[Holster features advice]

Just wanted to say that I shot at the first shoot of the season today, and all went well with the new rig. Really glad I got the cartridge loading pouch for the belt, eliminating carrying loading blocks to and from the loading bench. The angles of the holsters seem just about right, I wasn't sure that I was going to see the revolver into the left side well enough when reholstering, but that didn't seem to be a problem today. Managed to shoot my first-ever clean stages, so that's a plus. Very happy with the rig so far.

[Holster features advice]

21 hours ago, Raincrow said:

Rusty so glad you started this topic! I am new as in watched one match in the morning a couple months ago. I plan to get a cross draw to add to my holster and belt I inherited from Dad, a basic modern sheriff basket weave, to start and learn what I like. The advice and opinions here are awesome! Thanks all. I'm afraid to comment on the crotch comments.... way too many easy puns there, but appreciate the "crotch shot" photos!

 

Didn't realize folks had been posting in this thread again until I got a message about Raincrow's post, sorry about that. I got my holster rig from Dan Parmenter a couple of weeks ago, I'm very pleased with how it all turned out. I haven't shot competitively with it yet, first shoot is this weekend. I'll let folks know how it goes. Here's some pics, probably the last time they'll look this clean.

 

 

 

 

My thanks again to everyone who helped me think through what I needed in a rig.

 

Rusty

[mailing a handgun - need help]

Have had to do this through UPS and it really went smoothly. Definitely some cost involved, but UPS is providing a service and for the most part it is hassle-free. Certainly if you could find a local FFL to ship it for you that might save you some money--or not, since the FFL will likely charge you the normal transfer fee as well as the cost to ship via USPS, whose rates all just went up on January 1 this year. I'd just keep it simple and go through UPS.

[Anyone use HSM bullets?]

I've used some of the HSM 38-55 bullets for a new-to-me Winchester Miroku highwall. So far so good, ordered them through Mountain States Ammo. Will probably buy more.

[Holster features advice]

If it's not breaking a Wire rule about advertising, can you tell me who is the maker of these holsters? Is there a website with other examples of their work? Thanks.

 

Didn't mean to make a secret of it or anything, and hopefully not violating any rules re advertising (apologies if that's the case), but these are made by Dan Parmenter in Indiana, his web site has lots of photos: Murphy Custom Gunleather . Dan has been great on the phone and in emails back and forth, and I'm looking forward to shooting this season with his holsters.

[Holster features advice]

Rusty..

In yer last post you mentioned taking your holsters off between stages..

A lot of folks take their guns out only.. between stages and place them in their gun carts..

They usually leave their holsters on..

It lightens the load a lot when doing posse duty..

 

On my second set.. I did not want bullet loops around the back..

If they ain't filled with bullets they don't look quite right..

And.. If they are full of bullets they look good.. But Again.. Packing around a lot of extra weight ..

A couple of well placed cartridge loops for a fast reload (like replacing a jacked out rifle round) might be handy..

I reload jacked out rounds off my shotgun belt..

 

The suede on the inside keeps you guns where you want them..

They won't ride up or down with fast running movement

 

Rance;)

Thinkin that's about all else I can think of..

 

thanks Rance, I'm going to keep the bullet loops off the belt and have a couple of cartridge reload loops on the shotshell belt.

 

I talked with the holster maker this afternoon and I'm going to go with the more upright holsters but with a bit more tilt out away from the body--hopefully combining the best features of both. I had trouble reholstering the light tan ones with my weakside hand, the toe angle on those are 20 degrees he said. The darker ones are 12 degrees, which he says is a pretty common angle for holsters that he has built. That was much more comfortable for my offhand, and ultimately I couldn't tell much of a difference in the speed of drawing with my shooting hand. He recommended I watch some video of Oklahoma Dee on youtube . . . great shooter! but now I understand the crotch holster discussion better.

 

I can keep the holsters a bit longer and plan to shoot some with each set this weekend, I'm in his work queue now which is good, and can tweak things until he starts making them.

