New Member - Holster Questions

D

dakrisht

Inactive
Hey everyone,

Just registered on the forums, look forward to being part of TFL community.

I have some basic questions about picking the right first holster for my Kimber 1911 TLE Custom II

What should I get?

Looking for a few options to research, preferably a belt holster and a shoulder holster to start.

Some suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance
 
Welcome!

Lots of choices for the belt, you've got IWB, or outside the belt.

My suggestion:
A leather belt hoster with some forward cant-that covers the entire barrel without a thumb break.

Some like the smaller belt 'slide' holster or a pancake style for the belt. Others like the holster open or with a thumb break, instead...
 
What state are you in? Or put it another way, are you in a state like TX/OK/FL where any exposure of the gun is illegal? If so you're going to have to do deeper cover. If you're in a state where open carry is legal, if a small bit pops out now and again...no biggie, and most people won't notice. This kind of rig is more comfortable than a deep cover setup, and faster access than deep cover.

Also, are you in an area where it gets very, very cold in the winter?
 
My suggestion:A leather belt hoster with some forward cant-that covers the entire barrel without a thumb break.
Click to expand...

+1

Don't overlook the importance of a good belt. It's just as, if not more important that the holster itself.

Welcome to TFL :)
 
Kimber 1911a1 holsters...

Depending on the styles, material, budget, uses(range, field, concealment, duty, etc) there are a lot of choices out there.

If your budget or funds allow, I'd suggest a top rig from a well known maker.
Good US brands include Galco, Blackhawk, Safariland, Blade-tech, Don Hume, Kramer Leather, High Noon Holsters, COM Holsters, Ted Blocker, Tex Shoemaker, DeSantis, Mitch Rosen, Ken Null, Milt Sparks, Gould and Goodrich.
If you plan to open carry the pistol or want a secure fit, I'd suggest a SERPA rig or thumb break style.
Cross-draws or shoulder holsters can work too but for an entry level user or new gun owner, I'd stick to a basic secure strong side design.
For leather holsters I say buy the unlined type. Some lined holsters retain moisture or sand/dirt/grit. :(
Kydex or polymer holsters can work very well but buy a well made, proven design. Cheap holsters or gear will break or fall apart quickly. Trust me. ;)

Buy a high quality belt and related gear too. Smart pistol owners and working LE officers see the holster and gear as a total system with several important parts. Clean and service it often to avoid problems also.
 
+3 on a good quality belt. I have only used a small number of holsters, but I can give an A+ to Crossbreed (IWB as well as OWB) for kydex and the Galco Silhouette for leather (OWB).
I have a 5.11 leather belt(1.5") that is already showing wear after only three months. I got it because it was cheap. I would advise spending the extra at first and not wasting money down the road. My next belt will either be a Crossbreed or Beltman.
 
I really like the DeSantis paddle holster. It rides high, tight, and and can be worn with a forward cant or crossdraw.

Bill
 
Thanks for your tips everyone.

Leaning towards this Galco Concealed Carry Paddle. Seems like a solid, well-built product, perfect for what I was looking for. Galco seems like a great brand too:

(http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPG3.asp?ProductID=115&GunID=173)

I'm in California, we do have open carry here.

I thing I'm going to pull the trigger on this one (no pun intended - ha!).

I should probably look into a belt clip holder as well, if I go Galco for the CCP, might as well go Galco for the belt holder...
 
Clip and paddle style holsters...

I'm not a huge fan of paddle or clip type holsters.
I bought a kydex Blade-tech paddle system for my Ruger GPNY revolver.
The left hand holster worked ok and was simple to adjust(crossdraw, cant etc) but I did not care for the stiff plastic sticking my ample sides. :(

Belt loops or buckles are good for a tight secure fit. ;)

Enjoy your new purchase and stay well!

Clyde F
 
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