#IWB

Last time I saw UM tactical was over a year ago at the 2016 October Big 3 East Media event. Well they have finalized their integrally suppressed SS9 9mm AR. An integrally suppressed AR is not usually interesting as there are plenty of other versions out on the market. But what if I told you you could shoot super AND sub sonic ammo out of this gun? The iconic integrally suppressed MP5SD is the benchmark for such guns and yet it is not a good idea to shoot sub sonic ammo. According to Brian, founder and owner of UM Tactical, he tested it against a Gemtech with sub sonic loads and the SS9 was quieter. The suppressor is user serviceable but unfortunately it is detachable just like the MP5SD so the SS9 is a two stamp gun. This one has a 6.75″ barrel. MSRP on the SS9 is $2800. They do offer the upper separately.

We recently got our hands on Cross Breed’s latest addition to the companies continually growing IWB holster collection, the Founder’s Series. In particular we took a look at the Founder’s Series SuperTuck® IWB Holster, in addition to the Founder’s Series Executive Gun Belt. Although the introduction of the Founder’s Series holsters is new, the designs themselves are not, having been around for while. However, the company is making a number of changes to the design that we see here today.

Last year Nathan S. posted about the introduction of the WarFytr companies IWB Kydex holster Fabriclip belt clips. I initially read about it with interest but soon found myself working on numerous other projects and eventually forgot about the product. However, fast forward several months later and I was trying to find a much better method to attach a Kydex holster to my pants or belt while appendix carrying. I initially started out with my Kydex trigger guard holster made for my Smith & Wesson M&P 9x19mm Shield, with a simple paracord loop that was attaching the holster to my belt. This began as an excellent idea, and still is in some situations, but for the most part it breeds a number of issues.

Tulster, a Jenks Oklahoma, based company has proudly announced the release of their latest holster, their IWB profile holster for the Heckler & Koch VP9SK. The VP9SK is the newly released smaller brother to the well-received VP9. The new holster is designed…

I’m willing to bet that there are many out there like me. I typically carry IWB, often with a tucked shirt (Management has to meet certain appearance standards…), which while often highly effective, has its own set of problems for us larger folks. While you skinny guys and gals can carry appendix, those of us with more to love are often forced to go strong-side. Without a naturally wide and falt facade to conceal a long grip, grip length becomes a major concern for concealment – especially tucked.

The hardest part of concealing a firearm is, generally speaking, the grip of the gun. Where the muzzle looks relatively natural in its vertical or near vertical position, the grip of the gun has a tendency to look unnatural in both shape and appearance. Various firearms and holsters set up the gun at a perfect 90-degree angle to belt clips, which lead to the butt of the firearm angling away from the round body.

I, for one, love kydex holsters. Compared to their leather brethren, they have incredible durability and longevity across the wide variety of weather we encounter here in the midwest USA. From extreme cold to scorching hot and a deluge in between the kydex never loses shape. But, this comes at a tradeoff for comfort. Kydex, while molded to the gun, therefore takes the guns main shape, which is not exactly “comfortable.” And even if not molded, it feels like plastic.

Perhaps the bane of carrying IWB is the mounting of the holster to the pant/belts. Often, its a hard choice to go with the inconvenience of loops while getting dressed or the option of drop-on clips that can have (a perhaps undeserved) reputation for failing to retain the holster during a draw stroke. While I have never had a clip malfunction on me, I am cognizant of the forum stories of those who have had them fail.

UrbanCarryHolsters.com posted a video demonstrating the versatility of their holster. The Urban Carry Holster, is a leather style holster that looks more like a small satchel. It hangs onto your belt and is slipped inside the pants and stored down one’s pant leg. To help illustrate this, the first weapon drawn is a pistol grip 12 ga shotgun.

After carrying a StealthGearUSA holster for the better part of the last year, I take notice when they introduce a new model. The Utah-based company has become well known for their VentCore inside the waistband holsters and has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years adding more models faster than most companies can think.

DeSantis has been designing and manufacturing quality holsters since 1972. Of course, four decades ago the company consisted of founder Gene DeSantis making holsters one by one at his kitchen table; safe to say they’ve come a long way since then. One thing that has never changed is their dedication to quality and usability. Today they also work to provide a variety of carry options for a stunning number of firearms, and the latest gun to enter into their holster lineup is the new Ruger LCP II.

With as many pistols as we review here at The Firearm Blog finding a holster in the big box o’ discarded holsters can be a bit of a pain in the tush. I have resulted to a Safariland Pro-Fit paddle holster as my catch all T&E holster because it fits just about everything. Few other holster makers offered something similar leaving me forced into a holster. Comp-Tac saw this void in the market and decided to do something about it. With their new Q line of holsters 4 sizes will fit just about any current production handgun out.

Really Miles? Another Kydex whopdeedoo holster has hit the market? Never mind I can make the things in my garage with a couple of presses and a heater, now I have to find another excuse to shell out for this thing that is apparently so special and unique from every other Kydex contraption on the market?

A large number of people purchase firearms for home defense, and those that do must decide on issues such as whether to carry at home, keep the gun in a safe, store it loaded or unloaded – the list goes on. But that pales in comparisons to the decisions and training that go into choosing – and using – your daily carry. Ignoring the very real issues surrounding choice of caliber, model, and ammunition, and only taking into consideration mode of carry still doesn’t make things easy. Do you carry on your belt? IWB? Ankle holster?

Here is a different method of carrying your handgun for self defense. It is a simple design. The handgun sling is a loop of cord, that looks to be elastic. The ends are joined by an 8mm tube and looped onto the cord is a coin tab. You loop the Handgun Sling around your belt, insert the tube into the muzzle of your handgun and tuck the pistol into your pants. Then you use the coin tab to lift the cord up and over the rear of the slide. Thereby securing the pistol.