Many people have gone out and got their permit and then bought the biggest gun they could get. Then tried to hide it……I know that was me. It drove my wife nuts. We have so many holsters that make my back side look big (Grin) or just do not work.

The best thing to do, is pick the best gun and caliber first. If you properly pick the gun and the caliber, then the holster is a lot easier. We have a saying at Carryconcealed.net "Carry the gun with the largest caliber or greatest stopping power that you can handle comfortably and maintain control on your firearm." Choosing the right gun and caliber will be discussed in other articles, this one will be for the holsters.

All holsters should provide a safe haven for the firearm so that you do not have to worry about the gun being seen, or that it will fall out and possibly hurt an innocent bystander. Keeping a leather holster looking good and maintained is mandatory. When the snaps do not work, it is time to repair or get a new holster. I have had my firearm fall out of an old shoulder rig and the holster was repaired that day. We at Carryconcealed.net have put most holsters into two categories: (1) Quick Draw; and (2) Deep Conceal. Quick Draw holsters offer fast access to the firearm but may not always be the most comfortable. Deep Conceal are for long term carry, and may be slower to draw. We teach our students to always be "Situationally Aware" so that if they are carrying the Deep Conceal holster they have the time required to pull the firearm to defend themselves. The Deep Concealment holsters the ability to hide the firearm or ensure that the gun is not visible either by direct sight or outline better than the Quick Draw holsters.

With both categories of holsters, where and how you carry additional ammunition should always be considered. While most gunfights are only 3 to 4 shots, the increase of gang and violent illegal aliens lends it self to having more than one attacker and the need for more shots.

Where you wear the gun will be impacted by the actives that you are doing. While driving you would not want a "In the Back" type holster. While boating I actually use a neoprene slip that allows a Taurus 357 2-inch barrel to be worn on my bathing suit. This holster was picked up at a gun show and was only about $10.

The material that the holsters are made of is almost as important as the type of holster you choose. Ballistic nylon is cheaper and very durable. Leather is more comfortable and requires maintenance. I personally prefer leather in the city and everyday wear, while in the woods or working in the backcountry I prefer the ballistic nylon. Kydex is a plastic material that is low cost and should be considered.

There are several other key issues when shopping for a holster and they are the "Ride" and the "Cant". The ride refers to how the holster will hold the firearm in day to day activities. For example close to the body or like in the old west on the hip and slung low for fast draw. The "Cant" refers to the angle at which the holster rides. This can have a dramatic impact on how fast you can draw the firearm.

Quick Draw:

The Beltster Holster System:

The BELTSTER was introduced in 1996 is called the "Ultimate Daily-Carry Concealment Rig". This is the only belt-integrated system. We were interested in giving this CCW system a try and called Scott Key at Bandera Gunleather and ordered one in for testing. Scott was very knowledgeable about the sizing and how to measure an exact fit. After receiving the system we went to the range and also tried it out during normal daily wear and tear.

Pancake holsters – are holsters that ride on the hip on the belt outside the pants. There is typically a large plastic part that slides inside the belt to hold the holster tight. The advantage to this type of holster is quick removal from the belt for people that have to move in and out of gun free zones. The disadvantage is that most pancake holsters do not hold the CCW close to the hip and can be seen through the clothing covering the holster or firearm.  

IWB or Inside the Waistband Holsters – These holsters are worn inside the pants and attach to the belt with loops or snaps. These are very good concealing holsters, but not everyone can wear them. If you have pants that are about 1 size too large they work great. Try to get them from a dealer that will allow you to try them on before purchasing, as they are dependent on your pants fitting correctly.

Main Types

Cross Draw Holsters – As the name implies they hold the firearm on the opposite side of the body and the wearer must "cross" his or her body to pull the firearm. The advantage to this type of holster is for right handed shooters to wear a firearm on the left side of the body for quick access while driving. This would be critical in car-jacking situations having ready access to your defense tool. They do not hold the pistol handle close to the body and can give the "print" of the pistol on the outside clothing.

Shoulder Holsters – These are classic holsters that hold the firearm under one arm and many have an optional additional magazine compartment under the other arm. They do require a vest, coat or cover. Great for everyday wear in the winter or colder months when the weather allows for coats. During the summer months a vest is usually used. There are lots of manufactures and the holster can range in ballistic nylon to quality leather. While working in the back woods I prefer the Jackass from Galco because it is easy to grab on the way out the door with additional magazines and comfortable for long working days. The weight is not on your belt and helps to distribute the weight of a full sized auto for comfort.

Fanny Packs – Please do not laugh. Years ago I used to laugh at the older folks in Wal-Mart stores wearing fanny packs or at Hulk Hogan. After carrying for many years I have realized the fanny pack is a good way to keep your firearm handy. If there is a problem in any Wal-Mart, the first thing I am doing is ducking and looking for any older person with a fanny pack. They are most likely a retired military person with a gun.

