[TK-421]

Meh. I'm not looking to spend that much on a holster I'm only going to use at the range, and I don't want the extra retention of the locking mechanism.

[Corrupted355]

I use a Comp-Tac Minotaur Spartan. I'm real happy with it, but that's an IWB holster intended for CCW. In conjunction with a Kydex reinforced belt, that thing makes a 28oz revolver disappear on my hip.

Luckily for you, with that Glock you're not gonna have any trouble finding a holster that is custom fitted to your gun model. If you're looking for something just to take to the range, I recommend going to your local gun shop, where there will be a section for holsters. At a minimum, there will be two dummy guns; probably a blue plastic S&W revolver and a blue plastic Glock. Pick up the plastic Glock and try it out. If you like it, and it's within your budget, buy it and be happy.

[TK-421]

I would go to my local gun shop, but I'm trying to keep it cheap, and the cheapest holsters they have are around $40, which is about twice of what I want to pay. I'm not looking for an end all, be all holster, I just want something that will make do for the time being, until I can afford something I like better. I'd rather have a cheap holster on my hip that will do the job, instead of carrying my pistol around in my pocket. And I figure for $20 bucks, if I don't like it, I can pass it on to someone else who enjoys it more for about the same price. And then a dual mag holder will be $15, and another mag will be about $25.

[OEFVeteran]

Blackhawk makes a nice nylon holster... good universal design and its got a mag pouch incorporated... if you are set on a kydex holster, then go fobus, you wont find a quality holster for any cheaper then that... if you can spend a bit more, even for the rang, a SERPA is the way to go... hell, even though i traded off my FsN i still have my SERPA holster for it in case i decide to get another one... and, if i go with another type of hand gun, i still have all the SERPS attachments for it so all i would need to do is get the holster itself...

but, for just range wear, i would go nylon

[dhunt91]

If your looking for a competitiong holster check out the stuff made by safariland as well as there els system
as for the serpa do NOT get one for competition many do not allow them anymore.

[OEFVeteran]

why would a SERPA holster be banned from comps?

[Corrupted355]

I'm gonna go ahead and be a bit of a troll. You shoulda bought a Springfield XDm. It comes with a decent OWB holster.

[TK-421]

I'm a Glock fanboy, because I can be.

Besides, the Springfield was like $100 more than my Glock.

[dhunt91]

OEFVeteran, on 19 October 2012 - 09:27 PM, said:

why would a SERPA holster be banned from comps?

It has something to do with the push button. and how if your not carefully you can activate the trigger if it is light enough

http://www.mdshooter...ead.php?t=63657
heres a link as to why.

[Corrupted355]

TK-421, on 19 October 2012 - 09:53 PM, said:

I'm a Glock fanboy, because I can be.

Besides, the Springfield was like $100 more than my Glock.

Then Imma go ahead and counter you with some XD fanboy-ism.

The Spingfield may be more expensive, but it's easily $100 nicer too. And it comes with some legitimately decent accessories: a two mag belt holster, a decent range holster, and a pretty nice mag loader, all in a hard plastic, foam lined case. In addition, the mag holster has picatinny rails that hold onto the back side of the mag loader, which is neat. The case itself is also festooned with picatinny rails. I dunno what those are for, but I'm calling it a plus anyway.

Your Glock, on the other hand, came sliding around in a plastic box with that same crappy gun lock that comes with every new gun.

[OEFVeteran]

plus, a Glock isnt a true striker fired gun, al least last i checked they were not....

TK, everyone has their own taste in fire arms... but i have to side with Corrupted on this one, the XD line is just better, lol

[canscom]

So because a few dumbasses shot them selfs the SERPA it is banned sounds like those people need to practice drawing their gun more

[OEFVeteran]

i still have my FsN SERPA holster.... and the only holsters i had for my M9 in the Army were SERPA drop legs... if you shoot yourself in the leg or hip because of a SERPA holster, its the shooter, not the hardware... if you are not trained in the proper use of said hardware you have 2 options... get trained, or dont fucking buy it...

[dhunt91]

OEFVeteran, on 20 October 2012 - 03:43 PM, said:

i still have my FsN SERPA holster.... and the only holsters i had for my M9 in the Army were SERPA drop legs... if you shoot yourself in the leg or hip because of a SERPA holster, its the shooter, not the hardware... if you are not trained in the proper use of said hardware you have 2 options... get trained, or dont fucking buy it...

The sport is first and formost about saftey and while I agree with you 100% as a match director you put the saftey of others above the loss of a competitor because of a product that can possible set a gun of if miss used.

[OEFVeteran]

but, that wasnt the product, that was the operator... i have no idea what these peopls skills are with SERPA holsters, or what their training is, but i've got plenty of real world combat experience with them... and they are not unsafe holsters as long as you train with them

[TK-421]

My glock came in a nice case lined with nice foam, two magazines, a magazine loader, and that crappy gun lock. For that extra $100, I could buy a dual mag holder, a range holster and two or three boxes of ammo. Plus, the Glock was in my price range, the Springfield wasn't. So nicer or not, I couldn't afford it at the time.

