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Newbie: IWB vs. OWB - 1911

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  • Fortitude88

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    May 2, 2013
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    Flower Mound, TX
    Brand new to guns, never owned a gun before.

    Just purchased a Kimber Ulta CDP II .45, going through my CHL class this week, and now looking for a holster. Price isn't a concern, neither are aesthetics. I'm looking for something minimalistic, comfortable, and functional - meaning, I can draw it quickly.

    Your opinions, please. IWB or OWB? Any specific recommendations? I'm leaning towards OWB. IWB seems neither functional nor comfortable.

    Opinions I've read from same-model gun owners include:


    1. SuperSlide | CrossBreed® Holsters - Super Slide
    2. Milt Sparks Holsters
    3. High Performance Concealment Systems for the Professional

    Thanks.
    Venture Surplus ad
     

    GlockOwner

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    I've heard tons of good things about the Crossbreed Supertuck holsters. They are a bit out of my price range so I went out and got a copy of one and it was a lot more comfortable to me than a couple of other IWB holsters I tried (using a Glock 27, which is a sub-compact gun). I never gave much thought to OWB because I am not a big guy and have a hard enough time concealing with IWB as it is.
     

    Skip

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    Any experience drawing quickly with an IWB holster?

    Other than practice, no. You will get used to it though, either way you will have to practice moving the garment out of the way so, you just have to figure out which is more comfortable.


    "Character is doing the right thing even when no one is watching"
     

    SIG_Fiend

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    OWB - More comfortable, less concealable
    IWB - More concealable, less comfortable

    That's the simple answer.

    What will work best for you really depends on a whole LOT of factors. Your height, weight, build, the type of clothing you normally wear, etc.

    To keep things simple, here's some basics of what I would look for in a good quality holster that will reliably and safely work for you:

    -Fully covers trigger guard: This is non-negotiable. Without this, there's plenty of risk of clothing or other items working their way into the trigger guard and causing a negligent discharge.

    -Durable: For the most part, you'll probably be looking at either leather or kydex/polymer holsters. There are trade offs with each, and none are ever completely perfect. Leather wears out faster, absorbs moisture, can collapse once the gun is drawn (makes reholstering difficult), etc. although leather holsters can be more comfortable. Kydex is generally more durable, won't absorb moisture, stays open when gun is drawn, but can be less comfortable.

    -Solid attachment method: Lots of options here. Sewn belt loops, snap belt loops, paddles, quick off/on plastic clips, thin metal clips, thick metal clips with a substantial "hook" to grab clothing, velcro, etc. Make sure you choose something durable. Pro-tip: Most quick on/off plastic clips, and in fact most plastic belt loops or clips in general are crap. They're usually not durable and break very easy when any kind of force is applied. Where possible, leather or rubberized/reinforced belt loops, or really thick spring steel metal clips with a large "hook" are going to be most reliable.


    For a smaller gun like a 3-3.5" 1911, OWB can work just fine, honestly. That's not a big gun, so OWB shouldn't be difficult to conceal with most clothing. Worst case, sometimes just going up one shirt size will do it.

    I carry a Glock 17 IWB at 3 o'clock with a straight drop kydex holster. I pretty consistently am around a 1.50 second draw from concealment to first shot in the A zone on a target at ~7yds. At closer range, like 2 or 3yds, I can get that down closer to ~1.0-1.3 seconds. It's not hard to be fast with IWB from concealment. I chose this method, as with a full size gun I need maximum concealment. Things to consider with this method is it can be easier for clothing to interfere with your initial grip of the gun in the holster, and it can slow you down unless you practice quite a bit. Nothing you can't do though, if you're dedicated.

    Here's a crappy older video of me running IWB without concealment at a local match:

     

    Fortitude88

    Member
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    May 2, 2013
    108
    1
    Flower Mound, TX
    OWB - More comfortable, less concealable
    IWB - More concealable, less comfortable

    That's the simple answer.

    What will work best for you really depends on a whole LOT of factors. Your height, weight, build, the type of clothing you normally wear, etc.

    To keep things simple, here's some basics of what I would look for in a good quality holster that will reliably and safely work for you:

    -Fully covers trigger guard: This is non-negotiable. Without this, there's plenty of risk of clothing or other items working their way into the trigger guard and causing a negligent discharge.

    -Durable: For the most part, you'll probably be looking at either leather or kydex/polymer holsters. There are trade offs with each, and none are ever completely perfect. Leather wears out faster, absorbs moisture, can collapse once the gun is drawn (makes reholstering difficult), etc. although leather holsters can be more comfortable. Kydex is generally more durable, won't absorb moisture, stays open when gun is drawn, but can be less comfortable.

    -Solid attachment method: Lots of options here. Sewn belt loops, snap belt loops, paddles, quick off/on plastic clips, thin metal clips, thick metal clips with a substantial "hook" to grab clothing, velcro, etc. Make sure you choose something durable. Pro-tip: Most quick on/off plastic clips, and in fact most plastic belt loops or clips in general are crap. They're usually not durable and break very easy when any kind of force is applied. Where possible, leather or rubberized/reinforced belt loops, or really thick spring steel metal clips with a large "hook" are going to be most reliable.


    For a smaller gun like a 3-3.5" 1911, OWB can work just fine, honestly. That's not a big gun, so OWB shouldn't be difficult to conceal with most clothing. Worst case, sometimes just going up one shirt size will do it.

    I carry a Glock 17 IWB at 3 o'clock with a straight drop kydex holster. I pretty consistently am around a 1.50 second draw from concealment to first shot in the A zone on a target at ~7yds. At closer range, like 2 or 3yds, I can get that down closer to ~1.0-1.3 seconds. It's not hard to be fast with IWB from concealment. I chose this method, as with a full size gun I need maximum concealment. Things to consider with this method is it can be easier for clothing to interfere with your initial grip of the gun in the holster, and it can slow you down unless you practice quite a bit. Nothing you can't do though, if you're dedicated.

    Here's a crappy older video of me running IWB without concealment at a local match:



    Hey, thanks for the info - very informative and some great information. That's cool that you compete (or did compete). I'd like to participate in something similar one day -- I know nothing about competing. First my gun has to come in, then I need to earn my CHL -- then I need to buy ammunition, and a holster, then get some practice in. Competing looks like a lot of fun.

    Again thanks for the info.
     

    DPMS

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    Feb 28, 2013
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    Congrats on the new purchase, let me know if you find any .45 ammo. lol

    I carry my 1911 owb at about the 4:00 position. My problem is finding shirts long enough to cover it. I dont have a good belt yet so that is part of the problem but anytime I reach up or bend over my holster shows.
     
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