Is And Why You Need It
Dec 24th, 2012 | By Adam C | Category: Guns & Ammo, Self Defense | Print This Article
Unless your game plan for an armed conflict is to carry your handgun in your hand, you should probably look into a good tactical holster. During the gunfight itself, you’ll clearly be using the weapon, but you’ll need somewhere to store it where it can be easily accessed when not in use. At this point you’re probably thinking to yourself, “I don’t plan on being in an armed conflict,” or perhaps “I’m not a police officer or soldier.” While these statements may be true, you still need a good tactical holster for your weapon. There are several good reasons for this, so read on!
What A Tactical Holster Is – And Is Not
As a prepper, survivalist, or tactical aficionado, there will be times when you favor concealment over function. Realize that anytime you endeavor to hide something on your person, be it a knife or gun, you instantly make it harder to access that weapon. It doesn’t matter how slick that concealment holster is, it’s never going to draw as fast as a good hip or thigh holster, and that is the start of the differences between a tactical holster and a concealment holster. A tactical holster:
- Is not about concealment; it’s about easy access.
- Is a retention holster with a beefy method to keep the pistol attached to your body unless you need to use it.
- Has strong, secure attachment points so that the entire rig will stay mounted to your body. There’s no point in retaining the weapon when it’s easy to just make off with the whole holster.
Let’s look at the points individually:
Access: Mounted right there on your hip or thigh. This serves a couple purposes. First and foremost, you can easily grab the weapon with a firm master grip while it is still in the holster, so you can be ready to go. Second, the whole world can see that you are armed. This is an intentional choice for very specific situations. In a grid-down societal collapse, cocked, locked, and ready to rock is the only way to go. Concealment is for the current society, where it’s unpalatable to let people know you are carrying.
Retention: Retention, after access, is the second most important feature in a holster. Forget lanyards, straps, or Velcro hold-downs. You need a proper synthetic molded holster that requires the push of a button or some other similar action to access the weapon. Actual discussion of individual retention systems is outside the scope of this article, but there are dozens of proprietary retention methods that allow one to obtain a proper grip on the butt of the weapon and then flick or push a button to release the gun. Many of these retention systems also are rated to several hundred pounds of pull strength, meaning that even in a benign situation where your weapon gets snagged on a tree branch, for example, you still won’t lose it. If you expect a violent situation in which you anticipate someone trying to go for your gun (very common), retention is for you!
Beefy Rig: Ideally, your tactical holster will have a super strong method of attaching to a belt. This means polymer belt loops with metal hardware or something equally strong. Resist the urge to go with a holster that does not have belt loops that are as strong as the holster itself. This, incidentally, excludes paddle type holsters, which are simply friction based systems – fine for concealment, not fine for duty or firefight use. Also, the supposition here is that you will mount the holster to a strong and sturdy belt. As stated before, there is no use in an uber-retention holster that can be ripped off your body easily.
Drop Leg or Hip Holster?
This discussion borders on religious for some, but there are good reasons to get both as they both have a very specific feature set:
Drop Leg Holster: Sometimes called a thigh rig, this puts the holster on the side of your thigh. Access to this holster is lightning fast, and this holster is an excellent choice when you are wearing heavy body armor that will preclude you from wearing a hip holster. It is also an excellent rig for use in a vehicle. On the downside, it tends to snag more on objects because it’s out there on your thigh. Also, it is easier for someone to grab the gun and harder to retain your gun because of the fact that the weapon, hanging down low, is so accessible.
Hip Holster: An excellent holster for duty use, a hip holster puts the weapon in a spot that makes it hard for someone to grab it – in the hollow of your waist, nice and high. Access is also very fast, and retention is good. On the downside, a hip holster is not an effective rig in a vehicle or while wearing heavy, external armor.
Remember, the mission always dictates the equipment. A good tactical holster will keep your weapon at your fingertips, while simultaneously keeping it out of someone else’s.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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How do you feel about a shoulder holster / good or bad idea?
I try to carry a revolver (thinking of a shoulder holster?) and a
semi-auto ( inside waist band) and maybe a one or the other carry with an ankle holster carry—how do you feel on this rig and what do you feel is a good ankle
holster to have for a 2 1/2 in. barrel revolver ( .357)—some what of a feather weight?
also going back to a shoulder holster what kind would you — suggest?
also this latest—bad news— incident with the school shooting and know a N.Y. shooting of 4 firemen— do you think some one will fight for our 2nd amendment
or is marshal law??? is going to be put in place??? for our weapons—being taken???
john
John, I am a retiring Col with the AF, Just got out of Afghanistan, where the occaisional shooting does occur (not as bad as Chicago) but still a possibility.) We called shoulder holsters “Widow makers” the new tactical sets like a blackhawk drop leg is going to beat you to the draw in any gunfight. But for concealment a shoulder holster is good. I recommend a Kydex holster from (Dave Brown, or REd Hill Sheaths) about $50. They hold the weapons secure even when running, (which is the first thing you should do when you think a gun fight is about to erupt!!) Trust me,,,, I’ve been in a couple. RUN the other way!!
