4 Things to Consider Before Buying a Holster

4 Things to Consider Before Buying a HolsterSo, you’ve finally got your perfect handgun, with all the features you need. Before you take it down the range, though, you’re going to need something to carry it in.

A good holster is essential for any serious gun owner. First a foremost, a holster protects you against accidental discharge, which can have very serious consequences. In addition, a well designed holster should allow you to carry your weapon for long periods, either openly or concealed, without being uncomfortable.

Beyond these two basic requirements, the best holsters available today come with a vast range of additional features, making choosing the correct one for you difficult. It’s critical to read reviews about your holster before you purchase to avoid buying the incorrect size. Here are four factors to take into account when choosing a new holster.

1. Weapon Security

Weapon security should be your first concern when choosing any holster. When buying a holster ensure your holster will hold your weapon securely, and one that also provides sufficient safeguards against accidental discharge.

Some of the best holsters now offer fully adjustable retention screws. These mean that it is possible to adjust the tightness with which the holster grips your weapon. This is useful if you own several similar weapons, because you can adjust the holster for each.

It is also especially useful for those who shoot in competitions, but also carry their weapon on an everyday basis. For competition, you can slightly relax the hold your holster has on your weapon for greater draw speeds, and then tighten it back up again for normal carrying.

Another thing to look for is the trigger guard mechanism. The guard on your holster should ideally cover the entire trigger mechanism, to avoid accidental discharge.

2. Ease of Access

Ideally, you want a when buying a holster get a holster that holds your weapon securely, whilst also allowing you to draw it really quickly. In the real world, though, there is a slight compromise to be made between security and ease of draw.

In general, the more deeply concealed your weapon is, the slower you will be able to draw it. This is why competition shooters use outside-the-waistband configurations.

Another feature to look for is variable cant – the angle at which your weapon sits when in the holster. Different people prefer different cants, and you can even adjust this angle depending on the situation.

3. Concealment

If you carry your pistol concealed, it goes without saying that you want a holster that hides your weapon well. With larger weapons, this can be a little difficult, because longer barrels are hard to hide.

A major obstacle to concealing you weapon is printing, where the outline of your pistol is visible through your clothing. Though some people worry unduly about this, it can be a problem. Accordingly, even many minimal holsters now feature additions which help to break up the outline of your weapon.

Of course, if you are shooting in competitions, concealment is less of an issue. In these situations, you want a holster that will allow you to draw quickly, because if you are standing on the range everybody already knows you have a pistol!

4. Durability

Last, but of course not least, look for a holster that will provide years of reliable service. Whilst it may look like hard-case holsters, typically made from extruded plastic, will last the longest, this is not necessarily true.

The Top Three Best G26 Holster to Meet Your Needs

The Top Three Best G26 Holster to Meet Your Needs

The Top Three Best G26 Holster to Meet Your NeedsThe Glock 26 pistol comes with ten round magazines that will expand to as much as 12 rounds with floor plates.

If this is the type of weapon you own or have purchased, you’re likely looking for a G26 holster.

But what type of G26 holster is right for you?

If you want to protect yourself with a Glock 26 pistol but you also need an easy way to carry the weapon, keep reading!

Below you will find the top three G26 holsters along with the benefits and disadvantages of each.

Concealment Express G26 Holster

Concealment Express G26 Holster
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The Concealment Express G26 holster is a great option because it can also fit a number of other pistols including the Glock 27 and 33. You won’t need to buy other holsters since it can adjust to different types of pistols.

Also, this holster is easy to conceal. The only part still visible when wearing the holster is the retaining clip.

If you’re worried about being out in the rain and damaging your Glock, fear not! The Concealment Express G26 holster includes moisture protection. The Kydex material used to create the holster protects your weapon from water damage.

However, one disadvantage of this model is that it can stick to the skin if you’re outside on a hot day.

Galco KT224B Kingtuk Holster

Galco KT224B Kingtuk Holster
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One of the biggest advantages of the Galco holster is that it can hold many different Glock models including the G26 pistol. If you have other Glock models, you’ll be glad you went with the Galco holster.

