Real world test of my K&D Dakota Defender - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

propellerhead · 09-14-2007, 07:02 PM

Well, almost real world.

I shot in an IDPA match last night and used my complete concealed carry stuff -- the XD40sc pistol, three short magazines with Pearce Grip Extensions, regular street clothes for concealment and my K&D Dakota defender. No gaming gear at all. I'm glad I did this because I discovered a couple of issues with the holster.

See how that leather backing piece doesn't line up with the rear end of the slide? I discovered that when drawing fast I sometimes jammed my thumb against that hard leather piece and it hurt. It also interferes with the ability to get a good grip on the pistol. Would it be hard to trim that back a bit? Should I use a Dremel tool? A razor blade?

I also found out that my last three fingers would sometimes hit the top of the belt clip. That's not really a function of the holster design but thought I'd mention it anyway. If I increase the cant angle it will also increase the distance between the pistol grip and the top of the clip. That should help some.

On the plus side, drawing the pistol from the holster was pretty smooth. The clips held tight and not once did I draw and find the holster still attached to the pistol when I started to compose my sight picture. Reholstering wasn't a problem either. The holster was stiff enough to not shut. Even though it wasn't fully open, it was still easy to wiggle the tip of the pistol in.

xd4life · 09-14-2007, 09:52 PM

When I bought my Ross leather works It was for a tactical and I had the 4" the only difference was that the piece of leather that rubs your body is a bit higher. So I took the holster to a leather shop, (a shoe repair shop can do the same) they cut the leather and the sewed a stitch back in it so it looked like it used to but shorter. Total cost was like $5.00

check the yellow pages a saddle shop, a shoe repair shop or any leather shop can do it for you and then restitch it.

K-Man · 09-15-2007, 12:37 AM

propellerhead:

Thank you for the review. We are now trimming the leather back to allow for a better grip of the gun. You can trim the leather back (or I can do it for you) by using a razor/straight edge utility knife. As xd4life mentioned, most any shoe repair shop can do it for you as well. Let me know if I can help.

Kevin

propellerhead · 09-15-2007, 08:08 AM

I'll try a razor blade.

How do you make the edge rounded? If I cut this with a razor blade, it will leave a flat edge. I don't want the holster to look butchered.

Thanks for the tip.

propellerhead · 09-15-2007, 01:14 PM

Ok, I made a few big cuts then I just kept shaping it with little cuts. It's not pretty but it lets me get a full firm grip and plant the web of my hand on the grip safety before drawing. I like it.

I felt bad for slicing up a product of great quality but I had to do it.

K-Man · 09-15-2007, 04:31 PM

If you dampen that edge with some water, and then take some 100, and then some 150 grit sandpaper, you can smooth it down. When you sand it, always go the same direction, i.e., from top of the holster down towards the bottom of the holster.

propellerhead · 09-16-2007, 12:54 PM

The rough edge was annoying so I used the sanding wheel of my Dremel tool and smoothened it out. Works even better! I didn't know you could sand leather. Thanks K-Man!

redfish · 09-16-2007, 01:10 PM

Not to change the subject but have you been doinng IDPA for a while? How do you like it I am thinking of joining it in the North Texas area any feedback or your thoughts would be appreciated.

thanks

Maximum1 · 09-17-2007, 12:03 PM

What a great post.....It really shows why their selling the $%#@ out of these holsters. I'm so impressed I'm going to get my order in even though the leadtime is WAY OUT THERE....

Thanks again propellerhead for the first rate report!

Liquid Rhino · 09-17-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximum1

What a great post.....It really shows why their selling the $%#@ out of these holsters. I'm so impressed I'm going to get my order in even though the leadtime is WAY OUT THERE....

Thanks again propellerhead for the first rate report!

