Super Tuck Exposed Barrel Question

[GT Jon]

Originally Posted by TSiWRX

The final issue is yet another unique-user concern - if you hit the muzzle just right, you can potentially dislodge the gun out of retention, and even potentially free it from the holster, completely. Again, this depends a lot on the unique end-user, where he/she carries, what kind of activities they may engage in, etc.

I don't have any problems with the two other concerns (although I know, personally, two people who went with covered-muzzle holsters when their exposed-muzzle ones caused holes to be worn in their pants), I do have a problem with my CBST, with the latter. I carry between the 2:30 and 3'o-clock, and when I get into our family's cars, which have their right side armrest at rather low levels, if I don't mind myself, I can pop the gun out of retention.

Ahhh, good reply, thanks for that! I never actually thought of the muzzle hitting something hard enough to pop it up and out of the holster. Thanks!

[Sharpie]

Originally Posted by TSiWRX

^ It's not wear on the slide, so much as it is wear on the pants. This is actually an issue that's reported by some, and I would imagine that it bears out as something that a small portion of individuals may experience due to the precise way in which they carry, their body's interaction with the holster/gun combo, as well as where/how they sit/move and the material/construct of their clothing.

If you search for it, this is something that's manifest across virtually all carry communities, all different pistols, all different IWB holsters with exposed muzzles.

But some experience it, while others don't. Simple as that.

Another potential issue, sharpie, is whether your gun's front sight, with your draw-stroke, will cause the post to catch on the lip of the holster. It's possible that you can catch it hard enough on a draw that you'll literally spin the gun out of your hand. This is again something that's possible of any open-muzzle holster, not just the CBST - and in reality, the way the CBST's muzzle-end/sight channel is configured, it's going to be very hard for someone to catch their front sight post on it, even if you use a really tall one.

The final issue is yet another unique-user concern - if you hit the muzzle just right, you can potentially dislodge the gun out of retention, and even potentially free it from the holster, completely. Again, this depends a lot on the unique end-user, where he/she carries, what kind of activities they may engage in, etc.

I don't have any problems with the two other concerns (although I know, personally, two people who went with covered-muzzle holsters when their exposed-muzzle ones caused holes to be worn in their pants), I do have a problem with my CBST, with the latter. I carry between the 2:30 and 3'o-clock, and when I get into our family's cars, which have their right side armrest at rather low levels, if I don't mind myself, I can pop the gun out of retention.

Wow! That was a lot of very good informative information! Thank you.

My main concern is that the holster is going to wear holes into my expensive dress pants... Along with also possibly coming out of retention via seat belt clips or whatever else you may have.

[GP1937]

There are several other companies that make a similar holster that covers the entire barrel. I have a Cleveland holster that does so and is also a littly more adjustable thant the CBST. Also a few bucks cheaper and I personally couldn't be happier with my holster.

[thetravlor]

I've done sommersaults and the gun hasn't fallen out of my CBST. Three different IWB holster makers and had pants wear out. Same as a wallet wear or snuff can.

[agalindo]

You would have more of a chance of hitting the grip just right and dislodging the gun than some how pushing the gun out because the muzzle isn't covered.

You need a flap on the the grip just in case, but then you would need a lock on the snap used to keep the flap closed because you might hit the snap just right. Oh then you would need a cover on the lock so that it doesn't get clogged up with something. Wait!!! then you would need a lock on the cover so that it doesn't get hit just right..........

[TSiWRX]

Originally Posted by thetravlor

I've done sommersaults and the gun hasn't fallen out of my CBST.

While the gun is on-body, I think it's rare for people to have issues with retention.

However, as with some of the hybrid breed, the CBST does need the user's body to achieve proper retention, and that's not anything that either CB or its similar-designed competitors hide. It's simply a fact of using this type of holster. While some holsters can allow the user to go to the bathroom - to unbuckle one's pants - to do so with the CBST will typically require a little extra attention to help the holster maintain retention on the pistol.

Three different IWB holster makers and had pants wear out. Same as a wallet wear or snuff can.

^ Yes, but how fast that happens can depend on a lot of different factors - the material it's rubbing against and how crisp the corners of the object are can certainly affect this, but this is also something that's attributable to the precise way in which individuals carry, their body's interaction with the holster/gun combo, as well as where/how they sit/move and the material/construct of their clothing. A lot of very unique factors.