Will I pick one up? Yes, eventually. But, my Glock will do everything I want it to, and it will do it without any issues, and it will do it just as well as the Springfield, if not better.

[TK-421]

OEFVeteran, on 20 October 2012 - 10:56 PM, said:

but, that wasnt the product, that was the operator... i have no idea what these peopls skills are with SERPA holsters, or what their training is, but i've got plenty of real world combat experience with them... and they are not unsafe holsters as long as you train with them

Basically, it comes down to "Shit happens." Apparently there have been a few police officers who have shot themselves using that holster, and a few very experienced shooters too, from what I've gathered. It's not only morons who shouldn't be around firearms, it's experienced gun enthusiasts as well.

[OEFVeteran]

idiots will be idiots...

[Watcher]

Allow me to counter Corrupted and TK with some Ruger fanboyism and the SR9.

Comparing the base model SR9 to the base XD and the Glock17 (all in 9mm for this example), the Ruger at $400 is $80 and $100 cheaper respectively than the competition, comes with 2 mags, has the same capacity per mag as the Glock and is +1 compared to the XD, it has a more comfortable grip (in my opinion), the backstrap is reversible making different profiles while the XD and any non-Gen4 Glock isn't, it has the same style trigger and striker mechanism as the Glock and XDs, is easy to take down, the slide rails are easily replaceable if necessary, there are quite a few aftermarket parts, and it comes standard with a thumb safety and if you don't like that then don't use it because it still has the trigger safety system. The only thing it lacks is a padded case, they give you a molded case which works well and is compact but doesn't have a lot of extra room for goodies.

Most important of all, it is 100% MADE IN THE USA and on top of that it holds a LIFETIME WARRANTY (and Ruger has possibly the best customer service of any firearms company, period). Glock is Austrian with a warranty that I guess is lifetime if you register the handgun with them (they don't express what type of warranty it is on the website at all), and the XD is Croatian made with a limited warranty that is non-transferable. Sucks.
Ruger is lifetime warranty for life. No questions asked, even if the firearm changes hands.


I'd feel more confident in Ruger than in Glock or Springfield as a company, I'd feel more pride of ownership in the Ruger being a domestic company, and with the money saved I could buy a third magazine, a mag holder, a holster, and a padded case.
Oh wait... I DID!!!


... Not entirely true, I spent the mag holder money on a better holster




Even the S&W M&P9 is a good deal in my opinion. You get 2 mags with 17+1 capacity, you get a decent case, you get a domestically produced and lifetime warranted handgun (all be it non-transferable), it has an optional thumb safety, it has interchangeable grip back-straps, and it is the same price as the XD.
I think it is a better gun than both the Springer and the Glock.

FNH's FNS is pretty good, too. Initially the $600 tag seems high but when you consider that it comes with 3 mags and Nite-Sites it's actually a pretty comparably priced handgun.

I'd be happy with either of these three: Ruger, Smith, FN. All three are USA made from awesome companies and represent good value. Ruger has the best value, FN has the track-record and features, and Smith holds the middle ground.









Fanboyism aside, Blackhawk SERPA holsters are awesome and can be had for cheaper than you think. A "sporting" configured OWB holster, shaped specifically to your gun with a push-button retention system that is both safe, ergonomic, and reliable, can be had at basically anywhere they sell firearms for $35.
Even with the mentality that cheaper is better, $15 isn't much money in the long run, and a nylon "universal" holster with some crappy side-release buckle for a retention system is going to end up in a drawer after a short time of use because it is so junky and not user friendly. Universal holsters, for lack of a better term, suck. The handguns usually flop around inside, the retention mechanism is sub par and borderline require two hands to draw/holster, and they usually don't come with a belt or clip or any system to wear it so you have to make sure you have the proper equipment. For myself I even went the extra mile and got a universal holster with a fully adjustable wrap-around design you can shape to your handgun with a thumb-break style retention strap. It is a lot nicer than most universal holsters, and it cost a little bit more, but after I got my Blackhawk guess where the universal one stays... A drawer...

The Blackhawks hold the weapon snug, they release with the touch of a button, they accept smoothly with an audible "click", and they come with a paddle you can simply slip into your waistband and be done with.


I can appreciate the whole "budget shooter" crisis. But sometimes waiting the extra few days to save up $10 for the better product is well worth it in the long run (and cheaper, too! Why spend $20 on a holster that will end up under the bed once you get your $35 one, if you can just spend $35 to begin with and use it all the time?).

This post has been edited by Watcher: 21 October 2012 - 02:42 AM

[Corrupted355]

I have to agree. If I were to do it again, I would have strongly consider the Ruger SR40 over the XD. The trigger is nicer, and I like the sights better. And the Made in USA thing tickles my patriot bone.