Clip on holsters a bad idea?
I have had some bad experiences with various clip on holsters, but after I retired some of my standard dress belts and got an actual gun belt, the problems disappeared. Many people really over look this issue when CCW and it’s one of those things that can really bite you at the wrong time. I have a few firearms instructor friends that swear that they usually see atleast one person pull a firearm from their holster during defensive training classes where the holster is still on the gun. It’s laughable, but people just don’t really know how stable their holsters are until they are really put to the test.
A good gun belt should be strong and solid and be about atleast 1.5 inches wide. The skinny belt thing is a no no in the gun carrying world, and this is where I see a lot of failures. The clip may hold the belt, but a fast draw of the gun may make it wobble or pop off. The other thing to think about is the support of the firearm. The first time I ever wore a Wilderness instructor belt, which was the 1.5″ version, I was carrying and using Springfield Armory XD 45acp in IWB gun holsters and I could hardly tell I was carrying the gun. The support of the firearm was significant and I really didn’t feel like I had to adjust the belt. There are various types of Wilderness gun belts that are not as tactical looking which may be more apporpriate for white collar CCW.
I highly suggest that when people are carrying a firearm, even if they are not carying a backup firearm, should at the very least have atleast one other item on them that they could consider using in a defensive application. Some may sound funny, but if you were a bad guy, getting a set of car keys jammed in their face or having a belt buckle being used as a pair of brass knuckles or a whip is not something they would want to be hit with. If you are carrying a pocket gun, and don’t have the ability to comfortable carry mace or another less lethal weapon, try using a belt that has a slightly heavier than normal belt buckle and remember that you can always use it as a whip if need be.
If I am carrying a j-frame in a paddle holster, I’m usually carrying a speed loader and about 3 reloads. J-frames work very well for deep cover and my primary mindset it to shoot and move and not expect to put up a fight for very long when I’m starting out with 5 rounds. I can increase my firepower and comfort by carrying the same gun, but with an OWB holster that can easily be reloaded. I strongly recommend that everyone considers having a paddle holster for every handgun they own. They also come in handly when going to an outdoor range where you don’t have to worry about putting the gun down on the table after every cease fire.
Comfort is very important for those that are carrying 8-10hrs or more a day. I’ve carried various firearms over my life and sometimes it’s fine carrying something Monday-Friday, but if I’m still carrying it on Day 6, I can really feel it. I’ve found that driving in a car for long periods of time can really make IWB and paddle holsters feel annoying after a couple hours. I can use an ankle holster is some situations, but I’ve found that the most comfortable way to carry a full size auto for long periods of time is in a should rig. Leg holsters are probable a 2nd favorite, but that’s not going to work for concealed carry purposes. One thing to always be aware of is not sweeping body parts when pulling a firearm in the seated position while wearing a should rig.
My Sig 220 blasted its way through the first 8rds without a hickup. I did notice a mini cloud of lint around the gun, and maybe I should rethink some of the shirts I wear to try and prevent or reduce this, but I thought that lint can’t be any worse than dirt and these are combat pistols. I continued to put another 300rds of 45acp 230gr FMJ ammo and had a stopage. I had a friend tell me that the Sig Factory rep he dealt with says that the guns should run wet and that they are dependent on using more lubrication than something like a Glock. Although I’ve never gotten the bug to own a Glock, I guess I’ll have to acknowledge that Glock does have an edge over Sigs in this area. One thing I have considered doing is putting a little grease on all of my pistols, that way it won’t drain off as easily as CLP or similiar types of lubrication. That is something to think about for pistols.
I was at yet another Carbine training course last week and while I was originally invited to watch the intstructor teach the class and give him feedback on his tactics and speaking skils, I was always keeping a eye open for how well his students were performing. Like many of the previous classes I sat in on, students showed up with various qualities of keep and shooting skills. To this day it kinda cracks me up to see some guy with an iron sight AK show up and shoot with guys shooting Match grade ARs, but sometimes I’m impressed with their abilities.
Sometimes people think that a holster is only a term that applies to a firearm. The more you carry tactical gear like knives, flashlights ect. the more you’ll realize that you may want a holster that works for those, too. Another thing to think about is what kind of magazine holsters to use. I’ve seen lots of gun mags fly out of mag holders because they were not appropriate for the task. Some magazine holsters are nice for IDPA or competition shooting, but sit on a reclining chair on a hot summer day and you’ll notice your mags are on the chair and not in the mag. I’ve seen this happen to friends that were sitting in the seat next to me on the long car ride home, they lean back in the chair and the mags are falling out.
The Bianchi black widow holster can be used with a J-Frame revolver. You will want to choose a good gun belt for any of your Bianchi holsters. Some of the Bianchi holsters are attached to a belt through a belt loop or by a clip. Depending on your preferences, you will have to decide on what works for you. As to which type of belt, we highly recommmend using The Wilderness Belts which come in various styles and colors.