The importance of reholstering?

[tbrown]

Every handgun class I have taken beyond absolute basics has mentioned the importance of being able to reholster, preferably one handed and eyes off. That's why we should pick a holster that doesn't collapse if we carry IWB. I took this at face value but recently I started wondering how important that is.

For example, pocket holsters are pretty popular but I wouldn't want to shove a loaded gun back into a pocket holster that's in my pocket. I would rather take the holster out of my pocket, put the gun into the holster, and then put the gun and holster together into my pocket.

I think there are similar concerns about reholstering one handed with a belly band. Not to mention a Smart Carry holster.

What do you guys think? Is it a vital condition for a good carry holster, important but not vital, or a concern that's reasonable but maybe overrated?

[speedsix]

...eyes off, I agree...but if my off hand's busy, I probably don't need to re-holster yet...my IWB holster is soft and padded, but it retains enough shape to easily reholster with one hand...I don't carry a short-stroke pistol, so my shirt wouldn't be a problem...the gun slips in as easily as it does out...

[CC Italian]

I am more personally concerned with drawing then reholstering. More negligent discharges happen from reholstering then anything else. At least that is what I have been told by LEOs and one advanced handgun trainer. There is really no hurry to reholster once drawn in a real life situation. If I reholster the threat would be neutralized and I would not be in a hurry and therefore would look down and make eye contact with my holster.

Edit:A lot of people have shot themselves in the foot in tactical training when reholstering! No need to hurry or not make eye contact with your holster imo!

[CC Italian]

One handed? Sure everybody should be able to reholster one handed but eyes off? Why not make eye contact with your holster?

[RPB]

I picked Important, due to reloading one-handed, I wouldn't call it "second only to being made at work" but ...
I only have one hand, so that's ONE handy way to reload (though there are others)

That said, I carry ONE (Primary) IWB which I can do that with, and 2 or 3 (or 4 sometimes) pistols in pocket holsters which I can not.

[74novaman]

Outside of looking like you're mr. Awesome for your training DVD, I don't know when you'd need to reholster one handed without looking.

Seems like a tactical class thing, not a reality thing to me.

[RPB]

Bad guy(s) in front of you and you want eyes on them while you clear jam/reload by reholstering because your other hand is busy holding flashlight/door/controlling bleeding or otherwise tied up or injured
I'd have sworn Paul Gomez posted a video here ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JuYJxXp ... rwtzYk04ex" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=_JuYJxXpnWQ[/youtube]

Still, like I said, Primary is super-reliable "good-capacity" Glock with 19 rounds ready, and I carry 2 or 3 (or 4 sometimes) pistols in pocket holsters or elsewhere in case clearing/reloading is a problem

And when it becomes legal to carry at college again, if I went back to take some class, I might pocket carry a .32 in a pocket holster small enough to stay ultra-concealed if only "against school policy" and not be able to reholster eyes off/1-handed ... but it's better than being unarmed.

[WildBill]

I believe that there are a couple of important reasons for having a stiff holster so that the shooter can reholster without looking or feeling.

1) Safety - If you are trying to reholster your gun in a holster that is collapsed you have to search for the holster opening, probably with your index [trigger finger]. IMO this increases the chance of a ND.

2) Repetition - I agree that drawing is more important than reholstering, but in order to improve your draw, repetition is the key. It is much easier to repeat and to improve your smooth draw and gain speed when you can reholster quickly. Some people refer to this as "muscle memory". I believe that you should practice with the gun and holster that you carry.

Personally, I will not use an IWB or OWB holster which I can not reholster one-handed.

I have not used pocket holsters, Smart Carry or belly bands. They are a different story.

[mr surveyor]

I use a very simple Don Hume single clip IWB holster. Even though it retains an open mouth, I find it easer to just pop the holster out of the waist band, reholster the pistol, and slip the hole thing back in the waist band. In the case of a defensive use, I'll either do that, or place the gun on the ground WHEN I see approaching law enforcement. To me, reholstering would only be done when condition yellow is back on.

[rdcrags]

I agree about the pocket holster. Also, one of my OWB holsters has a stiff snap band, which is great. I like it. But I always hold the band out of the way with one hand when reholstering with the other! Don't need to look, but I do.

[Jumping Frog]

Here is an excerpt of what Massad Ayoob has to say about it from his TV clip on handling things after you have been involved in a defensive shooting:

I always worry that the police are called for a "man with a gun". I am the man with the gun. That is why one of the critical skills that we teach is not just being able to draw quickly without looking at the gun, but being able to keep an eye on the danger zone while holstering one-handed by feel so you can see what is going on around you, and when the officer gets there you are not the threatening figure with the pistol. You are the person in the non-threatening position, say your hands are about shoulder high with palms forward showing you are unarmed.

[srothstein]

I think Ayoob may have a point, but it is a minor point. If there is still a threat, you should be keeping the weapon out (and shooting probably). If there is no threat, you can take the extra second to look down and use both hands to reholster. Yes, you do need to be able to reholster but I am not sure it is as important as some have stressed.

In police training, we stress being able to reholster with one hand and without looking. But we also think there will be more work for the officer to do, such as handcuffing the suspect (either surrendered or shot). I don't see it as important for the CHL but I am willing to be convinced I am wrong.

[XinTX]

I think it's important, but not a major factor. There are a few cases where it would be advantageous. And a holster with this capability is more preferable to ne that doesn't, all things being equal. But for a CHL holder (non-LEO) I wouldn't think it's a 'must have'. I have a 'Tuck This' holster that's soft. It's comfy to wear and draws well. Re-holstering is another matter though. It's a comfortable holster to wear, but not my favorite. I need to look at some more holsters though.

[RPB]

I think it's important, but not a major factor. There are a few cases where it would be advantageous. And a holster with this capability is more preferable to ne that doesn't, all things being equal. But for a CHL holder (non-LEO) I wouldn't think it's a 'must have'. I have a 'Tuck This' holster that's soft. It's comfy to wear and draws well. Re-holstering is another matter though. It's a comfortable holster to wear, but not my favorite. I need to look at some more holsters though.

I can reholster one-handed with Tuck This 2 worn just behind 3:00 (I wear that more than any other)... the 17+3 spare mag and stiff part do well enough to hold it open enough, but I have an extended barrel on my Glock 26, and that helps find the spot to get the "hole in one" along with practice/muscle memory

[gemini]

[quote="srothstein"]I think Ayoob may have a point, but it is a minor point. If there is still a threat, you should be keeping the weapon out (and shooting probably). If there is no threat, you can take the extra second to look down and use both hands to reholster. Yes, you do need to be able to reholster but I am not sure it is as important as some have stressed.

. In my limited experience, the gun was reholstered without thinking (look, one handed, two handed). It just happened.