Choosing a CC holster

[brewguy]

I have a XD9 SC and I find the holster that comes with it is terrible. I'd like to start carrying but how on earth do you choose a holster? There are so many styles and brands and prices!

I want to conceal, it is a small gun so I don't think it will be too hard. I thought about a crossbreed supertuck, they get great reviews. However most of my pants are not that loose and I don't want to buy all new jeans.

I think that leaves me with owb. Do any of you that conceal carry owb? Is it possible to cover with a t shirt?

If anyone has some recomendations of what you like, maybe a photo, would be great.

The serpa seems like a good choice but I also like the look of the leather holsters. So many choices.. I tried searching on here but most of the threads with OWB say they use it for open carry, I can't rule that out but it isn't the plan for now.

[DarylJ]

However most of my pants are not that loose and I don't want to buy all new jeans.

IWB or OWB doesn't matter - the number 1 rule of carrying comfortably is the belt. Get a good (stiff) gunbelt to support whatever holster you want.

I don't know why IWB or OWB would matter with looser fitting pants. If anything, it would be easier to conceal IWB with loose pants.

Just find a nice belt first.

[brewguy]

IWB or OWB doesn't matter - the number 1 rule of carrying comfortably is the belt. Get a good (stiff) gunbelt to support whatever holster you want.

I don't know why IWB or OWB would matter with looser fitting pants. If anything, it would be easier to conceal IWB with loose pants.

Just find a nice belt first.

No mine are NOT loose. I'm not sure how comfortably I could fit a holster and gun inside the wastband. I've put on a a few pounds over the years, which I'm trying to lose and don't want to buy new pants.

[DarylJ]

No mine are NOT loose. I'm not sure how comfortably I could fit a holster and gun inside the wastband. I've put on a a few pounds over the years, which I'm trying to lose and don't want to buy new pants.

Oh..sorry...got that backwards. Either way...even if you go OWB, the belt makes all the difference.

I LOVE this guys stuff:
http://www.jmgholsters.com/owb.htm

[algoesfast]

http://www.donhume.com/index.php?mai...gbbscducor3er6

I love these holsters. Cheap and comfortable. With a good belt of course. I do a casual type carry. But the holster holds my gun tight to my side. I never tuck my shirts in and with my serpa you could tell I was carrying. With the J.I.T not overly noticeable.

[Curmudgeon]

http://www.donhume.com/index.php?mai...gbbscducor3er6

I love these holsters. Cheap and comfortable. With a good belt of course. I do a casual type carry. But the holster holds my gun tight to my side. I never tuck my shirts in and with my serpa you could tell I was carrying. With the J.I.T not overly noticeable.

+1. If you are trying to conceal, I would avoid the Serpa. I have 2. In my opinion, they are great for the range or for training courses, easy access to your weapon, but they stick out just a little too far for OWB concealment.

My holster of choice so far (and there are MANY I have not tried, so my experiences are limited) is a Don Hume H726. You can Google it. I OWB carry my XD45 Tactical 5" in the Don Hume. No way I am going to hide that cannon under any tee shirt, but a jacket, sweatshirt, flannel shirt, all untucked, will do the trick.

I agree there are a lot to choose from, but there are still holster manufacturers that do not make holsters for all the XD pistols, and you may find that your choices are more limited than you realize.

[gunbuyer76]

http://www.donhume.com/index.php?mai...gbbscducor3er6

I love these holsters. Cheap and comfortable. With a good belt of course. I do a casual type carry. But the holster holds my gun tight to my side. I never tuck my shirts in and with my serpa you could tell I was carrying. With the J.I.T not overly noticeable.

the Hume's get my vote as a decent cheap holster, I have a jit, and a 715 IWB for my mil-pro and both are great

[tdyoung58]

I think that leaves me with owb. Do any of you that conceal carry owb? Is it possible to cover with a t shirt?

If anyone has some recomendations of what you like, maybe a photo, would be great.

I use a leather OWB holster with a retention strap all the time for either CC or OC, I like the leather over a paddle style because it holds the handgun tighter to my side.

have no problem with it being covered by a t-shirt

This is the one I use, made by Frontline Holsters, imported from Israel, it's pictured with a Taurus PT745mp which is pretty close to the same size the XD is, it also worls very well with my Ruger P345.

I wouldn't use this holster with a XD because of the grip safety XD's have, only posted it as a reference to how one looks. Lots of companies make excellent leather retention holsters, Highnoon, Tagua, Desantis, Bianchi and others at pretty reasonable prices