I’ve been wanting to ask this question to the Brain Trust for a long while, but have been embarrassed, thinking the answer will reveal itself or I should figure this one out on my own.

I really like my G43 over my Sig 365 (despite sometimes going through phases when I tell myself the 365 makes more sense re trigger pull and size).

But I also really like Remora sticky holsters, and also Nemesis pocket holsters. There are great pocket alternatives to the Nemesis, but no alternatives to the sticky holsters like Remora. Those sticky holsters distribute weight widely, have minimal bulk, and are so so easy on and off.

I am not sure if I am overthinking — please let me know: I have a hard time feeling comfortable carrying a G43 in a Remora. I mostly worry about the shell breaking down, or otherwise somehow getting bunched up and forced into the trigger guard; or, to a lesser extent, the gun falling out of the holster. The 365 with a manual safety (which I activate pretty automatically) feels fine in a Remora.

But should holster choice dictate gun choice???

I think there are a lot of folks who carry a striker fired pistol without a manual safety in a Remora or similar holster. Do you have any concerns? Has anyone ever heard of an issue?

I carried a Kahr PM9 in a sticky pocket holster for around5 or 6 years. Never gave a thought to something getting in the trigger guard.

I wouldn't hesitate to carry a striker fired in a sticky holster today (and I don't want any external safeties).

I only carry strikers, especially appendix or pocket, in a rigid holster. I have sticky holsters but I wouldn’t use a striker in them. No way.

I see why many would. I understand and acknowledge I’m on the further safety edge in this regard. I’m ok with that.

Since my 365 is almost exclusively appendix carried, I have added the manual safety to every one of mine. If I carried on or behind my hip I would be ok without the MS. In a pocket in a sticky holster? Nope and nope.

No soft holsters for me with a striker gun. If off body carry, fanny pack or other type of bag carry is called for, I have a trigger guard sheath for any striker gun I own. I also use CrossBreed Kydex velcro mount holsters for bags and packs that have the velcro loop in them. Another advantage of the trigger guard cover is admin handling is safer, as you can load / unload the gun with the cover in place.

I pocket the P365. Started with the Nemesis. It didn’t have any extra reinforcement around the trigger, which unnerved me a bit. I played with it and was able to pull the trigger by pinching the sides. Realistically, it would never happen. But it still didn’t sit well with me. So I bought a Vedder. This one is stiffer. So stiff, the holster stays on the pistol 99.9% of the time on draw. I’ve actually practiced the draw and having to strip it off.

If someone has the ideal pocket holster, I’m listening.

Thank you to everyone for the comments.
I do think there are good kydex pocket holster alternatives — Alabama, AHolster, Vedder. I have an old Kramer horsehide Jframe pocket holster which is as rigid as it was 20 years ago (but bulky).
Are there other folks who do feel ok about a sticky holster for their striker fired pistol without an external safety? Remora sells a lot of holsters.

I’ve carried a Kahr (striker fired, no manual safety) for over 15 years in a Ramora sticky holster with no worries. I put the gun in the holster, slide it inside my waistband, adjust it and forget about it.

I don’t think I could get the gun to fire through the material, and I’ve never heard of it happening with a Ramora. I suppose it’s possible.

quote:

Originally posted by Nuclear:
I’ve carried a Kahr (striker fired, no manual safety) for over 15 years in a Ramora sticky holster with no worries. I put the gun in the holster, slide it inside my waistband, adjust it and forget about it.

I don’t think I could get the gun to fire through the material, and I’ve never heard of it happening with a Ramora. I suppose it’s possible.

Thanks for this real world experience.

quote:

Originally posted by Nuclear:
I’ve carried a Kahr (striker fired, no manual safety) for over 15 years in a Ramora sticky holster with no worries. I put the gun in the holster, slide it inside my waistband, adjust it and forget about it.

I don’t think I could get the gun to fire through the material, and I’ve never heard of it happening with a Ramora. I suppose it’s possible.

How many times did you reholster under stress? With say a heart rate of around 140?

That is really the drawback to me. Once it comes out under stress, now you can’t put it back. And you run the risk of being shot by the responding police because you have a gun in your hand and there’s just been a shooting.

When I pocket carry before my gun goes in a soft holster a mic holster trigger guard goes on.

Best of both worlds. Secure kydex covering the trigger, comfortable pocket holster.

Would never consider carrying in just soft holster. It doesn’t seem like a good idea to me to have a trigger non protected.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

quote:

Originally posted by Nuclear:
I’ve carried a Kahr (striker fired, no manual safety) for over 15 years in a Ramora sticky holster with no worries. I put the gun in the holster, slide it inside my waistband, adjust it and forget about it.

I don’t think I could get the gun to fire through the material, and I’ve never heard of it happening with a Ramora. I suppose it’s possible.

How many times did you reholster under stress? With say a heart rate of around 140?

That is really the drawback to me. Once it comes out under stress, now you can’t put it back. And you run the risk of being shot by the responding police because you have a gun in your hand and there’s just been a shooting.

Well, my plan if I have been in a shooting is to drop the mag, rack the slide, lock the action open, and place the magazine, round and most importantly, the gun, far enough away from me that the responding police don’t feel threatened by me.

