A Good Ankle Holster

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xfarfuldog

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I am looking for a good ankle holster. Back when I was a cop I carried a Python on my hip and a DS on my ankle. Several of the holsters I tried were problematic. One left my DS swinging after a guy tried to run me down. I had to stop chasing him and put the revolver in my pocket. One that did work was the Safariland sock. It went from my ankle to just below my knee. I never had a problem with the gun getting loose. The only problem was the material was abrasive to my skin.

I gave up on the ankle holster for many years. I do carry a Glock 19 on my waist. However there are times when I cannot do that. I do have a Shield I can carry in my pocket. It will print real bad in jeans. So I keep the Glock in my car and go unarmed. I have always felt guilty not carrying. I feel anyone trained to carry should.

The recent mass shooting in Dayton which is less than 10 minutes away makes me want to resume carry 24/7.I will not carry in certain places that prohibit it. Although my retirement badge might keep me out of trouble.

So I am looking for a good ankle holster. It would probably be for the Shield. I still have a DS but it looks too good to carry. Also several 2 and 3 inch K frames I will not damage. The holster must feel good, be totally safe and not mar my finish. What do you carry?
 
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I used the Desantis ankle holster when I was carrying that way on duty. It was affordable and the strap stretched well so I could put it over an 8” boot. It kept the gun secure and it was affordable.
 
I have a Galco for my 442. Comfortable, works really well, well made, specifically for that model series. No retension strap, but an adjustable tensioner on the trigger guard area. Gun stays firmly in place, even while running.....which I don't do very much these days if it can be avoided.
 
Pictured is an Uncle Mike’s and a 637. It works for me. Carrying a Shield in a similar holster made my knee hurt. No problems with the lightweight J-Frame.
 

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I've been using the Wilderness Tactical elastic Renegade holster to carry my 642-1 for about a month now. I really like it. Very secure. I've done a very vigorous shake test and the gun won't fall out. I've worn it while doing some light hiking and walks in general without issues. I originally got it just to try, specifically for better gun access while driving, but I've been using it pretty much every day as a BUG holster.

However, I can't say how it would work with a semi-auto like your Shield.

And just as a side note, if you're going to carry a gun, expect it to get some finish wear.
 
I've been running a Wilderness Tactical Renegade ankle holster for my S & W 340PD. It holds the weapon securely even when running, which I don't do a lot of anymore. I like the fact that with the elastic retention strap, there is no noise when you draw the revolver. I've tried other ankle rigs, but have not found any that conceal a weapon as well. I have another high quality ankle rig that is made of rigid leather and is formed to fit my 340PD. However, the rigidity of it and the leather band that encircles the ankle has a tendency to "print". Notable also is the fact that the sheepskin backing on the Renegade is comfortable and limits the holster from riding down my ankle.

It's commendable that you still subscribe to the "sheep-dog" mentality. Most officers I know, active and retired, don't carry.

"When the drum beats for battle, it's too late to sharpen the sword".

Good luck with your selection.

HTH.

JPJ
 
I would recommend the Galco Ankle Glove. They also make an Ankle Light, but I would not recommend this model except for "mouse guns."

I have carried J frame S&W ( 60, 342, and 940) off and on for forty years. My first ankle holster was a Jackass Leather (forerunner of Galco) and still use the Ankle Glove. I have also carried a Kahr PM 40 and Sig 365 in an Ankle Glove and highly recommend it. For me I always use the optional "Ankle Calf Strap." This keeps the holster from sliding down your leg.
 
I use an Uncle Mike's with my Kahr PM-9 and it's fine. I picked the Uncle Mike's because it has the additional strap that goes around the calf under the knee for added support.
 
There is no such thing as a "good ankle holster." There are only varying levels of "this sucks." That said, I used an Uncle Mike's with a S&W Model 37 or 642-2 until I was able to get approval for cargo pants for my detail. Then, I carried the 642-2 or Model 12-2 in my off-side cargo pocket in a pocket holster.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
 
I would not agree with the above statement. I carried a Glock 26 and then a 642 in an Alessi ankle rig for years and loved it.

Now I spoke to Lou Alessi(may he rest in peace) himself when I ordered the two and both were top notch.

I will say the Glock was uncomfortable due to weight compared to the J frame. But that wasn't the holsters fault.
 
I have a Galco (ankle glove, I think) that came with a Chief’s I got in a trade. I’ve been wearing it for about a year and a half, first with a 342 until I didn’t like what was happening to the finish, then an SP-101, then finally a 640 Pro for the last couple of months. I’m pretty happy with it and it’s wearing well. I keep it pushed down inside my work boot, so the weight isn’t an issue.
 
I carry a Smith J Frame in a Wilderness Tactical Renegade every work day. Either the full elastic or leather version. It is the most comfortable, concealable, etc.

I also have an Alessi, a Kramer, a Galco Ankle Glove and a DeSantis Apache and a couple others...all collect dust because the Wilderness Tactical Renegage feels that much better. The Galco without retention snap is a reasonably close second.
 
