No carry allowed in NJ so I know NOTHING about holsters.

But I would want to carry my SIG P226, a full size semi-auto pistol, while shooting rifle from the bench at the range. This entails quite a bit of getting up and down from the sitting position.

What simple holster do I want.
Will a paddle work
Should I get a positive thumb release at the top

I was thinking of the Fobus Paddle

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Is this a public range? Yeah any paddle rig will be easy on & off. Unless you think you are going to be rollling around on the ground, no retention device is really needed.

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Private range in PA
I do not want to take the holster on and off each time I get up to look through the spotting scope.

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Even with a paddle holster you will still need a belt and to me it's really not any easier to remove than a belt holster. If you get a Blackhawk SERPA or CQC they come with both paddle and belt loop and you can try them both out.
As far as retention, many holsters have adjustable retention and you don't really need another level of retention if it's just for the range. The gun should not come out even if the holster is upside down.
Also, is your SIG a P226R? Keep in mind most holsters won't fit the MK25 or other P226's with picatinny rails, only the ones with SIG spec rails.

I guess my first question would be: What?
"I do not want to take the holster on and off each time I get up to look through the spotting scope." Why would you need to do that?
I don't think a paddle is what you want, either. Most of the ones made these days have some means of "catching" the inside of your pants so the paddle stays in place while drawing. This hook-type device makes it a real pain to take off once it's in place. If you need to do this often, you'll probably just not bother to use it. If, and only if, you must have a holster, just get an old fashioned single-loop on the back leather one off eBay or GB. It'll suit your purpose without becoming more of a PITA than NJ gun laws.

Why do you want to carry the pistol at the range?

I’m having trouble understanding the issue here.
I do of course understand being armed st all times, especially at the range. Can’t you lay your SIG on the table by your elbow whilst you’re shooting your rifle?

Regards, Porkie

There are plenty of good choices, but for the use you describe, I wouldn't get a plastic paddle holster. I have one, and it is my least favorite holster, and I doubt I'll ever wear it again.

If I were buying a holster for that SIG, to only use open carry at the range, I'd get a Galco Combat Master for it.

I have one for my 686. It looks and carries great, it maintains it's finish well, is widely available, and is relatively inexpensive.

Since you probably need a holster belt also, check out their belts as well. I have used their 1 1/2 inch SB3 belt for four years EDC, and it is holding up great.

Bushmaster: Be aware that the Fobus plastic holster (paddle style or other) will wear the blueing off the high spots on your pistol.

Galco makes the best paddle style available. If they have one lined, choose it. Reduces blueing wear.

Best all around are those made by Lobo Gun Leather, but no paddle style the last time I checked. You choose the options you like: lined or not, thumb break or not, FBI forward cant or straight up & down, color, plain or basket weave (or hand-tooled) & their pricing & availability are excellent.

Sturdiest & least expensive gun belt is the 5-stitch, Instructor's belt made by Wilderness Products (around $48). Buckle rated to pick you up by helicopter.

Have had personal experience with all products mentioned in this msg.

Best Wishes, Hank M.

I wear a paddle holster owb regularly, including a paddle style kydex magazine holder. I hardly know it's there, and I do a lot of standing, sitting, squatting, and stair climbing. For me, paddles are secure enough for duty, and easy to put on and off. One little trick about wearing a paddle is to not fasten your belt until the paddle is in place, and then loosen your belt first when you want to remove it. Both operations should be accomplished without the pistol or magazines in place . . .

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In case somebody needs shooting . . .

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My ‘shooting range’ is boondock BLM Land.
I wear a paddle holster most every time I go there.
Here’s mine with 640 onboard.

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If you're concerned about retention, I would carry concealed. If it's not legal, and you're worried about being disarmed while rifle shooting (I would), think about a Level II or III retention holster, one that requires a particular angle or twist in order to draw the gun.

You shouldn't need retention just for walking around, unless you're walking through some serious brush on your way to the target.

Your pistol might be a smidge on the big side, depending on your butt-to-seat length. You should also note that if you're particularly fond of that Sig, you're going to be putting a few wear marks onto it with this plan. Not just holster wear, either--you're gonna wind up banging it on all sorts of stuff while wearing it.

Thanks for the above.


I want a pistol at the range when the club is relatively empty, the line is cold, I am down range, and the guns I am shooting, along with ammunition, are 25 to 100 yards behind me without supervision. The range allows open carry of holstered guns when the line is cold.

I think I've settled on getting a Blackhawk cross draw shoulder harness which will be on my right side (I shoot from the left).



