Like a Woman Buying Shoes

Although I said I would talk about semi-auto pistols next, I decided instead to talk about holsters. For someone intending to actually carry a pistol, concealed or otherwise, finding the right holster is akin to finding the Holy Grail or a woman finding the perfect pair of shoes. In this near-communist state of New York I am lucky to have a CCW, a concealed carry pistol permit. That means not only can I carry it concealed, I MUST carry it concealed. Twenty miles to the south, in Pennsylvania you can carry openly. Such are the foibles of firearms laws in America.

Six months out of the year it is easy to carry concealed because of the rotten weather which requires wearing outer garments for warmth. Summertime it’s a different story. So, the cowboy style holster you bought, the one that jauntily dangles from your belt, will work in winter or afield hunting, but it will not work once the spring and summer seasons return. What are some of our CCW options during the briefly warm part of the year?

Shoulder Holster: This Don Johnson style of carry is excellent for a large, heavy pistol but it won’t work unless you constantly wear a jacket or shirt over it. The shoulder straps are hard to hide under thinner clothing and uncomfortable in hot weather. The other disadvantage to a shoulder holster, anytime of year, is it requires a very telegraphic cross-draw. Because of their complexity they are also usually the most expensive holster.

Hi-ride: There are two basic styles of hi-ride holsters, those that hang from your belt on a loop, and the pancake style. The first type tends to lean outwards with anything but the lightest of pistols. This causes the butt of the pistol to “print” and give away your secret. I prefer the pancake style which is in fact one of my top choices. This style pulls the holster in flatter against your body reducing printing. Quite often pancake style have three belt slots which allows you to have the pistol ride upright or with a forward slant, sometimes referred to as the FBI cant. The cant is especially helpful drawing longer barreled handguns. I like the El Paso Saddlery Crossfire™.

IWB Inside the Waist band: IWB is one of the better systems for concealed carry since the lower portion of the holster is hidden inside your pants or skirt. Thus a short upper garment covers the handgun much easier. I really like an IWB setup, the Galco Summer Comfort™ in particular. Depending on your build you may find this method presses the butt of the gun into your ribs. Also, you may have to buy garments with a larger waist size to accommodate the bulk of the holster. In summer you will still want a layer of clothing between you and the holster to reduce sweating and galling.

SOB, Small Of the Back: I use one of these (or the IWB) if I am riding in a car a lot. Instead of placing it six o-clock, at the small of my back, I slide it around to a four o-clock position with the butt facing forward and upside down. This does not give me the full advantage for concealment but it places my handgun parallel to my waist, keeping the muzzle out of the seat and the butt out of my ribs. While this position is very comfortable it does not encourage the most correct method of drawing.

Ankle Holster: Last ditch, used for a secondary, backup weapon or deep cover. Obviously this arrangement is not easily accessed without drawing a lot of attention and it requires long, loose fitting, pants legs. Finding a well designed and comfortable ankle holster may be difficult.

Ladies also have the option of carrying in their purse, but access is very slow and if your purse gets snatched, guess what else goes along with it. No matter which method of carry you choose you can be assured that your first holster will not be the best choice and, like me, you will end up with a box full of holsters. Always buy from a reputable company and make sure the mouth of the holster is reinforced so it will not collapse like a soggy taco. This makes it impossible to re-holster your pistol one handed. Ultimately there are no cheap holsters, only good ones or bad ones. Good luck!