Revolver Holster Advice for Rookie: Steel Challenge

I'm a Rookie w/respect to S&W firearms, Competition and Equipment. I'm interested in trying "Steel Challenge" with a production revolver. I have not been able to discern what holsters are allowed for a production revolver. Any advice would be appreciated.

To add a bit of complexity, I'm also a lefty.

I did see a blurb in SCSARules book that indicates "No race Holsters." for production revolvers on pg 14. I'm not sure what features determine if a holster is a "Race Holster" or not, but I saw one holster that looks like it might not be appropriate. It's the left handed SpeedBeez in the link below. Any advice would be appreciated.

Speed Beez Left Hand Outside the Waist Band S&W 625, 627, 629 4 Inch Tactical Revolver Holster (Fits most Smith & Wesson 4 Inch N-Frame) IDPA and USPSA Legal Speed Rig (LEFT) - Speed BeezSpeed Beez

http://steelchallenge.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/SCSARules.pdf

I have been active competitor in USPSA, IDPA, Steel Challenge, Bowling Pins, etc. gun games. The Speed Bees holster you linked is NOT a race holster and is acceptable.

There are two other major manufacturers of holsters for revolvers that you can look up: BladeTech and Comp-Tac.

You can email or call any of these companies and get straight answers to your questions. This website is not a good source for competition questions since we're mostly geezers who don't compete.

I am not familiar with the Steel Challenge, but the style of holster that I am familiar with that is referred to as a "race holster" would be similar to the following:

Safariland 002 Cup Challenge Competition Holster

Safariland 014 Holster

I would suggest going to a Steel Challenge match and both observe and ask questions!

I have a BladeTech with drop offset and would recommend that one. It's an inexpensive and secure holster. I have many other types to compare it with and even make my own "race" style holster.

The SpeedBeez holster appears to be made by Comp-Tac, and as said, is fine. As is the Blade Tech Classic OWB.

This is a Race holster...



They secure the gun by means of the trigger guard, making it both secure and covering the trigger, as is required by the gun games where they are legal. This one is a Double Alpha but most of the competition gear manufacturers make some variation of this race holster.

The Safariland Cup holster is old school and not quite sure if this would be considered a race holster under Steel Challenge rules.

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Fostereast said:

I'm a Rookie w/respect to S&W firearms, Competition and Equipment. I'm interested in trying "Steel Challenge" with a production revolver. I have not been able to discern what holsters are allowed for a production revolver. Any advice would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

I'm confused. There is no "production revolver". You can shoot a revolver as an "Optic Revolver" or an "Iron Sight Revolver" if it has iron sights and no comp, or in "Production" if you comply with "Production" rules.

"Optic Revolver" and "Iron Sight Revolver" have no holster restrictions. If you shoot "Production" with your revolver you must comply with "Production" holster rules. "No Race Holsters" if you're shooting "Production".

I've always shot in the revolver classes (or open before optics revolver) and used my usual USPSA race holster.

Check the USPSA rule book for "Production" rules.

Never realized that Blade Tech made revolver holsters, too.
Thanks toolguy!
So, I ordered one for the TRR8 that I'm using for steel.
Quite deep, so I plan to trim some off the top.
Will run it at next week's match.

TAROMAN:

You just didn't look far enough - Blade Tech's Competition Pro Series Speed Rig would have saved you the trouble of modifying the one you bought. And they make it for the TRR8 also.

Pro-SPro-Series Speed Rig Holster | Blade Tech | Holsters

Adios,

Pizza Bob

Thanks,
Live and learn..

tomcatt51 said:

I'm confused. There is no "production revolver". You can shoot a revolver as an "Optic Revolver" or an "Iron Sight Revolver" if it has iron sights and no comp, or in "Production" if you comply with "Production" rules.

"Optic Revolver" and "Iron Sight Revolver" have no holster restrictions. If you shoot "Production" with your revolver you must comply with "Production" holster rules. "No Race Holsters" if you're shooting "Production".

I've always shot in the revolver classes (or open before optics revolver) and used my usual USPSA race holster.

Check the USPSA rule book for "Production" rules.

Click to expand...

This is correct. For steel challenge or for that matter USPSA you can use a "speed holster" for revolver.

As mentioned, in Steel Challenge there are two revo classes, OSR (optical sight revolver) and ISR (Iron sight revolver). In USPSA there is only 1 revolver class (ISR). If you use an optic on a revolver in USPSA it puts you in open class with all of the open automatics where most of us would get creamed. Either way in both USPSA or Steel Challenge a speed holster is allowable.

I shoot Steel Challenge in OSR and use the exact same holster Pizza Bob is showing, the DAA Race Master. A couple of weeks ago I was an RO at the East Coast Steel Challenge Championship Match and ran numerous top level and pro revolver shooters through a stage and the predominate holster in OSR and ISR was the Race Master. My advice to anyone interested in Steel Challenge revolver is get a speed holster now because you will, sooner or later, decide you need one so get it over with at the start.

About two hours ago I picked up another S&W 929 so I can have one (929) for OSR and another for ISR (and USPSA Revolver). One gun will not cut it.

A less expensive alternative to the excellent DAA (actually it's a "race holster" not a "speed holster") is the Ghost Holster. For Steel Challenge you do not really need moon clip holders on your belt as you can place then on the table which is right next to you at the shooting box. You might find it convenient to have at least a few moon clip holders attached to your belt for "Outter Limits" because if you run out of ammo at the center box it's a long way to the table for another moon clip for a reload.

For Steel Challenge it is really nice to have an 8 shot revolver but you will see a few 6 0r 7 shoot revos.

ON EDIT: You could, if you want, shoot a revolver in USPSA or Steel Challenge with the semi-auto guns in production class. If this is your plan then you would not be able to use a race/speed holster. However I cannot imagine anyone would do this; shoot a revolver in production class. The Steel Challenge rules are a bit fizzy (to me at least) with respect to revolver, as I mentioned there are two classes (OSR and ISR). I'm not sure about the use of compensators in either class, most revo shooters in SC use bunny fart loads anyway.