Holsters

[scott_r]

Im new to the restricted scene, am waiting for my RPAL and am wondering why holsters are a big deal. When can you actually use them? I know at our range you can't wear a gun on your hip. Are they for competition??
Im really wondering this as Im interested in a Baby Eagle and it was said they are hard to find a holster that will fit them.

Cheers!!

 

[Mercury0_0]

I use my holsters at the range when I'm practicing for IPSC matches, when I'm actually shooting an IPSC match (or 3-gun or steel matches) and when I'm at home practicing my draw from a holster and dry firing.
I also use my IWB holster when I'm in the US. I have a permit to CCW in several States.

 

[BHein]

If you aren't planning on participating in any of the shooting sports you likely don't need one, but, you may find later you want to and finding something then may be tough. That can be a tough go if you have something out of the ordinary.

 

[enefgee]

At our range you can use a holster, frankly not being 'allowed' to use a holster at a gun club strikes me as bizarre. Does your club allow slings on rifles? Anyway, a holster is the safest possible place to put a pistol, and good ones are worth the cost. As for the Baby Eagle, they're very common in Israel where they're also sold as the Jericho 941 - so a site like wwwdot zahal dot org has a few choices. In premium holsters Raven Concealment makes a holster for the Baby Eagle, not cheap, not fast but very popular with folks who really use handguns.

 

[BCRider]

For casual range plinking from a bench not many clubs allow holsters. Or you need to be holster qualified. But at various competitions a holster is either a must have or is the BEST choice for a safe place to park your pistol while moving between stages.

For actual competition draw events such as IPSC, IDPA or Speed Steel based on IPSC rules you want a good holster that won't slow you down for the draw.

For a more casual carry around between stages situation the holster can be a much more generic soft style and still work great. For example I bought an Uncle Mike's nylon cloth holster originally for my big N frame S&W. Little did I know that the same holster works superbly as a parking place for about 8 of my other guns including, but not limited to, my 1911, CZ Shadow, S&W 422 and 2206 and S&W Model 19. Just about the ONLY guns which don't fit are the 7.5 inch and longer black powder guns.

If you're having trouble finding a holster for your Jericho/Baby Eagle then look at leather for an option. A good stiff molded leather holster can be every bit as good as a plastic holster if it's done right. And the nice thing is that it could then be done by someone that works with leather in your local area. You may want to check with some shops and see if there's anyone local to you that does leather work of this sort.

 

[Wendell]

If it's not in your safe, it's not in your hand, and it's not in your holster, how can you be responsible for it? Where's the gun control?

The safest place for your pistol is in your holster.

As to a particular brand of holster, try a Raven first. <http://www.ravenconcealment.com/>

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Our local F&G club range, while a pretty good facility, is a short ways up a local logging road, gets limited use and as such, is fairly 'informal'. Going to the range handgun shooting, I always take a holster. If there's anyone else there that I don't know, when I go to check or change a target, I put the holster on and the handgun comes with me. About two years ago when I arrived at the range, there was a young guy and his two kids there. After shooting for a while and prior to a trip down range to change my target, I put 'Mr. Mike' on my shoulder and took my 500 S&W with me. When I returned, he asked me, "What's with the holster if you don't mind me asking"? I told him, "You're probably a 'good guy' but I don't know you from Adam". "Under those circumstances I use a holster and take the handgun with me". "That way I know it'll be safe and that it'll be there when I get back". His comment, "I never thought about it, good idea". As it turned out, aparently he is with one of the local detachments.