About a week ago, I was asked by Walt in PA about the magazine holders I use for USPSA competition. I told him that I have been using the standard Glock Magazine Holder ever since I got into competition, for a number of reasons.
First, it's what I use for every day carry, if I use a mag holder. Second, it's lightweight and cheap. So cheap, I've never found anything else that meets my needs, for the price.
While my choice of mag holder hasn't changed, I can't say the same about my holsters.
The picture above shows my competitive holster collection, as it has evolved from 1993 to today.
When I bought my first Glock 17 in 1992, I went that same weekend and bought a very inexpensive nylon, one-size-fits-all holster, and I used that holster for club competition for about 3 or 4 years. It's made by Gould & Goodrich, and I don't know the model number because that part of the tag is missing now. The inside is a nice suede.
When I took up IDPA in 1995, I bought an Uncle Mike's Kydex paddle holster. Because I carried my gun at about 4 o'clock at that time, I adjusted it to the maximum forward cant that I could. I still use it for IDPA.
At that time, I used a stiff leather belt, laced through my belt loops, as a gun belt.
Then, in 2002, when I took up USPSA, I changed from a 4 o'clock position to a 3 o'clock position, right on my hip, and I bought an Uncle Mike's belt slide holster. About that time, I found a Bianchi competition belt on sale, and I started using that. I like the competition belt because it's a little more rigid than the leather belt, and I can take the belt off and on a lot easier.
In 2005 or so, I started experimenting some with my draw stroke, and I changed my technique a little. Before, I moved my hand below the gun and swept it clear with the fingers, then grabbed the grip as I brought the gun to bear.
However, I found that this technique didn't yield a consistent grip, so I changed, so that my first movement was to grip the gun with my strong hand, high, with a good shooting grip. Then I would draw the gun, while bringing my support hand in.
I found that the belt holster made the gun ride just a little too high, and someone suggested I try an offset holster, that mounted the gun lower.
I ended up buying a BladeTech "DOH" double offset belt holster, that's adjustable for cant at two points. After some experimenting, I have it set at a neutral position, not canted in any direction. I wear it right behind by the point of my hip bone, per the Production Division rules.
I find that the 3 inch difference between the belt slide holster and the DOH is enough to make my grip a lot more consistent.
Yes, I still have all these holsters, and many more. But that collection is for another day.
