Sick and tired of the elitist snobbery

I mean, SERIOUSLY? You REALLY expect to escape the big box of holsters you bought and no longer use, like most of us have accumulated?
By getting advice over the internet, from people who have never seen you?
Everyone that has seen THAT work, please chime in.

My greatest asset on buying any type of shooting equipment has been finding one of my (usually competitor) associates that will let me try his before I buy.
 
OP, welcome to the world of "My box of Holsters."

And yes, body type matters. If it didn't, there would be that One Holster that's best for everyone.

Now go to the for sales and put your unused holsters up for sale. You'll take a loss, but you'll recover some money.
 
I know this is not that pertinent to snobs and elitists but I do ALL of my holster shopping in the used holster bins at my LGS. Most I ever paid was $29 and I can take it to the counter where a clerk will let me try a gun in the holster for proper fit. Now I have a whole drawer full of good, name-brand usable holsters and leather mag holders. And I really enjoy cleaning them up and making them look nearly new. It's good therapy.

One of my very favorite finds is a homemade, 12 round .357 belt cartridge holder. It's just cool.
 
IMHO, a rant about a bad purchase. Elitist snobbery? I'd call it good advertising. Unless it was an absolute custom job, contact the seller for a refund and possible replacement. I've purchased athletic shoes online that didn't fit as advertised and the company replaced them with no problem or added cost. Businesses today have to maintain good customer service to stay in business.
 
I liken getting the right holster to buying the right suit. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy an off the rack suit from Jos. A. Banks then good for you. They fit an impressive percentage of the adult male population. However, if you're outside their norm then you will be less than pleased. Now, no one with any sense buys a suit from an internet source with the expectation that it will be a perfect fit, and neither should someone buying a holster. The best way to select the right holster is not to trust someone's opinion, but rather try various models yourself until the right one(s) are identified. Then go on line and get that EXACT model at the best price you can find. If you are forced to go with a model from a well known provider such as Milt Sparks then understand a waiting period will be involved.

Last thought: rather than blaming those with opinions (elitist or not), try blaming the individual that assumed what they had to say or recommend was somehow incontrovertible. In this day and age of the internet that approach to making an important decision is just silly.

Keith
 
More sugguestion for OP

Galco offers holsters they call somthing like " Flatside" , to which the pice of ltather closest to body is flat, and the outer leather is molded for the entier width of the gun.

In general , an open bottom pancake will conform better than a closed bottom.

The style of belt slide with fore & aft slots will be more flexible than a full length pancake. More of bbl/ slide will be exposed, decide your trade offs. Also more concealable. While there are fans of pancakes with or without a thumbstrap, on a belt slide , the gun is more suseptable to being pushed out of the holster by having muzzle end contact a chair arm, or whatever. I prefer thumbreaks anyway, so no issue for me. For guns that either have modern high tech indestructable finish, or already have *character*, I'm not too bothered by having the extra exposure.

And yes , the box of holsters is inescapable.

In my formative carrying years, a semi-local Police Supply store had a very deep stock. If I were interested in a particular style of holster, Vern could produce a half dozen different models/ brands to test fit. Also I haunted the used leather box at every oportunity, and would buy holster that were different, just to try to see if I might like them either generally, or for specialized use. But alas, Vern closed down decades ago, and used leather is now rare.

Not sure what position OP is placing his holster, but will probably have fewer issues with conforming if placed at 4:00- 4:30 position vs 3:00 . ( Right handed references for behind the hips, vs point of the hip.

All else fails , consider an Avenger style holster. Those are tunnel loop center of holster, AND a trailing loop to pull closer into body/ keep in place with less shifting.
 
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And remember, when someone says this , that or the other is the absolite best....what they really mean is "this is the best for me, that I have found as of today." Whats "best" for me may be totally wrong for you.
They're just relating their experiences, as they apply to them.

Take all that with several large grains of salt...no one can say whats best for another person . Calm down and carry on.
Gary
 
It is true plenty of opinions about holsters (and every other topic from A to Z) are posted online. It is equally true that we are free to ignore them and make up our own minds. I use online reviews to guide, perhaps confirm, but never to make my decisions.

You will spend money on carry gear, either by trial and error or by wearing out stuff you like, so to me it is part of the known costs. Good luck in your future searches.
 
