Adjustable Holsters Keep Messing with them.

[Bawanna]

I, like most of us have an assortment of holsters to fit different dress options and activities of the day. Some laid out for use, others considered a loss and live in a box in the shop or a drawer. Since my neutering at work and requirement to leave my belt gun in the car I've used IWB's almost exclusively since they are easy on/ easy off but I've never been an IWB guy.
I have a PJ which I like for the most part and a Garret Silent Thunder, both for my Cbob. I've had them a year or more. Adjusted the Garret numerous times in an effort to get it comfy and concealable and most importantly accessible.

Seems when I accomplished one area it became worse in another. I just kind of accepted good enough.
Well I thought a little harder a couple days ago and alas the bulb while still dim became somewhat brighter. I've always leaned towards high ride and zero cant. This usually made the gun stick out to the side and to the rear as I adjusted it for comfort.
I want the grip accessible. Well I realized that I had plenty of handle exposed above the belt for a good grip and could easily go down, being IWB nothing will show anyhow.
Soooo, I adjusted down, still have plenty of grip, added just a minimal forward cant. Now apparently it rides low enough that my hip is kicking the barrel end out which tucks the grip in tight to my side. (but not uncomfortably tight) It's more comfortable than it's ever been, just as accessible and way more concealable. Mission accomplished. It's as good as my hands down favorite Mernickle OWB which is just as concealable by the way.

I have the same holster for my PM45 which usually rides on my leg so I'm gonna mess with it somemore now too.

I guess the moral to this long monologue is unlike guns which in my opinion shouldn't be messed with unless broken,(there are obvious acceptions) adjustable holsters beg to be messed with until they are just right. Also probably why Ron and Sheryl send them out much closer to what I ended up with than what I originally started out with first time I messed with it.

Life is pretty good, on those rare occasions when a plan actually comes together and works its pretty awesome.

[AIRret]

Very good advice. I have a crossbreed for my Ruger LCR 357 that I need to experiment with. It's amazing, it's easy to pick out a gun (or two or three or ten), but it's VERY tough to find a good holster that works and is comfortable.

[JFootin]

Well, the lower ride and the cant sounds like the way Paul usually makes the PJ Holsters fit. And the comfort with my admittedly much smaller CM9 is amazing. Did you specify high ride and zero cant when you ordered yours? If so, spend a dollar or so and send the holster back to Paul. He can reform the clip to lower it and cant it. I think if you let him do his magic on it, you will be amazed!

[Bawanna]

I was afraid my earlier post would be misconstrued. I'm quite happy with the PJ holster. It works well and position and comfort nearly identical to my now fine tuned Garret. I wear it frequently as well. No real rhyme or reason. I do like leather against my toys although I see no wear from the straight kydex either.

Its close to perfect so no need to send it back. He did build it just the way I asked so I go no issue at all.

[GROTMAN]

Even though I was pretty satisfied with my Remora for iwb carry and my Mika for pocket carry, after hearing all the reviews about pj holsters I had to get one. I got a tuckable one about 3 weeks ago with the j hook. Loved the holster but found the j hook to be too big for my liking. After J footin posted something about how he adjusted his, I ended up cutting off the "hook" part and using the velcro no part of the holster shows, it's very comfortable, feels secure, and with the velcro can adjust the cant etc as needed. All in all I'm very pleased with it and it is now my "go to" holster.

[chrish]

As mentioned, the constant search for something comfortable that worked, and worked the same w/ every gun I wanted to carry, was never ending. For me, it was just about to push me over the edge. While I love gun shopping, looking at stuff I'd like to have, etc...holster shopping is like going to the grocery store or looking for socks. I despise it. If I had to watch another holster video on YouTube, I think I'd be physically ill.

