Information AboutHolster |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HOLSTER | |
| firearms | |
|
BASIC FUNCTION OF A HOLSTER Holsters are generally designed to offer protection to the handgun, secure retention, and ready access. The need for ready access is often at odds with the need for security and protection, so the user must decide how much they are willing to compromise on ready access to gain the security and protection. The need for ready access is primarily for holsters designed to carry Defensive handguns. If the handgun is needed quickly, and cannot be drawn quickly, it could be fatal for the user. On the other hand, an inadequately secured and protected handgun could be lost, damaged, or stolen, which could also be fatal, as it would not be usable when needed. Holster designs cover a wide range of shapes, materials, and retention/release mechanisms, from simple leather pouches hanging from a belt to highly protective holsters with flaps that cover the entire handgun, to highly adjustable competition holsters that hold the handgun at a precise position and release instantly with the right pressure. CATEGORIES OF HOLSTER USE Holsters can be divided into three broad categories by use: duty holsters, worn by uniformed police and military users; concealment holsters, worn by plainclothes law enforcement and licensed CCW armed civilians; and sporting holsters, worn for shooting sports and hunting. Duty holsters are carried openly, so concealment is not an issue; however, since they are worn out in the open day after day, protection of the handgun and secure retention are important. Cosmetics are also important in duty holsters, as they are generally considered part of the wearer's uniform, so they are often found made with quality Leather for police use and polished with Shoe Polish , or made in a Camouflage color or pattern for military use. Duty holsters are generally only found for full-sized and mid-sized handguns, since there is no reason to carry a compact handgun unless concealment is needed. Concealment holsters are designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive, and are generally designed for compact and mid-sized handguns, since those are easier to conceal. Concealment holsters are designed to be worn under clothing, or to be used in front or rear pockets of trousers. Protecting the hangun from the user's Perspiration is often an important consideration in such carry locations. Since the holster is held close to the body, comfort becomes important too, and concealment holsters often have broad surfaces in contact with the user's body, to distribute the pressure across a wider area and prevent abrasion of the skin. Often the external side of the holster is also broader, to help break up the outline of the handgun and prevent ''printing'', where the outline of the gun can be seen through tight clothing. For pocket holsters, the external flat side is often the side with a nap, or rougher surface, to provide better retention when drawing the pistol. Sporting holsters cover the widest range, from holsters with maximum access for Fast Draw shooting, to highly adjustable holsters used in IPSC and Pinshooting , to high retention, maximum protection holsters used for handgun Hunting , to simple holsters used to hold a handgun while out Plinking . Like any sporting equipment, sporting holsters evolve to maximize the benefits given the rules of the game, where applicable, so the competitive sports have the most specialized holsters. Holsters for hunting tend to be unique, as they are designed to carry the largest handguns, and often must make allowances for Telescopic Sight s. The largest handguns are often carried in holsters that are slung across the shoulder, and removed from the body before the handgun is drawn. Slow access is acceptable in this case because the handgun is not expected to be used for defensive purposes. CATEGORIES BY METHOD OF WEARING Popular holster types are:
Other, specialized types of holsters are designed to be mounted inside briefcases, Day Planners , Purses and Filofaxes , or even articles of clothing. When choosing a holster for a firearm, factors of interest include:
|
|
|