McPatrickClan

I finally got my C-TAC holster in the mail yesterday. As usual, the shipping & production was faster than expected. I tried on the holster today but have a few questions:

1) What "o'clock" is best for carry? I tried 2 o'clock and liked that OK but found that it obscured my pocket a little. No printing so that is good. Don't some guys carry at 5 o'clock? That was pretty uncomfortable for me.

2) What is the allen wrench they included used for?

3) How can I cant the holster? Should I cant the holster?

Freedomofchoice

The little allen wrench is to change the tension the kydex imposes on the gun to hold it in place. It also is used to change the position on the clips.

To raise one side (change the cant) or both sides you use the allen wrench to move the clips in to a different hole.

Raise the clips = lower the holster.


I carry @ 5 o'clock position.

JackJ

The position of the clips let you adjust the height and the angle of the pistol. I like mine at the 3:00 to 3:30 position. Mine is for a a 3" 1911. The clips are both set on the center position and has about a 10 degree tilt forward. Very comfortable and conceals very well. It is also one of the fastest holsters I have used.

dairycreek

The only answer to be found to your questions is for you to do some personal experimentation with your CCW combo. I have two CTAC holsters, each for a different pistol, and each of these fits me quite differently. In one I wear the holster high and the other much lower. I find that I like one canted but not the other. Now, this is what works for me and for you, it will probably somewhat different. Make sure that your final choice(s) results in a safe, secure, and comfortable carry situation.

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Ricebrnr

When I got mine I had similar questions, here's the process that ended up working best for me:
1) makes sure your pistol is unloaded and an empty mag is in place
2) put the pistol in the CTAC, place that in your waistband with the belt you plan on using. DO NOT use the clips yet.
3) Move the holster around until its in a comfortable place. My preference is a low as possible while still being able to get a full grip. Pay attention to cant as well since the front bottom of the grip is what usually prints (for me anyway).
4) cinch your belt tight enough to hold the holster, check how it looks in the mirror, and check your comfort.
5) if all is well, take a white crayon and using the top of your belt as a straight edge, mark a line across the holster. A significant other is very useful for this and the previous step.
6) now take off the holster, secure your pistol.
7) now try to move the clips so that with the clips mounted on the ruler, the ruler will lay under the line or very close to it.

In case you don't know the labs on your CTAC can be switched with each other to give you more options and cant.

Also if you're so inclined, feel free to modify your holster to suit your needs. For example.

Some have gotten leather from craft shops and made their own custom tabs others have added moleskin to the body side of the holster to enhance comfort.

My modifications:
I removed extra material from the holster body itself that was unnecessary and uncomfortable. The portion of the holster body above the front sight poked me and was longer than nec to protect the sight, So I carefully cut it off and rounded it. The same for the holster body underneath the muzzle. Now the entire muzzle end of the holster is much more rounded and comfortable.

I switched the tabs on my CTAC but also cut one of them and redrilled the holes to allow for additional cant.

Once I was sure of the "fit" I also cut off the extra holes on one of the clips also.

Finally I carefully measured where my trigger was in the holster and drilled a hole through both sides of the holster large enough to pass a padlock through. I got this idea from the Galco Holster vault. This simple modification means my holster is also a simple and effective means of securing the pistol, including to something immovable depending on what kind of lock I use (like with the cable pistol locks we all have floating around).

Hope that helps you out.

McPatrickClan

That information does help me. I have tried a lot of different positions w/the C-TAC+XD40 combo. The 2 o'clock position is easy to draw from (appendix carry?) but it is uncomfortable for everyday movement & prints much worse than 5 o'clock carry.

I think I am going to practice w/5 o'clock carry. I have the holster sitting as low (moved the clips) as it can go. Should I cant the holster for 5 o'clock carry?

WoodLark

Only you can tell for sure, but usually the further back (higher o'clock) the more cant that is desirable.

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rhyfl

Good idea on drilling throught the trigger area of the holster and using as a secure vault - I may do this for biz trips.

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Cthulhu

Wasn't a holster like this one of the reasons that pilot accidentally discharged his gun in a plane's cockpit?

Sorry for the hijack.

-JT

goldshellback

You can switch the leather tabs around for an even lower set/cant adjust. I tried it but it didn't work for me.

I wear mine anywhere from 3o'clock (on my right hip) to 5 o'clock, depending on what I'm wearing and my mood.

Also recommend purchasing extra clips (standard). I got a few extras of the standard, j-clips, and c-clips......and the extras came in handy for me when I broke a clip while on vacation in Orlando last weekend.
The clips are pretty sturdy but they will/can break.

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"Just getting a concealed carry permit means you haven't commited a crime yet........CCP holders commit crimes." Daniel Vice, senior attorney for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, as quoted on Fox & Friends, July 7th, 2008