Drop leg holsters - Aren't they only used when your body armor does not allow a belt carry?

[Brendon292]

Not necessarily true, you can run a low mount Safariland CUBL on your belt, along with a QLS fork and a level 2/3 retention holster. Depending on the drop you chose for the CUBL/Fork/Holster, you can get a drop leg rig just as secure as a hip holster, regardless id you're running a thigh strap.

I have a belt mount setup in this manner with two different holster allowing for hip mount and drop leg mount, the QLS fork allows for hot swapping the holsters whenever you want without removing the belt, allows for hard mounting of the holster elsewhere if required. It will also allow you to change holsters to different platforms in the same manner as they all have a common mount

I am familiar with the exact set-up you're talking about. If you reach under the holster, I guarantee you can "peel" it up off your thigh a lot easier than a holster mounted directly to your hip.

I'm not saying that a drop leg is a guaranteed way to be disarmed, however, if you're carrying a pistol but are more likely to be in a physical confrontation than an actual shootout (like a cop), you should take as many steps as possible to retain your gun.

Edit: Safariland UBL is as low as I'd want to go.

 

[brownbear53]

I am familiar with the exact set-up you're talking about. If you reach under the holster, I guarantee you can "peel" it up off your thigh a lot easier than a holster mounted directly to your hip.

Agreed, yes you can peel it up if you really, really try, and it takes a lot of force, and nothing has enough give to snap. They key us to use a proper duty belt designed to take the load. Your average 50$ belt has enough flexibility to let it ride out like you suggested. You need to actively your palm underneath the holster to pry up on it even an inch off the thigh. This is easily remedied with a thigh strap, which now allows for no movement, and the added clearance at waist.
Getting in and out of vehicles, physical confrontations including wrestling are not enough to do pry it up, and a L3 will prevent any forcible or accidental removal. If mounted correctly, the holster acts as one solid piece even when in the lower position. Even yanking on the pistol without disengaging the retention does not cause it to lift out

 

[Goo98]

Not necessarily true, you can run a low mount Safariland CUBL on your belt, along with a QLS fork and a level 2/3 retention holster. Depending on the drop you chose for the CUBL/Fork/Holster, you can get a drop leg rig just as secure as a hip holster, regardless id you're running a thigh strap.

I have a belt mount setup in this manner with two different holster allowing for hip mount and drop leg mount, the QLS fork allows for hot swapping the holsters whenever you want without removing the belt, allows for hard mounting of the holster elsewhere if required. It will also allow you to change holsters to different platforms in the same manner as they all have a common mount

All my holsters run the QLS fork, great stuff.

 

[woodchopper]

The Bianchi holster was a big improvement over the 82 Pattern floppy holster, it was still crappy but better. The Bosnia vest with pockets was not really an improvement, there was no attachment point on that that thing for a pistol so you still needed a belt. The latest rig with the sort of modular pockets is also garbage.

the new pistol (P320 - C22) comes with an interesting set of holster mounting options and I don't like them very much they are fairly bulky and you still need a belt because there is no place on the vest for a holster.

I have used all sorts of holsters and rigs over the years, I have gone with a padded tactical tiger battle belt with suspenders that I wear with the important kit, low drop holster (which I can't technically use with the new pistol) , dump pouch, first aid pack, then a chest rig over top of that and a hydration pack for when I need to carry more.

I guess I really need to figure out what is going to work with the new pistol.... or just retire.

being crusty old and mostly broken having just the battle belt and pistol are enough, if I need a rifle we're in serious trouble.

 

[Winz]

The Bianchi holster was a big improvement over the 82 Pattern floppy holster, it was still crappy but better. The Bosnia vest with pockets was not really an improvement, there was no attachment point on that that thing for a pistol so you still needed a belt. The latest rig with the sort of modular pockets is also garbage.

the new pistol (P320 - C22) comes with an interesting set of holster mounting options and I don't like them very much they are fairly bulky and you still need a belt because there is no place on the vest for a holster.

