Tucker Texas Heritage HURTS LIKE CRAZY!!

[lonestarmedic]

So. being new to Concealed, I read a bunch and decided on the Texas Heritage. It is very thin
and fairly adjustable. I am left-handed and using a Springfield Champion 1911. Stainless steel
with ambi safety and 4" barrel. Bought a good gunbelt that fits me, the holster, and a Tucker
IWB magazine holster. Total cost for all three was $205.00 Well, got home and rigged up. I have
tried every position from 11:00 to 5:30 and moving the clips all over. The lower edge of the holster
digs into my skin and leaves red marks. I am 5"10" with a 35" waist and weigh at 200lbs. I am short
waisted with a small gut. At 10:00 to 11:00 the pistol rides great. The reward positions cause the
butt to drag on furniture and thunk against chairs. I am thinking of soaking the bottom in water or
something to se if it molds better to my body. I purchased the holster at the gun show in San Antonio.
So, I am not sure if it can be traded in. The man said he works next door to Tucker and makes all of the belts.
Any thought from the forum? I may have an addition to the holster bin. Too bad it is an expensive one.

JB

[The Annoyed Man]

I own an MTAC by Minotaur, and I have similar problems. I used to be able to wear it comfortably for hours on end. But I have had a bad back for 10 years now, and it has been degrading considerably in the last year. I find it difficult to wear any kind of holster now for very long, so this is not a condemnation of the MTAC. However, the advantage that this holster, and also its Crossbreed Supertuck counterpart, have to other IWB holsters is that the holster body is made of kydex mounted to a flat leather backing. The idea is that the shape of the body of the pistol is not pressing into your side because that pressure is being spread out over a larger surface area.

MTAC holster:


Crossbreed holster:

[lonestarmedic]

On the various hybrid holsters, how flexible is the leather back? This seems to be my problem. I also will need
to cut the clips off if they stick below the leather. Pants bend them in and they dig into my side. I believe that
I will want to carry either forward of my hip bone or even cross-draw.

I looked at at the pictures of the Desantis Sof-Tuck. I like the idea and the suede. However, the clip loks
to be a J-hook. THis I think will put the weight of the pistol on my pants and not the belt.

JB

[The Annoyed Man]

The leather backing is soft and pliable enough to be very comfortable, and thick enough to keep the angles of the gun from actually poking through. If you search this forum, you'll find that the Supertuck and the MTAC are probably the two most popular IWB holsters, for very good reasons. They are also reasonably priced compared to some of the alternatives.

Also, since you are new to concealed carry, one of the things you'll eventually discover is that will over time wind up with a drawer full of old holsters that you don't use anymore, either because they didn't work as advertised, or over time your ability to wear them comfortably changed.

I don't even bother with IWB holsters any more because OWB seems to offend my sciatic nerve less than IWB. And I am able to conceal everything from a "micro" Kahr 9mm to a full sized 5" steel framed 1911 or a full sized M&P 45. Then there are the shoulder holsters.....

[Pug]

I used to carry a Colt Combat Commander in a Crossbreed SuperTuck...and I agree with TAM's take above. Even though I went with the horse hide upgrade, the gun eventually printed the inner leather (next to my gut/thigh). I'm a fairly big guy (6'2" 275lb) and this eventually got the best of me -- especiallyin the TX heat. My solution was to change my daily carry, getting a smaller IWB Texas Tucker. It has made a world of difference.
JMHO

[dcphoto]

On the various hybrid holsters, how flexible is the leather back? This seems to be my problem. I also will need
to cut the clips off if they stick below the leather. Pants bend them in and they dig into my side. I believe that
I will want to carry either forward of my hip bone or even cross-draw.

I looked at at the pictures of the Desantis Sof-Tuck. I like the idea and the suede. However, the clip loks
to be a J-hook. THis I think will put the weight of the pistol on my pants and not the belt.

JB

What size pants are you wearing? You said you have a 35 inch waist, so if you're squeezing yourself and holster into a 34 or 36 it could make things VERY uncomfortable. I wear a 36 normally, and I can't comfortably wear a holster without (at least) a 38 size pant.

Also, how high do you wear your pants? Do you normally wear them below the hip, or pull them up above?

Edit: I don't know where you're located, but I have a 1911 body for my M-TAC. If you are near me then you're more than welcome to borrow my extra holster for a couple of days to try the M-TAC.

[lonestarmedic]

More details

I am using 36 waist pants that are a loose fit. No problem there I can see. I can actually
put the holster in with the pants tucked. I try to wear above the hipbone, but they can
slide down a bit. I just tried sticking the holstered gun in without the clips and moving it
until it felt good. I was surprised. Gun at about 9:30 with quite a cant and a high ride!
I alwas thought it should go as low as possible. The butt is forward of my arm when I
stand naturally. I am going to see if the clips work at this position.

I live 1/2 way between Floresville and San Antonio on 181. I appreciate the holster offer.
Where are you at?

