Thoughts on Holsters/Advice..

Guys I need some help. I'm finally getting into shooting and carry, I have a family that is also shooting.. For the shooting aspect I'd like an OWB holster for my Springfield xd sub compact that we can relatively easily transfer from person to person and is durable. Not that worried about it being able to conceal and maybe, someday trying a comp with it. For now it would be practice. Maybe a holster/belt combo? There seems to be an infinite number of options out there and its quite a challenge to make sense of all the offering. Places like Safariland and Alien seem to offer everything but navigating the sites to understand how things work together is nearly impossible, for me at least.

I also need an IWB holster, probably appendix carry. Vedder seems to be decent for the price, thoughts on those?

I have a crossbreed hybrid from 20 years ago and I don't like it at all.

I'm looking for any kind of advice. I want something durable and comfortable. I don't want to spend more than I need to but I don't want to buy just based on price.

Thanks.

I only use Dara holsters or vedder holster and if leather is your preference TT gunleather. Dara holsters will have all the options and security you need. Even the switching from person to person option

Also Mechanicsburg Ordnance is near you and the best gun shop in central PA

After many years and many holsters from a bunch of companies,craft holsters is now my go to.

I have a large box of all kinds of holsters, but my most commonly used are:

OWB: Safariland
IWB: Milt Sparks
Pocket&spare mags: Sticky Holsters

I like Mechanicsburg Ordinance.

Vedder is one I've heard good things about for IWB.

One thing I've noticed is since my gun is old, some of these companies don't offer holsters for it.

This is where I would call to get a good quality holster he's the best in the area.

https://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=380729

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by edritchey

This is where I would call to get a good quality holster he's the best in the area.

https://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=380729

---

Those looks nice, but I'm really leaning towards some sort of kydex.

When it comes to holsters, you're going to get 1,000 different answers from 1,000 different people. Everyone's body shape and comfort are different. You really have to try a bunch until you determine what works for you. That's why everyone here has a box full of old holsters.

For IWB my goto is ALien Gear. You will read a lot of hate on the net about them, but I have had many & carried for years with them. No problems. They are comfy for me as well.

I started with a Crossbeed and had the kydex crack & clips break & rust. CB warranty is great, but after that I moved on. AG is much more comfy IMO

I will second the advice from steve and either borrow several holsters to try with dry fire at home or live fire at the range. Might be more time consuming but way cheaper in the long run.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TacticalSpeed

For IWB my goto is ALien Gear. You will read a lot of hate on the net about them, but I have had many & carried for years with them. No problems. They are comfy for me as well.

I started with a Crossbeed and had the kydex crack & clips break & rust. CB warranty is great, but after that I moved on. AG is much more comfy IMO

---

Second vote for Aliengear. I've used a couple from them, great value for the money. (Note: I'm not up to speed on their latest offerings, their choices are way more complex I think now than when I got mine.)

Only thing about Kydex is you get some holster wear, but if that's not an issue . . .

You definitely gotta try what works for you.... except if it's a Safariland ALS/GLS etc. OWB on a quality belt. Then, the operator is the problem.

OP, I do actually rock a Safariland ALS 6000 series for a Springfield XD40 4", and train with it hard at least semi-weekly. I think it's the S6378 model... Level 2.

Save yourself loot. Buy the paddle kit package, and then buy the UBL and QLS adapters desperately (throw away the paddle... lol) and just spray paint the setup it whatever color(s) you want. You'll be diving on it and rolling around in rocks anyways.. (hopefully). For the ALS Safarilands, I also add the "Nub-mod" (google it) and the optional deflector shroud. They sell an optic hood too, if you need/want it.


If you also want great EDC holsters for AIWB, try the T. Rex Arms Sidecar and the Crossbreed Reckoning. I use the Sidecar for that XD40 or a Reckoning for my Hellcat daily. The Sidecar for the G19 or P320 also the same basically, molded per and are equally good.

For AIWB, I ordered a Teir 1 Axis Elite today for my Hellcat OSP which is really an RDP now after adding the upgrade kit and light/dot.

I’ll share feedback on it after carrying it for a few weeks. It was a bit pricier than my last custom T.Rex Sidecar, as it was $193 w/ free shipping…. But, I wanted it. lol 😜

1791 makes decent leather iwb stuff fwiw.

As mentioned, Holsters are like underwear. Everyone has em, everyone has opinions on whats best…

That said, cant go wrong with safariland ALS for owb. The thumb lever retention is nice, and very easy to work/train with. Much nicer than the blackhawk holsters with the retention button at trigger finger position