If you must, get a holster that will release, and make a quick disconnect like the Blackhawk safari series. (Very good platform, but very expensive,,,, expect to pay over $100 but when you have the platform you can use it with any other weapon. The gun is locked in and wont come out until you need it, and when you need it, it comes out very easily. It can also be modified to hang on a shoulder rig.
Personally, I dont like “featherweight” anythings,,,,, get a gun with a barrel so you can hit stuff. Unless you are really good with it,,, and I mean really good. If you can get all 6 in the bull at 15 yards with a snubnose,,, you are REALLY good. Otherwise, I recommend in the scenarrio you might encounter, someone accosts you,,, you turn and run,,,,get your hand on that gun,,,, when they tackly you,,,shove it in his ribs and shoot him once in the chest. then once under the chin at a 30degree angle into whatever brain matter a criminal has. His friends will run, trust me. Do not shoot at running people, that is murder. call the cops and say only that you were scared for your life and dont really recall what all happened. You just remember “hearing shots” and of course, if any other witnesses show up,,, you cant really identify them,,, but you know for certain that whomever is claiming they saw something “WAS NOT THERE”
I am the Government, I am one of their best agents,,,,, they send me into hell holes around the world to stabilize the areas. I find it so funny that the gov sneers at “Preppers” as though we were nuts!! The government is Prepping,,, I created parts of the OPLAN,,, (Operational Plans) it is called “Continuity of Government” they have bunkers and food, and weapons,,,, for them, not you. They plan to be able to sustain themselves for 6 months of “something bad” and then emerge into a new world ,,,, (That tells me it is not a nuclear problem) however these Harvard educated idgits dont seem to get much of anything right, So,,,,, like the AG secretary said,,,, “You in the middle of the country are irrelevant” That is what the govt is doing,,,
Not to be offensive to anyone racially, but I have worked, studied, and begun to admire the ‘Mexican Immigrant.” Whatever grandiose plan the Harvard idgits devise the mexican immigrant can thwart it,,, (without the benefit of that deadly Haavuud edumacation) I have come to really admire the unbreakable will and cagey-ness of the immigrant,, he/she is beating the Govt at their own game. We have to learn from them, they have broken the code, and they dont present a target to the govt. That is how we need to combat the Govt. Be smart, be cagey. I started out despising the Mexican Immigrant, the more I work with them, the more I prefer them to the Haavuud idiots in charge. All I know for sure is if I had only one spot in my bunker, and the choices were a Mexican Immigrant or a Politician,,, I would take the Immigrant in a heartbeat!!
The Col
Col – Thank you for your service and welcome back to the world. Much to do here and ‘busy’ is the word of the day. The drop-leg holsters are great for working use and I fear we’ll see the day when they are the standard.
It is good to be home!!
Collinsm. Thanks for your service to our country Col. Welcome home an God Bless you,your family an the USA. Be prepared America. Southern Patriot
Hey all. just a comment on the thigh holster. I ran security in Iraq (6 trips) I quickly learned that thigh holsters are NOT the way to go. there is a reason many of us started wearing our short guns (pistols) on our chest rigs. In that location it was out of the way, easy to reach, and quick to get into action from a vehicle. Thaigh rigs catch on everything when trying to bail out of a vehicle.
I’ll give thigh rigs the benifit when clearing houses and wearing bodyarmor. Fast and easy to get the short gun out when the rifle fails or I need a short gun to search tight spaces.
Wear the thigh holster as high on the thigh as possible. That way they won’t work loose and you can draw faster. if you wear it low on the thigh (like near the knee) it will swing and bounce, be awkward to draw from. Pistol will not be in the same place when you need it.
Hip holsters are hard to draw in vehicles, seatbelt and clothing get in the way. other then that they are my perfered way to carry. another advantage is with a long coat I can conceal it even in the SHTF time. I may not want them to know I’m armed until I need the gun. SURPRISE I’m not an easy target.
Stay safe, watch your six and may GOD bless us all. 2 Chronicles 7;14
Soldier4hire
Look at the blackhawk Safari thigh holster with a quick disconnect. It moves from your hip to your chest piece with a simple twist. Blackhawk Safari holster comes with a thigh platform, a Molle platform, and an inside the belt platform. QD comes with one male and two female pieces… Get them! and the choice of hip or chest is done! Little pricey,,,, (around $100) but worth it. GEt two magazine holders too, dont skimp on a holster..
The Col
When the S does HTF I hope there will be more people around with military tactical knowledge. The civilian populace will need all the help they can get ! We will be suspects. The writing is on the wall , congress seems powerless to stop it! The Manchurian candidate McCain is right up there with them! Obama is building his private army of worshippers and hangers on!
And by the way,,,,, come out to Colorado when the SHTF, glad to have you!! Bring warm clothes, weapons an no lawyers!!
The Col
Congress, is in on it,,,,,,