IWB best?

[miles71]

Alright, with the temps rising I am ready to try something new. I am ready to break it to my trusty pancake holster and looking at IWB options. I have heard great things about crossbreed, but what do you guys think.

Please only suggestions from experience.
TD

 

[laskt9]

Just do a little searching. Plenty of threads here and on mannnyyyyy other forums


Edit. I have a foxx

 

[Poodle Soup]

I have a crossbreed. Carry a full sized 9mm (fnx9) in it. Really like it, my only issue was sitting down in the car the mag release (which was against my hip) would get pressed and the mag would be sitting in the car seat when I got up. A little bit of trimming on the leather and it fits perfect now with 0 problems.

I would assume my gun would have a problem with that with ANY leather/kydex holster similar to the cross breed. The kydex is molded to your gun, the leather is just a piece of leather that will mold to your shape after awhile.

 

[GyMac]

Milt Sparks Summer Special. A traditional favorite. I also have a Don Hume clip-on for my Makarov that is very nice.

 

[Houdini1953]

An IWB holster has both pro and cons, and one would be sitting in a vehicle also where you carry, 3:00 3:30 4:00 or whatever would be subject to your build and the holster itself.

I have three IWB holsters and two of them are dust collectors and the Comp Tac Minotaur is my daily carry holster. it is of superior quality and already has what would be referred to as a combat cut much easier than the Crossbreed or Shielded Holster which seem too bulky and have unfinished rawhide instead of finished and stitched leather and kydex as well as a smaller overall spread for ease of putting on or taking off.

I also have an MTAC Minotaur for my Shield which is to small for it to fit in my larger MTAC which accommodates all my other M&P's 9mm 40c 40 and 45's!

Yes they are pricey but well worth the extra costs!

 

[wheelyfun66]

TT Gunleather, all the way!

I've tried many of the most obvious choices (if you frequent gun forums, you know most of them), but have found the best comfort and concealment with:
TT Gunleather "Mike's Special" IWB
Comptac Minotaur IWB
Fist, Inc. ultra-thin kydex IWB

and I have a giant box full of the ones that.......were oh-so-close to being right!!

 

[Clovishound]

What kind of weapon are you carrying?

I carry a compact double stack 9 IWB. I have a small single clip molded leather holster and carry about 2:00. It works for me. I like being able to easily pull the weapon in the holster to stash in my vehicle when I cannot carry into a restaurant that serves, or other prohibited area. I'm not wild about stashing a naked weapon. I don't think I would be able to reinstall a hybrid double clip holster while sitting in my car, and would probably need to just leave the empty holster on, until I could retrieve my weapon.

The state is looking to change the law and allow carry in a restaurant that serves. That would make a hybrid more attractive to me.

 

[lawandorder]

GyMac nailed it, the Milt Sparks Summer Special is the gold standard which all inside the waist band holsters are judged against.

 

[Diezelson]

I have been using a Don Hume IWB for a j frame and love it. Quality holster for the money.

 

[bmyers]

I use Crossbreed Mini Tuck with a Shield. Very comfortable and conceals well.

 

[Arik]

Galco King Tuck and Crossbreed for me. I prefer the wider spread. Im not in a race when taking it on/off. I do it only when im changing pants or guns.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[brokenprism]

I'm kind of surprised that you want to carry IWB weith warmer weather. I'm going just the opposite direction -- OWB. IWB is a sweat inducing carry method.

You never said what you're carrying, but since this is the S&W forum, I'll guess revolver. I would have said that the Galco Summer Comfort (Summer Special ripoff) was good up to the N frame size -- they're about the only maker who builds for N frames -- but they place the cylinder above the belt to avoid the 'stretch' you're going to get with the waistband of your pants. This is a bad tradeoff, in my opinion, because it puts the center of gravity above the belt since most of the mass of a concealable revolver (i.e., short barrel) is behind the barrel, so my N frame always felt like it was about to squirt out of the rig. A smaller gun, like a J frame, may not suffer from that.

For a short barrel gun, I'd go OWB, with something that has a retaining strap. Don Hume has lots of inexpensive but functional choices there, like the 721. I say this while waiting for a Milt Sparks open top PMK...

 

[walkin' trails]

I got a Milt Sparks Summer Special II for my M&P 45 full size going into last summer and it works great! Most comfortable holster I own.

 

[A10]

I know you are looking for IWB but take a gander at Kramers horsehide paddle holster. Spendy, but very comfortable and it rides real close to your body making it easily concealed. My wife doesn't notice mine when I'm wearing it under a loose shirt.

 

[miles71]

Ordered a super tuck crossbreed second. Price was right to try out. I carry a single stack 4013. My oldest pistol but shoots best. Only a whisper bigger than my 3913.

