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OK all you long time CHL-ers, I need some input. I'm new to civilian CC. I open carried for many years in the military and at work in Alaska. In the military it was a 1911 in a military holster hung from a pistol belt, or later in Army Aviation, a .38 S&W 4" in a military shoulder holster. In AK it was always OWB, and I only carried when flying and landing in remote areas (which was always).

I currently pocket carry a .380, so no problems there, but I will be carrying my compact 1911s in cooler weather. I have a decent and "fairly comfortable" IWB JBP for the 1911s, but recently (today) received my Brommeland Max-Con V. It seems to be a super holster, and the gun disappears even on my small frame, even with semi-tight T-shirts. It's currently in the safe with my 1911 wrapped in wax paper starting the break-in process But, the problem I'm finding with "leather" IWB holsters is this: They draw easy enough (except the unbroken-in new one), but getting the gun re-holstered is very difficult. I keep my belt tight to accommodate the weight of the pistol, but after drawing and trying to re-holster, the belt is compressing the mid to bottom portion of the holster and preventing an easy job. I have to reach across with my weak hand and stretch my waistband away from my body, and force the gun back in, or loosen my belt temporarily. Perhaps this is normal for leather holsters, I don't know. I don't care for Kydex, but can now see the advantage in them keeping the "entire" holster open. Any suggestions in this area for re-holstering with a leather holster? Sorry for a long post and short question.

not many single layer leather holsters will keep their shape IWB, unless they are reinforced at the "throat".

mr surveyor wrote:not many single layer leather holsters will keep their shape IWB, unless they are reinforced at the "throat".

That's why I use a Horsehide High Noon Down Under holster [with straps] for IWB.

mr surveyor wrote:not many single layer leather holsters will keep their shape IWB, unless they are reinforced at the "throat".

The "throat" is not the issue. The gun starts in, but hangs where the belt has compressed the middle and bottom. Thanks. I'll take a look at the High Noon Down Under.

Are you a competition shooter. If so, I personally would never use an IWB holster in competition matches for the reason you describe since such matches require un-holstering and re-holstering many times and the risk of covering yourself is greatly increased with possibly having to use both hands when re-holstering.

For concealed carry, however, an IWB holster does conceal much better than an OWB holster and is what I prefer. While I'm carrying, however, I would only plan on having to draw the gun once in a life-threatening situation and would only have to re-holster once carefully when the situation is over. My gun stays in the holster all the time even when putting on my rig when getting ready to go out. I un-holster to clean or store the gun only when I have removed the holstered gun from my body and I re-holster the gun in the holster before I put the rig on.

This way, I don't have to worry about the holster closing up since it always, hopefully, has the gun in it.

G26ster wrote:

mr surveyor wrote:not many single layer leather holsters will keep their shape IWB, unless they are reinforced at the "throat".

The "throat" is not the issue. The gun starts in, but hangs where the belt has compressed the middle and bottom. Thanks. I'll take a look at the High Noon Down Under.

The Down Under has the reinforced "throat" but all of the leather is very stiff. One additional suggestion - don't wear your IWB holster without your gun in it. The pressure from the belt on an empty holster will deform the leather.

tomc wrote:For concealed carry, however, an IWB holster does conceal much better than an OWB holster and is what I prefer. While I'm carrying, however, I would only plan on having to draw the gun once in a life-threatening situation and would only have to re-holster once carefully when the situation is over. My gun stays in the holster all the time even when putting on my rig when getting ready to go out. I un-holster to clean or store the gun only when I have removed the holstered gun from my body and I re-holster the gun in the holster before I put the rig on.

This is good advice. My only issue is that I like to practice with my CC rig and I don't like having to hassle with a collapsed holster when trying to put the gun back in the holster.

BTW, I am strongly considering CC with a OWB. Since I usually carry a .38 Special snubnose, I find that my cover garment [untucked shirt] goes down far enough to conceal an OWB holster.

tomc wrote:Are you a competition shooter. If so, I personally would never use an IWB holster in competition matches for the reason you describe since such matches require un-holstering and re-holstering many times and the risk of covering yourself is greatly increased with possibly having to use both hands when re-holstering.

