IDPA Holster question

[LongHairedRedneck]

After browsing the IDPA Rulebook holster rules I'm concerned that my current holster may not be "legal".

It's a Blackhawk Serpa Concealment Holster for a Glock 22. I'm assuming that since you can see a small amount of daylight between the belt loops and the backside of holster its not "legal".

[Beiruty]

I use SERPA in both comprtetions no issues

[MoJo]

The match director makes the final call on the suitability of a holster. I don't worry about a "little" light its those that let enough light through to read by that I'll turn down.

[Beiruty]

what is the purpose of the rule?

[LongHairedRedneck]

I'm just gonna go ahead and get another holster, most likely a leather one. And one that is listed in the rulebook as being certified.

Any recommendations?

[MoJo]

I use a Pancake style OWB or a Supertuck IWB

From the IDPA rule book.

C. Holsters.
Effective April 15, 2005, the IDPA “Approved Holster List” is no
longer in effect and holsters previously listed are NOT
necessarily approved for IDPA competition.
The two primary reasons for this are:
1. Some holster companies have constantly changed the
specifications of some holsters and several holsters originally
approved have been changed into non-approved configurations.
2. In most cases, MDs and SOs do not have holster catalogs or
samples and are rarely “holster experts.” Therefore it makes
enforcement of an approved holster list very difficult.
A legal IDPA holster MUST fall within one of the following
four categories AND meet all criteria following.
1. Categories of Concealed Carry Holsters
A. Inside the Waistband (IWB) Style.
IWB on body IWB front IWB back
This design carries the handgun inside the pants and belt and
typically has a hook or loop that attaches to the belt on the outside
of the holster. This design carries the handgun the closest to the
body of all designs and is ideal for wear with a short tail jacket or
vest. It usually carries the handgun with the muzzle rearward
(rearward cant). The tension on the handgun is regulated by belt
tightness. The Milt Sparks Summer Special and the Galco Royal
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Guard typify this design. ALL VERSIONS OF THE IWB STYLE
HOLSTER ARE APPROVED FOR IDPA COMPETITION.
B. Pancake Style.
Pancake on body Pancake front Pancake rear
This design is made from two separate flat pieces of leather
stitched together with belt slots on either side of the “pouch” that
holds the handgun. This style pulls the handgun close into the
body as the belt is tightened and is very concealable and secure.
Pancake-style holsters are normally the most comfortable and
concealable holsters. They are worn on the outside of the belt and
usually carry the handgun muzzle rearward (rearward cant). The
Galco Combat Master, Dillon Master and De Santis Speed
Scabbard typify this design. ALL VERSIONS OF THE
PANCAKE STYLE HOLSTER ARE APPROVED FOR IDPA
COMPETITION.
31
C. Bruce Nelson/Askins Style.
Bruce Nelson on body BN front BN rear
This design has a belt tunnel on the back and a belt slot at the rear
to pull the butt of the handgun into the body for better
concealment. Tension on the handgun is usually created by a tight
molded fit and/or tension adjustment. Most Bruce Nelson style
holsters feature a re-enforced band around the top which facilitates
easy one handed holstering and they usually carry the handgun
vertically (neutral cant). The Sparks BN, Bianchi Askins Avenger
and Dillon LTD. typify this design.
NOTE: Virtually all brands and variations of the three styles listed
above that fully cover the trigger guard are suitable for continuous
wear, concealed carry and therefore suitable for IDPA competition.
D. Pouch Style.
Pouch style on body Pouch front Pouch rear
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This design features a “pouch” that holds the handgun and usually
has a separate backpiece attached to the back of the “pouch” which
attaches the holster to the belt. This “backpiece” can either be a
belt tunnel, belt slots on either side of the “pouch” or a paddle that
slides inside the pants. This design is often manufactured of
synthetic materials and is normally the least concealable of the four
styles listed here. Tension on the handgun is almost always
created with a tension adjustment screw. Most pouch style holsters
carry the handgun vertically (neutral cant). This style, while
suitable for concealed carry, in many instances also lends itself
well to competition use. Many pouch style holsters on the market
are NOT suitable for IDPA competition. The Safariland model
5183, Wilson Combat Practical and the De Santis Pro Fed typify
pouch style holsters that meet IDPA criteria.
Probably one of the most popular pouch style holsters is the
current variation of the Uncle Mikes Kydex holster which is NOT
suitable for concealed carry or IDPA competition due to its offset
backpiece, which results in excessive offset from the belt/body.
2. Criteria of an IDPA Approved Holster
Holsters:
A. Must be designed for concealed carry and suitable for all
day continuous wear.
B. Must be worn on a standard belt of no more than 1 ¾” width
that must pass through the belt loops on the shooter’s pants.
C. Must fully cover the trigger of the firearm.
D. Must carry the firearm in a neutral (vertical) or muzzle rear
cant, but have no adjustable cant backpieces. Holster cant that
is adjustable by removing bolts and repositioning the backpiece
is allowed. Exception: IWB style holsters do not have to meet
this particular criterion.
E. Must hold the firearm with enough tension to allow the
wearer to complete normal daily tasks without fear of losing
the weapon.
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F. Can have no offset backpieces and/or belt slots. The holster
may not offset away from the belt and/or body. No gap is
permitted in the following areas:
1. From the body to the inside of the belt.
2. From the outside of the belt to the inside of the
backpiece and/or backside of the holster.
3. From the outside of the backpiece to the inside of
the holster.
If you look through the belt slot area of the holster with it on
the belt/body, you should not be able to see any daylight. If
you can see through this belt tunnel area, the holster is not
approved.
Holster/backpiece must be constructed of “normal thickness”
common holster making materials, no filler is allowed to hide
an offset. In simple terms, the back of the holster must be held
tightly against the outside of the belt for proper concealed carry
(for questions, refer to #1 above and re-read the “Purpose”
section in the front of this rulebook).¹
G. Must be constructed of normal thickness common holster
making materials (leather, Kydex, plastic, nylon, etc.).
H. May not position the firearm where the breech face (autos)
or rear of the cylinder (revolvers) is below the center of the
belt. NO drop loops are permitted.³ Holsters for females may
position the breech face of a pistol or rear of the cylinder of a
revolver up to 1 ½” below the center of the belt.
NOTE: IWB style holsters are exempt from this criterion.
I. Must hold the firearm positioned on the body so an object of
¾”width cannot pass between the shooter’s body and the inside
of the firearm when the shooter is standing straight and
upright.²
J. Must be positioned on the belt in a location that will keep the
center of the trigger pad behind the centerline 4 of the body.
NOTE: Modification of current holsters and ammunition
carriers to meet IDPA criteria is acceptable.
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NOT Permitted:
A. Cross Draw Holsters.
B. Shoulder Holsters.
C. Small of the Back Holsters.
D. Holsters designed and/or marketed as “competition”
models.
E. Muzzle forward or ‘on the belt’ adjustable cant holsters.
Those that allow the cant to be adjusted by the shooter while
the holster is on the belt are not allowed.
NOTE: Holsters with an adjustable cant via removal of bolts
and repositioning of the backpiece are approved if set for
neutral or muzzle rear cant.
F. Drop loop holsters.³
G. Positioning of the firearm where the breech face (autos) or
the rear of the cylinder (revolvers) is below the center of the
belt.³
H. Cutting of the front edge of the holster more that 1¾” below
the breech face on pistols or 1” below the rear of the cylinder
on revolvers.
I. Offset back-pieces and/or belt slots.³
J. Gap in the following areas:
1. From the body to the inside of the belt.
2. From the outside of the belt to the inside of the
backpiece and/or backside of the holster.
3. From the outside of the back-piece to the inside
of the holster.³
35
Not legal Legal
K. Seeing daylight when looking through the belt slot area of
the holster with it on the belt/body.³
L. Any type of filler to hide an offset.
Exception – Police or military officers may use their duty rig, but
ALL retention features of the holster MUST be used and all belt
equipment (mace, handcuffs, etc.) must be present.
¹ NOTE: Holsters for females are exempt from F. criteria, but may
not cant the handgun away from the body past 90 ° to the ground.
² NOTE: Female shooters are exempt from this test.
³ NOTE: Female shooters are exempt from this criterion.
4 NOTE: The seam on the side of a shooter’s pants may or may
not indicate where the centerline of a shooter’s body is located.
For IDPA purposes, the centerline of the body originates in the
center of the armpit and goes straight down.
36
3. Future Holster Approval
At this time, IDPA is going to try to avoid having a holster list.
However, should we find that competitors are straying from the
purpose and principles of IDPA, an “extremely abbreviated and
restrictive” approved holster list will be reinstated. MDs and SOs
are encouraged by HQ to use the FTDR penalty when illegal
equipment is used at their matches.

