First, let me mention I am getting a belt. Because of the reputation on here and cost, I am planning on going with the beltman.
I am a college student who turned 21 this week and am talking to a ccw instructor and taking a class very soon. I am 6'1 and 182 for the record.
Even due to the handle printing issues I have heard, I went ahead and got a XD40. Its a nice gun, I like it, and better yet I see no reason why it won't work for me with a nice IWB holster :smile:
I have been narrowing it down for a week on which IWB holster to get. Every time I narrow it down to 1 or 2 another one pops into the running. At the moment I am considering Comp-tac, Desantis and High Noon (of course I am open to more :image035: ) They each seem to have their benefits and positive recommendations.
I dress normally in a tshirt and jeans or cargo pants and am looking for a holster which will help conceal in everyday situations. I am mainly looking for a summer/spring holster which I can wear with a baggy tshirt if possible. I can't seem to get IWB out of my mind. I may look into a pocket gun down the road.
All pics were taken in a mirror so they're reversed.
Here is the XD40 in a Hume holster. The thumb break was cut by the previous owner. It seems to fit well but I wouldn't use it without an additional layer of clothing.
If you are wearing under a T shirt next to your skin the Comp-Tac CTAC may not be the best choice since kydex next to your skin may be unpleasant. However, the MTAC eliminates this problem and is a very good holster. Plus, the people at Comp-Tac are great to deal with and their delivery time is phenomenal.
Consider the crossbreed super-tuck. Leather backed kydex. Very comfy and secure. Tuckable or not. Good price point and you'll have it in less than 2 weeks.
BTW....congrats on the beltman belt. You won't be disappointed! :wave:
I'm surprised it hasn't been pointed out yet - you will not have any problems concealing a handle. The grip on a pistol or the stock on a revolver is generally the hardest part to conceal. You'll be happy with the Beltman - I vote for Comp-Tac too!
COmp tac is a great company...no doubt there with my experience with them. But I did sell my C-TAC and am sticking with leather. It just fits me better than the kydex did. I wore the C-TAC for a year of IDPA and a lil ccw duty but the MAX-CON by Brommeland now gets the nod full-time. The kydex just kinda pinched me.
The MTAC has gotton a lot of great reviews. For the most part, I prefer a leather holster though. You should also take a look at K&D Holsters (K&D Holsters | Custom Gun Leather and Shooting Accessories), They also make great gear and Kevin is a pleasure to deal with.
I have one of his Cochise Defenders for my S&W M&P .40c and I love it. Here are a few pictures of it. This holster also has Elephant trunk trim on it.
I would stick with leather. I have found kydex to be uncomfortable. I would also recommend a holster with two attachment points fore and aft like the Milt Sparks Versa Max II. Most makers have a similar model. I will give you a couple more to consider: Tucker Texas Heritage, UBG Canute (pictured below). I tried a High Noon with a single metal clip and did not like it.
Here is some of a .38 S&W in a IWB for comparison. I like how it conceals except a hair of the buttend shows and it feels as if the gun is about to fall out (poor belt?)
here is a 5" 1911 missing a holster. Seems like it has a bit of potential.
From what I have been noticing, I thought I would carry in the 3:00-4:00 position but it seems I am favoring the small of the back. Hmmm.
Thank you all for the comments.
Ron- your K&D looks great and is pretty close to what I had imagined myself getting.
I have the MTAC for a Sig and it works well for me. Very well concealed. I prefer leather for OWB (carry-Loc Bianchi) and Kydex for IWB. The Kydex holds the form well and I can re-holster fairly easy. I wanted a Milt Sparks VMII but the wait was too long.
I would not advocate carrying that far back, almost SOB carry. It makes getting the weapon slow, could cause injury if you fell backwards & a BG could spot it & you'd never know because you can't see back there. If you carry at your side, your arm can protect the weapon & also help to conceal it better.
In my CCW class, we had a retired CA cop (before HR 218 was thought of) who moved back to Texas. He asked my buddy how he'd carry so he showed him. The ret LEO came up behind him, as he was explaining how much of a bad idea it was, grabbed him by the back of the neck & grabbed his weapon (but did not remove it from the holster). From that moment on, me & my buddy never thought of that mode of carry again. (My friend is now a cop. After the weapon retention drills they did in the academy, he highly recommends hip carry)
Opinions vary, this is just what I've observed. I'm sure some will disagree. After all, there is no one way that works best for all of us. I hope this helps.
Well then I guess I'll have to get a few more polo shirts...the girlfriend certainly would appreciate that.
Right now I'm looking towards K&D's Dakota Defender for the XD40. Perhaps I will also get a pocket gun and holster later on.
1 more question for the time being, what has been everyone's impression with K&D's belts? They are reasonably priced and if I am going to order both I may as well do it from the same company instead of the beltman. There isn't much on the forums about the belts. Any reason as to that?
I don't know much about K&D belts. Many people like the Beltman, Wilderness Instructors belts, etc. I have a Wilderness & it works well for me. My next belt will be a Beltman in horsehide. Rafter S also makes a good gun belt, double thickness leather. A friend bought one at a local gun show from them. Good people, good product, only $50. Rafter S Gun Belts
A button up shirt will work better (IMO) than a polo type shirt.
Jim (The Beltman) makes a great IWB holster for the XD. I have one for a 5 inch 1911 and it conceals very well and is very comfortable. Costs around $80 and well worth it. He might cut you a deal on a belt holster combo, can't hurt to ask
I have not figured out the whole camera thing yet, sorry. The holster looks a lot like a Milt Sparks IWB. Jim does not broadcast the fact that he makes holsters, but they are all that I will use.
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