BG Articles

Great! You got yourself a firearm. Now please just don’t be THAT guy. That guy which paid +/-
R10 000 for a firearm but are willing to pay pennies for a holster!

HOW TO CHOOSE A HOLSTER
Sorry for being the bearer of bad news, but your first holster may not be the only one you will ever
buy. Don’t worry, you will find the perfect holster but it will take some time. People are different,
their guns are different and their needs are different, so I will discuss some guidelines which may
relieve the stress on your pocket and possibly make the decision easier.

The following factors play a major role in your holster decision making:
•Country/Province laws– are you allowed to open-carry or do you have to conceal-carry.
•Type of firearm you own.
•Your work/environment– are you around people all day? Do you have certain work attire?
•Body shape and size– this will influence in what position you will carry your firearm.
•Type of material you prefer for your holster.
Do not underestimate the fundamental role a holster plays in carrying a handgun. Your holster
should comply with the following traits:
•Security –your FA should be in your possession at all times. It is easy to lose your FA in an attack or
simply by running. For this reason a holster needs proper retention.
Do the shake test with your holster. Use your unloaded FA in the holster, turn the holster upside-
down and give it a good shake. Did your FA fall out, almost? If your FA and holster combination fail, consider another holster.
•Reliability– contrary to GFSA’s noise, guns don’t just “go off”. Protecting/covering the trigger is a
vital task any holster should fulfil to avoid trigger contact and you should be able to rely on your
holster’s ability to do so.
•Accessibility– whether you are sitting, standing, walking or running you should have unimpeded
access to draw your FA smoothly without looking. Your holster should allow consistent orientation
which will allow getting your FA into action quickly. The holster should also allow for you to draw
your FA with one hand, even your support hand, as in a life-or-death situation you may be faced with
a scenario in which you only have one hand to use.
•Concealment– hiding your FA is possible if you are using the correct holster, a belt which supports
the holster and the correct clothing.
•Durability– your holster will not be an ornament, it is going to take life’s blows with you and it
should be able to withstand wear, pressure and a certain amount of damage.
Comfort- your FA should not be a “dress code accessory”, it should be a daily essential. If it is
uncomfortable to wear your holster you will end up not carrying your FA which defies the purpose of
having one.

A poorly designed holster without these traits leads to discomfort, a compromised draw stroke or
even the loss of your firearm. These are all recipes for embarrassment and tragedy.
You can have the best firearm in the western world, but if your holster fails, your firearm is as useful
as mud flaps on Vettol’s Ferrari. Therefor avoid the “one size fits all” holsters like the plaque.

The “best holster” for concealed carry will not be the same holster for any two people, however if
your holster satisfies your needs and complies with the above mentioned traits you have found
YOUR perfect holster.

DIFFERENT TYPE OF HOLSTERS
The problem with holsters are, you will never be able to tell how well a holster fit until you’ve put it
to use. Embrace the pile of holster that you are accumulating, and good luck explaining the need for
each to the MRS.
Holsters best suited for competitions and fun range days include outside the waistband (OWB)
holsters, holster combined with a thigh rig or a holster pouch attached to your kit. These holsters are
used when you need speed on the draw, comfort and flexibility for competitions or simply when you
are in an environment where it is not mandatory to conceal-carry.
The options for concealed-carry holsters are much broader. CCH should be secure, be well concealed
and easily accessible. It should also be relatively comfortable.

•Pocket/purse holsters– NEVER carry a gun in a pocket without a holster! Your FA’s trigger should
be secured at all times, especially in open spaces like a pocket/purse.
Grabbing a purse is a 2sec job, therefor carrying your firearm in a purse is not advised, however if
you are committed to do so ensure the purse is designed to carry a firearm and that the purse has a
strap you can carry across your body and don’t EVER put your purse down in public.
•Ankle holster– these rigs are generally used for smaller firearms.
•Shoulder holster– a set of straps that crosses over your back and shoulders. It is concealed by
wearing a coat or a jacket.
•Inside the waistband (IWB) holster– Due to legislation this is the most commonly used holster. IWB
holsters fit between your pants and your body. It may be necessary to wear pants a size bigger to
accommodate the holster. Different positions to carry an IWB holster includes appendix carry (1
O’clock/ 11 O’clock), strong arm (3 O’clock/ 9 O’clock) or further back at 5 O’clock/ 7 O’clock. Some
people also carry in a cross draw position.

MATERIALS
A quality holster will be shaped to your firearm’s contours which will create natural retention to
prevent the firearm from slipping out of the holster. Any type of material has its pro’s and con’s;
however you should base your decision on your needs.
•Kydex– this is a robust material which do not stretch or lose retention and the shape do not change
when the FA is drawn, allowing for quick draw and effective re-holstering. Kydex holsters are secure
and offer full protection on the trigger. Kydex is a durable material which can withstand normal wear
and tear. It is scratch resistant, impact resistant and waterproof, however kydex do lose its definition
in extremely high temperatures. Kydex is a solid material which may lead to it not being the most
comfortable to wear, but it is certainly the safest.
If you own a firearm you have the responsibility to behave in a common-sense manner that protects
your rights without violating others’, therefor you need a holster which will protect and conceal your
firearm at all times to ensure good relations with the public.
•Nylon– this is not an ideal holster because it is too supple and can easily fold in over the trigger,
causing undesired accidents. Nylon holsters are often the cheaper “one size fits all” holsters.
•Stretch materials– belly bands are made of stretch materials. It is often used by women to
accommodate their clothing.
•Leather– leather can be used in multiple parts of the holster, from holding the firearm itself, to only
forming the backing of a hybrid holster. Some leather holster are not molded to a specific FA,
therefor it fits many different FA’s. Leather is naturally long lasting, able to mold to the shape of a FA
ensuring it is a secure holster. Leather become comfortable with time as the FA form in the holster
and the leather mold to your body shape. However, leather absorb sweat, therefor the holster can
start to smell. Leather may shrink or loosen over time or even crack when exposed to high heat. This
may become dangerous for trigger safety and re-holstering may become difficult as the leather loose
shape.

Your holster is the one thing standing between you and the ability to use your firearm in life
threatening situations. Your holster should make this action as easy and fluent as possible so
consider all the factors and choose wisely because your holster may determine your fate.
Muscle memory goes a long way, stay safe and keep on training!