Custom   Kydex Holsters

This is a general breakdown of the different carry positions. Concentrating on the SAFETY FIRST, Quick Draw Access with Combat Grip, and then comfort & concealment.

Carry Method:

  Here I will go over the details of how all the different carry positions work out.  There are 2 critical factors to be evaluated here. First is the SAFETY ASPECT, and second is that you can get to your firearm quickly and have a complete Combat Grip without having to re-adjust, and last is comfort and concealment.   We all have different body contours and prefer different carry positions. Here is a breakdown and an easy way to check how safe your carry position is.

  Get an Airsoft gun, (Preferred), or an unloaded gun and start positioning it in the way that you presently carry, or where you think you want to carry your firearm. As you would draw your weapon watch exactly where the muzzle is pointing at.  Does it point at anyone or yourself during the draw?   By anyone I mean anyone within the bullets reach.  This means as far as the eye can see.  You will be held responsible for anywhere that bullet goes and whatever or whoever it hits. 

  An even better way is to install a laser on your Airsoft pistol, turn it on and the laser will trace anywhere the muzzle will sweep and what the bullet would hit.  Even using a piece of tape to attach a pen laser to the top of your slide will work. Gun UNLOADED of course.  I still will always tell all my contacts to buy a $20.00 spring Airsoft that is the same as your carry weapon.  It has many uses.

  I use a video camera to analyze everything discussed here.  When you speed up the draw and push the limits for draw speed you will see how the laser traces show what your muzzle is sweeping.  The video camera has been one of the most useful tools ever in evaluating how I carry and draw my weapon.  I have been analyzing products for my own company and other companies products since 1970.    

   After you understand the Safety aspects and where your muzzle sweeps, then position the Airsoft in the carry positions that you think you want to carry.  Sit, walk, stand, bend etc.  Try all the normal positions that your body is in during a normal day.   Many carry positions are uncomfortable or interfere with the quick access & process of drawing your firearm.

  #2  is how good of a complete Combat Grip can you get on the grip in one movement.  This is the second part of a proper holster design and the most important.

Instant Complete Combat Grip and Draw in one continuous sweeping motion is the single most important thing in picking a holster.  Accessibility and quickness of draw because your life may depend on it. 

#1:    In any carry position when you draw the weapon you must not sweep or cover,(point the muzzle), at yourself or anyone that you do not want to kill. 

Shoulder Carry:  Take the Airsoft pistol and place it in the imaginary shoulder holster.  There are 2 styles. Muzzle pointed backwards and muzzle pointed down.  If you pick the muzzle pointed backwards where is it pointed ??  The person behind you in line at the checkout is in DANGER of being shot.  Also anyone standing further out in the store.  Even the person walking outside the glass window.  How about the person driving in the car on the street or parking lot??  Even beyond that there is another business across the street with glass windows and customers.  All of them are in DANGER of being shot.  If your arm or hand is hanging down it will be swept as well.

     Depending on the type of holster you will have a retention strap to remove before withdraw.  The grip access is OK here as long as the holster has all the correct cutaways to allow you to get a proper Combat Grip.

Pointed downward:  This is not as bad but still  you will sweep anyone to the side of you as well as anyone that is between the draw point and the the point of target. (bad guy).  A second thing is that you are starting your draw/aim cycle with a swing toward the intended target.  You will have a much harder time acquiring the target in this manner.   This position is also slightly harder to draw from. Again if your arm is hanging down it will be covered.  

Appendix Carry:   Many different holster options here.   First thing is that if you have a Negligent discharge on the draw you will shoot your leg, hip, foot, and you know what.   All of your lower body parts are in line of fire.  You are again coming up with a slight cross sweep that makes it harder to acquire the target.  It is one of the hardest type of carry to draw from due to the unaccessible grip deeply concealed.    Deep appendix carry is even worse.  Much more time to get to the firearm, more uncomfortable to wear, harder to get a proper grip on the firearm, and all the same body parts are exposed to being shot. 

Cross Draw:  A firearm that is drawn from the cross draw position has the same issues that the shoulder carry style has.  Take the Airsoft and watch where the muzzle and laser goes.  Anyone that is beside you and in between your draw position and the target is in DANGER of being shot.  Again the same sweeping motion from draw to the target is happening.  A low ride holster will have some obstruction as to getting a Complete Combat Grip.  A medium to high ride will allow complete access.

Small of Back Carry:    On drawing the firearm you will generally sweep your leg and foot as you remove it from the holster and your arm makes the rotation toward the target.  This again has a slight sweeping/rotational movement as you try to acquire your target.    Grip access is good as long as your holster is a medium to high style.  If it  is a low ride type you will have some restriction on getting a complete Combat Grip. This carry method is extremely uncomfortable in the sitting position and dangerous as to getting a spinal injury if you were to fall directly on your back.       

Strong Side Carry:  There are 2 options here.  Both have the same principle sweeps. Inside the pants and outside the pants belt carry.    With this carry style the point of impact or where the bullet is going to hit is always maintained in a straightforward movement directly at the target. The muzzle never sweeps anyone or you do not sweep yourself in any way.  If you use the correct draw procedure and draw your weapon bringing it in a straight-line motion directly at the target, the only concern is that someone is between you and the threat.  In any case you have a direct line of sight to the target, in between, and behind the target. 

One drawing motion with with a direct movement to the target is the quickest and most accurate.