I have used all sorts of holsters and rigs over the years, I have gone with a padded tactical tiger battle belt with suspenders that I wear with the important kit, low drop holster (which I can't technically use with the new pistol) , dump pouch, first aid pack, then a chest rig over top of that and a hydration pack for when I need to carry more.

I guess I really need to figure out what is going to work with the new pistol.... or just retire.

being crusty old and mostly broken having just the battle belt and pistol are enough, if I need a rifle we're in serious trouble.

I'm not really sure I follow the train of thought. Obviously the Bianchi holster was antiquated even for the Beretta 92 that it was designed for, rather than loosely putting a Browning in there and using the spring flap.

The P320/C22 package includes the BlackHawk T-series holster. Yes, it is meant to be worn on the belt but if required, adaptors can be used to mount it on the various modular rigs being used (either the new issued ones for light forces or privately procured ones. It obviously doesn't work with the "Tac Vest." Of course, if one doesn't like the BlackHawk T-series, there are plenty of options that one could personally procure if desired.

I don't think there is anything inherently wrong with the BlackHawk T-series. Yes, BlackHawk got a bad rap for the SERPA 2 decades ago and the T-series is conceptually just reversing the release and having more complicated mechanisms. However, there are always the common options from Safariland or other common brands like Alien Gear, G-Code, etc.

 

[Canadiankeeper]

The mission will dictate.

Ive carried a sidearm for almost half my life now.... God im getting old. I HATE drop leg holsters. Suck to run and fight with them on. Most people don't properly measure and size/position it properly for a good draw. Slower to use. Harder to maintain weapon retention.

 

[Canadiankeeper]

The Bianchi holster was a big improvement over the 82 Pattern floppy holster, it was still crappy but better. The Bosnia vest with pockets was not really an improvement, there was no attachment point on that that thing for a pistol so you still needed a belt. The latest rig with the sort of modular pockets is also garbage.

the new pistol (P320 - C22) comes with an interesting set of holster mounting options and I don't like them very much they are fairly bulky and you still need a belt because there is no place on the vest for a holster.

I have used all sorts of holsters and rigs over the years, I have gone with a padded tactical tiger battle belt with suspenders that I wear with the important kit, low drop holster (which I can't technically use with the new pistol) , dump pouch, first aid pack, then a chest rig over top of that and a hydration pack for when I need to carry more.

I guess I really need to figure out what is going to work with the new pistol.... or just retire.

being crusty old and mostly broken having just the battle belt and pistol are enough, if I need a rifle we're in serious trouble.

As Winz said, there are adaptors for vest attachments. Pretty simple to set up also, 3 screws. If you can get a hand on an extra holster you can have both setups. Run what ever is needed for that specific day.

 

[Canadiankeeper]

All my holsters run the QLS fork, great stuff.

All my holsters run the QLS fork, great stuff.
View attachment 974001

Have you run through a week of combative with this on? Think this is a great option for sport shooters and maybe some military dudes who might need to swap around positions of secondary firearms. Dont know about it for anyone who is fighting with a gun on though. Seems like a breakable point.

 

[Jon.]

The mission will dictate.

Ive carried a sidearm for almost half my life now.... God im getting old. I HATE drop leg holsters. Suck to run and fight with them on. Most people don't properly measure and size/position it properly for a good draw. Slower to use. Harder to maintain weapon retention.

I agree. I refuse to wear the drop leg taser rig. Feels floppy and loose and it’s always in the way.

As far as a pistol, if the pistol is your primary firearm in a self defence way like for police, you need it in the same spot all the time. You can’t build that muscle memory as well with a drop because its position changes relative to any position you’re in. You wind up hunting for it. I need to know my pistol is always in the exact same spot so I can draw sitting kneeling laying down moving around.
Retention is also easier.

 

[Goo98]

Have you run through a week of combative with this on? Think this is a great option for sport shooters and maybe some military dudes who might need to swap around positions of secondary firearms. Dont know about it for anyone who is fighting with a gun on though. Seems like a breakable point.

