Comfortable concealment
 

I will be buying an XDM .45 compact. Any suggestions on a comfortable way to conceal-carry this particular model? No open carry in NY. Ankle holster is out of the question.

XDM .45 sounds harder to carry than a 9 or something. I really like a shoulder holster, but you have to wear a jacket.

IWB?

It's a compact, but still pretty large. I'm leaning toward IWB but looking for something comfortable.

http://crossbreedholsters.com
I had the 4.5" XDM9 full size and then moved to the 3.8XDM9 compact. I've used the crossbreed supertuck to carry both. It's comfortable. I have carried in shorts and pants, t-shirts, polos and button up. Today for the first time I actually was wearing dress pants with a polo shirt tucked in. The concealment is very good as well as the comfort. I got the horsehide for it's resistance to fluids (sweat). I think I've had/used it for about 2 years now.

I'm 6'1" and 200#. I wear it at 3 o'clock to 4:30 or so (right hip to slightly behind the hip).

The CBST is adjustable for height and cant.

Not my gun, but it is an XDM in a CBST

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...6/c8d3eea6.jpg

Without a gun.
http://cdn.armslist.com/images/posts...62121ccoee.jpg

This is a decent forum. They also love the CBST here, you'll find lots of posts about them.

XDTalk Forums - Your XD/XD(m) Information Source!

That's worn at 3 o'clock right? Is it hard to get used to? I would think it would be more comfortable around the 4-5 o'clock position.

Stronghold Phoenix from Occidental Leather. IWB behind the strong side hip. I prefer good old fashioned leather. Retention is excellent for this holster type. I find snap loops front and rear keep things from shifting about and I have no problen taking it on or off sitting in my car. Bonus is little to no wait time. CW45, XD40, P226, 1911 all ride in one depending on my need at the time.

J

I just ordered a Galco super tuck for my XD SC 9mm. Ill let you know how it fits next week...

i have used a SERPA for years now. screw leather in the heat. screw leather in the cold. screw leather with sweat.

i have very active job in/out-up/down etc. i'm in az so leather does NOT FIT the bill AT ALL!

want positive retention????? serpa hands down.

i dont need one damn thing more in my life i have to maintenance.

once to twice a week since i carry daily/nightly, i pull spoon, drop mag,rack slide, blow all lint with air gun, drop all boolits,reload mag, blow serpa out with air gun.......DONE!


and when its 115 dee-greees F outside...............take a wild azz'd guess how HOT it is in a aircraft hanger???????


paddle type if ya prefer. or belt slide. or ya can buy there wazoo bracket and mount it chest cross draw on yer COMBAT VEST! or mount on drop leg!


if there was a better holster .............i'd buy it.


hunting is a different story, i like bianchi nylon UM-84 flap type holsters for when its muddy sandy dusty. the flap does make a difference. dont like the flap? then remove flap,use the thumb strap for retention. ambidextrious(sp), cross draw chest, under my left arm, drop leg holster etc.



i have a holster fetish...............i USE THEM DAILY!

Doesn't anyone use shoulder holsters anymore? I can't imagine something jammed in my drawers is gonna be as comfortable as my Galco Miami Classic secured to my belt. I used to wear it all day everyday with no issues. I don't pack now, but may again soon.

Sometimes I wear it at 3 and sometimes at 4-5. It works either way and is equally comfortable either way, but then I suspect your build will at least partially determine comfort in various positions. It wasn't really hard for me to get used to at all.

Those are also quite popular.

That's why I got the horse hide option instead of the leather. I like leather watch bands, but I don't wear them because of the sweat. I didn't want to spend $70 on a holster that was going to smell really bad in a year. I got the horse hide because it's supposed to be much less likely to absorb sweat/liquid than cow hide. I have to say, that's absolutely been the case, but then I also don't live in AZ, and especially don't work in a hangar in AZ. I've also never dug a ditch in Houston wearing my holster. But I do wear it all of the time when I'm not at work and it's fine.

I suspect if I was in AZ, I would need/use a plastic holster.

I think one of the main reasons that I have heard that they aren't used much is that they are considered less safe.