As to putting wear on the SIG, it will not be noticed. It is an all stainless steel that I got used and I have put 2000+ rounds of .40 S&W down the tube. The weight of the all stainless construction helps to manage the recoil.


(P.S. Gun was cleared -- by me -- multiple times, with no ammo in sight, before taking above photo)

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I carry a pistol at the range all the time, but I always have one in my pocket anyway. Have been to a public range in a remote area a once where I didn't like the looks of either of the other two shooters to the point that I took my loaded rifle with me down range to retrieve my target stand, went home, and never went back.

For what you want, the Fobus will serve you well and is the most inexpensive option.

No, you won't have to take the holster off as you stand or sit.

I don't recommend the shoulder holster. Since it's a horizontal position, some might take issue with the muzzle being pointed behind you. Further, comfortable shoulder holsters are usually expensive. Cheap shoulder holsters are usually uncomfortable. Also, since you are inexperienced with holsters in general, you will likely find the cheap Blackhawk holster uncomfortable and it will interfere with your shooting. Yes, I know it's on the side away from the rifle, but it will still bother you. Maybe not, but most of the people I've dealt with who are new to shoulder holster carry, were uncomfortable until they had quite a bit of experience with it.

The OWB Fobus holster will be easier to use and less invasive to your comfort.

I don't usually recommend Fobus because they are cheap and not super durable. However, you won't be using it a lot so, it's the right way to go for you.



Just a side note:
The vast majority of gun owners are conscientious, courteous people. This will be especially true at a private range. I understand you being nervous about leaving the rifle 100-200 yards away from you, but no one will bother it or even touch it.

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I agree with Rast. Fobus holsters leave a lot to be desired, but they fulfill the basic requirement of holding on to the pistol. Practice your draw stroke with the belt you intend on wearing to ensure that the gun comes out of the holster, instead of the holster+gun coming off the belt.

Most ranges here on the east coast are relatively remote, and in my experience, poorly-secured. I'm in the same boat as the OP--I don't care about my fellow members. What I do care about is the odd time I see somebody who doesn't look like a member poking around.

Mostly, though, I'm CCing anyway. And most folks would find OCing a pistol around the pistol range for the hell of it a bit strange.

I'd bite the bullet and get a "good" holster for your 226..... ya you can't carry in NJ but someday if the SHTF..... you might appreciate having spent an extra $50 or so for a decent Bianchi/Safariland (IIRC running about $80-90 these days) or other quality leather holster.

A vertical pancake or cross draw might work well...... depending on your 'bench" you may want your gun on the opposite/off side so it's not up against/hitting the bench.

Personally I carry concealed at our club as I'm often the only one there or I don't know the others who are. Your 226 or 220(my Sig)can easily be carried in a Milt Sparks Summer Special (worn at 4-5 O'clock) with a cover shirt or vest.

I don't like paddle holsters, but I expect I've never tried a really good one. I've used a number of Fobus belt holsters over the years and frankly prefer them to some of the other low end kydex holsters that are held together with screws. I used them while running tractors and despite the use of thread locking compounds, the cotton picking screws would back out.

A slightly more upscale belt holster is Blade-Tech. They've got a couple of holster lines maybe $10 more than the Fobus. If they've got one that fits your pistols, they might be a good choice. They have several different types of belt attachment that are available reasonably if you don't like what comes with it. When buying direct from Blade-Tech you can specify the belt attachment.

Just a few bucks more get you into Safariland 6377 territory, at least if you shop around.

I get carrying at the range, but I can think of no holster that would need to be taken off and put back on for bench shooting. Get a good concealed carry holster because if you are traveling to PA for range time, you might end up traveling to some other part of Free America where you can CW without permits. Paddle holsters are great for walking the dog, but concealing one is hard. I like the old Safariland Klipspringer or all-leather Kramer for paddles.

I do not want the SIG to fall out while getting up and down and I do not want it interfering with my sitting position

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Words are cheap. How much money are you backing them up with?

As it happens, it is illegal to leave a dreaded assault weapon unattended and unlocked in the PDR of MA, although that's not the only reason I don't do it. Think the prelude to the Miami FBI debacle. If you can't lock up the rifle, put the bolt in your pocket.

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Most of the kydex holsters have a retention system involving either the trigger guard or ejection port and a tension adjustment. The Safariland 6377 has a push button release for it's retention. Leather holsters use a variety of retention systems including straps and/or tight fit to the firearm. Your pistol isn't gonna fall out unless you get really sloppy on the tension adjustment,if any. Fobus doesn't have adjustments and depends on your muscles to extract the gun. Carry at the 4 o clock position shouldn't interfere with anything.