If it is just a “I drew my gun, the bad guy ran away and no cops were called”, I would wait until I got over the shakes, take the holster out of my waistband, and with my trigger finger off the gun, carefully slide the gun into holster, slide the holster into my waistband and go about my day.

How often did you practice that? (Please don’t think I’m being a dick because I’m not. I’m honestly trying to figure this out. You’re the first dude I’ve ever talked to that actually has a plan)

It seems like it would be easier, and solve a lot of potential problems, to just use a better holster.

Everybody wants to buy a gun for hundreds of dollars, put it in a $30 holster on a $10 belt, and then feed it the cheapest ammunition they can find. Good gear solves a lot of problems.

quote:

Originally posted by ScotP7:
Thank you to everyone for the comments.
I do think there are good kydex pocket holster alternatives — Alabama, AHolster, Vedder. I have an old Kramer horsehide Jframe pocket holster which is as rigid as it was 20 years ago (but bulky).
Are there other folks who do feel ok about a sticky holster for their striker fired pistol without an external safety? Remora sells a lot of holsters.

I carry a P365X with MS in an Alabama holster and it's perfect for me. I am retired and have no expected dress codes to comply with so that helps.

Thanks very much to everyone for their replies. Like most folks, I feel more comfortable with rigid kydex, but looking for something that sits very deep, has no bulk, and hopefully is easy on/off.

Flash — Very good to know about your safe experience with the Kahr PM9. I got a K9 when they first came out, and for a while carried it instead of the previous P7. I am embarassed to admit I first treated the K9 like a revolver. Never any problems, but…

Pedropcola — My belly and my fears prevent me from trying appendix. Maybe as I lose more weight, but even then may stick to 4:00 no matter the holster or presence of a safety.

YooperSigs — I do like the trigger covers also. You are right on about safer / easier administrative handling, a great advantage. I do sometimes carry the G43 in a Raven Vanguard at 4:00. I like it in part because it is has such minimal bulk and sits so very low. It is also very easy off, a little harder to put on (always with the gun in the Vanguard already before going into the waistband.) It is the closest to a sticky holster I have found. I guess the Vanguard is a safe mode of carry, but not 100% sure. Again, maybe overthinking. Anyone with experience using regularly a Raven Vanguard long term?

Buddy — i doubt the Nemesis material could get into the trigger guard, but I worry if the holster would start to break down. This is where I am not sure if I am paranoid. But I do like the kydex pocket holsters more also.

Nuclear — Thanks again for the experience. Same worry as above — could the holster break down and manage to get into the trigger guard? I may be overthinking. I am with you 100% reholstering in a bad situation where I had to remove my gun.

JLJones — I don’t like the idea of reholstering an IWB, unless it is so big and rigid an opening that it would add more bulk than I can tolerate. And not sure about even then. That is part of the reason I like a Remora. To reholster, I take the holster out of the waistband, put the gun in, slip back into waistband (or onto the floor if police are expected).

SigKB — That is a really interesting direction. Can you tell me more? I have long thought someone should do a rigid kydex holster with a sticky surface for IWB carry. You use a MIC holster guard and put it inside of a Remora or other sticky holster? Doesn’t that make for a very slow or complicated draw? (Not that speed is the main factor.)

DaBigBR — I am fine about using a better holster. I have a Vedder Light Tuck and others which are great and work fine (like most of us I’m actually overinvested there), but they just don’t sit as deep as a Remora (and are not as easy on/off). Any suggestions for an unbulky holster that sits real deep? I haven’t found one as deep as a Raven Vanguard or sticky holster.

ARH19456 — Is your Alabama a pocket holster or IWB?

Thanks again for all of the replies and good perspectives.

Scott

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
How often did you practice that? (Please don’t think I’m being a dick because I’m not. I’m honestly trying to figure this out. You’re the first dude I’ve ever talked to that actually has a plan)

Well, every time I practice drawing the Kahr I have to go through the "take the holster out of my waistband..." routine. The other is a variation of making a gun safe after a competition stage, and now that you mention it, I do need to incorporate that into my draw practices with the Kahr.

I would use a "better" holster, but I really haven't found one, as a lot of makers don't list the Kahrs or when I got them they didn't work as well on a daily basis.

Cool. Thanks

Every holster I have ever used has been rigid,either all hard leather or kydex. Now, I pretty much only use kydex as it is more comfortable, solid and I don't have to worry about sweat absorbing into the leather and then to the gun in the Florida heat.

My life is pretty simple. Anything cocked. Cocked and locked or striker fired rides my my right hip. If something goes wrong, I might have a crease in my ass cheek.


Anything carried, with the potential of being pointed at me, is TDA. DA. DAK or a revolver.


On a cocked, semi cocked hammer or striker fired, everything has to work right for the gun NOT to fire. The stored energy is already there.

On DA, I have to add the energy for it to fire. Everything has to work right for the gun TO fire.

I love 1911’s. My Springfield EMP. My P365. But, they get carried on my hip. If I pocket carried the others, or appendix, particularly without a thumb safety, it would be in the closest fitted hard holster I could find.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sgt 127,

Excellent summation of the same way I feel.

Pocket carry has always been a Rohrbaugh, revolver, Seecamp or Beretta Tomcat.

Appendix was either a P7 PSP or revolver.

(Really, except for the weight, and the expense these days, a PSP is probably the ideal carry gun. Would be a bit nicer in 45, of course.)