The Galco Combat Master is the best holster, period. Anyone who doesn't use one is a

Just kidding, of course. It's what works best for me, and when asked, that's the holster I recommend. It may or may not work well for someone else.

I would have a big box of holsters that didn't work well for me, but thanks to ebay, I don't. Thankfully, quality retains most of its value.

I don't like plastic guns or holsters, but I'm not going to disparage someone else's choice of one, if that works for them. Now, that would be elitist.

It sound like you're still figuring out what does and doesn't work. Welcome to the club!
 
I really don't understand why you would label someone as a "snob" or "elitist" simply for expressing a personal opinion as to what works best for THEM.

In most enthusiast gatherings there tends to be the elitist factor. When I played in the sports car world it was the tire du jour. If you didn't buy the most expensive and most current tire, you were wasting your money.

Sometimes folks do lose track of the idea that what works for them may not work for you. When I reffed basketball, the popular shoe was Converse. I can't wear Converse as they just don't fit me. More than once I was asked, "What do you mean they don't fit you? They fit me perfectly."

Another thing that many enthusiasts lose sight of is that not all of us have the same resources or are willing to spend those resources on what is the greatest and bestest.

My Norinco 1911A1 (with trigger job by me) shoots as well for me as a $2,000 custom tuned gun. I guess that makes me a cheap gun snob.
 
Dear 336:
You need t get a life and quit worrying about other peoples opinions unless they are putting food on your family's table and are paying your bills. Remember, "opinions are like A-- H----. Every one has one and generally all used to spout out the same thing.
 
I'm so sick and tired of all of the generalized elitist statements that get thrown around as if it's the De-facto honest to goodness truth.

. . . I bought a pancake holster from a very well known and regarded maker based off all of the good reviews here and else where for a 4" S&W M10. I got the holster and was deeply upset when I found it wasn't suitable for my slim frame/build. When worn there is huge space between my body and the back belt slot on the holster, so big I can slip three fingers in between my body and the holster, unacceptable. Now I have a holster that I can't even use and I'm out all of that money for what is supposed to be a great holster.
Not sure that I understand what statement was supposed to be elitist. However, as many others have pointed out, a lot of us have or had large boxes of unusable holsters. That said, I wouldn't be so sure that yours belongs in one of those boxes. As Iggy pointed out, that holster may just require breaking in. This may be even more true of the better holsters (thicker, stiffer, longer-lasting) than of the cheaper ones. I have had such holsters.

I wouldn't throw it out just yet.
 
Try some deep breathing and maybe also you might find a competent saddle maker in your area that can address your individual needs. The other option is stop putting stock in other peoples opinions as they are just that. Most of the people giving their endorsements to a particular maker of holsters, belts etc. is doing so out of their own personal enjoyment of a found product, is that so difficult to understand, they are just trying to pass on their good experience. Try not to read in to it to much. Good Luck
 
I liken getting the right holster to buying the right suit. If you are lucky enough to be able to buy an off the rack suit from Jos. A. Banks then good for you.

Any "off the rack" suit from Banks, Brooks Brothers, or Nieman Marcus is going to need the ministrations of a good tailor to fit properly. That's for anyone who cares about how they look. Sleeves, trouser bottoms, waist, seat, collar all need a bit of tweaking.
 
No Holster box, EVER!

So, as I hear over & over how everyone has or will have a box of undesireable holsters to bear; I submit my disagreement to that.

I know first hand what it is like to waste my money on things & I hate nothing more.

I have 2 different 9mms, each with a holster - THAT WORKS PERFECTLY!
I spent the time to research what the options were, discovered the most prominant features required & made, what turned out to be the perfect choises - every time. I first determined what was required from me; IWB or OWB, material, cost,type & style, manufacturing process, etc. Then I made my choise. As I already mentioned, everything I purchased works for me, perfectly. I could not ask for anything better.
BOX NEVER NEEDED!
So, not everyone will end up with an unnessesary box of goods.
Look beyond the hype & learn the product & material first.
Oh, did I mention, everything I purchased was on-line.
Most sellers will invite a customer to call them & ask questions about them & their product. This will give you great insight into their product & will answer many questions you may have.
Just wanted to clarify, that I do not have to "fit" into anyone else's mold!
Op, hope you find exactly what you are looking for.
Everyone have a wonderfully great day!
 
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