I'm really liking the reviews on the crossbreed. I stumbled upon this holster that claims to have a few refinements over the crossbreed. Are they valid?
https://clevelandsholsters.com/Home.html

re: Comfortable concealment

Ain't no such thing (unless being w/o makes you uncomfortable)
And I've carried the same piece in the same place since '85.
Jim

Looks like one of them must be copying the other, but I don't know which came first. It looks like the CH is a bit cheaper than the CBST (a little extra $ to add the horsehide option). What are the refinements? I see a little more leather, that may or may not be an improvement, but then you could always trim some if you want. The only 2 other things that I see are the adjustable retention screws, but with this holster, the retention comes more from the thing being pressed against your body than from the tightness of the kydex. The only other thing that I see is the 49 position adjustments. I really can't (no pun intended) imagine the need for that many settings.

It seems like it could be a pretty good deal.

Kydex over the end of the barrel and over the top of the pant line. Are these needed?

To counteract muzzle-rise in such a small frame, they angled the grip angle way back.
That requires the wrist to be angled downwards. Bent. Weak.

A .45 packs a punch. A punch should be made straight.

the last leather holster i did buy was a "dillon leather" for my hk uspc 9mm. at 1st it fit great, but as time wore on the retention factor went to POO!

at 1st i could hold holster with spoon upside down and it would stay put. after maybe a year and a 1/2 , it would fall right out.


retention is critical for me. leather doesnt like getting wet. you can treat it with leather lubes, but with hot / cold freezing scalding temps, it just doesnt last worn daily. same with leather dirty bike boots. you can lube them every time you go ride and after a few years they just dry out and crack.

remember small is good, because very very few of us are cops and we are NOT offensively carrying, we ARE DEFENSIVELY CARRYING!

and yeah there really isnt a "100%" comfortable way to carry. its always a pain, but its better then the alternative,and its the price we have to pay for a warm fuzzy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1348192375.jpg

I'm sorry but that's incorrect. It has the same grip angle as the full sized XD. This is evidenced by the fact that the XDM sub compact can use the 13 round magazines from the full sized XDM .45. If the grip angle were different, the magazine would have to be redesigned to feed correctly and seat correctly in the mag well.

All XDs use the same grip angle as a 1911. Glock uses a different grip angle but they use the same angle for all of their various pistol sizes.

Thank you! What was the original topic now?

Concealment or something like that (and NP)!

The Crossbreed is a good way to go but look at this also: Inside Waistband Holsters - Minotaur Holsters - products new home - Minotaur MTAC Holster

Same basic idea. You might also find that something like this works for you.

Phantom Modular Holster

You really need to try them for yourself.

Thanks Pablo. The Minotaur looks like another good choice.

Your lower back has an arch so that is another great postion for something like the Bianci Shadow on the belt. An over sized shirt or coat and you are good to go.
The drawback is you can't drive like that.
You are just going for your wallet and bingo...

Also, you really need a compact.

Yes. Especially when I'm on a motorcycle.

Well, I suppose having to muzzle sweep your own anatomy during the draw is a legitimate beef with them. But other than that.... :eek:

I carry differently depending on the situation. As stated, if I'm on the bike it's probably shoulder holster. If I'm "not carrying" it's a compact of some sort appendix-style, in a modified leather/nylon holster of my own creation. Otherwise it's behind the hip (~4:00) in an IWB leather holster.

Open carry is only for social occasions, like going to the range or at a BBQ. This absolutely requires a nice leather holster, otherwise I run the risk of clashing with my boots. ;)

PS: “Carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable; it’s supposed to be comforting."

Hahaha, that's darn funny

I decided to go with the Crossbreed Supertuck. I just got it today. It'll take a while to break in, but I'm very surprised how easy it is to wear. Thanks for the info masraum! If it is this comfortable new, it'll be a great holster once it's worn in.

I've heard nothing but good about the crossbreed holsters. When I carried a larger weapon, 4-5 o clock was my preference.
I carry a sub compact now and it is ALWAYS on me in a variety of carry methods from ankle to IWB to pocket and even SOB. Since finding a sub compact I enjoy shooting, that's incredibly accurate and reliable, I just don't see going back to anything bigger for EDC unless SHTF

I've got two IWB & 1 OWB from these folks, great fit, quality, & service. The OWB has sharkskin trim, very cool stuff...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350093075.jpg