+1 for the Galco Ankle Glove. I tried several different models before I finally decided to spend the money for a quality ankle holster. I carried my backup M649 8+ hours a day for many years & I believe I even had to buy a second holster because I wore the first one out. When I eventually got a Glock 27 as a backup, I again bought another Ankle Glove and never had a instance of the gun coming loose. I ALWAYS used the extra support of the upper calf garter, I wore a lightweight white stocking under the holster and then covered the holstered gun with my uniform black socks. Expensive - yes, but worth every penny for the comfort and security it provided.
 
I have been wearing a Galco ankle glove for 20 plus years. I carry a 638 in it but I have tried a Glock 26 in same rig but it was too heavy.
 
I have been using the Galco Ankle Glove since the early 1980s

Mostly I carried a stainless Chiefs Special there, but I have two others. One for a Smith and Wesson 669 and the other carries a Colt Double Eagle Officers.

I had three of four different (inexpensive) ankle rigs in the few years before learning about the ankle glove, all were just a waste of time and money

When I wore out the velcro and lyrca band on my original ankle glove, Galco had me ship the holster back to them and they restitched a new backing onto the leather holster for an extremely reasonable fee.

I have yet to wear out the refurbished one.
 
elm_creek_smith said:
There is no such thing as a "good ankle holster." There are only varying levels of "this sucks." That said, I used an Uncle Mike's with a S&W Model 37 or 642-2 until I was able to get approval for cargo pants for my detail. Then, I carried the 642-2 or Model 12-2 in my off-side cargo pocket in a pocket holster.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yep. I agree. The absolute slowest holster in the world. Comfortable, yes. Practical, no. Unless you're kidnapped or something where you're allowed to time enough to access your gun.

I carried one as an undercover LEO, but had no illusions as to its practicality.
 
Back when I was flying Starlifters in the Air Force, our regs required we carry our S&W Model 15 snubby holstered and concealed. Most "assumed" they were required to use the terrible shoulder holster they'd been issued, but I never found any reg requiring its use. So I picked up a cheap nylon ankle holster. It made sense- I was sitting at the FE panel for five hours or more, and the shoulder holster put the gun in my armpit.

I picked up the cheap nylon ankle holster mostly as an experiment- if it worked with that heavy revolver then maybe after I would spring for something leather. Because the holster was so cheap I had no issues customizing it to fit me better.

The holster was a padded belt that velcro'd around your ankle, with a support strap that went up above your calf, where a thin unpadded belt velcro'd around your leg. I sat at the FE panel one flight and sewed the support strap back on itself to shorten it.

I wore the holster fastened around the outside of my flight boot, so that part was very comfortable. The support strap wasn't comfortable around my skin so I had to wear tall socks.

I experimented with the gun on the inside and outside of my ankle, but either position threw my leg from the momentum of the heavy revolver- walking normally took some concentration. Then I tried positioning the gun in front, over my foot, and it was perfect. The weight carried there without throwing my leg out to the left (inside the ankle) or the right (outside the ankle). One armory cop had to comment that it was going to hurt if the gun went off, but I pointed out that cartridges do not spontaneously combust, and even if one did, it was a one and six chance it would be the one lined up with the barrel. ;-)

I flew with that configuration for over a decade until the M9 came along :mad: which sucked more than I can express.

I'm not a fan of ankle carry now, but I see it as useful if you're seated a lot. I just ordered an cross-draw holster for my P320 for times when I'll be behind the wheel most of the day.
 
I use this for my J frames.
DeSantis Right Hand Black Leather Ankle Holster 044BAS1Z0
I like to ankle carry and I have tried a lot of different brands and designs. I personally do not like the Galco ankle glove. This Desantis is very comfortable to wear, it is easy to put on/ take off but most importantly it secures the gun very well. There is no worry about the gun tipping outward.
There are several Desantis models that I don't like. I am particularly not fond of the wide elastic band concept. It just doesn't work right.
This one in particular is fantastic.
DeSantis Right Hand Black Leather Ankle Holster 044BAS1Z0 - S&W J 332, 340, 342, 432PD, 442, 640, 640-1, 642, M&P 340 2in.-2 1/4in. | 34% Off 4.3 Star Rating w/ Free S&H
 
+1

326MOD10 said:
I would not agree with the above statement. I carried a Glock 26 and then a 642 in an Alessi ankle rig for years and loved it.

Now I spoke to Lou Alessi(may he rest in peace) himself when I ordered the two and both were top notch.

I will say the Glock was uncomfortable due to weight compared to the J frame. But that wasn't the holsters fault.
Click to expand...

I carried an agency-issued G26 for years as my BUG/OD in an Alessi ankle holster. And, now that I'm in retirement, if I'm not wearing cargo shorts (and pocket carrying a different gun), I'm usually carrying my personal G26 in that same Alessi ankle holster while wearing jeans or other long pants.
 
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