Thumb Break for CC?

[walkin' trails]

You done good by purchasing a belt designed to support a handgun. There's nothing wrong with a thumb break as long as you practice with it. Start slow and build up your speed as you go. Breaking the snap should be accomplished with the same motion as you grip your revolver. I was running a combat course once for some collegues who carried concealed, and insisted that they ensure that they're guns were snapped in if they had a holster with an active retention device. One such gunslinger gave himself a wedgie when he tugged so hard on his pistol trying to get it out of the holster. He forgot to break the snap. He furthermore confessed that he never snapped the gun in.

Most good custom gun leather anymore does not rely on an active retention device as the holster is moulded to the handgun. Take a look at offerings from Milt Sparks, Kramer, El Paso Saddelry, Del Fatti, etc. They cost more, but they will also last longer. A J-frame S&W is pretty versitile for carry methods.

 

[smithman 10]

Thumb break on your holster?

There's nothing like having your handgun hit the ground once to convince you that a thumb break might be a good idea.

Happened in my gravel driveway when I was leaning over to pick something up. Glad it didn't happen in the supermarket!

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
While I was working I was a firm beleiver in a Level 3 duty holster.
Retired I CCW (at present) a S&W "N" Frame 4" in a Lobo pancake holster.
Ray makes them that holds the weapon secure without a retaining strap. I use the "Dual Carry" Pancake holster. With this model I can CCW strong side or crossdraw. At present I CCW crossdraw.

 

[AZretired]

For belt carry of a snubby I have been using the El Paso "Street Combat" for years. Pancake design, no thumbbreak, yet very secure. All my snubbies are either of the hammerless type (642, 640 & 638) or a M64 with bobbed hammer so thumbreaks a kinda useless.

My department did not require thumbbreaks on concealed holsters.

 

[shep854]

One more for a thumb-break belt holster. I actually pocket-carry, but have always been more comfortable with the feature. When I carried a Colt Commander, it was cocked & locked, and I liked having the strap between the hammer and firing pin, even with all the Colt's safeties.

 

[MaximumLawman]

For belt carry of a snubby I have been using the El Paso "Street Combat" for years. Pancake design, no thumbbreak, yet very secure. All my snubbies are either of the hammerless type (642, 640 & 638) or a M64 with bobbed hammer so thumbreaks a kinda useless.

I think I've got the same holster. If I turn it upside down with my bobbed-hammer model 66 in it, the gun will fall out. Adjusting the tension screw doesn't help. Correction, it's a "Double Agent" holster. I wish Blackhawk made a Serpa holster for K frames, but they don't. I contacted them about it and they have no plans to make one either.

 

[Neumann]

If you carry in a pocket, including a coat pocket, the last thing you want is excessive retention. The gun should slip out of the pocket, free of the holster. Two popular models are the DeSantis "Nemesis" and Galco leather holster, both in several sizes, including for J-frame revolvers.

 

[snubbyfan]

I think I've got the same holster. If I turn it upside down with my bobbed-hammer model 66 in it, the gun will fall out. Adjusting the tension screw doesn't help. Correction, it's a "Double Agent" holster. I wish Blackhawk made a Serpa holster for K frames, but they don't. I contacted them about it and they have no plans to make one either.

That's a nice looking holster, like the basket weave. I can see how the tension screw wouldn't make much of a difference in retention.
On my holsters, I mold them to retain the gun in the trigger guard. You can turn it over and shake it and it won't fall out. But it will come free if you yank it out.

 

[MaximumLawman]

I can see how the tension screw wouldn't make much of a difference in retention.

Exactly...Screw should be higher up. On the rare occasions I've used it, I wear it with a basketweave garrison belt, fairly snug, with jeans. The tight belt snugs it up a little more but not as much as I'd like. I expected better from EPS. And it's a pricey holster, I think around 90.00 now, although I think I spent less. I wish the made a serpa for a K-frame and wonder why they don't. I love my J-Frame serpa. I also think they don't make one for a Colt Officer's model .45. Although my Officer's Model fits fine in a Serpa made for a Commander.

 

[AZretired]

I think I've got the same holster. If I turn it upside down with my bobbed-hammer model 66 in it, the gun will fall out. Adjusting the tension screw doesn't help. Correction, it's a "Double Agent" holster. I wish Blackhawk made a Serpa holster for K frames, but they don't. I contacted them about it and they have no plans to make one either.

No mine is a traditional pancake style (#88 Street Combat), yours looks more like their "Double Agent". Nice holster though.

 

[Poohgyrr]

For what it's worth, after 20+ years, I went to thumb breaks for my pancakes, from Lobo.

IWB and pocket, no thumb break.

Remain aware of your surroundings, and train using the thumb break as an integral part of the draw.

Train on a regular basis, which is what we need to do anyway, and the regular training will make you smooth enough (and speed you up) to overcome any slight delay in using the thumb break.

Five minutes, ten draws, whatever. Just do it on a regular basis - that develops and maintains smoothness which is what speeds up our draw.

just my opinion, and worth what it cost.

 

[Ogandydancer]

I think this is something that will have to be a personel choice. However unless it was custom made (for thet gun fitted) holster I think I would opt for the thumb break especially on a wheel gun.