CONCEALED HANDGUN HOLSTERS -

Concealed Carry Holsters

A concealed carry holster is required to attend any of our post CHL classes. You will need a good concealed carry holsters to attend "After the CHL I", "After the CHL II", and our "After the CHL III" Advanced Shooting Course. Below is a general discussion on holsters along with information on the different holsters to help you make an informed decision on the concealed holster(s) that is right for you. A great place to purchase holsters is at one of the local gun shows. At the gun shows you can take your unloaded gun to the show and try out different types of concealed holsters using your gun until you find the right one for you.

Holsters

For our purposes a gun holster is defined as a container made from leather, fabric, plastic, or other materials into which a pistol fits securely so that it may be carried or transported. Gun holsters come in many different sizes, materials, shapes, configurations, styles, and types. We will be discussing only concealed holsters here. Concealment holsters are designed to allow the pistol to be worn comfortably out of sight. Most are lightweight and made to be worn under some type of clothing.

Using Holsters

As Police Officers and Concealed Handgun Instructors we strongly recommend all CHL holders carry their handguns in a holster. Holsters fulfill several very important purposes. They secure and conceal the pistol in a desired location, some styles help protect the wearer form an accidental discharge, they protect the weapon from damage, dirt, dust, perspiration, and the elements, and they provide the wearer ready access to their pistol.

Holster Retention Levels

Holsters come in varying levels of retention. Retention means a strap, flap, snap, Velcro, or other mechanism designed to secure the handgun in place. Holster retention is expressed in “Levels”. A level “1” holster would have one device holding the gun in place, I.e. one snap, one piece of Velcro, etc. A level “2” would have two devices, and so on. The higher the retention number, the more difficult or complex it is to remove the pistol from the holster and the more secure the pistol is. The down side of retention levels is that the higher the retention number the more practice will be required to draw the pistol and the longer it will take you to draw. It is for this reason that we recommend that CHL holders use a level “1” holster. The level “0” holsters have no retention devices and some level "0" styles can be dangerous. The pistol is not secured by anything and can come loose or actually fall out of the holster in some situations. Level “2” and level “3” holsters require a considerable amount of time, training, and effort, practicing to become proficient at drawing the pistol.

Selecting a Holster

When selecting a holster there are several factors that you should take into consideration. Here are a few things you may want to consider when buying a new holster.

Fit

Select a holster that is designed to fit your specific pistol make and model if possible or at least fit the size and type of your pistol. Make sure your pistol fits securely into the holster you select. Putting a pistol into a holster that is too large or too small or designed for a different type of pistol (I.e. Revolver Vs Semi-Automatic) can be worse than having no holster at all.

Comfort

I suggest you try the holster on before you buy it. Most stores will allow you to try it on before you make a selection. Make sure the holster can be adjusted to fit securely yet comfortably on your body. Understand that most concealed holsters will feel slightly uncomfortable at first, especially if you are not use to wearing a holster. At the same time no holster should feel extremely uncomfortable or even worse cause you pain.

Materials

Holsters today are manufactured in many different types of materials. We will discuss the three most common holster materials below leather, plastic, and fabric.

Leather

Leather Holster

Leather is very attractive in its appearance. It is capable of forming an almost perfect fit to the gun. These type holsters require a break in period as they are usually very tight when they are new. Leather holsters require some care to keep them looking nice and functioning correctly. Most of these types of holsters will get loose as the holster ages. Some soft and/or thin leather holsters do not hold their shapes well after the pistol is drawn which impedes or even prevents quick re-holstering.
* Photo is of the Galco Combat Master Holster

Plastic

Plastic Holster

This type of holster, depending on the quality you purchase, usually has a good fit and is designed for specific make and models of gun. They do not require a break in period and the material does not usually become loose as it ages. This is not a toy holster, today's plastics are very hard and resist being scratched, damaged, or broken. You will find they are much less expensive than their leather counterparts.
* photo is of the Fobus Paddle Holster

Fabric Holsters

Chest or Belly Holster

This is usually the least expensive of the materials. These holsters are not normally designed for specific makes and models of firearms, but made for a general size of gun. Because of this you will not find the good tight fit that you would get with a leather or plastic holster. These holsters are worn under the arm though, the pistol is actually secured pretty well by the arm itself. Tactically, these holsters do not hold their shape after the gun is drawn which prevents quick re-holstering.
* Photo is of the Air Marshal Belly Holster by Kangaroo

Types

The type of holster(s) you select depends entirely on you and your lifestyle. Do you normally wear shorts or dress pants, jeans or suits, slacks or dresses, etc. There are many different types of holsters to choose from. It is not uncommon for gun owners to have and use several different types and/or styles of concealment holsters. We will show you and talk a little bit about several types here. The choice in the type of holster you buy is a personal decision. Some types of holsters will be better for some and not as good for others. Remember no matter which holster(s) you purchase you may need some training on how to use it. You should always practice with your new holster until you become proficient before you actually wear your gun in it.

