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I was wondering what ya'll think about paddle holsters. They seem to be a convenient answer to those of us who frequently need to remove our weapon.

Recently I picked up a Galco Jaqui Slide w/ paddle at the Fort Worth Cabela's store. It fits several semi-auto pistols and I wanted to try it for my Browing Hi Power, and an Astro A-80 45 ACP. Galco's stuff is kind of pricey, but it seemed to be very well made with high quality leather. The holster fit both pistols quite well and it has an adjustable tension screw, which is nice.

I returned it to Cabela's because it kicked the gun butt too far out from my body with the paddle. If it had been the regular belt slide it would have fit nicely I think, but I was after the "on-off-on" convenience of the paddle.

What is your experience with paddle holsters. What brands do you like, if any?

Thanks
Rod
Colleyville, TX

Thank you for this Q. I want to hear many answers to this too.

I carry a Fobus paddle, although I seldom take off holster and all. (Holster usually stays on pants when pistol goes up for the night.

It works for me; I would buy something better, but I'm holding off until I upgrade my main carry gun.

Kevin

I use a Galco paddle holster and have happy with it.

Well I have and still will use a Paddle as carry holster,


Pro's

Easy to remove
with Kydex you can get it in a slide config.


Cons
it is harder to conceal
comfort is not there
they do slide around abit .

with that said a paddle is a good rig if you have to take it off to going in to places or as a fast to act type holster .

I like my UM kydex paddle i am selling with my Glock

I have ordered a new MSP Paddle Horsehide from Kramer.

So lets hear other opinions on this also.

300shooter

I have a cheap Fobus padle holster for most of my guns. They work great at the range for changing guns.

I think they keep the gun in nice and close for carry too. I find they ride a little higher than some belt holsters too, which I like.

The only paddle holster I have left is a Comp-Tac Locking Paddle for an XD. It works very well when I'm wearing a suit and I'm considering one for my 1911's.

Chas.

I use a Blade-Tech paddle for IDPA. I really enjoy it and plan on getting another one for the sad day that it is wore out! Hard to beat the speed of Kydex OWB for a driving holster. My physical build will not allow me to wear one with a regular shirt...has to at least be a light wind jacket.
Jason

I use a Comp-tac paddle for my XD and have several Fobus paddles I mainly use for range use. The Comp-tac holds my gun snug to the body but not as snug as a pancake style holster does.

I have a Houston Holster. It's injection molded. It had a very snug fit on my Bersa 9 UC. In fact, so snug that i took a heat gun to it to loosen it.
It was really quite difficult to draw from before the heat.

The paddle has a 1 3/4 inch wide slot, and a pretty aggressive pair of teeth to keep the paddle in place.
I wear a 2" Blackhawk tactical rescue belt everyday, and the holster works quite well with it.
I also have the heavier Blackhawk tactical gunbelt. It has a stiffener and extra layer sewn on. It makes it nearly three times the thickness as the rescue belt. The paddle doesn't work near as well with it.

I've been goinbg through a weight loss process, and my body shape is changing. It is really showing me that some things that worked in one setup, may not work now. But then may work again in the future.

Have you considered inside the waistband (IWB) or inside the pants (ITP)?
Some of those holsters will hold the gun more snugly than a paddle, and are equally as fast to insert/remove as a paddle. They may have hook style clips or snap loops that go around or under the belt, and do not require belt removal.

I use a comp-tac locking paddle for my 4" 686, 5" 1911 and a Bladetech for my Glock 17, just like the one Jbirds uses. They're great holsters.

I had a similar experience with the yaqui paddle as RodL. Not enough tension to keep the butt of the gun against me. You've really got to be careful with a yaqui type holster too in that sitting can put the muzzle in contact with the chair and cause the gun to be pushed out of the holster. We definitely don't want that.

I just got a Blackhawk CQC Serpa retention holster. I'm using it with the paddle holster attachment(you can have on the belt or paddle) and it's awesome. It had "teeth" in it that keep it excatly in place and it's extremly comfortable.

I carry my glock 19 in it and havn't found a better holster for me. your happy to try it anytime if your in the dallas area.

Like some of the other posters, I too have used Fobus paddle holsters, and I’ve been impressed. For me, they stay put (no sliding around on the belt), and I have no problem concealing (relatively tight on the belt), and it’s hard to argue with the price!

As one of the posters mentioned, it’s not the most comfortable holster for long term everyday carry, but I’ve worn worse.

I’ve had several folks tell me Fobus holsters are junk, and won’t last more then a few months before the rivets will pull out or the holster will crack. My experience has been the opposite. For about 3 years, my standard carry on the ranch was a 1911 in a Fobus paddle holster without one thing going wrong with it. That includes getting thrown off horses, catching the holster on tractor seats, serious sweating, and crawling around on the ground doing things like equipment maintenance or getting a baler un-jammed. All things that have destroyed more expensive holsters in less time…

The Fobus, like most synthetic holsters, will mar the finish of most guns. Not a big issue to me, my carry weapons are working tools and I anticipate a certain amount of aging. But if you can’t tolerate the thought of marks on your finish, don’t go synthetic

Like many “gun nuts� I have a drawer of holsters that I bought, and don’t wear anymore due to comfort, retention, concealment, or other issues. Over the years, it’s become a rather large collection. My Fobus paddle holsters are not relegated to that drawer.

Recently, I’ve become of fan of belt slide holsters though. Currently I’m using a cheap one out of the Dillon catalog and I’m very pleased with it. For the last 30 days, it’s pretty much been my carry holster. I’m pleased enough with it I’m thinking of putting down some bucks and getting a good one. It’s pretty unobtrusive without a gun in it, so I don’t feel the need to take it off when I’m entering a no carry zone. One guy asked me what it was, and I answered it was a holster for a fencing tool, which he accepted.

But back on subject…If you’re thinking of trying paddle holsters, give the Fobus a try first. It’s cheap, and if you find you like paddle carry, you can always buy a more expensive leather option. But if you decide you don’t like paddle, you’re not out a lot of cash with the Fobus. Who knows, you may be like me and just stick with the cheap Fobus.

I gotta agree with the previous post from TX Rancher.

I brother showed me his Fobus and I gave it a try and liked it. That night I found one for my S&W40 on eBay. Brand new shipped for about $25.00.

I've had my CHL for about 10 years and I've carried on my person more the last week then the previous 10 years combined.

I'm a fairly big guy (getting smaller though) and this holster has no comfort issues with me.

My only fear (probably just being overly paranoid) is that someone might see the barrel sticking out from under my shirt or jacket when bending over or sitting down. But I'm always pulling my shirt down to hopefully ensure that doesn't happen.

For $20-25 you can't do wrong.

David

I feel paddle holsters are not good fighting holsters. The Milt Sparks, Leather Arsenal, and Garrity Gun Leather holsters have snaps, so they can be removed easily. Garrity has some models that are owb with snaps. That being said, I am a big proponent of IWB holsters, preferably leather.