JB

[BrianSW99]

On the various hybrid holsters, how flexible is the leather back? This seems to be my problem. I also will need
to cut the clips off if they stick below the leather. Pants bend them in and they dig into my side. I believe that
I will want to carry either forward of my hip bone or even cross-draw.

I looked at at the pictures of the Desantis Sof-Tuck. I like the idea and the suede. However, the clip loks
to be a J-hook. THis I think will put the weight of the pistol on my pants and not the belt.

JB

I can say that the Crossbreed Supertuck forms to your body shape very well. After about 2 years of wearing, here's what mine looks like:



After looking up a picture of the Tucker Heritage, I can see how it wouldn't be as flexible as one of the kydex/leather hybrid holsters.

Brian

[dcphoto]

More details

I am using 36 waist pants that are a loose fit. No problem there I can see. I can actually
put the holster in with the pants tucked. I try to wear above the hipbone, but they can
slide down a bit. I just tried sticking the holstered gun in without the clips and moving it
until it felt good. I was surprised. Gun at about 9:30 with quite a cant and a high ride!
I alwas thought it should go as low as possible. The butt is forward of my arm when I
stand naturally. I am going to see if the clips work at this position.

I live 1/2 way between Floresville and San Antonio on 181. I appreciate the holster offer.
Where are you at?

JB

I have two suggestions. First, try some size 38 pants; I know they'll be huge, but you can take care of that later. I'd just pick up a pair at Goodwill or The Salvation Army, and try it out. Also try keeping your belt/waistline lower. If the holster is sitting on your hip it can pivot down and the bottom of the holster will dig in, causing pain.

If the size 38's are more comfortable, but still too big, then I suggest buying some and taking them to a tailor to have the waist taken in a bit. When you get measured be sure to wear your IWB with your 1911.

I live on the north side of Austin, near I-35. PM me and we can figure out when/where we could meet.

[Divided Attention]

I don't know what happened I thought I put a post on this but can't find it.

I carry in a Tucker Heritage and love it. 1st suggestion - think undershirt! Put something between your skin and the back of the holster - this made a huge difference for me.

It did take a bit to get used to the Heritage - I carry a M&P 9C, but have carried the full sized 9 without problem. I am right handed and carry at 1 - 1:30. I too am short waisted and carry so the grip is just above my waistband enough to grip. I also have the extended foot plates on my 9 magazines.

I had to play with it quite a bit and at first the bottom of the holster dug into my hip/thigh joint quite a bit when sitting, but once I found the spot that works and added the underarmour type undershirt I can carry all day and really not know it is there.

Wish you the best! Hope you find a solution.

[lonestarmedic]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I dug out a set of loose 38 waist pants from another belly era gone by. No change in the lower
area. It is the corners of the leather where the clips mount. I sent an e-mail to the place I bought it. Maybe I can trade it
in on a hybrid. If not, one LH 1911 holster will be for sale at a great discount! Come to think of it, I have one for a Taurus
845 that I should off-load. Made by UBG for me custom. Needs soaked in water and beat with a rock to soften it up:)

JB

[Mike1951]

Please don't do anything to the holster until you have discussed your issues with Rob Longnecker rob@tuckergunleather.com .

I've got several Texas Heritage and Answer holsters and consider them some of the best. I rode with a trucker friend and wore a 1911 in one for 38 straight hours with no discomfort.

The Crossbreed is very popular, but I've always attributed that to the fact that it's a cheaper copy of Tucker's Answer.

Don't treat or modify anything until you converse with Rob. I've been buying from Rob for ten years and he has bent over backwards if I needed help.

[Skiprr]

Please don't do anything to the holster until you have discussed your issues with Rob Longnecker rob@tuckergunleather.com .

I've got several Texas Heritage and Answer holsters and consider them some of the best...

Don't treat or modify anything until you converse with Rob. I've been buying from Rob for ten years and he has bent over backwards if I needed help.

I agree. Contact Rob before you do anything else.

Water is not leather's best friend, and I would never soak a new leather holster in water, no matter what.

I have a drawer full of holsters but, frankly, nothing has elicited the skin-abrasion and pain that you describe.

Rule #1: Don't wear briefs; wear boxers or knit-boxers. Rule #2: Wear an undershirt. A thin tank-style undershirt weighs nothing and will actually help draw sweat from your body.

Put some cloth between your holster--any holster--and your skin.

[dicion]

I third the Undershirt plan. If you're not wearing one, try adding one and see how it works.
Personally, I wear light, long cotton v-necks every day. You don't see the collar under any normal shirts, and they actually keep you cooler in the heat once you start sweating and get em wet.

I have a Tucker Answer, and absolutely love it.

[lonestarmedic]

Hey folks a few more details

1) undershirt being used
2) tried with tighty-whiteys and boxers
3) Not going to water a holster I am just kidding
4) Not going to alter unless I am sure it will fix the problem.

Thanks folks I appreciate the help

JB