Do you need to buy a holster for your firearm or replace the one you have? Making a choice can be a real puzzle, given the wide variety of models with distinct properties. Rigid, flexible, leather, polymer, Kydex, passive or active retention are only a few of the features of this protective accessory.
For the uninitiated, it is hard to find your way around, especially since choosing the right holster really matters. Indeed, it can have consequences in the field, during an operation. In this article, GK explains the selection criteria for a holster suited to your firearm.
Holster or scabbard: which should you choose?
On specialist websites or in law enforcement jargon, the French word "étui" is referred to by the English term holster. While some wrongly believe that a holster is a flexible pouch worn under the shoulder, their view is too narrow.
Like any carrying case, it is a device for storing a handgun safely and within reach when needed. In fact, in the army, people used to speak of a revolver holster, then of a pistol holster.
Whatever its name, this protective item is inseparable from its firearm. It is essential for police officers, gendarmes and soldiers. It must combine protection, safety, comfort and compatibility with other equipment during duty and/or operations.
What are the criteria for a holster?
Before addressing the technical aspects of the selection, two elements must not be overlooked: your mission and your firearm.
Indeed, each holster model stands out through features that give it varying properties depending on the mission. To date, there is still no holster suitable for every type of use. So, to narrow down your choice, it is essential to take into account your role in the field: prevention, investigation or defense.
Next, you must make sure the models are compatible with your type of firearm, even though universal holsters can adapt to different models.
Bear in mind that an unsuitable holster increases the risk of injury. Indeed, a firearm damaged through insufficient protection, difficult access or restricted movement can all be dangerous for the user.
Concealed or open carry
Depending on the situation, in plain clothes or in uniform, the holster is worn in two ways: concealed or open carry.
As with soldiers, gendarmes and police officers, holsters are attached to the belt using a shoulder harness. These are open-carry holsters worn over the uniform. Technical advances have made it possible to develop more discreet, so-called inside solutions. Your firearm can now be concealed by attaching it to the shoulder, the ankle, the thigh with a tactical platform, or even inside the waistband of your trousers.
Since 2015, police officers have been authorized to carry their firearm off duty, discreetly. At GK, we have developed a tactical bag combining comfort and discretion.
Find out more: Presentation of the Inside Néo holster and the Néo GK Undercover Magazine Pouch, by GK.
Materials: rigid or flexible
Since it first came into use, that is, with the appearance of the very first firearms, the holster has evolved along with technological advances.
Its shape and ergonomics bear no resemblance to the earliest models. Even the materials it is made of have changed. Only leather is still used, for its durability, its pliability and its looks. Timeless, it is ideal for concealed-carry holsters. However, it requires more maintenance than the new generation of holsters made from materials renowned for their properties:
Polymer:
Modern holsters are most often made from polymer. Injection-molded, it offers many advantages. Ultra-strong and lightweight, it makes it possible to design reliable, complex, high-precision systems such as retention mechanisms. A polymer holster ensures optimal retention of the firearm, with minimal interference in open carry. It is a perfect match with a military combat vest, for example.
Kydex:
A thermoformed plastic, Kydex is a blend of PVC and acrylic. This material is an alternative to leather. It resembles leather in its light weight, its thin profile, its pliability, its strength and its impact resistance. But it also has additional advantages, such as being rot-proof, unaffected by water and resistant to abrasion.
Even though it is less comfortable than leather, Kydex is often used for concealed-carry holsters. Handmade, they are more expensive than injection-molded polymer holsters.
Nylon:
Nylon is a synthetic fiber renowned for its elasticity and strength. It is a good compromise between Kydex and leather. That is why it is often used in the manufacture of universal holsters. Lightweight, strong, comfortable and requiring little maintenance, these holsters adapt to the shapes of firearms and may include a magazine pouch.
Safety: active or passive retention
The holster is designed to stay in place and secure the firearm. That is retention. There are different levels of retention. The higher the level, the more mechanisms there are to protect the user and improve the grip on the firearm.
Thus, level 0 is passive retention, for which a simple pull on the firearm is enough. Its advantage is a fast draw. Its drawback is the high risk of the firearm being snatched by a third party.
Retention is said to be active when elements are added to restrict use of the firearm. These additions, such as trigger-guard locks, affect handling, requiring at least one extra movement to draw. Active retention varies according to the devices, from moderate to optimal retention levels.
To settle on a retention level, you need to ask yourself two questions:
- Is it comfortable when I draw my firearm or when I perform routine movements? An unsuitable holster can restrict your movements
- Does it suit the way I draw my firearm? A negative answer can be dangerous in a stressful situation.
To find out more, click here: Presentation of our retention holster
Now you can discover our selection of high-performance holsters and choose the model suited to your needs, log in. It's well worth a look!