XD9 SC; tuckable IWB...your advice?

graysoncountyffl · Post by **graysoncountyffl** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:17 pm

I am looking for a new CHL set-up. Something more compact than my 5" 1911 in a Watch 6. The XD9 Sub-compact really catches my eye. I know we have one member who gives a thumbs up.
As for the holster...alomst to many to mention. c-tac? blade-tec? milt-sparks?

I know, lots of variables...just thinking outloud now, so feel free to input!

thanks!

gigag04 · Post by **gigag04** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:08 pm

I have a Watch-Six for my XD9 SC.

It's a great holster, well made.

I got mine used with a trade for my XD9 from a forum member, HighVelocity.

It's comfortable enough, and conceals great. I can pull of khaki shorts and a t-shirt (college student) and not print at all.

One thing I have had to do is tighten the snap buttons up a bit. They seem to have gotten loose over time.

As far as the setup goes, if you are close to College Station, you are more than welcome to come try it out, holster and gun and all before you make your decision. I also have an OWB Galco Silhouette that I reviewed earlier today in the "holsters" section. You can try that as well.

Let me know if you are interested.

-nick

longtooth · Post by **longtooth** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:21 pm

My son sure likes his XD.

graysoncountyffl · Post by **graysoncountyffl** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:43 pm

hey gigag04, it would be great to go by and check out your set-up...only quite a drive for me. Does it feel 'fat' when IWB? How did you tighten up the snaps? Do you carry an extra mag?

thanks for all the input!

gigag04 · Post by **gigag04** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:05 pm

Let me get the digital camera going and I'll post some different setups I use so you can see them with and without cover garment. That'll be the best way for you to assess printing and bulge issues.

As far as feeling "too fat." It's not bad. The 20-something oz weight makes up for it. It's not too wide for me, and like I said, it'll conceal under just a t-shirt when worn IWB. OWB I use a button up shirt untucked, and thats enough for me. I'm a bad case for OWB bulge because I'm shorter (5'7"ish) and my elbow rests on the gun and feels bulky for me, but it happens with any gun I put on my hip.

As for the snaps they are tightened using an allen wrench. I'll post pics of the screws as well.

Another consideration is the Pearce grips on the mags. My extra mags have them, my carry mag doesn't (little bit of sticking out). I'll illustrate this as well.

Be back shortly.

-nick

HighVelocity · Post by **HighVelocity** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 9:52 pm

Hey Nick, That's a Versamax II not a Watch 6.

gigag04 · Post by **gigag04** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:27 am

I stand corrected!

It looks like a Watch-six.

Either way, I'm editing the pics now. Posting them soon.

-nick

gigag04 · Post by **gigag04** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:13 am

Ok - here come the pics - sorry for the wait, editing and taking them took about an hour or so!

I'll show the Milt Sparks holster first. The gun has the flush mag (as opposed to the pearce pinky rest grip) and is at about 3:30-4:00. Cover is JUST a t-shirt w/o undershirt.

View on me (excuse my butt) from the rear:

Same setup, side profile:

Same setup, tucked in, side profile:

Now, for OWB carry I use a galco silhouette. Cover carment is a short sleeve button up shirt. I also have the matching 2 mag carrier as well.

Same shot w/o cover garmet:

Shot of mag holder, concealed:

And exposed:

I highlighted the snaps you asked about. They are tightened with an allen wrench once they are so loose that the snaps wont close tight:

A shot WITH the Pearce grip extension (very comfy):

And a comparison between the two mags. One with a pearce grip and one with the flush grip:

Hope all these help! Let me know if you have any more questions or want more pics. Oh, and just a sidenote: on the IWB t-shirt pics, I like my t-shirts to fit a bit tighter, so if you are ok with going up a size, you will get even more conealability (is that a word?) out of the milt sparks.

-nick

Lumberjack98 · Post by **Lumberjack98** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:15 am

You may also consider the Comp-Tac C-Tac holster.

http://www.comp-tac.com/

The XD SC is a fine firearm. You could make a lot worse choices.

nitrogen · Post by **nitrogen** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:26 am

Your post of the Versa Max, tucked, were you using the kydex clips that come extra?

How secure was your rig with the clips? I tried another tuckable holster (A DeSantis TuckThis) and absolutely hated it because it was looser than a drunk prom date. With the tuckable holster, how much movement cna you get away with? How secure is it?

Kalrog · Post by **Kalrog** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:05 pm

I would say that you probably got a bad one. I have heard good things about DeSantis (but have no experience with them personally), but I do have a Tucker GunLeather "Cover-Up Plus" for my J-Frame and it works VERY well. Holds it great without the extra tension of my belt.

gigag04 · Post by **gigag04** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:54 pm

nitrogen wrote:Your post of the Versa Max, tucked, were you using the kydex clips that come extra?

How secure was your rig with the clips? I tried another tuckable holster (A DeSantis TuckThis) and absolutely hated it because it was looser than a drunk prom date. With the tuckable holster, how much movement cna you get away with? How secure is it?

Just the leather snaps that I would use if the shirt was untucked. There are slots which allow a shirt to go around the rig, leaving only the snaps exposed. The shirt casts enough of a shadow to hid the leather straps (as seen in the pic). Even if you CAN see them, nobody notices. That said, I rarely tuck a shirt in.

Movement isn't restricted at all for me. You can't tuck your shirt deeply around it, so you have material to "give" if you lean over. Your piece should stay hidden.

-nick

graysoncountyffl · Post by **graysoncountyffl** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:04 pm

oh yeah! Looks good. Many thanks, my friend for the pics! I was wondering about those extensions also, nice. I had to take a double look at the tucked in pic, your're right, those loops are not readily noticable...I like.

I looked at my watch-6, and yep, I have screws in my snaps as well. I could change my loop size to fit belt size if needed.

The comp-tac has cought my eye...definatley makes me think about which holster...I think it is rare to have so many good choices

thanks for all the info....I am gonna do some sleeping on it and I will keep yall informed

Jacob Staff · Post by **Jacob Staff** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:18 pm

+1 on the Comp-Tac CTAC holster.

I carry an XD9SC in a CTAC with standard clips. Be sure and get clips that match your belt width. Something just seems "right" about using a plastic holster with a plastic gun :)

It is tuckable but I usually have my shirt tail untucked. The CTAC is very adjustable.

For more info on the XD, check out these links.

http://www.hs2000talk.com/
http://www.txdpsa.com/

dejadoo · Post by **dejadoo** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:41 pm

I've been wearing a Tucker "Answer" and 1 1/4" Tucker belt with my XD 40 Sub Compact for about three weeks now and it is very comfortable, even while driving.

This is my first holster and I wanted it to be tuckable. It took me a couple of days to get used to it and to get it dialed in, but after that it has really been great. I also ordered one "C" and one "J" clip but so far I've only used the standard clips. And with my shirt tucked or un-tucked the gun just disappears.

Something to consider, I orderd my "Answer" to fit the XD Service thinking that one holster could be used by two guns when I pick up another XD. I thought about ordering it for the Tactical so I could cover all the bases, but decided that I probably would not carry a Tactical IWB.