My question is just that simple: do you guys recommend a drop-leg holster or a belt-mounted holster dropped for use with a chest rig? If a drop-leg, I would probably take off the top leg strap and just use the bottom one to keep it as high as reasonably possible. I would like at least one level of retention, and I’m leaning mostly towards a Safariland ALS (though the Blade Tech might be an option, if anyone wouldn’t mind educating me on their Tek-Lok system).
Thanks,
-B
I wanted to keep my holster as close as possible to the position of my everyday CCW rig, so I opted for the 6320 ALS duty holster, hanging off an ATS duty belt inside their MOLLE War Belt sleeve. The supplied mid-ride hanger drops the holster enough to clear my Eagle Plate Carrier with armor installed, while still keeping the holster fairly high compared to a thigh rig or “low rise” belt rig. I don’t like stuff strapped to my thighs, so I’m glad this setup worked out.
My $.02.
Fill up your chest rig and see how much room you have on the sides. Personally I used a drop-leg with both my chest rig (no armor) and body armor assault kit.
I use a drop leg holster when wearing body armor. I only use the bottom strap and wear the holster high on the hip but low enough not to interfere if I have to transition.
Just a chest rig? I use a regular carry holster with mine.
Rob, you’re 6’1", right? Do you notice guys shorter than you able to make the normal carry holster work?
Playing a little with my Eagle M4 chest rig and a Safariland 6378 (paddle holster), it’s possible to use a normal belt holster, but it’s neither comfortable or especially efficient. At 5’9", my torso doesn’t seem long enough to get adequate clearance for a smooth draw from a normal belt holster, even with the right side of the chest rig clear. Put simply, my normal holster isn’t low enough for me to work with a chest rig. I think the only belt holsters that would work are ones that ride a lot lower (6325 or similar “dropped” belt holsters). I was wondering if it would be easier to just spring for the drop-leg.
Thanks for the insight guys. Keep ‘em comin’!
-B
I run the same chest rig and very similar holster setup. But I’m 6’4" so that probably doesn’t help, too much. But I think alot of it has to do with how you run your chest rigs. I run mine a little higher than some. Up on my chest like Rob. But have seen others run them lower around their abdomine and it would seem that it would make it harder to access a belt mounted pistol that way.
I’ve had good luck with BladeTech in the past, but am not a fan of their Tek-Lok. I haven’t bought any BladeTech since I found Comptac. I really like their stuff, as well as Safarilands Kydex Concealment holsters. I’ve heard good things about Raven too, but haven’t had the opportunity to try their stuff.
Good luck with your setup!
Just an old cops opinion here…
I have a drop leg rig and absolutely love to use it, it is fast and comfortable, but…
From a weapons retention point of view (and I have a fair background in martial arts), they suck. They are much harder to control because they rotate around your leg and the arms you are fighting for control with are at a more full extension and therefore weaker. You will have much more control and power of your arms if you are fighting for retention of a gun tucked in tight on your hip. Additionally… most of us have developed the muscle memory of reaching for that gun on our hip, so why would you mess with that on the few occasions where you got a chance to use something different?
People talk of not having enough room on there belt for a holster. My take would be “priorities”, next to spare mags for your primary there is no more important accessory than your secondary. Put the extra sh!t that the bad guy wont try to take from you on the drop leg. Although I have a drop leg rig, my primary set up is to have my medical stuff and more mags on drop legs.
So if you are not going to be going toe to toe with someone who will try to take your sidearm away from you, then use a drop leg rig and love it.
I hate to weigh in with a vague ‘it depends’, but it really does. The rig you are using and your physical build will all factor in. I own two chest rigs (Eagle CP223 and the SKD model), and the Eagle PC. I find that I can only comfortably use a belt holster with the CP223. With the SKD model, I can wear a belt holster, but I’ve found the rig and especially the PALS webbing can interfere with my draw. I have a slim build, so perhaps the rig comes around on my sides a bit further than the typical user. So I’ll switch to the 6004 when using this particular combination. However, as noted, my 6004 has been trimmed to just get it below my belt, and I only use one leg strap. I’ve cringed at how low I’ve seen some people wear their drop legs.