Regular Belt Holsters – These are regular holsters that are fit to each gun and have to be threaded onto a belt. For right-handed people as the left-handed people have more to thread. There are lots of manufactures and some are listed in the resource section.

Clips – There is a company that provides a "Clip" that goes on the outside of the gun that allows the gun to be tucked in the pants without a holster.

Deep Conceal

Kangaroo – This is a belt that is worn around the chest just under the pectoral muscles. This is a cotton holster that is very comfortable for long term carry. Another advantage is the ability of the CCW Permit holder to wear a firearm under the arm in short sleeve shirts and shorts and not give away the fact they are carrying. The disadvantage is the quick access after pulling your shirt up. This is why you need to practice being "Situationally Aware" if using any deep conceal holster.

Ankle holsters – Should only be worn in Hollywood. Chris Rock is the only person to be able to actually do a quick draw from the ankle holster. This was in the movie with Jackie Chan. Seriously, they should only be considered for a back up gun. (Correction - After this article was written I was sent an ankle holster that had a support strap that connected to the top of the calf. It supported the .357 great and was a good solution. It is a good way to hold your CCW in slacks or jeans when other methods are not available. I have been wearing one only for several months and like the addtion to my holster pile. Wearing a CCW this way, you must be more "Situationaly Aware". Several readers have provided postivie feed back on this issue.We have even helped Judges in our training sessions that are getting ready to start carrying in the court house. The ankle holster with the top strap over the calf is a good way to carry as they are sitting at the bench. The top strap holds the weight and helps keep the handgun close to the leg to help avoid walking funny.)

Pocket holsters – This is a sleeve or pocket that fits over the gun that helps hide the shape of the gun from showing through in a "Print" in the pocket. Work great with small derringers or the Beretta TomCat or BobCat. These are small .22 or .32 caliber semi-auto pistols that fit in the palm of your hand. This brings up the question of what size caliber to use with CCW. We always recommend the larger caliber handguns, but it better to have a North American Arms .22 or a Beretta .32 than nothing.

SOB – Small of the Back – This can actually go in both categories depending on how you are sitting. It is a holster that fits behind the back of the person caring the gun. The advantage is no "Print" from the front showing that the person has a gun. The "Print" is possible from the back and sitting or driving with the SOB is not comfortable.

511 Tactical shirt from the NRA – It is a tight fitting shirt with two pockets under each arm. A great way to carry with out having to wear a vest. It is like wearing a python if you do not get the right size, but it is a great way to conceal and not leave a "Print".

Alternative Deep Conceal – these are purses or brief cases that are designed for a hidden holster but are not on the person’s body. The advantage is that they are very comfortable and there will be no "Print". However there is an additional responsibility to the gun owner of not setting the purse down and walking away. Some of the alternative carry devises even have "Day-timers" with hidden pouches that hold a full sized auto. They even have room for the additional magazines or speed loaders for a revolver. We can not stress enough that there is more of a responsibility for gun owners using these as there is the danger of leaving an unprotected gun laying round for an UN-authorized user to pick up. Do not forget the Bible Cover as another way to carry. There are great two compartment leather covers that work great for small autos or revolvers.

The bottom line – Pick the biggest caliber gun that you can comfortably shoot and while you are going through to determine what gun…think about where you will carry the handgun. Ask a local expert, your police department, law enforcement, or local gun dealer. You can even ask your teacher for the CCW Permit class. They normally have years of experience and can save you a lot of money of buying the right holster the first time. This will help avoid the pile of holsters that most of us get after years of carrying a firearm. I always want to make sure the holster does not make my "backside" look too big. My wife accuses me of taking more time to get ready than she does when we go out because I have to match the right gun and holster to the right occasion.

Resources:

We have tried most of these holsters and can answer questions about most manufactures, but we take no responsibility for them. The links can be found in the link section of Carryconcealed.net

Bianchi International - Bianchi International is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of handgun holsters and accessories.

Bandera Gunleather –The Beltster

Brigade Holsters - Specializing in gun holsters, western holsters and law enforcement holsters.

Don Hume Holsters - Leather Holsters

Fobus - Seconds Count

Handgun Holsters.net - Cargo pants holsters - look great

HKS Speed Loaders - Speed Loaders

Kingston Car Seat Holster - 2 Holsters in 1

Kirkpatrick Leather - Leather - Police and Conceal

Master of Concealment – Good CCW products.

Pocket Holster - Mika's Pocket Holsters

Safariland Duty Holsters - SAFARILAND® is a manufacturer and distributor of a variety of products for the law enforcement, military and sporting goods markets worldwide.

The Beltster - The Holster that's a belt! Check out our review under the review area.

Wild Bill's Concealment - Holsters from Wild Bill

BibleCovers.com - Great leather bible covers.

Cabelas - Cabelas canvas duck gun cases.

Concealed Carry Systems, Inc - The "Just In Case" System and the "Anytimer" Concealment Systems

Pelican Cases - Waterproof cases