Holsters: To use or not to use?

[Rescue271]

Ok, I know this may not be a very popular topic but I just want to know what other people out there like, don't like, or just flat out had a bad experience with.

I'm a CW9 owner, and my pistol is equipped with the CT laserguard.

For the moment, I carry without a holster on my right hip inside my belt (with one in the chamber... unsafe as you may think it is :D) but I just don't know how necessary it really would be to go and buy a 70 dollar crossbreed holster.

The pistol is so light I almost forget that it's there, and it barely makes a print on my shirt (I only wear T-shirts)

If anyone out there is a crossbreed owner fill me in, I want your feedback.

[mr surveyor]

be careful with that, or you'll shoot your eye out (the red one, that is;))

[Rescue271]

No i'll be just fine, the trigger pull is so long it would take a divine miracle for the weapon to fire

[SpecK]

No i'll be just fine, the trigger pull is so long it would take a divine miracle for the weapon to fire

Im not so sure about divine miracle. I can think of many things you could get a booger hook stuck on...but thats not your question.

I have a PM9 with CT and carry in a horsehide Crossbreed Mini Tuck (super tuck wont work with CT) RH draw IWB @ 4 o'clock. So long is almost forgetting its there. You will forgets its there. I know this sounds stupid but after Ive gotten used to it, its more comfortable to me than not wearing it. Plus its SECURE. I can run with it on, jump, and roll and it doesnt go anywhere. Ive never tried a mexican carry but I cant imagine that your firearm stays in one place. Or am I wrong?

And the printing thing...it seems to me I print less but Im self concious about it so maybe its all in my head. Doesnt the gun dig into your waist or @$$ like that tho?

[Russ]

Ok, I know this may not be a very popular topic but I just want to know what other people out there like, don't like, or just flat out had a bad experience with.

I'm a CW9 owner, and my pistol is equipped with the CT laserguard.

For the moment, I carry without a holster on my right hip inside my belt (with one in the chamber... unsafe as you may think it is :D) but I just don't know how necessary it really would be to go and buy a 70 dollar crossbreed holster.

The pistol is so light I almost forget that it's there, and it barely makes a print on my shirt (I only wear T-shirts)

If anyone out there is a crossbreed owner fill me in, I want your feedback.

Rescue

Invest in the $70 holster. If you had an accidental discharge the grief especially if an injury or death was the result will make the $70 look like gum money.

Packing without a holster is reckless and your actions is placing innocent lives at risk.

Russ

[Tinman507]

Rescue,

I have a Crossbreed Clone for my CM9.
But NOTHING beats a PJHolster (http://pjholster.com/) Kydex IWB. It totally disappears.

Please don't take the chance of traveling without a holster of some description. Even a Remora worn IWB is better than nothing.

[muggsy]

+1 to what Russ said. A good holster will insure that your booger hook, or anything else for that matter, can't come into contact with that long smooth trigger until you are clear of the holster. You can get a PJ holster for $40 dollars.

[Barth]

I really think carry of any firearm without a holster is ill advised.
Get something, anything.

A holster for some other gun may work for you.
I've ordered several holsters from economy Ace Case.
They are inexpensive and I think have holsters for laser equipped guns.
But beyond that, I've added notes about switching to an appropriate holster
to fit my ridiculous extended barrel Glock and Sig.
They sent me alternate holsters that fit perfect.

Gun Shows usually have a vast selection of generic holsters too.

[Deano]

+2 to what Russ said, and mugsy, and Barth, and Tinman, and Speck, and...
Cost of a bullet...40 cents
Cost of a holster...40 bucks
Cost of a gun... 400 bucks
Cost of an accidental discharge...You don't want to know

[chrish]

I carry my pistol w/ a carabiner thru the trigger guard on my belt loop. That's what the trigger guard is there for, right?

[getsome]

Yea that and opening beer bottles with...:cool:

[theneko]

I would strongly recommend carrying any pistol in something that covers the trigger guard. You never know what object may try to get into the trigger guard so it's best IMO to cover it. And also recommend carrying a loaded gun (round in chamber). YMMV

[SpecK]

Yea that and opening beer bottles with...:cool:


What are you talking about? Thats what the bullets are for.. :53:

[jimbar]

I have carried without a holster, (cw9), but once when I got out of my car, the gun fell to the ground, and once while shopping, it almost fell on the floor. Not exactly what you want to happen. Supposed to be concealed, not laying there on the floor, lol.
I now use a Tagua IWB, about $30. It works well as IWB or OWB, but I'm thinking of getting a PJ that Tinman advised. It looks even thinner.