For concealed carry, however, an IWB holster does conceal much better than an OWB holster and is what I prefer. While I'm carrying, however, I would only plan on having to draw the gun once in a life-threatening situation and would only have to re-holster once carefully when the situation is over. My gun stays in the holster all the time even when putting on my rig when getting ready to go out. I un-holster to clean or store the gun only when I have removed the holstered gun from my body and I re-holster the gun in the holster before I put the rig on.

This way, I don't have to worry about the holster closing up since it always, hopefully, has the gun in it.

Nope, no competition for me, unless they have an "Old & Slow" category I agree that I would only draw and have plenty of time to re-holster in a bad situation, but I was thinking more of the times I may have to leave the gun in the car for a variety of reasons. Yes, I can take the gun and holster off as a unit, but I would think it difficult to get it back on in the car. Can't stand outside and do it The JWB mouth is not reinforced, but right now the gun goes in and out better than the Broomland. The Broomland is very stiff, with a reinforced mouth, so I'm thinking it won't collapse as bad as the JWB once it's broken in. Thanks for all the tips guys.

Long ago, before I switched to Kydex IWB's, I had two Milt Sparks Summer Specials: one for a Combat Commander and the other for J Frame Smith. Both were outstanding. http://www.miltsparks.com/. You might want to check it out.

You have much more carry experience than I, but I will chime in anyhow. I have a High Noon IWB and never wear it empty, but I thought reaching over with the other hand was the normal thing to do, to be as careful as possible. I keep a round chambered.

TX CHL 1995
CO CHP 2005

OK, here's the latest. Although the JBP holster fits the gun fine, and is "moulded" for the 3" 1911, it's much softer than the Brommeland Max-Con V. I did the wax paper stretching overnight on the Brommeland and the gun slides in much easier now when IWB. I am doing another night of wax paper, as it still hangs a bit on the draw. I called Brommeland and that's what they recommended. I think by tomorrow it'll be fine. I'll leave the gun in it until I carry it in the fall. In summer I'm sticking with my pocket holster for my .380. That said, as the Brommeland is undetectable under even a somewhat tight T-shirt, I may start wearing it earlier than fall

I've been carrying for less than 6 months so take this with that in mind...

My CZ P-07 has a huge square trigger guard so 1 handed reholstering is virtually impossible in a leather IWB, well at least in my Don Hume anyway. One time I was practicing with an empty chamber it caught on the trigger guard. I went fiddling with both hands to work it in and noticed that my finger had slipped into the trigger guard just as it broke free and slid on in. It scared me to death because with a little more force it could have pulled the trigger with the shock of it finally letting go.

Since that time I will never reholster with any IWB ever. I have a one handed technique down, pull up on clip while pulling holster out, reholster pistol, then slide the whole rig back in and onto belt. Much easier anyway than fiddling with it still in the wasteband. I carry at 4o'clock and do this daily in the car before work, and reholster when I leave.

Ill have to adjust this if I get a holster with two clips or snap buttons...but I won't ever one handed reholster an IWB.


Edit: oh and my Don Hume is reinforced at the throat, just the trigger guard catches at a place that is compressed when its in the wasteband.

rdcrags wrote:You have much more carry experience than I, but I will chime in anyhow. I have a High Noon IWB and never wear it empty, but I thought reaching over with the other hand was the normal thing to do, to be as careful as possible. I keep a round chambered.

That technique may work as long as you have adequate range of motion. Depending on the location of the holster, some people with bone, muscle or joint diseases may not be limber enough to do this safely.

i carry my 1911 in a milt sparks holster that has a reinforced opening that stays open no matter what, they are kinda expensive and have a long wait time unless you pick one up from a register dealer but u pay more for that.

you should also take a look at the crossbreed hybrid holsters as well as the comp-tac holster which from what i hear are really nice ones as well, whihc are part kyndex and leather so they dont require a break in process