CrossBreed AIWB Reckoning System for Shield Plus

RenoHuskerDu

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I bought several Reckoning Systems for our private security firm. The Reckoning is what they named their AIWB (appendix inside waistband) holster, and the Accomplice is a mag holder that can be attached with a flexible mount. Together, CrossBreed calls them the Reckoning System.

We have assembled and tried them. I emailed CrossBreed initially because the mag rattles around in the Accomplice mag carrier. Customer Service advised I should adjust the retention screw, and I did so. That's really a band-aid, not a solution, in my opinion. I would very much prefer a mag holder that fits our Shield Plus 9mm mags correctly.

The mag no longer rattles around in there, but the Accomplice is fatter than it needs to be for our mags, and some of its edges are sharp. CrossBreed apparently chose a "one size fits many" approach, which is suboptimal unless it's a temporary situation they plan to address with a subsequent update.

The most direct competitor I found is a Tier 1 Concealed Axis Elite holster, but they don't make one for Shield Plus yet (for months, they keep saying "any week now"). I run a T1C Axis Elite for my duty size M&P9. Its mag holder is much superior, because it's only as big as it needs to be and therefore pushes into my belly less. It has a careful radius on all its edges, but the Accomplice has a few sharp ones. The T1C also comes with four differing sizes of foam wedges, for comfort. I wound up using a spare T1C wedge on the Accomplice, because otherwise it hurts my belly after a while.

CrossBreed offers an optional large leather patch to fit on the back of the Accomplice. But the leather patch does not let me angle the top of the mag tighter into my belly, thereby improving concealment, which the foam wedge does. You too could buy the foam wedge pack from T1C, and put one on your Accomplice. It's sold separately because over time they compress and need replacement.

On the positive side, the Accomplice does offer angle and height adjustments which T1C does not. When you order your Axis Elite, you have one fixed position option, and that can't be changed later. And given a choice with equal products, I always tend to choose a Christian vendor such as CrossBreed.

I should note that CrossBreed answers the phone and email promptly. This is sadly not the case with all holster vendors. It's a big plus. CrossBreed also ships out within a week. Many other holster vendors make you wait. T1C takes 6 weeks.

In a perfect world, CrossBreed will be introducing an Accomplice mag holder that closely fits the best-selling wave of high-capacity compact pistols and their thin double stack mags. That would be the Hellfire, Shield Plus, P365, Taurus GX4, and new entries from Ruger, Mossberg, and others. CrossBreed could address this booming sector with an Appendix that is not so oversized and merely throttled down with the retention screw.

Enough about the Accomplice, let's discuss the Reckoning. It is plenty comfortable as it's a kydex/leather hybrid. That touches hot buttons for some folks, but most will agree that hybrid is comfortable on the body. Retention is fine, and adjustable, but not as precise as a full-kydex holster. There are three different leather options to choose from, and several colors for the kydex.

The Reckoning has a big advantage over many other AIWBs I saw in that it has two belt clips. This keeps the holster from rocking left and right on your belt. I consider twin clips to be a necessity.

All screws need to be treated with LocTite blue, which is not included. But you have some already, right? Almost all holsters need it. You can use Super Glue instead, but then you could also use Uncle Mike's nylon holsters...

If you order a Reckoning, be sure to order the optional "claw" that reaches out and pushes against your EDC belt, holding the butt of the gun against your belly for better concealment. Otherwise the butt will pattern on your shirt. T1C includes a claw by default, iirc.

Overall the Reckoning System is a winner in my book. It is also reasonably priced, compared to the T1C which will set you back $200 with options. The Reckoning just needs a better Accomplice. I suspect that women will like the Reckoning for its comfort, and men will opt for the Axis Elite....if T1C ever gets it to market that is. Also, men with a little padding on the belly might find both equally comfortable. I'm tall but very slender, not much cushion for the pushin' as Spinal Tap said.

CrossBreed(R) Holsters | The Reckoning System
 
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I did not like my Reckoning+Accomplice. The belt clips were "unadjustable" for ride height or cant because of the design (the one on the optic/slide side "hit" the optic). Same issues as you with the mag pouch. Sent it back. I also like the Tier 1 a lot better. As it wasn't available, I ordered the Comp-Tac eV2 holster and IWB mag pouch. For half of the price of everything else, definitely worth it!
 
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I did not like my Reckoning+Accomplice. The belt clips were "unadjustable" for ride height or cant because of the design (the one on the optic/slide side "hit" the optic). Same issues as you with the mag pouch. Sent it back. I also like the Tier 1 a lot better. As it wasn't available, I ordered the Comp-Tac eV2 holster and IWB mag pouch. For half of the price of everything else, definitely worth it!

I just pulled mine out of my Sunday clothes to have a closer look at it...never had thought about height or cant because it's a good fit for me right out of the box.

You're right, the holster side can't be adjusted for height. You could however cant the slide side lower by raising the loop up one screw, which would also raise the butt a little bit. But if you do more than that one screw's worth, the claw device will no longer be right under your belt on the butt side, so it would no longer perform its function of pushing the butt against your belly to print less. I wonder if trying belt loops from other vendors could resolve that. CrossBreed has optional clips but they're not for AIWB, as far as I can tell. The belt loops look pretty standard so you could choose others that fit.

For the Accomplice mag holder, it can be canted and/or lowered. You do that with screw placement choice on the little flexy bit that links the Accomplice to the Reckoning. I lowered the mag by one screw and canted it nearly vertical.

Mag height is my only gripe with the Axis Elite, btw. The mag rides too high. You can order a lower mag carrier and I suggest that for anyone, whether or not you have an extended capacity mag. The default is high for easy access and tac reload. But an inch lower is still plenty easy for me to grab and doesn't poke into my ribs when I bend over.

I can see how the slide side loop would hit an optic. While I like CrossBreed, that's indicative of their apparent one-size-fits-many approach to design. That's what renders the Accomplice oversized and less competitive when compared to the slim mag holder on Tier1 Concealed's Axis Elite. On the positive side, CrossBreed touts its ability to holster any gun, while here I am waiting many months for Tier1 to even offer a holster for my Shield Plus....
 
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