[ScottSouth66]

Poking it in your belt is called Mexican Carry,which is fine if you're getting a pic taken w/Pancho Villa on the border in 1910. OTHERWISE,it's for fools today,at least carry like I do,in a Desantis pocket holster,my K40 in all steel rides mostly unnoticed in my pockets all day at work or play. Granted you can't wear rockstar-tight jeans or leathers with this rig,you will have to go for the looser fit trouser attire. Holster runs like $22...
http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/817/002hj.jpg

[Ikeo74]

Please talk nice to one another.--John

[Rescue271]

I know that the "mexican carry" isn't safe, i'm just looking for a functional IWB holster that I don't have to pay 70 dollars for, and receive it 2 months later

[JFootin]

I know that the "mexican carry" isn't safe, i'm just looking for a functional IWB holster that I don't have to pay 70 dollars for, and receive it 2 months later

I concur with functional, and the PJ IWB Holster will do that. But regarding paying money and waiting for a custom made leather holster, IMO there is a pleasure and satisfaction in having a work of art in fine leather that is close to the pleasure in obtaining a gun.

By custom made, I mean a holster that is made from scratch for your specific gun, with your specific specs. I definitely do not mean getting an in stock holster from a huge manufacturer that is pretty likely designated to (sort of) fit a number of guns. Forget that! :mad: Go with a small custom holster maker.

Here are two examples of works of art in finest Herman Oak Leather made for me by James Dean Gunleather.

This one is for my beloved CM9 -
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/MyJDHolsterFront.jpg
This holster is hand stitched with not a thread out of place, fits so well my gun slides in and says "I am home!", has superb fit and finish with the best smoothed and finished edges I have ever seen. The price was considerably less than comparable holsters from makers of renown who have 6 month wait times, and it was done in less than a month.

I just got this one for my beloved J-frame -
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/MyAIWBHolsterCompleted.jpg
This holster was a collaborative effort, with James interpreting and then perfectly fulfilling my ideas for a low riding, reverse canted AIWB holster with a tuckable offset clip perfectly sized for a 1.5" belt, and a smooth back and a rounded edge to ensure comfort against my soft belly. :p

He also made me a black leather pocket holster for the J-frame. It has just a little retention, yet it is shaped so right that it stays put when I draw the gun. I don't have a pic of it yet, but here is one made for a P380.
http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee486/John_England/Miscellanious%20Guns%20and%20Holsters/103_2959.jpg
His pocket holsters are just $35 shipped, and an excellent way to sample his work. Believe me! Once you see the beauty and perfection of one of these, you will want a belt holster, too!

On Kahrtalk, he is jlaudio29. He doesn't have a working website, yet, but a lot of his holsters are pictured on his facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jamesdeangunleather. And he can be emailed at: jlaudio29@jamesdeangunleather.com.

[Cornhusker]

Received it about a week ago. Very well made and feels good for me, carried at 3:30-4:00. Pardon my weak photography skills. My CM9 will also fit in this holster with a small amount of open space at the muzzle end.

[JFootin]

Looks great, Cornhusker! His signature logo looks great, too!

[Rescue271]

cornhusker,

do they make those holsters for a Cw9 with the CT laserguard?

[espresso]

shoot him an email and ask he's a great guy to do business with.
www.jamesdeangunleather.com (http://www.jamesdeangunleather.com/)

here's my CW9 in one of his holsters with a horizontal mag holder. It's new and still breaking in but starting to mold it's self to my body real well.

It's very comfortable.
The design is so I can get my hand and thumb on the grip for a great draw.


It's one fine piece of work




http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7033824997_2af11bff0d_z.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/7033825127_35ef92db08_z.jpg
I dirtied it up a bit breaking it in today.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/6887745924_86ca9bfaee_z.jpg

[JFootin]

jlaudio29@jamesdeangunleather.com

[Cornhusker]

What can I say Rescue, that the other guys haven't already said. It's certainly worth contacting James and see what he can do for you. Great holsters. Great guy.

[GipperPDX]

I'd agree with previous posters in cautioning against non-holster carry!

Depending on my clothing, I carry my PM9 with CT Laserguard as follows:

1.) Pocket carry in a High Noon Holsters horsehide "Pocket Grabber (http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Product_Line/_Pocket_Grabber/_pocket_grabber.html)" This works great on days I cannot wear a jacket or untucked shirt.

2.) OWB carry in a a Mitch Rosen (http://www.kahr.com/PM9-Holsters/Kahr-Mitch-Rosen-Crimson-Trace-Belt-Slide-Holster-Right-Hand-Black.asp) express.

I would attach pics, but it appears I am not allowed to do so yet! :eek:

[GipperPDX]

Ah, found a way to share pics...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65131049@N05/7098249055/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65131049@N05/7098255837/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/65131049@N05/6952188916/