my attempt at a custom home-made holster

[radioflyer]

After learning IDPA doesn't allow S.O.B. holsters, I decided to try my hand at making my own hip holster. I have a hobby grade thermoformer i use to form ABS shrouds for headlight molds and decided to make a holster out of that. I based my design around the Raven "phantom" for the HK45.
I started with a 18x12" sheet of 0.093" black haircell ABS.

Heated it in the oven to 350 degrees for ~3 minutes
Formed it around my P30, then used my engraver to mark where i wanted to cut:

I used 1/16"x3/4" Aluminum for belt straps. Stronger than plastic and more rigid than leather. I used stainless steel hardware t secure them to the ABS.

Cut and trimmed:

The only catch is that i forgot about forming to the sights. Without a channel for the front sight, the holster will not let the weapon be unholstered. I've since re-formed both molds with a front sight channel.
More pictures to come

 

[ConnRadd]

That's pretty good... Where did you get the ABS at? The only reason why I ask, I sell ABS sheets.

 

[radioflyer]

That's pretty good... Where did you get the ABS at? The only reason why I ask, I sell ABS sheets.

I believe i got them frin interstate plastics. There a few companies i get them fron dependind on how much i need at the time.

 

[DCortez]

That's pretty cool.

 

[BurkGlocker]

How's the release from around the trigger guard while drawing and whats the level of ease to reholster?

 

[Big country]

Well it looks like we have a new holster maker around here! Looks good!

 

[radioflyer]

How's the release from around the trigger guard while drawing and whats the level of ease to reholster?

I reformed both molds with a channel for the front sights...(taped a coffee straw to the top of the slide when molding )

The re-formed molds works very well with the trigger guard section providing just enough retention to hold the pistol securly in place until i actually draw it.

 

[BurkGlocker]

Does look damn good though. Simple, yet functional... I love it!

Rock on!

Brad L.

 

[ConnRadd]

I believe i got them frin interstate plastics. There a few companies i get them fron dependind on how much i need at the time.

Where are you located? If around Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio I can hook you up.

 

[radioflyer]

Where are you located? If around Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio I can hook you up.

I live in Spring (just north of houston) I normally use .060" for headlight molds and I'll be usign .093" for my holsters

 

[ConnRadd]

I live in Spring (just north of houston) I normally use .060" for headlight molds and I'll be usign .093" for my holsters

I stock .060 here in Houston and I can get .093. My SA location has a bunch of sqft .093 (meaning it's a not 48x96 and sold by the sq ft). Let me check the size of what they have on that, if a usable size; I know the SA Manager would be glad to get rid of it at a good price.

Here in Houston, we fabricate plastic all the time. But we don't do any injection molding or thermo-forming... Have you ever thermo formed PETG?

 

[radioflyer]

I stock .060 here in Houston and I can get .093. My SA location has a bunch of sqft .093 (meaning it's a not 48x96 and sold by the sq ft). Let me check the size of what they have on that, if a usable size; I know the SA Manager would be glad to get rid of it at a good price.

Here in Houston, we fabricate plastic all the time. But we don't do any injection molding or thermo-forming... Have you ever thermo formed PETG?

If you have sheets 16"x12" that's the perfect size.

I havn't tried PETG before.

 

[ConnRadd]

If you have sheets 16"x12" that's the perfect size.

I havn't tried PETG before.

I'll get you a few pieces of PETG to tryout... It looks like acrylic, but it thermo forms really nice.

As for the ABS shts, they have all kinds of sizes that will work.

 

[radioflyer]

I finished the newly remolded holster for my P30 using 0.093” ABS for both front and back (as opposed to the .060” I used in the first run) It took a little while to get the proper retention and most of it has to do with my lack of a proper gun belt. I adjusted the retention by using nylon spacers on the 6 bolts that hold the 2 pieces together.

I was so pleased with the finished product, I thermoformed a dual-mag holder as well using the same procedure but using the .060” ABS sheet instead. The mag holder has Some retention, but I will probably install a 5th bolt in the center to make it adjustable.

The new hardware got its first break in at my first IDPA meet at Shiloh Gun range. It was VERY fun and I can’t believe I didn’t do it before. I shot very well and the guys were very welcoming. I will defiantly go back….and perhaps get a qualification.

 

[TxEMTP69]

looks real nice

 

[Starker]

looks real nice

+1

 

[radioflyer]

Here's the other holster I made for my Sig Pro 2022

 

[Mate]

I got chance to check out his stuff first hand and it's nice stuff. Have you thought about adding some curve to the holster so it kinda wraps around your body?

 

[radioflyer]

I got chance to check out his stuff first hand and it's nice stuff. Have you thought about adding some curve to the holster so it kinda wraps around your body?

I've given it a little thought, I'd need to make a new mold on a curved surface to thermoform to. Depending on how the holster performs in future events I may do this....maybe after a few IDPA matches.