See RD62’s post just below yours, but also look at the guy next to me in my picture. He’s probably about your height AND he’s wearing the chest rig much lower on the torso than I do. He’s using a thigh holster (which I don’t think you can see in the picture).
The trend definitely seems to be to drop the chest rigs lower and lower. The whole reason I use a chest rig is so that it will work with my carry holster, and so I keep mine jacked up like you see in the picture.
Most people have enough problems practicing their drawstroke to begin with. Add in the roaming holster (today IWB, tomorrow drop leg, yesterday crossdraw, etc.) and it’s a recipe for problems. If you’re not in the military, your primary is your handgun. IMHO, training, practice, muscle memory, and skillsets should be strongest with the primary, and placement of the primary should dictate placement of everything else. more of my thoughts on the matter
Another group of angry white males clinging to their guns. When will it end? 
One thing that I noticed when I was in the USCG was that quite a few personnel had issues drawing their pistol from the issue belt holsters. That is because our course of fire dictates that you will wear body armor, a PFD, and then your regular gunbelt. At the time the “regular” Coast Guard was generally prohibited from using any holster that dropped the butt of the pistol more than 4" below the belt (IIRC) and/or had a leg type strap.
When you are wearing all the crap and trying to clear a holster under xxx amount of time it’s a PITA. I have preferred thigh holsters for a long time. My first one was a Safariland (orginal 6004 model) that I bought back in 1996 or so when I worked bailbonds.
What kind of activities will you be participating in while wearing your armor/chest rig? I ask because to me that plays a big roll in what holster / configuration I choose. Also how is your chest rig configured (light/heavy) and worn (high/low)?
If I"m going to sitting alot or walking alot I try to avoid thigh rigs. They get uncomfortable for me if you have to move far, fast, or both. However, that said, their is no more efficient way to transition to a secondary weapon than a drop / thigh rig. So if you have to clear bulky armor/pouches or are not moving very far, will mostly be on your feet and are expecting contact, its a good option.
I like belt carry most because it the most comfortable sitting / standing and moving and does not give up that much in presentation speed if your rig does not get in the way. A safariland duty holster 6280 under my eagle plate carrier because my plate carrier is a pretty low profile rig (3 rifle mags/4 pistol mags) works well. I’m also comfortable w/ running an IWB holster like the VMII w/ G19 but this is not the prefered option. However w/ my IBA / SAPI / Side Sapi / forget it, have to run a thigh holster or vest holster.
FYI, when I’m wearing my full kit everything is much more cumbersome and I like to have a holster w/ retention of some kind, especially if I’m going to running a sling, ruck/assault pack and moving alot in the dark, so for me, normal OWB Comp-tac/blade tech holsters are out. If you are going to be doing any dynamic activity or wearing anything other than basic concealment garmets I would highly recommend retention of some kind.
For thigh rigs you would have to try very hard to beat the Safariland line…Also something to look at would be the MLE system from Safariland, that way you could try both the Drop leg and Vest mounted placement really easily and you could even efficiently configure your holster placement for the activity you will be engaging in. Vest carry is very comfortable and easier to draw from while seated, but the trade off is taking up molle realestate, slightly slower draw while running and gunning and potentially getting hung up on your sling. When I do run a thigh rig, its while I’m wearing full kit, and its for my M9 in Safariland 6004 / only the bottom leg strap and a contoured shroud. Though I am beginning to experiment more w/ vest carry. YMMV
Belt carry can work, depending on your physique, how offset your holster is from your body, and how your chest rig is set up, etc.
I went the drop leg route because when I’m wearing armor I prefer it that way, and when I’m not I prefer to train consistently.
I use a Safariland 6280 with 1.5" UBL and run a strap through the bottom hole of the UBL. Keeps the gun out of the way, rigid and in closer proximity to where you normally have it positioned. You need the strap though to keep the holster in place on the draw.