Quote:
Originally Posted by rednichols
The images on Bullard's site show holsters that surely will end up in folks' 'box of holsters' as having an extreme carry angle (38 degrees positive) suited only to Small Of Back carry. The norm for carrying at 4:00 is 24 degrees; so, substantially less than 38 degrees which will make the pistol print anywhere but at that back of the waist. These will end up in that pesky 'box o' holsters' that everyone has.
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Uhmmm, yeah, no.
There is no "norm". Everyone is built differently, has different length arms, different sized hands AND different preferences. Thus there is NO one-style-fits-all.
You also assume a lot in the printing issue. Not everyone wears a tight t-shirt when carrying. Many of us use strong leather belts as well as wear suspenders to prevent pant-sag when carrying a metal-framed pistol. Many of us have learned our former shirt wardrobe doesn't work for carrying & shirts need to bump up a size to cover properly.
I know I have asked my friends if I'm printing & they tell me "no". They're gun guys as well, so they know what to look for.
Nor do I know of a single person in my circle who carries at the 3:00 position. To me, that's just insane to do so. I personally carry at the 4:00 position, just behind my hipbone. There's nothing to "print" in that position, it's behind my body, not to the side of it.
I choose & recommend the Bodyguard model due to the leather flap between a gun's hammer & my body. I don't wear t-shirts, certainly not in the Southern summers. So, I want protection between the hammer & my skin. The Bodyguard provides that on every single one of that models style. I can sit comfortably in a vehicle or chair, bend forward or whatever without a hammer pinching me. Even on a striker pistol, it'll keep body sweat off the gun's slide.
I also note your Galco has a thumb strap retention. That adds valuable time to a draw, time that one may not have to protect themselves or their family. Yes, I know the purpose of the strap, but *I* don't plan on climbing fences, walls or a host of other objects. Thus I have neither a desire nor need for said strap.
The pic you showed of the Bullard holster does not show a true replica of its angle, IMO. I further add that carrying in the 4:00 position will benefit from a slightly forward cant so to allow the draw to come forward as well as up from the holster. This allows a faster time of front-sight-on-target, IMO.
Stating the obvious, not everyone will want to employ the same carry or draw method of everyone else. What works for JoeBob may not work for BillyBob & vice versa.
But to just dismiss the Bodyguard as a viable option right off the bat is both shortsighted & illogical.
Lastly, the small-of-the-back method of carry HAS to be THE most uncomfortable method ever invented. Ever sit in a hardbacked chair doing that? Or a lengthy time in a vehicle? It's like trying to walk with a marble in each shoe, IMO.
Lastly, I had a major issue with Galco's CS about a year or two ago. It became SO bad I just sent back the jackass rig I bought & got a full refund. I also spoke to one of the managers (he called me, I'm not a Karen!
) & told him what happened. He was amazed at what I told him that had transpired. I have NEVER been treated like that with Bullard Leather.
Bullard is a mom-pop owned & ran business. They CARE about their customers & want their return business. Galco? They're known nationally, they know they're gonna sell their stuff down the road, so they don't seem to care, IMO.
My .o2
Holster for a SIG M11-A1
Linear Mode