I favor leather, so I used to always use a nice leather wallet. My pants - even jeans - usually wore out first at that back pocket.

Going through a nice leather wallet every two or three years finally got my nerves up, and I switched to a nylon wallet - a SOE. I actually expected to go through pants faster, but strangely enough, it actually helped my pants last longer.

Similarly, I know how various other objects can cause wear. I really like "Waved" folders, and this takes its toll on the pocket corners. I usually carry a good sized flashlight with me, too...and although years of using my old Surefire E2D didn't seem to put any wear on any of my pants, my new favorite, a LX2, actually has caused some wear.

Look, this is not to say that the CBST or other exposed-muzzle IWB hybrids are somehow "bad" holsters - it's just pointing out a consideration that will need to be weighed, for those users who purchase these types of holsters and find that they have a wear issue.

Originally Posted by agalindo

You would have more of a chance of hitting the grip just right and dislodging the gun than some how pushing the gun out because the muzzle isn't covered.

That may be true for many users, but it's also an undeniable fact for others - an undeniable occurrence based on the guns we carry (i.e. where the muzzle ends up, on the body of the user), how we carry, and what activities we undertake during the course of our day. For me, with my carry gun, with how I carry and where I carry, when I sit in our family's two primary vehicles, it's something that can happen rather easily if I don't pay attention to how I insert myself into the seats.

It's not the grip, it's actually the muzzle. If I wore my CBST beyond the 3-o'clock position, I probably wouldn't have this problem. If my gun were a little longer or shorter, I probably wouldn't have this problem. If I had different seats in my car or even a different armrest, it may not be a problem - to wit: this doesn't happen when I get in my "fun car," which has even more aggressively bolstered buckets, but they're shaped differently than that of our family's daily-drivers.

You need a flap on the the grip just in case, but then you would need a lock on the snap used to keep the flap closed because you might hit the snap just right. Oh then you would need a cover on the lock so that it doesn't get clogged up with something. Wait!!! then you would need a lock on the cover so that it doesn't get hit just right..........

^

Please don't misunderstand - I'm *not* saying that the CBST, or any other open-muzzle IWB hybrids, for that matter, are "bad."

These are factual concerns, as-based on any one specific user.

These concerns are not unique either to myself or the OP. Search around, and you will see others who mention coming upon these issues throughout the course of their actual daily lives.

To ridicule these concerns does not make them go away...rather, it should be up to those who have used these products in-earnest and truly have experience with them to help guide those who are having problems with their setup or, alternatively, are looking to purchase any specific gear, but have questions that they'd like answered before they invest.

I own and use a CBST. I love it for what it does for me. But as with any other piece of gear, it has its strengths and its shortcomings.

[Whitebrad25]

I have been carrying my PPS daily for some time in a horsehide CBST holster and have had no trouble. Very little dirt or lint at all is noticed.

[RangerMed]

I always thought the main benefit to having an open bottomed holster was to eliminate dust/dirt collecting in the opening of your barrel, or to let fluids drain out the bottom. I can see where you may have some clothing wear from the barrel, but wouldn't that occur whether the bottom was open or closed? I guess you could always reinforce that part of your pants with an iron on patch where the holster/ gun barrel would rub.

[TSiWRX]

Originally Posted by RangerMed

I always thought the main benefit to having an open bottomed holster was to eliminate dust/dirt collecting in the opening of your barrel, or to let fluids drain out the bottom.

True, but in terms of IWB daily-carry, this consideration can also be "reversed" - try this experiment for an accelerated-visualization of the problem:

Stick an empty magazine in your off-side pocket. Try it for a day - or, if you have a slimmer/smaller magazine, go at it for a week. See all the pocket lint that got in by the follower? Same idea with your barrel.

OWB, yes, it "drains" - IWB, it's more of a collector.

I can see where you may have some clothing wear from the barrel, but wouldn't that occur whether the bottom was open or closed?

I firmly believe that will be the case - will plastic or leather eventually rub enough to cause your pants to wear through, at that same "hot spot?" I have little doubt that it will.

But as my personal little tale showed above (sorry, it was ninja-edited in ), with the wallet, sometimes, even a little change can drastically affect the outcome.

Again, this is a highly unique-user issue. Just because it doesn't happen for you doesn't mean that it will never happen for another person - there's way too many reports floating around in various "carry communities" for this to be just some sort of hoax or perpetuated negativity towards X or Y products.