I ultimately decided to try a Remora and as I've mentioned in another thread, it's become my one and only holster. I have one for each of my carry guns now and that's it, I'm done. Infinitely adjustable. Super comfortable. I understand it falls out for some folks, even w/ the sticky, or that a few folks here and there felt they had to keep futzing w/ it thru the day. But I have been out for 6-8 hour stints w/ mine and NEVER touched it. So I'm happy w/ that. I never had that w/ my Comp-Tac, or the Silent Thunder I tried. I was going to try a PJ, but not having one for the new style P250 was a no-go. I wanted the same behavior/feel from ALL holsters.

Anyway, it has turned out to be Remora for me, but that's just me.

[JFootin]

Hey, chrish, it works for you. That's what matters!

I differ from you in that I find the holster search almost as interesting as shopping and pulling the trigger on a new gun. It is sort of a second hobby for me. I love a well made leather holster. Works of art in leather! And Paul does magic with his PJ Holsters in kydex.

That said, like you I have found an inexpensive pocket holster that works wonderfully in the pocket AND in the waistband. It is the Stays-Put Ultra. Just $14.95 shipped! Designed by a woman who works in the firearm industry who is also a fashion designer. (About Us) As the name implies, it stays put better than any pocket holster I have seen (and I've seen a lot). I prefer it over the Remora (which I tried) because it is not overly bulky or overly sticky. Here is how it is constructed. One thing not mentioned that I noticed is this little inch long strip of plastic at the edge of the mouth that provides just enough reinforcement to keep it open a bit for easy reholstering, yet it is not stiff at all. Even though it is not nearly as bulky as the Remora (is that a softball in your pocket?!), it disguises the shape of the gun very well.

I don't pocket carry often, but I use this holster in the AIWB position, riding low with some backward cant. Under belt tension, it stays put there all day long and is extremely comfortable! Would it work as well for a thin person with a strait waistline like Barth? I don't know. I have a modest middle-aged spread that expands above my waistline, sheltering the gun there so an untucked shirt drapes over it with no printing. The holster forms an impression for itself in the soft belly fat below my waistline - another reason why it stays put, I think.

The low ride and backward cant do several things:

• It makes the grip lay down horizontally just above my belt so it doesn't stick out and print,
• It makes the muzzle of the gun and holster angle over toward the middle so it doesn't jam against my leg when I sit down,
• It presents the gun for a quick draw from that AIWB position (try as if you are drawing a gun from your waistline at about 1:30 <or 10:30 for lefties like me> and you'll see that you draw in a slightly backward direction).

I love the AIWB position because it is just as easy to draw the gun from there whether you are standing, or sitting or even buckled in a car seat (this only works for righties when they are riding shotgun because of the shoulder belt, but they can switch it to the cross draw position when driving). It is a more subtle draw because you don't have to stick your elbow up and out like when you draw from the hip or behind it. It is within easy reach for your weak hand to pull your shirt away, if need be, when you are drawing.

Finally, I love how effortless it is to insert and remove the gun and holster at the AIWB position without undoing my belt or anything! No clip. No belt loop. (Personally, I found the Remora VERY difficult to position, even with my belt unbuckled, because it is so overly sticky and bulky. JMO. YMMV.)

I have one of these for my TCP and one for my J frame. The J frame in this holster at AIWB has become my favorite carry setup. I intend to get one for my CM9, as well. It is a well designed product that sells for half what it could be priced at, and simply can't be beat!

[aKahrt_and_p2KT]

I was afraid my earlier post would be misconstrued. I'm quite happy with the PJ holster. It works well and position and comfort nearly identical to my now fine tuned Garret. I wear it frequently as well. No real rhyme or reason. I do like leather against my toys although I see no wear from the straight kydex either.

Its close to perfect so no need to send it back. He did build it just the way I asked so I go no issue at all.

which silent thunder holster are you using?

[muggsy]

I wasn't 100% happy with my PJ Pocket holster for my P380 when I got it, so I grabbed my Dremel and modified it a little. It's now perfect giving me a better purchase on the grip for a cleaner draw. I don't see anything wrong with making a good thing better.

[Bawanna]

which silent thunder holster are you using?

I don't understand the question? Silent Thunder is the model. Am I missing something.