+1

09-14-2007, 07:02 PM	#1
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,477	Real world test of my K&D Dakota Defender Well, almost real world. I shot in an IDPA match last night and used my complete concealed carry stuff -- the XD40sc pistol, three short magazines with Pearce Grip Extensions, regular street clothes for concealment and my K&D Dakota defender. No gaming gear at all. I'm glad I did this because I discovered a couple of issues with the holster. See how that leather backing piece doesn't line up with the rear end of the slide? I discovered that when drawing fast I sometimes jammed my thumb against that hard leather piece and it hurt. It also interferes with the ability to get a good grip on the pistol. Would it be hard to trim that back a bit? Should I use a Dremel tool? A razor blade? I also found out that my last three fingers would sometimes hit the top of the belt clip. That's not really a function of the holster design but thought I'd mention it anyway. If I increase the cant angle it will also increase the distance between the pistol grip and the top of the clip. That should help some. On the plus side, drawing the pistol from the holster was pretty smooth. The clips held tight and not once did I draw and find the holster still attached to the pistol when I started to compose my sight picture. Reholstering wasn't a problem either. The holster was stiff enough to not shut. Even though it wasn't fully open, it was still easy to wiggle the tip of the pistol in. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

09-14-2007, 09:52 PM	#2
xd4life XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in HOTLANTA Posts: 2,251	When I bought my Ross leather works It was for a tactical and I had the 4" the only difference was that the piece of leather that rubs your body is a bit higher. So I took the holster to a leather shop, (a shoe repair shop can do the same) they cut the leather and the sewed a stitch back in it so it looked like it used to but shorter. Total cost was like $5.00 check the yellow pages a saddle shop, a shoe repair shop or any leather shop can do it for you and then restitch it. __________________ "A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well." Rick Hebert "The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities.... It is best to win without fighting." Sun-tzu 300 B.C Bob Barr FOR PRESIDENT

09-15-2007, 12:37 AM	#3
K-Man XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 131	propellerhead: Thank you for the review. We are now trimming the leather back to allow for a better grip of the gun. You can trim the leather back (or I can do it for you) by using a razor/straight edge utility knife. As xd4life mentioned, most any shoe repair shop can do it for you as well. Let me know if I can help. Kevin __________________ U.S. Navy (Retired) May we always have the freedom to pursue our dreams.

09-15-2007, 08:08 AM	#4
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,477	I'll try a razor blade. How do you make the edge rounded? If I cut this with a razor blade, it will leave a flat edge. I don't want the holster to look butchered. Thanks for the tip. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

09-15-2007, 01:14 PM	#5
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,477	Ok, I made a few big cuts then I just kept shaping it with little cuts. It's not pretty but it lets me get a full firm grip and plant the web of my hand on the grip safety before drawing. I like it. I felt bad for slicing up a product of great quality but I had to do it. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

09-15-2007, 04:31 PM	#6
K-Man XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 131	If you dampen that edge with some water, and then take some 100, and then some 150 grit sandpaper, you can smooth it down. When you sand it, always go the same direction, i.e., from top of the holster down towards the bottom of the holster. __________________ U.S. Navy (Retired) May we always have the freedom to pursue our dreams.

09-16-2007, 12:54 PM	#7
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,477	The rough edge was annoying so I used the sanding wheel of my Dremel tool and smoothened it out. Works even better! I didn't know you could sand leather. Thanks K-Man! __________________ XD-9 Tactical for practice & IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three purposes, three calibers, three models. One gun.

09-16-2007, 01:10 PM	#8
redfish XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 156	Not to change the subject but have you been doinng IDPA for a while? How do you like it I am thinking of joining it in the North Texas area any feedback or your thoughts would be appreciated. thanks __________________ Redfish Kimber Eclipse Custom II New family member .9mm XD SC .40 Beretta 96FS .223Mini 14 .38 Spl S&W K Master piece .380 Bersa---JUNK .22 S&W K Frame .22 Browning Buck Mark .270 Rem BDL 30-06 30-30 Winchester SKS Pre Ban Qty. 2 12 ga BPS 12 ga Browning light twelve 12 ga Rem. Model 10 pump Plus about five more.....

09-17-2007, 12:03 PM	#9
Maximum1 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 469	What a great post.....It really shows why their selling the $%#@ out of these holsters. I'm so impressed I'm going to get my order in even though the leadtime is WAY OUT THERE.... Thanks again propellerhead for the first rate report! __________________ . "Arms in the hands of individual citizens may be used at individual discretion...in private self-defense" - John Adams "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776

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