Characteristics And Uses Of Firearm Holsters

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A holster is an essential tool for people who regularly use firearms, especially when use of the firearm may be the difference between life and death. Holsters must be durable, secure retention, and easily and quickly accessible. Often the need for security and protection may be at odds with the need for easy access, so a user must be familiar with the options and know what they are willing and able to compromise on. Four broad categories divide holsters by usage: Duty Holsters, Tactical/Military Holsters, Concealment Holsters, and Sporting Holsters.

Duty Holsters

As Duty Holsters are designed to be carried openly, concealment is not as much an issue as retention and appearance. Duty Holsters are worn on the strong side of the user, attached to a belt. Generally they are used for full and mid-size handguns and can be made out of variety of material, including leather, plastics like Kydex, and nylon. The characteristic that distinguishes Duty Holsters is retention. A Duty Holster must be secure so the handgun cannot be snatched away from the uniformed officer or security officer.

Tactical/Military Holsters

Worn by military and law personnel, retention isn't as much of a concern on the military holster as it is on the Duty Holster, due to the different occupational uses of the user. Though often these two categories overlap, the military holsters focus more on durability. Often these holsters are made of nylons and plastics, like the Kydex holsters mentioned previously. Kydex is a thermoplastic sheet frequently used as an alternative to leather because of its toughness, chemical resistance, and rigidity.

Concealment Holsters

These holsters are designed to be lightweight and unobtrusive and are generally designed for compact to mid-sized handguns. They are made for use under clothing, such as on a belt under a coat, under pants on an ankle holster, or in a pocket. The main areas of focus are comfort, because the holster may be worn close to the body and may cause perspiration, and obviously concealment. Often these holsters have broad, flat sides to minimize their outline under clothing.

Sporting Holsters

Sporting Holsters cover all ranges of use and design, and like any sporting equipment, they evolve to maximize the benefits of the rules of the game and are specialized to the sport they are meant for. Sporting holsters may be designed for slow access, such as in hunting holsters designed to carry large handguns, which require a slow draw. Or they may be designed for quick access for competitive sports. Some are made for high retention, others are made for high protection, depending on their use.

Whatever the use, the options should be carefully weighed when choosing the right holster for the right job, especially in life or death situations when the characteristic of the holster may decide the outcome.

About the Author:
Tucker Gunleather (http://www.tuckergunleather.com) specializes in the construction of all types of firearm holsters, particularly Kydex holsters. Art Gib is a freelance writer.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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