Belt Holsters

Belt Holster

(Outside the belt) This type of holster is among the most popular holster used today. It is designed to be worn on the hip using loops for your belt or a paddle attachment that fits into your pants waist. It is also one of the safest ways to carry a weapon. Many police officers use this holster to carry their weapons when off duty. I would include the Small of the Back holster in this category also. The down side of this type of holster is that it requires an oversize shirt or jacket to conceal it. For professionals and executives that regularly wear suits, this is one of the best and most comfortable holsters. For the rest of us who do not wear suits or jackets all the time, maybe not such a good choice.
* Photo is of the Galco Stinger Belt Holster

Waistband Holsters

Waistband Holster

(Inside the belt) These holsters are similar to the belt holsters but they are designed to be worn inside the waistband of the shooter. Unlike the belt holsters, the Waistband Holster keeps the majority of you gun inside your beltline and much better concealed. Although much more concealable, this type of holster still requires a shirt or jacket to cover them.
* Photo of Galco Inside the pants holster

Belly or Chest Band Holster

Belly Band Holster

This is known in the business as a “Deep Carry” holster because the pistol is carried deep inside your shirt. These holsters are usually made of a cloth material. They are designed to be worn around the chest or belly (depending on the style) and conceal the pistol under the arm. Most come with pockets under the non-shooting arm to carry extra magazines or maybe a flashlight. These holsters work very well at concealing the handgun. They do require some pre-planning and practice to draw from efficiently. The biggest drawback to this kind of holster is that most are not easy to re-holster after the pistol is drawn.
* Photo is of the Air Marshal Belly Holster by Kangaroo

Shirt Holsters

The Shirt Holster is also considered a “Deep Carry” holster, carried deep inside your shirt. These shirts are specifically made to conceal a handgun inside the shirt in built in pockets. These specialized shirts can be a little pricey, but they are very comfortable and work very well at concealing a small to medium sized handgun. Like the belly holsters, they do require some pre-planning and practice to draw from efficiently. These holsters are only a little easier to re-holster after the pistol is drawn than the belly holsters.
* Shown are the "Concealment T" holster shirts.

Shoulder Holster

This type of holster has always been the favorite of cop shows and spy movies, but that does not make it any less useful to some people. A Shoulder Holster consists of a series of straps not unlike a back pack with the holster mounted either horizontally or inverted vertically under the non shooting arm. It is very comfortable and provides for a very quick draw. Like the belt holster though, it does require wearing a suit jacket, sport coat, or other large outer garment to conceal it.
* Photo is from C Rusty Sherrick Custom Leather works...

Ankle Holsters

Ankle Holster

Ankle holsters are not as popular as other holsters. An ankle holster consists of a holster that is attached on the inside of the leg just above the ankle on the non shooting side. These holsters are designed for small guns and, provided you do not wear tight fitting pants, provide good concealment. Ankle holsters can be very uncomfortable especially at first. Take time to check out several brands thoroughly before you purchase one. You may have to pay a little more money for a better quality holster but in the end it will be worth it. Some ankle holsters offer an optional calf strap. This is a strap that is attached to the holster then up and around the top of your calf. These straps help stabilize the holster and keep it from falling lower onto your ankle or into your shoe or boot. If one of these straps are available for the holster
you select I recommend it.
* Photo is of the Galco Ankle Glove Holster.

Fanny Packs

Fanny Pack with Holster

Fanny packs that contain holsters are a specialized form of handgun concealment. Most are designed with some type of quick release so you can quickly and easily access the hidden compartment in the pack that holds the firearm. Although Fanny Packs are considered unfashionable by most people today, some people still use them and they do provide very good concealment and access to your handgun.
* Picture from Voodoo Tactical Hide A Weapon Fanny Pack

Purse Holsters

Purse with Holster

These are also a specialized form of handgun concealment. A concealed carry purse is simply a women’s purse specially designed to securely hold a handgun. Some have a hidden holster sewn on the inside of the purse, while others have a hidden zippered compartment outside the purse containing a holster. These purses are available in many styles, colors, and price ranges. Unlike the fanny pack holsters, concealed carry purses can be quite fashionable.
* Photo is of the Field Bag from Gun Toten Mamas

                               Other Types of Concealed Carry Holsters
* Neck Chain Holsters
* Boot Holsters
* Thigh Holsters
* Vest, and Jacket Holsters
* Day Planner Holsters
* Handbag or Murse Holsters
* Even Bra Holsters
and more...

No matter which holster or holsters you buy, take some time to practice drawing and re-holstering your unloaded pistol before you use it. Drawing from a concealed holster is part of the curriculum in our "After the CHL" tactical training series.

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