I will only use it with a suit/dress shirt or in a situation I need to dress nice. I have a don Hume leather pancake OWB I really like, but can't always wear something to cover correctly.

Let you know what happens.
TD

 

[66snub]

For me, the focus on an IWB holster shouldn't depend so much on the brand, but where its being carried and what the gun is. I prefer IWB for CCW, except maybe in winter.

For my J frame, I like appendix IWB and I simply use one of those little cloth pouch style holsters with the plastic clip. They cost around $12 and present very quickly on the draw.

For my K frame snubbie, I go with a crossbreed-style (self built) holster carried at the 4 o'clock position. Sometimes I'll use an appendix carry with this piece using a holster like I use for the J frame.

My LCP is carried in a a pouch-style holster like my J frame, but depending on my mood, I may carry it in the same holster, but again at the 4 o'clock.

On a somewhat unrelated note, my J frame and LCP are always carried together. You just never know, but I digress...

I also occasionally carry a Sig P226 9mm and I also like a crossbreed-style holster (self built) for this one. This one is also carried at the 4 o'clock.

For me, the size of the gun and where you are able to carry it are the primary considerations for the IWB holsters that I'm considering for use. There are some tremendous holster makers out there, just make sure you have the set up that meets your needs.

 

[Arik]

I'm kind of surprised that you want to carry IWB weith warmer weather. I'm going just the opposite direction -- OWB. IWB is a sweat inducing carry method.

You never said what you're carrying, but since this is the S&W forum, I'll guess revolver. I would have said that the Galco Summer Comfort (Summer Special ripoff) was good up to the N frame size -- they're about the only maker who builds for N frames -- but they place the cylinder above the belt to avoid the 'stretch' you're going to get with the waistband of your pants. This is a bad tradeoff, in my opinion, because it puts the center of gravity above the belt since most of the mass of a concealable revolver (i.e., short barrel) is behind the barrel, so my N frame always felt like it was about to squirt out of the rig. A smaller gun, like a J frame, may not suffer from that.

For a short barrel gun, I'd go OWB, with something that has a retaining strap. Don Hume has lots of inexpensive but functional choices there, like the 721. I say this while waiting for a Milt Sparks open top PMK...

I find the IWB very comfortable in summer. Our summers are about the same as S. Florida, 95-100 degrees, hot, muggy, humid. I wear jeans, tanktop and a tshirt. I know it sounds counter intuitive but it actually works. The tanktop is tucked in so i dont have the holster rubbing against my skin and absorbs any sweat so it doesnt show on the tshirt. With a slightly-larger-than-form-fitting (just slightly looser) tshirt over top it creates a small pocket of air in between and actually helps keep me cooler. The smallest gun i carry is a Glock 19. Of course this all depends on the individual's body type and what they can tolerate.

OP, there is no one size fits all. You'll have to experiment and see what works best for you.

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[Dikinalaska]

I agree with the point that there's no one size that fits all motto. I rarely reply to holster threads because most everyone has the same answers. Not saying any are wrong, but it gets a bit repetitive. Anyway, I only answer when nobody else mentions the Foxx Holsters. While someone did here, it was barely touched on. I've got a Foxx Trapp kydex holster. I love it. Super comfy, and VERY light. It has a single clip, which there is different options of what type, I got the J-hook and haven't had it move yet. The clip is cant-adjustable and if you take it off and modify it you can get some extreme angles if you want. I didn't, the most forward cant works just fine for me, but I wear right at 3:00, so YMMV. It's SUPER secure in there too. I can hold it upside down and shake and it doesn't fall out, I even run on occasion with no problems. It secures by sandwiching the kydex tight around the trigger guard which works wonderfully. It's still easy to draw, but never moves in the holster, which I like as well because it's not messing with my blueing yet. They have a 14-day(IIRC) money back guarantee, don't like it, get your money back. And a lifetime guarantee, anything you'd like changed/fixed he'll do it for free. Read over on a couple different cc forums hot they sent theirs in just for some trimming/smoothing and only paid shipping. I forget the guys name, but he's local here in the US and great to work with. Oh, guess I should mention I carry a Shield.

Here's how small the holster is, barely bigger than the gun at all.


Adjustable cant


J-hook which I highly recommend.


How it secures the weapon around the trigger guard.

 

[Dikinalaska]

...cont.


And how it closes back up after your weapon is drawn. It's VERY easy to reholster as well.


I got the slide shield option, an extra $5 I think. So far I haven't had the slide or sights jab into my side so I guess it works lol.

IIRC after the J-hook option and slide shield or whatever it's called option, I think it was right around $55. YYMV, but for $55 and a money-back guarantee, why not try them first? They have different styles, colors, and designs too. Foxxholsters.com

 

[sipowicz]

I like my guns like I like my women...wrapped in leather.