There’s definitely a risk of breakage during a scuffle but your point of being able to swap holster positions on the fly is valid. Mounting the holster from leg to chest would be handy for getting into a vehicle.

 

[Winz]

I agree. I refuse to wear the drop leg taser rig. Feels floppy and loose and it’s always in the way.

As far as a pistol, if the pistol is your primary firearm in a self defence way like for police, you need it in the same spot all the time. You can’t build that muscle memory as well with a drop because its position changes relative to any position you’re in. You wind up hunting for it. I need to know my pistol is always in the exact same spot so I can draw sitting kneeling laying down moving around.
Retention is also easier.

I tend to agree with this statement. Although quick release systems are available in just about every brand for modularity options, people need to be mindful of how/when to use them based on their use case/professional occupation. There are always going to be some exceptions but the quick release options are generally not intended for constant swapping locations of pistol mounting (eg from belt to plate carrier to other, etc) as that would counter to the building of muscle memory.

Common applications do include:
- Swapping of entire holsters for different pistol platforms and/or to accommodate accessories (lights, optics, etc)
- Taking holster+pistol off entirely for ease and safety for lock-up

Even in the case of the military, troops generally aren't dramatically changing roles that dynamically where, for example, a driver who might wear a pistol mounted to a rig is suddenly going to be a dismount riflemen and want to swap the pistol to a belt loop on the fly. But it depends. In more unique situations, it might actually be easier and simpler to have a separate and different kind of holster anyway.

Overall, I believe in 'less is more.' If one can get the right drop and spacing to work with the overall system without a quick release adapter, then there is no real reason to have it with the slight addition of weight and potential failure point (or simply the creak/rattle). If modularity is crucial and risk in application is acceptable, by all means, it's an optional add-on.

 

[gwhysow]

When you spend a ton of time on your rear, a high belt holster can be an actual pain. That goes double for anyone wearing armor. Drop/offset holsters are the norm in LE for this reason, but they lack the cool factor on film

Rule No. 1: always look cool.

 

[geologist]

When you spend a ton of time on your rear, a high belt holster can be an actual pain. That goes double for anyone wearing armor. Drop/offset holsters are the norm in LE for this reason, but they lack the cool factor on film

Rule No. 1: always look cool.

Image is EVERYTHING................

Except in the real world...........

 

[homer76]

The mission will dictate.

Ive carried a sidearm for almost half my life now.... God im getting old. I HATE drop leg holsters. Suck to run and fight with them on. Most people don't properly measure and size/position it properly for a good draw. Slower to use. Harder to maintain weapon retention.

I'm 49 and have been carrying a sidearm for 29 years. Only 3 more years to go! The first one I carried was a Smith and Wesson Model 10 and since then 3 different pistols. I'm already old!

I had a Safariland leg drop holster for a year and hated it. I removed the top leg strap so It could sit as high as possible. It slowed down my draw, banged into the center console or door (depending if I was the driver or passenger) and would get caught on the steering wheel when I would get out quickly. The UBL lowered the holster to pretty close where it was with my leg drop. My draws sped up again because my pistol was in a more consistent place.

I started getting numbness in my thigh on my gun side if I wore my holster for more than an hour. Since I added a pad to my holster (made by Safariland and goes on mount to stop the hard plastic from digging into hip) and started wearing a padded duty belt it delays the numbness for several hours.

 

[Jon.]

When you spend a ton of time on your rear, a high belt holster can be an actual pain. That goes double for anyone wearing armor. Drop/offset holsters are the norm in LE for this reason, but they lack the cool factor on film

I don't know where they let you wear drop leg holsters besides specialty units like ERT or Dogmaster. We (RCMP) have several choices of the standard safariland belt holder/adapter/whatever it's called part, but the low isn't really low, and all it really does is let you put your taser at a more comfortable level, as that holster comes with a mid belt one which is way too high.