This is the best carry position in my opinion.

   We have covered most of the normal carry positions.   First is SAFTEY, second is Combat Grip and draw. Third is retention.    

#2    Combat Grip, Holster Design & Firearm Fit: 

  Here I will discuss how a firearm should fit in the holster, how the holster should be positioned, and the Importance of getting a complete Combat Grip on the firearm in one motion.

Ride Height: 

  The ride height is extremely important.  The correct ride height should have a small gap between the belt line and the grip of the firearm.  This gap allows the third finger to easily grab the grip. You should be able to place your 3rd thru 5th fingers easily between the top of the pants/belt line and the grip. 

Holster Cutaway: 

    The holster should have a cutaway area at the point where the base of the grip meets the trigger guard.  By having this cutaway you will be able to completely wrap your hand around the firearms grip without any holster interference.  No part of the holster should come in contact with you fingers.  Any obstruction will interfere with your complete Combat Grip. 

Thumb Cutaway:   

   There should also be a cutaway where your thumb contacts the firearm grip.  If there is any holster material in this area where the thumb grips the firearm you can not get a complete secure hold.

   All 3 of these factors make up a correct holster design. The primary concern here is to get the complete secure Combat Grip in one quick motion with no repositioning of the hand on the grip.  Anytime you have to make a grip correction time is lost and the chance of hitting your target are getting worse. 

Firearm Fit in the Holster: 

  This is a must for securing the firearm without restrictive straps.  In the civilian world where we do not have to have any restraining straps. A good snap in fit is required to not have your firearm fall out of the holster unexpectedly.  I prefer a Kydex holster for this reason.  There are many quality holsters made of other materials that will hold the firearm correctly. In the long term the Kydex material will hold up without losing it ability to keep that retention.

Snap Fit: 

  Your firearm should click or snap in to the holster and not wiggle or move.  It should require enough resistance to never allow the firearm to fall out.  Not so tight it is hard to remove but some resistance.   The Kydex holsters generally do this by having a small indentation at the front edge of the trigger guard.  They also have a tension adjustment to allow you to increase or decrease the holding tension.   A tight snug fit with no rocking from top to bottom is desired.   As you place your firearm into the holster and push it in you will feel & hear the distinct click of the pistol going into its secure place.

Front & Rear Sight Channel:

  The front sight channel should be high enough to accommodate all larger front sights.   The rear of the holster should be cut so that any larger rear sights will clear. 

Slide Release & Mag Release:  

  There should be ample clearance for all aftermarket extended slide release and extended magazine releases.

Retention Straps:

  Retention straps are used to hold the firearm securely in the holster.  Most Kydex style holsters do not use the retention straps with the exception of  Law Enforcement style holsters. As long as a  holster has a secure snap in fit I feel the retention strap is one less motion needed to draw your weapon.  Under an attack you are in panic mode and the more complex it is to draw your weapon the better the chances are that you will forget the retention strap.    Practice make perfect.

Inside the Pants Belt Attachment: 

  There are so many choices here.

Belt Loop Designs:   

  There are many different belt loop designs. Many are designed to be used to carry your weapon with your shirt tucked in and the attachment point behind the belt to conceal the fact that you are carrying.  This style of belt clip is less visible but can sometimes be not as secure and let the holster come out with the pistol on withdraw.  If you are wanting to use one of these clips you should check it extensively to make sure it stays secure.  Less holster tension will help this issue if it should arise.  They are referred to as J clips, C clips, Velcro attachments, etc.  Most of the holster makers have many variations of this style attachment.

 I prefer a more secure attachment.  We started making holsters with all of the different attachments.   Everyone has their own opinion on what they want and what is best. We have narrowed it down to only 2 different inside the pants belt loops.  The Quick clip & the P clip, with the Quick Clip being the most popular.

Quick Clip: 

 The Quick Clip has a small reverse angle that allows the attachment to easily slide over the  belt and has a sharp 90 degree + turn to make a solid contact with the bottom edge of the belt. This squared off section will keep the belt loop from coming off during withdraw.  A proper fit is required to make this a secure attachment.  if the holster is coming out with the weapon something is wrong with the belt/loop fit.  Also excessive tension on the firearm can cause this as well.

P Clip:

  The P clip is the most secure way of attaching the holster to the belt.  The downfall is that it requires the belt to be threaded thru the clip opening.  To remove the holster you must remove the belt. 

Outside the Pants Holster:

  There are quite a few different attachments available here as well.

Standard Belt Loop:

  We prefer the standard thread thru belt attachment.  Again the belt must be removed to install the holster.  This is the most secure way to attach the holster. It can not be pulled off in any way.

Paddle Attachment:  

   The paddle version is very popular for it being able to be easily clipped on and off when needed.  The biggest fault here is that it can become detached unexpectedly if someone grabs it or it is hit in an upward motion.  Your choice here should depend on the type of activities that you will be exposed to. If you are extremely active and climb up ladders and objects on the way down it could be bumped in that upward motion and become dislodged.

This page is still being composed and may change. 

YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT ANY ROUND THAT LEAVES YOUR FIREARM IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. 

This website is under constant changes to help guide you to the correct holster for your needs.

Tactical Design & Research Inc.
P.O. Box 512147         Punta Gorda, Florida 33951
      Phone: 941-505-0800      Toll-free: 800-321-6354