1911 holster. Kydex or leather?

[cmgee67]

What’s everybody’s preference in regard to holster material for your 1911. Also do you like paddle or belt attached or shoulder? Also do you like iwb or owb

[PriestTheRunner]

What’s everybody’s preference in regard to holster material for your 1911. Also do you like paddle or belt attached or shoulder? Also do you like iwb or owb

Also glock or 1911? And 9mm or .45?....

[C-dub]

I could not find a kydex holster I liked for my 1911. It just doesn't seem like it should be in anything other than leather, does it? There are many nice leather holsters and most of them are custom. After roughly a year or so I did finally decide on a Galco Miami Classic shoulder holster. I don't carry my 1911 often. I mostly only carry it when riding my motorcycle. I found that the shoulder holster works much better for this than the Safariland belt holster for my Glock due to the angles, my seat, and riding suit.

[cmgee67]

[quote=cmgee67 post_id=<a href="tel:1222977">1222977</a> time=<a href="tel:1537999539">1537999539</a> user_id=19249]
What’s everybody’s preference in regard to holster material for your 1911. Also do you like paddle or belt attached or shoulder? Also do you like iwb or owb

Also glock or 1911? And 9mm or .45?....

[/quote]


Someone had to do it


I am more of a leather guy. Hoping to try a shoulder rig soon

[E10]

Leather, of course, by El Paso Saddlery. I carry my Colt’s Comander .45 ACP in a basket-stamped Thumbbreak model.

[flechero]

I like both, for different things. I prefer kydex for range and classes where I expect lots of presentations, but like leather for all day carry when i hope not to draw.

Tons of good makers for both, but my own favorites are:

Leather- Sparks nexus or criterion
Kydex- jm custom kydex

Eta- IWB for me, Even if I’m on the range I will just tuck in my shirt with IWB.

[cmgee67]

Are thumb breaks as fast as say the Safariland als? And do you get a thumbreak that’s reinforced?

[RPBrown]

Leather for my 1911’s and kydex for anything else

[C-dub]

Are thumb breaks as fast as say the Safariland als? And do you get a thumbreak that’s reinforced?

I have both and I'd say that it is nearly as quick. I have the ALS system for my Glock and the Galco Miami Classic shoulder rig for my 1911. I didn't think I would like a thumb break and thought it would be a huge impediment until I got this shoulder rig. The difference, after practice, IMHO is negligible.

I do have a timer, but for some reason have not compared the two systems using it. I'll have to try that sometime.

[Allons]

I have both. It looks a lot better in the leather Tucker @ Byrd holster than in the kydex holster. I don't use the leather that much because its to hard to draw out of. I left it in the holster for about a week sitting on the couch for a couple of hours just pulling it back in forth out of the holster and it's still hard to draw when I'm wearing it. No matter how tight or loose my belt is, because of that, I use the kydex more. Maybe one day it will break in.

[Charles L. Cotton]

http://rdwarrenleather.com/index.html

Chas.

[jb2012]

Leather is great, but don’t skimp on quality. I have a milt sparks iwb leather that I pretty mich never use. When I get the money I’ll buy a nice tucker owb.

For kydex, aside from thickness, most of the time you won’t notice a difference maker to maker. I have a bravo concealment (texas) a raven concealment, and on your six (texas). I would say that the bravo is marginally the nicest out of the group, however they didn’t make a holster for my sig with a tlr.

I will probably never buy another iwb holster again, going owb was such a game changer, and is really not any different concealmentwise provided your shirt/cocealment garment is long enough.

[b4aftr]

https://www.privateerleather.com

Have had Sparks/Alessi/others but hear good things about him. I should be getting mine in black leather with shark trim in the next week or so. Will let you know more thoughts then. Threaded 5” 2011

I have a safariland holster I use with my 1911 on range days and stuff but primary carry for each of my 1911s is leather. Don’t forget a quality belt is every bit as important if you don’t already have one.

[oljames3]

My uncle issued me an M1911A1 and a leather holster, so that is how I carried it.

Now, I prefer to carry one pistol in the same holster and manner at all times. For me, the Safariland ALS works best. I found that a thumb break, while effective, was tiresome after a few hours of training. The ALS allows me to easily establish a full firing grip and release the pistol at count one of my draw stroke.

So, it depends on what your purpose is for carrying. Pick what works best for you. I'll continue to carry, train, and compete with my Safariland 7TS ALS with Guard and QLS (565BL) on my Kore Essentials leather gun belt OWB (open) at 3 o'clock.

Y'all be safe and carry.