Cheapish shoulder holster for 45 Tac (* out of *****)

[Loligo]

Dad ordered a shoulder holster the other day that was intended for our 6" Smith 686. Turns out he got the model wrong, and the holster will only handle up to a 5" barrel. It's a "Gunmate Vertical Shoulder Holster". Can be fit ambi.

Fits wonderfully on either the 92FS or XD-45 Tac, but this isn't a concealment rig.

I see this as a holster I'll wear under my blaze vest or outer warmth layer while scouting (binocs, no rifle, pistol in holster), hunting (full gear), or chasing wounded (blue lens surefire, big-ass Randall knife, pistol, no rifle).

The straps are rough and will rub noisy unless well covered or otherwise dealt with before opening day. THey'll get smoothed up as much as possible and I'll see if can't wrap them in some soft cotton or poly to reduce the scratches.

Make no mistake, this is a cheap rig, comparable to bottom-line Uncle Mike's mass-produced stuff or the $7.99 IWB holsters you'll find on ebay.

It'll securely hold my XD without the use of their snap-on trigger guard strap (worthless unless your gun is lose in the holster), but that's about it. My other options at this point are the XD Gear plastic POS (because it's all I have) or a Don Hume JIT (because I can get it in time). Neither are ideal because in this country hunting involves the occasional slide down a hill on my butt (slide + right hip carry + exposed muzzle = mud in the bore = not there when you need it).

I think if I can work out the layer combination to silence the straps on this thing, it'll work fine for its intended use. I'd far rather have a tactical leg rig like a Blackhawk Serpa, but starting a small business here has really soaked up a ton of resources that used to go into gun toys and ammo.

Anyway. Basic rundown: Gunmate "Vertical Shoulder Holster for 4-5 inch pistols" will fit a Beretta 92, XD Tactical just fine (and I imagine my 629 4").
It's uncomfortable, made of loud scratchy material, and if he paid more than 15 bucks for it, we'll have ... words. Usable, but just barely, and only until I have the resources for a tactical leg rig for this sort of thing.

Sorry for the rambling, I came home after a couple of beers and had a few more since then, and saw the holster laying on the laundry basket.. had to give my thoughts.

The moral of the story: Don't let family buy cheap junky holsters over the internet. I'll be sending him to Crossbreed and Tucker for his gear and suggesting that while he's there he should pick something nice out for my .45 Tac. I'm still trying to talk him into a nice pair of XD9SCs for our carry guns, but he's resisting on the grounds of "We have plenty of pistols, why do we need two more?"

Further moral: Don't write product reviews after 8 beers and two whiskey/sprites.

-l

[mattjohnston87]

LOL. Good review. I've always wondered about getting a shoulder holster, as they do have their advantages, I just haven't really bothered to go try one on.

I'm coming up your way tomorrow (hopefully) to get outta town here. Plan on headin up to the range. Maybe I'll see ya there again if you aint workin.

Matt

[Loligo]

PM sent, Matt. Gimme a call.

[havoc1969]

I have a leather gould and goodrich holster that I had left over after selling my glock 21 last year,,, my xd45 tac fits right in it...