General:
- If it is your first time using a holster with us, R&P Committee members will check your gear and observe your dry-fire draw. The committee members will have you transition to working from a bench, if they perceive your holster gear or holster technique to be unsafe. Regarding technique, you must be able to draw and holster without breaking the fundamental firearms safety rules.
- You may ONLY handle a firearm at the firing line with no persons down range. At all other times, your pistol must be fully holstered.
Gear:
Here’s what kind of gear you will need to use a holster during the practices:
- You need a sturdy belt that will support your holstered firearm. A belt that is too flimsy or too thin may not properly secure your holster or support the weight of your firearm. Additionally, this will allow you to equip a magazine pouch or carrier.
- Your holster must be designed to be equipped on your belt. The holster must be a strong side hip holster worn inside the waistband (IWB) between 12 and 4 for right-handed shooters, or outside the waistband (OWB) between 2 and 4 for right-handed shooters. Left-handed shooters use 8 to 12 o’clock (IWB) and 8 and 10 o’clock (OWB). No pocket, shoulder, handbag, or ankle holsters. See diagram below.
- Your holster must completely cover the trigger guard of your firearm, preventing anything from touching the trigger while the firearm is inside the holster
- Nothing universal fit, or designed for a variety of guns. If a holster fits 20 different models of gun, then it probably doesn’t fit any of them WELL. You don’t want your loaded gun falling out of your holster if you trip.
- Nothing made of nylon, suede, or soft fabrics. Not only will these materials not hold your gun securely, but they will likely close up while they are empty, creating hazards when you reholster your pistol. Stick with more rigid materials like quality leather or kydex (hard plastic)
- No holster designed to use your trigger finger to press a retention release button! These all look great on paper, and may sound safe in theory, but there is no good reason for your trigger finger to be doing anything, except staying out of the way while you draw. Period. If active retention is something you see as a must-have, check out a thumb-activated release like the Safariland ALS.
