I agree with you, a minimal amount of retention via friction like a supertuck/phantom is perfect for CCW. If you are ever going to open carry, I would go with at least a thumb break or something like a serpa, but it sounds like you recognize that as well…
I only carry concealed. Inside the waistband, I use molded Kydex for thinness and rigidity. Outside the waistband, I use open-top, molded leather for better concealment and better ability to retain the gun in a hand to hand struggle.
If someone grabs a gun holstered in many plastic OWB holsters, they can gain control of the gun by simply pushing down and/or pulling away and breaking the holster. This risk is minimized with an IWB holster, which positions a (hopefully double thickness) belt around the outside of the holster. As long as you can keep the gun in your holster, you are keeping control of your gun.
If retention is a concern, use leather even for IWB carry. Kydex is forgiving of improper draw technique. Drawing from a properly molded leather holster requires pulling the gun out in a direction relatively close to parallel to the holster. This may not be so easy for your attacker to do in a wrestling match, buying you time to keep control of your gun. Some of my acquaintances who train by grappling with holstered dummy guns prefer leather for this reason.
A thumb break is not difficult for an attacker to hit if he has grabbed your gun. I would not count on this to protect the gun. In fact, I’d be less confident in the retention of a poorly fitted holster with a retention strap than a well fitted open top holster.
Not only have I found open top to be easier to draw from, but it is difficult to find truly good quality holsters with retention straps and with belt loops that match my belt width exactly. Better quality concealment holsters all seem to be open top.
I like the idea of a thumb break to keep the gun from falling out if im fighting with someone and i end up falling down. Many fights end up on the ground. The thumb break is not just to prevent a gun grab.
I carry concealed. That doesn’t mean i will never be mugged or jumped by some lowlife. And if that lowlife is not armed, then i cant use my pistol to defend myself, and its hand to hand. Retention becomes important in this scenario, however rare it may be.
I agree with this. My caveat to anyone seeking a holster with some level of retention, is not to use that as a crutch. Approach the holster’s restraining system as a “speed bump” for bad guys. It isn’t a substitute for physical retention techniques.
Despite not being a huge fan of Serpa holsters, I’ve always appreciated the style of onboard retention. It’s not something Jimothy J. Crackhead is going to be able to snatch without a struggle.
Agree. Ive been meaning to get my butt to some Krav Maga sessions.
A retention holster, (simple thumb-break), can be a practice of mental masturbation if you believe thugs don’t know how to defeat it. They do, and can access your weapon as quickly as you. In fact, there are LE training videos showing just that. And, its’ not limited to retention level 2 holsters, but retention level 3s as well.
Weapon retention skills must be learned and practiced on a regular basis. It is a perishable skill with emphasis on the perish part.
I agree with your points, but i am thinking of a situation where i have my pistol concealed AIWB. The thug does not know i have the gun, and he decides to jump/mug me. So now i am fighting with him and i dont want the pistol falling out, during the struggle.
I would rather spend a bunch on quality, and have the satisfaction of knowing i have a product that meets all of its requirements.
Agreed.
I also agree, and use the same system (ALS) when OC’ing (work).