We used to have the speciality option of a "drop" which was really just an offset for people with larger hips or fatties. Barely a drop just made it stick out more.

I started getting numbness in my thigh on my gun side if I wore my holster for more than an hour. Since I added a pad to my holster (made by Safariland and goes on mount to stop the hard plastic from digging into hip) and started wearing a padded duty belt it delays the numbness for several hours.

My left thigh is always numb, I presume from years of wearing a duty belt. I started using the safariland pads on my pistol and taser a few years ago.

If anything I'd like to put more #### on my vest, I already don't have room for my baton, and I'm not a small man.

 

[ACandian]

I don't know where they let you wear drop leg holsters besides specialty units like ERT or Dogmaster. We (RCMP) have several choices of the standard safariland belt holder/adapter/whatever it's called part, but the low isn't really low, and all it really does is let you put your taser at a more comfortable level, as that holster comes with a mid belt one which is way too high.

We used to have the speciality option of a "drop" which was really just an offset for people with larger hips or fatties. Barely a drop just made it stick out more.


My left thigh is always numb, I presume from years of wearing a duty belt. I started using the safariland pads on my pistol and taser a few years ago.

If anything I'd like to put more #### on my vest, I already don't have room for my baton, and I'm not a small man.

Heads up Jon, I started with Numbness in my hip, which eventually got larger and lasted longer and eventually that numbness turned to pain which lead to a permeant nerve injury. Bad enough that I could no longer wear a duty belt and since then I wear a load bearing vest and my thigh rig connects directly to my LBV . Our department uses thigh rigs as a piece of DTA equipment (duty to accommodate) and has helped many with hip and back injuries caused by the duty belt (Sam Brown syndrome) stay in the field and continue their career.

 

[jparent]

Tac vest carry is for secondary #1 . Leg carry is for secondary #2

Ankle for secondary #3. SoB for #4 and so on.

 

[bcbravo2zero]

My 0.02$…

Speaking from my time in Afghanistan, the drop leg (hip extender) made sense when you had the combination of body armour worn over the original combat shirt (my last tour was 2006/07 before the OTW shirts were issued) which draped down to cover your hip pockets. Made it virtually impossible to carry a pistol on your belt in a normal configuration. It was also a heck of allot easier to draw when you’re seated in a G-Wagon or standing in a LAV hatch.

As some mention, the front of your vest makes sense, but that wasn’t an option with the non-modular CAF issued tactical vest from the era, unless you put your pistol in one of the mag pouches, which was a super slow draw as the pistol was essentially oriented straight up and down and basically under your chin. If for any reason you needed to drop your tactical vest to perform a task, climb in an AFV hatch etc, you’re without it.

Running with them on your leg sux. Many got lost due to the Bianci being design for the Beretta 92F and not the Browning HP. I modified mine to get rid of the stupid flap cover and replaced it with a strap that was 100 times more secure.

Yours truly in the middle and much younger than now and yes that up-armoured humvee met up with an IED

#1 - thank you for putting yourself in harm's way to serve your country and people.
Interesting comment. I have zero military training/experience. I'm a long-time 3-gun competitor. I've always drawn from the waist from a passive retention (competition) holster. I've noticed that most of the ex-military guys use drop-leg holsters. So, I tried it and found that it's easier to draw from. But when you run with a big ol' Shadow2 in that thing, as you said, it SUCKS.

 

[hbean]

Having the pistol sitting where the palm of your hand hangs is just more natural to draw out the pistol,drop leg holsters is not a new concept it is just an updated pistol rig going all the way back to the old cowboy days.

 

[powerbaitron]

The mission will dictate.

Ive carried a sidearm for almost half my life now.... God im getting old. I HATE drop leg holsters. Suck to run and fight with them on. Most people don't properly measure and size/position it properly for a good draw. Slower to use. Harder to maintain weapon retention.

For vehicle work, the drop holster is advantageous if you are wearing a seatbelt. Many of the belt holsters are basically useless when belted in.