Hip Holster vs Dropped Leg?

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Mark Mags

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Hey gang,
Looking for some opinions here. I currently am using a hip holster with a S&W 9mm, and it works as it should. The gun fits and sits securely, however there are times when the bottom of the holster pulls away from body when withdrawing. And, at times I do feel a little "cramped" trying to unholster the firearm.
Has anyone made the switch to a leg holster, and how do/did they find it? Pros and cons?
I am looking and hoping to take some pistol courses this year, and I am looking for comfort and reliability...

Any input would be appreciated.
 
Stay away from the drop leg the problem i had with them is that they flop around and never seem to stay put over pants. if your having issues with your hip holster maybe you need to upgrade your holster ( I recomend soley canadian) or belt or practice drawing more.
 
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My holster expereinceis mostly IDPA and CQB.

For IDPA it has to be a hip holster.

For CQB a lot of guys use a drop leg so they are clear of their vest. I see two problems with drop leg. It tends to flop around more when running and I have seen guns fall out.

I wear a pistol belt with only the holster on it. For modified prone I can swing the gun to the rear a bit, so i don't lay on it and grind it full of dirt. Can't do that with a drop leg.
 
rollie100 said:
A good gun-belt, and holster with adjustable retention might help...
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+1 0n the belt - you really need a solid platform for any holster to function properly. If you're using a standard pants belt (even a thick one) rather than a belt designed to hold a holster, you'll have issues with the draw. Lately there have been a lot of riggers belts showing up as gun belts, and honestly, not one of those that I've seen has been stiff enough to work adequately as a gun belt. The belt you're looking for is VERY stiff, best bet is heavy duty nylon with multiple reinforced stitching, or double thickness leather, bonded and stitched at the edges.
 
I used a drop leg holster for sometime...its not bad....but I personally went back to the hip holster.

Keep in mind that some competitions like IDPA and IPSC prohibit drop-leg holsters. 3 gun they are generally ok. I think they are far more common in CQB
 
enefgee said:
+1 0n the belt - you really need a solid platform for any holster to function properly. If you're using a standard pants belt (even a thick one) rather than a belt designed to hold a holster, you'll have issues with the draw. Lately there have been a lot of riggers belts showing up as gun belts, and honestly, not one of those that I've seen has been stiff enough to work adequately as a gun belt. The belt you're looking for is VERY stiff, best bet is heavy duty nylon with multiple reinforced stitching, or double thickness leather, bonded and stitched at the edges.
Click to expand...

I have two Ares belt and am I ever happy with them.

Lots of good choices out there too.
 
I can fully support a drop leg holster in the military where you've got a metric-ton of equipment hanging off you already.

For competition: high and tight on the hip is more comfortable and faster. Watch those guys at 3GN!
 
It's hard to know what to recommend when we're not sure what gun game interested in. Some holsters and belts suck. Got a good picture of you wearing your rig? I'm a hippy lady and have a hard time getting a good fit. Guys usually have an easier time.
 
I go with the drop leg -

Here is BC ya often have to get to the range early - and since my range is halfway up a mountain, I'm kinda inclined to wear sweaters or a coat.

The drop leg makes it easier to wear my pistol ...

Abby
 
Remember that belt holsters are always designed for the holster to be at the 2:30 to 4:00 position (for right hand - 8:00 to 9:30 for left) and ride high enough that the firearm in question does not extend down into a chair/car seat when sitting.
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This position and design, more for open or concealed carry in the USA, will put longer guns quite high on the belt thus the feeling of being "cramped."

My personal suggestion is change your holster, belt and pants. Many times the holster loops are larger than the belt (most holster loops are 1.5 - 1.75 inch) by a bit and this causes stability and drawing issues: get the widest belt possible for those loops for maximum stability and reduced movement for drawing. Also, many times standard jeans and pants have a belt loop right at the 3:00 position: this can cause issues with adjusting the holster to your needs. Many "tactical" companies, like 5.11 and others, have pants that have a much wider and thicker belt loops that fall at the 1:45 and 4:15 positions to allow a bit of holster slide and adjustment.

There is, at some expense (mostly in the UPS brokerage fees), companies like US Galco and DeSantis that can ship to Canada: you may need to look at a holster style that cants the holster more forward and has higher belt loops: this will drop the holster down on the hip some more than normal. A 5" standard 1911 on a straight holster I find to be massively too high for me, but in a lowered holster with more cant allows less "elbow in the sky" behind me as I draw. There are Canadian companies, I imagine, that can do something as well: research is your friend.
 
IDPA - Hip holster, no offset
IPSC - HIp Droped and offset or no offset

Personally my draw times are identical using either of the above. I generally stick with a standard Bladetech hip holster mainly because it works in both IDPA and IPSC.

I am looking at getting a chest rig for Wilderness Carry and think from a comfort stand point might be ideal for range use as well. I have some sympathy for our LEO types who have to carry a gun on their hip eight hours a day along with all the other stuff they get saddled with. I suppose suspenders help not likely not much.

Take Care

Bob
 
Keep in mind a lot of people don't properly adjust drop leg holsters. They tighten them up and then still complain about them moving around, eventually giving up and going back to hip holster. (keep in mind this is just my experiences) If you try out a drop leg, put it on your leg and bring it up high enough that when standing straight (with arms hanging down by your sides) you should be able to put your fingers under the bottom of your holster (fingers 90 degrees to palm). I used to use an older Safariland that had the two thigh straps, ended up ditching the top one. I find it's much tighter and for the most part doesn't move around. Again these are just my experiences, and I've not competed in competitions, but I found I could get down into the prone position and it wouldn't be in the way.
 
As Aniest pointed out, I am wearing regular pants, with a quality, but not thick belt. This would explain a lot as far as hip holster placement goes. And a belt thinner than the holster also explains the (minimal) flapping. I guess ideally, is to take my holster with me to Urban Tactical (for example) and try some belts with different pants( and chest rigs...visa loves me).
I am hoping,.if schedule permits to get some training with TDSA this spring summer, and move ahead with proper competition later this year or next.
Keep the ideas coming...this is good info!
 
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