Paddle custom leather holsters are a common choice for carrying fire arms owing to their comfort and convenience. This type of holster holds the firearm outside of your belt, using nothing more than the tension produced by the rigid paddle-like structure on the side of the holster. They’re easy to snap on and off, but positioning and hiding them can take a bit of work. Also, no matter what type of holster you use, always make gun safety your first priority.
1- Choose a compact holstered handgun if concealment is important. Most paddle holsters will hold the gun low and angle it away from your body. As a result, the bottom of the holster and/or firearm tends to protrude below the average shirt or jacket when the holster is used for a long-barreled pistol.
If you want to put a long-barreled gun in a paddle holster and keep it fairly hidden, you’ll probably have to pull your pants up higher than you’re used to.
2- Purchase a paddle case suitable for the handgun of your choice. Custom shoulder holsters are made by several manufacturers and come in different sizes and styles to fit different handguns and different needs. When possible, purchase a holster specifically designed for your chosen handgun.
Some paddle cases are made of leather, while others are made of hard synthetic materials. The choice usually depends on your weapon and personal preference.
3- Choose a sturdy belt and pants that are slightly loose at the waist. Because the paddle portion of the holster goes inside your waistband, you don’t want to use pants that are very tight at the waist. Otherwise, the paddle may cause discomfort. At the same time, however, the weight of the holster and gun can cause pants that are too loose to fall off. So go for pants that fit you but give you some breathing room.
Technically, you can wear a paddle holster without a belt, because it doesn’t actually connect to the belt (like belt-style holsters do). However, wearing a belt thickens your belt, which helps keep the holster in place, and the protruding belt provides an attachment point to hold the holster in place when you draw your firearm.
Most paddle holsters work best with sturdy leather or synthetic belts 1-2″ (2.5-5.1cm) wide.
4- Choose a loose shirt or jacket that will conceal your holster. Since this is an Outer Belt (OWB) holster, you will need to wear a long, loose-fitting top (like a blazer or jacket) in order to conceal the gun and holster. To really effectively conceal the weapon in its holster, you may need to purchase outerwear that is slightly longer and flowier than normal.
Paddle cases are notoriously bulky due to the way they stick out of your body – this makes them more comfortable to wear, but harder to hide. Belt-style custom leather holsters Texas is less bulky and inside-of-the-waistband (IWB) holsters are the easiest to conceal, but these styles tend to be less comfortable to wear.
1- Make sure the handgun safety is on before storing. Keep safety first when dealing with a firearm. For example, check and double-check that your gun’s safety is on. If you are unsure how to do this, consult the manual for your specific weapon.
If you intend to carry a loaded pistol, load it according to its instructions before inserting it into the holster.
If you don’t want to carry a loaded gun, make sure it’s unloaded (again, per his instructions) before proceeding.
2- Slide the handgun barrel into the holster. Grab the handle of the gun, but keep your finger on the trigger and along the side of the gun as you handle it. Next, slide the gun barrel into the holster. Press down firmly until the handgun is fully inserted into the holster body.
When the handgun is properly seated in the holster, you should have full access to the handle of the gun, but not be able to see the barrel.
3- Check the fit to make sure the gun will not fall out or get stuck. If you pick up the holstered handgun by the handle, the holster should stay in place. When the holster is not clipped to your belt, you may have to grab the holster with your other hand to remove the gun.
At the same time, however, you shouldn’t have to pull with full force to remove the handgun from the holster. Otherwise, the holster will come out of your belt and stay on the handgun when you draw your weapon.
Some paddle cases are flexible so you can enhance the fit. Otherwise, you night require to discover a different handgun and holster combination.
4- Lock the gun in the holster, if your holster model has a latch. Many models of paddle cases have button latches, but some do not. If yours has a latch, snap it into place to further secure the gun. [4]
Western holsters without a locking knob rely on the snug fit of the gun in the holster to hold the gun in place.
Most bolts are designed so that you can easily unlock them with your thumb as you draw the weapon. Check your owner’s booklet for instructions special to your model.
5- Place the holstered gun above your waistband, blade side inward. Grasp the holstered handgun by its handle, with your finger on the trigger. The hard paddle portion of the holster faces inward toward your body and slips into your belt. The part of the holster that contains the firearm will hang outside your belt.
Most people love to place the holster just above or just in front of the hip on the main side.
Alternatively, you can place the holster on your weak side hip (so that you are drawing the weapon to your forehead with your dominant hand). Some people like to place the holster over their tailbone for more concealment, but you run the risk of injury if you fall on your back.
6- Slide the paddle between your underwear and your belt. Push the paddle completely onto the waistband of your pants, as far down as possible. You should feel the tension of the paddle pressing against the waistband of your pants.
Some people choose to slide the paddle between the inside of their waistband and the outside of their waistband. The holster will however remain much more secure if you slip it inside your belt and over your belt.
If your paddle holster has a safety clip or hook along the underside of the paddle, you may hear or feel it snap into place once the paddle slides past your waistband seam and/or of your belt. This safety clip prevents the holster from slipping when you take out your weapon.
1- Draw the firearm from the holster with a smooth, sure motion. Grab the pistol grip with your dominant hand and lift it up. Once the barrel clears the holster, grab the weapon with both hands and practice aiming the weapon.
If the holster has a button latch, you will need to unlock the latch before removing the gun. Use your thumb to unlock it when you grab the pistol grip.
The tension and lip of the paddle clip should hold the custom leather shoulder holster in place when removing the gun, especially if you lift it straight up.
Unless and until you plan to shoot, keep your finger away from the trigger even when the safety is still on. Make sure the gun is pointed correctly and the safety is off before placing your finger on the trigger and firing the gun.
2- Adjust the positioning of the case to suit your comfort and needs. Practice pulling the firearm from the holster several times to test how easy and comfortable it is. You should be able to grab the handle, undo the button latch (if there is one) with your thumb, and pull the gun out with one smooth motion of your hand and arm. Slide the holster forward or backward along your waistband as needed for easier drawing.
Ease of adjustability is one of the main selling points of the paddle holster, especially when compared to a belt-style holster.
Many paddle holsters are designed to hold the firearm at a 15-degree forward angle, making it easier to draw (this is standard FBI positioning). You can tilt the paddle slightly forward or backward to adjust this angle as needed.
3- Remove the case by bending it inside and raising it up. Keep the gun in the holster when you are ready to holster it off. Grasp the pistol grip and use it to angle the top of the paddle toward your body and away from your belt – the bottom of the paddle, in turn, will tilt outward. With the paddle tilted, lift the weapon and holster up and out of your belt.
If you don’t angle the paddle this way, it may get caught on the belt or your belt when you try to remove it. The pistol can unintentionally come out of the holster this way.
Whether you holster it or not, store your firearm in a safe place. You ought to keep it in a locked cabinet, particularly if there are kids around.