Holster opinions
Recently got a taurus model 85 38 . Need to get a holster for it to use as a ccw. Need one that will make it easy to conceal in light clothes. Would like to have in hip area . Any suggestions
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Well you kind of awnsered your own question. There are just a couple of iwb holsters to choose from. There's hard plastic, nylon and leather. Nylon will leave less wear on your gun and it's the cheapest. than there's plastic, which is molded to your guns size for a better fit, but it's not real comfortable. Than there's leather. You can't go wrong with leather. It's easier on the gun than hard plastic and has more support than nylon. I carry a CW9 with a Mitch Rosen Express Line. I hope this helps. 0 -
There are a million holsters for .38 snubnose revolvers that *could* work. Pretty much any holster that fits a Smith J frame should fit your Taurus.
The "problem" with these concealed carry holsters is that they you have to figure out how well they will work for YOU. Finding one that will fit your gun is the easy part. The hard part is finding one that
a. Actually conceals the gun, and
b. Retains it (so that it doesn't fall out) but still allows you to draw it comfortably if necessary, and
c. That you are physically comfortable carrying all day.
These things are going to be highly dependent on you, specifically your personal anatomy, how you like to dress, what kind of activities you do during the day, are you seated or standing, etc.
The problem is that the only good way to learn for sure what works the best for you is by trial and error (in some cases with fairly pricey concealed carry holsters).
Consequently, I think most individuals who are serious about concealed carry end up with a drawer full of different holsters that they've tried at one time or another. Ultimately, you end up with one or two that you like and can use in different situations (eg depending on your dress, etc).
I've gone through this, and I've come to the following conclusions about what works FOR ME:
I've found that the best general way for me to carry is in a simple pocket holster. It hides the gun well in just about any clothes and its about as easy to put on and take off as you can get in a holster. Both concealment AND retention are at least as good as anything else I've tried, plus having practiced, its possible to get a fairly good grip on the gun within your pocket without telegraphing a draw. (Try that with a waist holster. . .you can't).
As a curious side benefit, the one that works the best also happens to be the least expensive of all the ones I've tried!
Obviously, you can't go much bigger than a snubnose this way, but if you are going to carry a gun that small, this is a quite nice way to do it.
In terms of belt-type holsters, that's a different story. Without getting into a complicated explanation of why, after trying several different ones, I've found that a simple suede in-waistband holster is the most comfortable and practical for me. I designed my own "custom" holster, which is simply a cut-down Bianchi K-frame suede holster, though I rarely every use it since I've gone to pocket carry.0 -
Bean is right about a pocket holster, but a .38 is alittle bit too much gun in my pocket.(is that a .38 in your pocket or are you happy to see me). I have one for my Micro Desert Eagle and it is very comfortable, but there is a trade off. Smaller gun means less stopping power. I also have an 85 and perfer to carry it iwb or in an ankle holster when I'm wearing loose fitting pants. Comfort is the most important thing about carring, because if it's not comfortable you won't wear it, and a gun can't protect you if it's in you night stand. 0 -
Ted Blocker LFI rig is the most comfortable IWB setup I have used. Fixin' to order another one shortly.
http://www.tedblockerholsters.com/LFIRIGA.php0 -
I have my holsters custom built for little more than the production holsters go for. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by He Dog
I have my holsters custom built for little more than the production holsters go for.
By who?
GH1[:)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by curlyrai
Bean is right about a pocket holster, but a .38 is alittle bit too much gun in my pocket.(is that a .38 in your pocket or are you happy to see me). I have one for my Micro Desert Eagle and it is very comfortable, but there is a trade off. Smaller gun means less stopping power. I also have an 85 and perfer to carry it iwb or in an ankle holster when I'm wearing loose fitting pants. Comfort is the most important thing about carring, because if it's not comfortable you won't wear it, and a gun can't protect you if it's in you night stand.
How well a snubnose is going to work in your pocket is going to depend on you, the gun in question, and the size of your pocket!
I've never (to my knowledge) been "made" carrying in a pocket, though I have with the same gun in an IWB holster.
I can relatively comfortably carry an aluminum alloy .38 in dress-type or casual slacks. Not so nice with an all-steel gun and pocket carry, so I try to avoid that.
With jeans the fit is snugger, making draw difficult. Also, with some pairs the butt of the gun approaches the pocket opening, though you'd probably have to be withing "kissing" distance to notice. [;)] (Also, even if you did see it, its black rubber, and it would be hard for the average person to recognize it as a gun butt).
Note that when I say "relatively comfortably carry", that means less UNCOMFORTABLY than every other functional concealment method I've tried. Carrying a one-pound-or-heavier chunk of metal hidden on your body is never going to be super-comfy no matter how you do it.
Frankly, I don't know how people walk around all day with full sized all steel 1911s stuffed into their crotches (or wherever). Those guns literally weight 2.5 lbs loaded. . .that's half the weight of a standard construction brick!
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Ideally, you want to have a system set up so that the gun is so comfy that you basically forget its there until you need it. In practice, that's not so easy to accomplish with a gun that isn't teensy small.
I think the absolute most comfortable way to carry concealed is a out-of-waistband holster with a covering garment, but that's simply not a practical way for me to carry during most of my day, most of the year.
IWB may (or may not) be next, depending again on your exact anatomy and the gun/holster combo in question.0 -
Here's how I normally carry my Taurus 850-in a Blackhawk Speed Classic. It is very comfortable and it is secure. You obviously have to wear a shirt over it though to conceal it or a jacket. IWB holsters are ok if you get a size bigger pants, otherwise the gun may dig into your hip too much--not fun. BTW not all S&W J frame holsters work for the Taurus because the Taurus has a bigger barrel shroud--makes more of a difference with those polymer holsters.0 -
Go with what ruger 41 has. This is what I use with my taurus 85. It is on the outside but easily concealed with an everyday t shirt etc.
Very secure you can't loose it period and very comfortable. Mine is from DeSantis and priced right. Check it out. Happy carrying...0 -
Sorry mine has the strap. This makes it impossible to lose. I would highly recommend a strap. It would make me sick if I lost my 85. 0
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