Brand new member & CHL holder - help me pick a holster

[OnceFired]

Hi all

I wish I had known about this forum previously. Might have saved myself some effort on the research front in my run-up to obtaining my CHL.

I officially got my license in the mail today (tossing confetti on my end!!!) and a friend on another forum pointed me here today, too. So, I figured I would say hello. Not new to guns/shooting, but definitely new to concealed and fairly new to pistols in general. I'd love to get feedback from people who have experience, because I've got my range holster but it's time to go shopping and try out a few concealed ones now.

I've got two pistols to choose from - my Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm (range holster is for this) and possibly my wife's Kahr CW9 9mm. I'd prefer to carry my Beretta because I frankly haven't shot hers. Plus if I take hers, she won't have as much motivation to go get her CHL. :) A universal holster might be ideal in terms of utility, but there is a big size difference between those two pistols. I am thinking we'll get one for each.

Biggest challenge is the concealment for the Storm. It's fairly beefy for a 9mm. But I'm 6'5" and 235lbs, so I have room to hide it despite its size. I'd prefer hip or slightly rearward as my carry point. No shoulder, front waistband, or small of back locations. Don't want to do pocket carry because I have a desk-based job and would end up sitting on it all day long.

I'd like to take suggestions on make & model for the holsters you'd recommend.

Thanks!
ZAG

[gvmtcheeze]

Welcome, how do you want to carry In the Waist Band (IWB) or Outside the Waist Band (OWB)?
I use an Old Faithful Holster IWB stage 3 kit, they are quite a bit less money than some of the other brands, like Crossbreed Supertuck.
I love mine it's very comforatable I carry mine at about the 5 o'clock position.
Google them, hope this helps
Forgot to add you can buy more than one kydex shell and switch them out depending on which gun you want to carry.

[A-R]

IWB: Comp Tac MTAC "Minotaur", Crossbreed Supertuck, or other similar styles (a lot of copycats of this basic design now)

OWB: you'll want a "pancake" style that fit up snug to your body. Plenty to choose in leather or kydex (hard plastic). The new cool type is Raven Concealment Systems (also copycats of this design).

For leather, more good choices than would be reasonable to list.

I conceal a full size S&W M&P45 (about same size as your Px4) in a Comp Tac and it works well.

[A-R]

And don't forget most important part - a quality belt designed specifically to carry weight of gun and spare mag(s)

Quality ballistic nylon "web belts"
Wilderness Tactical
5.11 Tactical

Quality leather belts
http://www.thebeltman.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Comp Tac (again)
Cabela's "double duty" belt

[baldeagle]

There was just a post about a comparison between Crossbreed and Butschers holsters. Butschers are about half the price of Crossbreeds. http://texaschlforum.com/viewtopic.php? ... =butschers" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SpringerFan]

IWB is positively more concealable, but usually requires going up a pants size or two to be comfortable. OWB while often more comfortable, requires more careful selection of a cover garment. As A-R said, don't forget a good belt whichever method of carry you choose.

[Songbird]

I purchased a custom leather holster from Eric Hopp. It is a convertible holster that you can wear IWB or OWB simply by removing two screws. It's extremely comfortable both ways. He does beautiful work, and in my opinion is very reasonable. I paid $90 and got 2 holsters in 1. Here are a couple of links to other threads with pics/info on his work. Several of us have his holsters. And welcome to the forum!
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=57318" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=57214" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OnceFired]

Hi all

Thank you for the thoughtful replies. I appreciate the info.

I am thinking OWB at this point - simply because it feels like a good place to start with concealed carry. I don't want to change my wardrobe just to fit a gun IWB, either, and with a little dedicated exercise I'll be losing a bit of weight, too. So, I can work up to an IWB over time.

I tend to wear big t-shirts or big collared shirts - both of which seem loose enough and plenty of spare material to cover well.

I like the idea of a two-for-one OWB/IWB combo, so that is interesting. And having that comparison between brands should be helpful too.

I'll check all that out.

