Hi all,
new to the site 1st post.
I am a former agent of a federal agency that mandates complete concealment of the duty pistol. I am 5"10", weigh 200 lbs. and have a bit of a gut. I used the FREMA holster for almost two years. Our duty pistol is the Sig P229. neither the holster nor the pistol were ever detected. The holster system consists of an injection molded plastic (Mattel type plastic) panel that looks to be about the size of a WWF belt with an adjustable elastic waist belt. The front panel has a tab running vertically down the center with a smaller plastic panel that creates a pocket between your pants and your lower abdomen. There are also two small tabs at the top of the main panel that hook on to your pants waistband presumably to keep it from slipping down into your nether regions.
You put on the holster by wrapping the elastic belt around your waist over your shirt tail. There is a velcro tab at the bitter end of the elastic and allows for fast donning and doffing. you pull your pants up over the rig. ensure the waist tabs are securely over your waistband and buckle up your belt. Don't forget to zip up. I know that sounds funny but trust me
. Slide your pistol into the rig and believe it or not it clicks into place and is secured in place by friction.
Drawing the pistol from the seated position requires you to scoot your butt up towards the edge of the seat, place your off hand on the end of the slide (yes, your fingertips are exposed to the muzzle
{that's nothing, the muzzle rested directly against my femoral artery]), press the muzzle up towards your belt line (at this point the grip should start clearing the belt line), grasp the grip ensuring you keep your finger out of the trigger guard and get to a ready position or present the pistol. It is incredibly fast and unless you have rock hard abs your belly fat will yield to the pistol.
Some points to consider;
1. You have to have your shirt tucked in. an over shirt can be worn untucked but the base layer has to be worn under the belt.
2. I found this worked best with dress slacks (pleated or unpleated [they tend to ride higher and offer a bit more room])
3. Jeans tend to ride too low to make this work well.
4. I was comfortable wearing it with the 229 because the trigger guard is copletely covered and becaise of the long, heavy, D/A first shot. I would almost certainly equip a "safe-action" type pistol with an external safety (like the new trigger safeties available from Lone Wolf) and would be really hard pressed to carry a 1911 in condition one in it.
5. You have to plan your toilet breaks because there's alot of gear in the way down there. I prefer to use stalls anyway. it buys you a couple of seconds if you are ever assaulted in a bathroom (unless you're a senator)
j
in closing; it worked really well and I was comfortable wearing it. It comes with a cheesy elastic belt but it works because the elastic gives as you sit and draw. As with any holster, practice, practice, practice.
Jack
You should also take a look at the Fist-Inc IWB, tuckable holster. It is the thinnest, lightest kydex tuckable available. Jim Murnak is also a hell of a guy. I got him to make me some tuckable single mag pouches also. Great stuff!
http://www.fist-inc.com