Now, if you buy anyone's nylon bag holster, there could be issues with many things.

Had the same/did similar, here.

I'd suggest a cheap ole Uncle Mikes, with a
snap thumb break and fixed belt loop, over
the paddle---if you find yourself scrunching
down and leaning into the bench & rifle.

In that situation I'd feel like a paddle might
work it's way out of the belt line, and dump
itself out upon standing up...just my thought.

The slack in the nylon loop on the Uncle Mikes
(normally a strike against the holster), in this
situation, is a plus--it lets the holster wobble
and pivot at the waistline, but never comes
loose.

The cheap Blade Tech holsters are not any better than Fobus. However, their more expensive holsters, around $80 and up, are much better. I have a few Blade Tech holsters I use for training classes and they are good indeed.

Most paddle holsters have a provision so this won't happen. In fact, they're more difficult to get off than you might think.

Look at this:

This is a Blade Tech paddle attachment. If you look closely you can see that it has a little protrusion that will clip under the belt. It slides in easily, but takes a concerted effort to take it off. This one is larger than I like, but it works very well.

The paddle holster is especially nice if the belt loops on your pants won't allow a belt slide attachment to sit where you want it. The paddle can be placed anywhere along the belt.

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Bushmaster: now that I understand the problem, I have two suggestions for you. #1 used holsters.. I’ve lived in NJ at the beginning of my career but I never went to a gun show. i don’t know if they even have gun shows. i’ve had Good luck over the years finding UPSCALE holsters at give away prices elsewhere though.

#2 for your use just carry the SIG Messican fashion. Put it on the table like I originally suggested and throw a bar towel over it until you need to go down range.

Regards, Porkie

Go to Safariland's [safariland.com]website and use their holster finder and then look at their GLS & ALS holsters. Very good holsters. And you can get them with several different types of belt attachments, paddle being one of them.

I've been unable to decide, if the OP's is a first-world problem, or a third-world problem. The solution appears to be first-world, the problem itself from the third-world.

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How does politics enter the picture?

Nobody can carry in NJ? They said Illinois was the 50th state to allow CC.

IIRC, from what I've read, the state of NJ has a CC permit system.
BUT they make it all but impossible for a regular person to get one.
So effectively no legal carry in NJ. Unless you are someone special.

Try a Galco Yauqi slide. Put it on your belt b4 you leave home. Empty doesn't look like a holster. Galco also makes a slide that is inside the belt outside the pants. Hard to see w no gun in it and it works pretty well retention controlled by tightness of your belt.

I have two holsters that I use for my 1988 (?) made West German SIG/SAUER P226, either of which might suit the OP's needs.

The first one is an Austrian made Sickinger, the type formerly used by the West German GSG9 anti-terrorist forces. I understand the GSG9 no longer uses P226 pistols. I like the built-in sight channel, and how the retaining strap can be opened by simply pinching together the leather tabs above it. I don't know if this holster is still available or not, but anything similar should be fine.

The other holster is one of my own design and manufacture, with a thick leather slide, and the holster pocket itself made out of thinner, molded leather, which makes the whole thing very comfortable to wear. This holster holds the gun very securely, with no retention strap needed.

No kydex for me, please. Ever. Unless it would be for a plastic gun (I don't own any).

PS: The gun was fully loaded at all times during the photo shoot, just as I like it to be.

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A better picture of the sight channel...

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I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest a military Bianchi M12 or nylon 1916 style holster. The flap gives excellent retainage while sitting- and I believe the M12 can be fitted with a thumb break i Plus the holster sits low evough to keep the grip out of the way while shooting bench rest.

This is not a political concept. It's an economic one. Not knowing the difference could be called a first-world problem, not caring could be a third-world problem. One could Google it.

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I have used leather strong side slide on belt holsters with thumb break for 40 years. I bought a Bianchi X-15 shoulder holster for my S&W M-39 when I first got into guns because I thought they looked cool, gave it away to a friend and never bought another one. The Safariland ALS system may be better than a thumb break but for muscle memory reasons I just always stuck with thumb breaks and if I have to draw quickly I don't even have to think about it and same way with re-holstering.

Noice. Sight rails were first used by Berns-Martin, in the late 1930s, on their Range holster for carrying bullseye shooters' target sighted 1911s; and popularised beginning around 1970 when target sights had become de rigeur in the leatherslaps of the '60s. Here's theirs, in their Raider that followed the Range holster in the late '60s:

1 (4).jpg

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