And a really good belt. I knew I was going to need to step up on that. Any specific recommendations there, beyond what A-R added already?

Thanks!
ZA

[LSL]

Look at Triple T Holsters < http://www.TripleTholsters.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; > a small, family business located near Houston (Pearland).

A well-made, kydex/horsehide IWB style.

Check them out -- call or see them at gun shows. You can order and pick up at a show.

This is Whiskers, a happy customer -- owner of two for different firearms. Not a family member

[tacticool]

In my experience, the convertible IWB/OWB holsters don't do either as well as a purpose built holster, but they might be good enough for some people. I think that's also true for the holsters that fit several guns from different manufacturers, instead of being specific tailored for one gun or family of guns.

I agree a good gun belt is an important piece of the puzzle. One of the things I don't see mentioned much is there's a big difference in appearance between some of the good belts. If you're wearing an untucked shirt, that's not a big deal. However, if you get a tuckable holster, it might be worth some extra effort (and maybe extra money) to get a belt that coordinates with your clothing. For example, I'm wearing a Wilderness belt and OWB leather holster at this very moment, but I wouldn't wear the Wilderness belt with slacks and a dress shirt.

[A-R]

another tidbit, many of the knockoffs of the Comp Tac/Crossbreed style use very thin, inexpensive metal belt clips. While these are perfectly functional in most cases, they can and will scuff a nice leather belt. Comp Tac's clips are heavy-weight vaccuum formed kydex that won't scuff leather and hold up relatively well (though they are not "life time" products - you will need to replace them as they bend, stretch, wear out over time). other solution is to cover the metal belt clips with heat-shrink rubber tubing (like used for electrical applications). Or third solution is to use leather snap belt loops (comp tac, tucker gunleather and others offer these)

If you're set on starting with OWB covered by a loose shirt, then I'd strongly recommend the Wilderness Tactical web belt (infinitely adjustable tension buckle - not limited to certain number and distance of buckle holes like on a leather belt). And as previous post stated, as long as you're not showing your belt it doesn't need to "match" anything, just be functional.

Many of the "police" brands make good leather OWB pancake holsters ... Bianchi, Galco, Gould & Goodrich, DeSantis, Blackhawk, Safariland, Don Hume, etc. This style of holster is used by a lot of plain-clothes police detectives.

In addition to Raven Concealment, take a look at kydex OWB holsters from Comp Tac, Blade Tech, and Atomic Dog (also big list of other similar kydex products here http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_5_23/94097 ... tml&page=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

And of course there are always the super-expensive super-high-quality custom-made products from makers like Tucker Gunleather, Milt Sparks, Alessi, DM Bullard and others (some previously mentioned in this thread)

[trentwhite778]

For what it's worth, I have a crossbreed supertuck IWB and I did not have to buy any larger pants. I have a few pairs of jeans that I typically wear, and I was able to comfortably wear the holster with all of them. I will throw out that the crossbreed with the horsehide is EXTREMELY comfortable. Once it's broken in and conditioned so it doesn't squeak, it's very soft and quiet. I'm very happy with it. I specifically bought an IWB BECAUSE I did not want to alter my wardrobe. I don't wear really baggy shirts, so having something tucked up close inside my waistband allows me to wear what I currently have.

[texasmusic]

Comp Tac's clips are heavy-weight vaccuum formed kydex ...

I believe comp-tac has new clips out. They are molded plastic and thinner than the old ones with many more adjustment holes. They also come in colors that you can match to the belt.

[WinoVeritas]

OWB - Good, well constructed, minimal and holds gun close to body:

http://www.opticsplanet.com/desantis-mi ... lster.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IWB - versatile, recommend with full sweat shield

http://www.remoraholsterstore.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tiviti]

And don't forget most important part - a quality belt designed specifically to carry weight of gun and spare mag(s)

Quality ballistic nylon "web belts"
Wilderness Tactical
5.11 Tactical

Quality leather belts
http://www.thebeltman.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Comp Tac (again)
Cabela's "double duty" belt

Err do you mean http://thebeltman.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;? Your link goes to a golf school...