 

Rusty

[Holster features advice]

I really, really appreciate all the comments so far, even the ones about crotch holsters. I'm going to try timing my draw and reholstering with each. I don't have these until the start of the season and will need to return them shortly, but I do have enough time to play with them for several days and to get out in the backyard and actually shoot some steel from each. I think the main concern with the second set would be the mobility factor when not shooting, the belt loops on these are suede-lined to keep them from shifting on the belt, and they really do stay put. And I'm not sure I'd want to take the belt on and off between stages and hang them on the cart. Also the white belt is simply a sizing belt he uses to determine the actual belt size, so to Ventura Slim's comment there won't be a long tail on the belt to deal with.

 

The holsters I used last year were simply some inexpensive Hunter 1100 holsters that fit the revolvers, and a cheap belt that at least got me going. I did have some issues with reholstering cleanly and obviously wasted time there.

 

any other thoughts, I'd love to hear them. The person who sent these has been great to work with so far and will also be very helpful when we talk again about designing the rig and making adjustments based on trying these.

[Holster features advice]

Personally I like the first set but that is how I like my holsters. The second set may be fine as well if you wear them as Straight Arrow Hombre suggested but however you wear them just know that you may be banging into your grips no matter which way you set them. It's all in what you like.

 

I would put each pair on and just walk around with them going about what you normally do (at home, of course). Walk around, sit down on a stool, bend over, move about a bit. DO motions that you may do at a match. Pretend to pick up brass. Pick up your long guns and move about with them as if you going to and from a loading / unloading table. See if either pair feels awkward...well, awkward in the sense that one feels less awkward than the other.

 

The first time I wore my guns I felt odd but that sense of oddness goes away with familiarity.

 

Pat, this is really good advice, when I readjusted the second set of holsters I wondered what they would feel like if I had to bend down--picking up brass might be a challenge I think, so I'll have to try that. Great piece of advice.

[Holster features advice]

Assuming you are not shooting B-Western, where you'd need a buscadero rig (low slung, double strong side) rig, then I'd suggest you get a conventional set up like Mernickle's High Performance rig and have him make you a third holster for cross draw. That way, you'll have matching gear for either double strong side or cross draw shooting. The extra holster is about $150 IIRC. I bought a B-Western rig before I really knew what I was doing, and used it for a year. Switched to the HP rig last year. Mernickle stuff is top grade, and Bob's a hoot to talk to on the phone. With the Mernickle HP rig, you can move the holsters around to suit, so you have flexibility in positioning them.

 

Ripsaw, I appreciate these comments as well. Haven't given much thought to cross draw, everything I read when I started suggested learning to shoot double strong side. I also went on Mernickle's site and was overwhelmed, wasn't quite sure where to start. Still trying just to learn what features are important for function and smooth shooting technique.

[Holster features advice]

That second set needs to be brought in to the front quite a bit. Once you have them in front, the cant and outset will make drawing and reholstering feel natural

 

that was really helpful advice, I repositioned them, and you were right, that makes it feel much more natural. Here's what that set looks like now. thanks!

 

[Holster features advice]

these are pics of the two sets I have, the first sit more upright and have less of an aggressive angle away from the body:

 

 

The seond set has more of a forward tilt and cants away from the body a bit more. These feel like they need to ride a bit lower on the body to work.

 

 

Any thoughts, advice? thanks again.

[Holster features advice]

Relatively new shooter (one season), I'm getting ready to order some real holsters. One of the well-known holster makers generously sent me a couple of sets to try out, I'm afraid I'm not knowledgeable enough yet to know exactly what I'm looking for, how they should feel, etc. These vary in drop and toe angle and feel like they should ride differently on the hip (I took some photos and can include them if it would help). I could really use some advice thinking through what I need to know about holster design features before I talk with him on the phone again.

 

Thanks in advance!

Rusty

[I've had it with Photo Bucket. What else is available]

never had a problem with flickr

[Bullet Casters : Need your Advice]

I've been casting off and on for 30 years. A $40 Coleman stove, a $12 Lodge skillet, and a $20 Lyman ladle will get the job done better and with more control than any lead furnace I've ever worked with. Spend the rest on propane and lead.