[LongHairedRedneck]

I read that in the rulebook I printed off

[MoJo]

There are two styles of holsters that have "blanket" approval Inside Waist Band and Pancake both styles snug up close to the body and meet all criteria. For an IWB I like and use a Crossbreed Supertuck for OWB use I like the Don Hume 721 OT it is a well made leather holster that you can buy for around 50 bucks.

link to Don Hume 721 OT http://www.donhume.com/index.php?main_p ... ucts_id=44" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Jeremae]

For local club matches, like the Saturday ones at TTS, PSC and impact Zone or the weekly matches at TTS, Shiloh and Impact Zone, the equipment rules are treated as "sort of guidelines" so you do not need to buy a new holster right away. It is best to use equipment that is legal for sanctioned matches but not absolutely required as long as the holster covers the trigger guard and is safe to use. Your sherpa will be fine.

For an excellant holster that is IDPA legal, I suggest the Comp-tac locking speed paddle.

[LongHairedRedneck]

I was thinking of ordering a De Santis Mini Slide Belt Holster, it is of Pancake design so its legal. And its small, I don't really like big holsters.

Does anyone own this Holster? Feedback?

[MoJo]

I don't know anything about that particular holster, DeSantis makes a fine product I'm sure it will do the job.

[jason237m]

+1 on the comp-tac locking paddle. They are perfect for IDPA.

[Roger Howard]

I'm just gonna go ahead and get another holster, most likely a leather one. And one that is listed in the rulebook as being certified.

Any recommendations?

I wear a leather holster from Ray's holsters for my everyday use. I've had the holster for 4 years and is is holding up extremely well
http://www.shado.com/Leather-Holsters/S ... lster.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I wear a Fobus paddle holster in kydex for IDPA