It can support the Glock models 17,19,22,23,26,27,31,32,and 33. Also, the Galco holster is made from better materials than other G26 holsters out on the market.

The soft part of the holster is made from leather while the hard parts are created from Kydex, which is a hard plastic that’s difficult to break.

Another great advantage of this holster is its customization. Depending on the size of your belt, this holster can be adjusted to multiple heights and angles.

This holster can support a belt of nearly two inches. However, one negative is that it makes it more difficult to tuck in your shirt.

Pro Carry HD Gun Holster

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If you like a G26 holster that can adjust to multiple other models, this is another great choice for you! The Pro Carry HD gun holster can hold the Glock models 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, and 32.

The way this holster was built allows it to hold so many models. The molded leather built allows for some flexibility while still remaining sturdy.

You can choose black or brown colors for this G26 holster. The holster also comes with a secure retaining clip and complete leather construction.

One negative, however, is that the gun holster is rather thick due to its built.

When considering the many options available on the market, you’ll find that the Glock 26 pistol has a variety of different accessories available varying from concealed carry to holsters that hold multiple Glock models.

Out of these three G26 holster options, which do you like the best and why?

Three Step Handgun Draw

Three Step Handgun Draw
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It seems like drawing your handgun from a holster is a pretty intuitive action that does not need a lot of comment, and in reality it pretty much is, however, there is a difference between doing something and doing something smoothly, effectively, and quickly. Today we are going to talk about the fundamentals of the Three Step Handgun Draw of your firearm as well as the reasons behind the methodology.

Anytime you are learning a new skill it is best to break it into the component parts and master each step individually. Don’t try to add speed until you master the entire sequence. A common saying in the firearm training/Law Enforcement field is “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”. If you try to run before you can walk all you are going to do is bust your head.

The first step is simple – Establish the grip on the gun. Before you attempt to draw the firearm from the holster you need to have a firm grip on it. I have seen an officer try to reload his firearm in a simunitions training exercise get in a hurry drawing his magazine and end up flipping it out and across the room because he did not have a strong grip. The other piece of the first step is to get your non shooting hand out of the way of your draw stroke. The best place for your hand is on your stomach – that keeps it from being muzzled by your handgun as it is being drawn. Obviously if you are in a contact distance fight, then the best place for your non shooting hand is your opponent’s throat, but all things being equal the stomach is a good default area.

Practice step one over and over, bring your dominant hand to the gun and the non-dominant hand to stomach (both actions simultaneously). Once you can do this without thinking, learn step two.

Step two is to rock the gun up and out of the holster, your upper arm should be close to your body, your elbow bent, and your dominant forearm and pistol perpendicular to your body. This is pretty close to the idea of the “speed rock” as you can fire from this position if needed, (and your non-shooting hand is safely away so as not to get shot). I have seen several teach the “speed rock” draw for contact distance shooting by having the shooter (defender) lean back at the waist as they draw. Personally I dislike the backwards lean as it brings you off balance, and with a charging or aggressive attacker could end up with you being knocked down.

Step three involves bringing the gun forward and upwards to establish your shooting stance. At the same time you are bringing the gun forward, you are also bringing your support hand to the gun also. It is very important to move the support hand TO the gun by moving it faster and coming in from behind rather than moving the gun to the support hand. You do not want to muzzle your non-nominant hand (especially in the stress of a lethal force incident).

Once you master each step separately, combine them and practice them in sequence. In the beginning it helps to call out each step and perform them separately, but consequtively. Step 1, Step 2 Step 3…. Gradually speeding up and dropping the act of calling out each step. A tip I used was that each morning as I donned my holster was to perform three perfect 3 step draws slowly with an emphasis on perfect technique. Each night as I doffed the holster, I repeated the action with here more perfect draws.

Over time you will notice an ease of action that only comes through practice.

One last tip is that while there are several incidents that may cause for a “quick draw”, there are no reasons to perform a “quick reholster”. ALWAYS HOLSTER RELUCTANTLY, after scanning for threats and ensuring there is no longer a need for your handgun to be out.