decisions...decisions... (holster time)

Seburiel · Post by **Seburiel** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:16 pm

I know, I know - there are a ton of holster posts - but I thought I'd brighten everyone's day, and add another.

I'm 6'6" and I weigh 340 lbs (mostly fat, y'know), and I just (today, in fact) purchased my first modern semi-automatic pistol: a S&W Sigma 40. It is brand new, and, strangely enough, it contained an uncle mike's nylon holster in the box (Is this a special deal?) but it's really not slim enough to use for concealed carry: in fact, just putting the pistol in my pocket would work better, don't get me wrong, not dissing Uncle Mike's - I like their gear.
But, I digress:

What sort of holster would fit me best, I wonder? I need a holster that will be able to take a lot of use/abuse, and will securely contain my firearm.
What is a Fobus holster?
Do strapless holsters contain retention systems? If so, what type?
Leather, Kydex, plastic, nylon?
My head is all aspin with all of the possibilities...

Wildscar · Post by **Wildscar** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:28 pm

Then my friend you must do the holster click.

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... php?t=6515

There is a great sites on this link and Longtooth set it up real good. If you dont find something as to what you are looking for here. Then I dont know where else for you to look. I myself have purchased(Thats right yall, I finally did it.

) the Comp-tac settable cant holster from another good forum member. Since it was all done on another Forum I wont drops names. Unless he come in here and does it.

http://www.comp-tac.com/catalog/product ... 374cc9d8e7

hi-power · Post by **hi-power** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:36 pm

I'm a big boy myself and you'll get plenty of good advice from this forum. Definitely check out the section Wildscar pointed you to. That's where I got all the good info.

The most important thing, if you're going to carry on your waist, is to start with a good gun belt. Then you won't notice the weight of the holster and gun as much. Then you won't worry as much that it is going to show.

My daily carry gun a hi-power with the big, fat double-stack grip. i normally wear an untucked dress shirt to work and all these holsters disappear underneath it. I don't have a oslution yet for a tucked-in shirt.

I put some good advice to use and made my first holster purchase a small of the back (SOB) holster from Fist, Inc. - first photo.

Then I splurged on a inside the waistband (IWB) holster from 5shotleather.com. (Also a single mag pouch, double mag pouch, and a matching belt - second photo)

Then I heard many good things about another IWB holster from Tucker Gunleather called "The Answer" - third photo.

Seburiel · Post by **Seburiel** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:46 pm

hey, thanks guys, I appreciate the link and the pics. How practical is a SOB holster for day-to-day wear?

hi-power · Post by **hi-power** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:26 am

Seburiel wrote:How practical is a SOB holster for day-to-day wear?

It's actually not bad for me. It helps my posture when I'm seated at my desk all day. Doesn't bother me in the truck on the way to or from work either. I've had back problems in the past and it doesn't cause any problems with that either.

I think it conceals much better than on the hip since I've noticed that I stick my elbow out a little farther while walking with hip-carry. I'm sure no one else notices that, but I do.

I'd highly recommend SOB carry, as long as there's no chance that you'll slip and fall on your back at your job, (I've got a nice, cozy desk job)...that could be a little painful.

BamBam · Post by **BamBam** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:06 am

I have a S&W sigma 40. I had to goto hoffners and have one made. The turn around is about 12 to 14 days, but it will fit your gun exactly. The price was only 70.00 + shipping to my door. I could have picked it up myself, but I decided to wait for it. I looked at and called all the major manufacturers of holsters and to no avail, I ended up with Hoffners. They have a wide variety of holsters from leather, Ultrux, hybrid and duty gear as well. Talk to Brian or Cecil. Do not deal with Luis. I hope this helped.

http://hoffners.com/products.htm

nemesis · Post by **nemesis** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 2:36 pm

BamBam wrote:I have a S&W sigma 40. I looked at and called all the major manufacturers of holsters and to no avail

I really am puzzled that you weren't able to locate a holster. I went to our website and searched on "sigma". I got 4 full pages of results and that's just Bianchi and Galco.

BamBam · Post by **BamBam** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 4:57 pm

nemesis wrote:
BamBam wrote:I have a S&W sigma 40. I looked at and called all the major manufacturers of holsters and to no avail
I really am puzzled that you weren't able to locate a holster. I went to our website and searched on "sigma". I got 4 full pages of results and that's just Bianchi and Galco.

I called Bianchi, Galco, Goodrich and Gould, Safari, ProDefense, Carters Country, Desantis and many more. They all said they did not have a concealable shirt tucker that would fit my gun. I guess I left that out. I will look at your website though. Thanks for the link.

BamBam · Post by **BamBam** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:10 am

nemesis wrote:
BamBam wrote:I have a S&W sigma 40. I looked at and called all the major manufacturers of holsters and to no avail
I really am puzzled that you weren't able to locate a holster. I went to our website and searched on "sigma". I got 4 full pages of results and that's just Bianchi and Galco.

This is the same response I got from almost all manufactures of holsters.

Bill,

The news is not good. Despite the popularity of the Sigma series, they don't seem to be popular as a carry gun and there are few holsters available. S&W has shifted their emphasis to the M&P and that is where the holster makers will focus. Holster makers won't cut leather unless they can forecast quantity sales and they didn't see that with the Sigma series.

The only IWB holster that I can think of that fits a Sigma 9/40 is the Bianchi Model 100 Professional and it is not tuckable. Here's a link, the Sigma is not listed but this is the right one. Model 100 Professional

Galco makes an outstanding belt holster for the Sigma but it is not IWB, it is OWB. Galco FLETCH

Sorry we couldn't offer more help

Seburiel · Post by **Seburiel** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:19 pm

And, as a matter of fact, I purchased a Bianchi model 100 Pro. and it fits just fine (after I moistened the leather and formed it to the gun with the bread bag method).

The model 100 is really comfortable, too, or at least it has been the last couple of days I've been wearing it around the house.
there's no retention on it to speak of, though... (other than friction)
it's a nice, soft undyed leather, and it sits well, and my girlfriend never noticed I had it on when we sat down to dinner... That counts as a vote of confidence in my book.

On the subject of the Sigma itself, I find it to be a decent enough gun, I just wish it wouldn't 'scrape' when it's racked. perhaps I need to put some oil on the barrel.

I am going to class on Sunday (goooo meeeeeeee!) with my grandfather. As far as I know, it's only a 2-person class (another + in my book).
Wish me well, cuz I am going to need it. not because of the course materials, which I think I can handle, but because my 80 year old WW2 vet grandfather will be there with me. I'm afraid he's going to make me look like a total beginner on the range ;)