There are a lot of holsters made out of plastic on the market today, and I’d be willing to bet that thanks to low cost injection molded holsters like Fobus and the popularity of the Blackhawk SERPA holster that sales of plastic holsters far outstrip leather holsters any more. For the most part, this is a good thing, because even the cheapest injection molded holster will never “flap” shut like a cheap leather holster and force you to put your support hand near the muzzle.
Comp-Tac Speed Paddle
That being said, not all plastic holsters are created equal. I use Comp-Tac and Blade-Tech holsters almost exclusively, and there is a definite difference in quality between what you get from Blade-Tech or what you’d get from say, Fobus. The primary difference is in the quality of the materials used. The word “kydex” has started to become synonymous with “plastic holster”, however it’s definitely not the case. Kydex is actually a type of PVC (like the pipe) that comes in sheet form. To make holsters from kydex, the sheets are heated and formed into the holster shape. Note the Comp-Tac Paddle holster on the left, the entire holster is a single sheet of Kydex. This lends exception strength and durability to the design.
Injection molded holsters on the other hand are made, well, they’re made using the injection molding process. That means that a thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer (SCIENCE) is injected into a mold and then hardened into the holster shape. Injection molding is a much more cost effective way to produce holsters than forming them from Kydex, hence why IJM holsters usually run 20-30 dollars opposed to the 40-80 dollars usually associated with proper Kydex holsters.
Now, there really isn’t anything wrong with injection molded holsters. I would much rather someone spend 20 bucks on a Fobus that was made for their gun than buy a flappy nylon “universal fit” holster. The Fobus will last longer, be more comfortable, and will never, ever require you to use two hands to re-holster the gun. I actually use two injection molded holsters for most of my IDPA/USPSA competition, I have a matching pair of Blade-Tech Revolution Series injection molded holsters. They were extremely cost effective, and when they get so worn that they become unusable, I’ll simply toss them in the garbage and not worry about it. That’s probably the best feature of the injection molded holster – you don’t feel bad when it’s time to replace it.
So remember these general rules of thumb when shopping for your next holster. If you’re getting a leather holster and you want a properly made one, you’re going to be out at least $100, if not more. Kydex holsters are generally more expensive and more durable than injection molded holsters, and would be my choice for concealed carry. For general range use however, it’s hard to beat a 20-30 dollar injection molded holster.
http://www.dragonleatherworks.com/index.php
Can find many models less than $100 and right around the price of a cheap Kydex holster.
Of course if you go crazy with the trim options the price can go north of $100 Quick, but it’ll look better than any plastic holster ever made!
Of course I just like leather better anyway…
The biggest issue I have with leather is it wears the finish on your gun far faster than anything else. My carry gun which is carried in a hybrid IWB holster is showing a large amount of wear on the leather side, while my kydex only competition gun practically looks new. They both have the same number of rounds through them (10k each).
Dennis seems like a nice guy, but whenever a “new” leather holster dude comes around I like to wait a couple of years to see how their holsters hold up in the long run. Two years of range/carry use will really put the screws to a leather rig.
How are your holsters from EvylRobot holding up?
The one I have is his custom race holster, which I’ve used in USPSA and ICORE competition. It hasn’t gotten heavy use like my kydex holsters though specifically because it’s a limited application holster for certain gun games. But as far as its durability goes, it’s still looking very nice, albeit a bit worn. The big issues for me with leather are the stitching, which tends to come undone over time, and the holster mouth itself. I’ve seen way too many leather holsters that started life stiff as a board get squishy after moderate use.
Hmm, I hadn’t heard of fobus. What would you say to them as an inexpensive IDPA holster for a revolver? I have found revolver options in kydex to be either expensive or limited.
I like leather IWB for my concealed carry, but that’s largely because I don’t have to re-holster the gun constantly. I did not feel comfortable using it for shooting sports.
Best kydex revo holsters for the money are either the Comp-Tac or the Blade-Tech. Problem is that they’re around $70 each. I struggle recommending the Fobus, because they’re often ill-fitting and a little too tight on retention which can cause problems.
I wouldn’t mind spending $70 on a holster if I was sure it was going to fit and work, but the old saw about the box full of $70 holsters in the closet just kind of scares me.
I can personally vouch for both the Blade Tech and Comp-Tac models as working for my N-frame (Blade-Tech) and L-frame (Comp-Tac).
What about a GP100? I know you used to own one of those.
My father picked up a Safariland to try some gun games with his Security Six. I was impressed with it for the money. Midway had it to him in three days.
“Dennis seems like a nice guy, but whenever a “new” leather holster dude comes around I like to wait a couple of years to see how their holsters hold up in the long run. Two years of range/carry use will really put the screws to a leather rig.”
Glad you said it and not me, most people who shill for them are more “gunowners” than shooters. There are plenty of more established holster makers out there for people who compete or carry for duty. Just sayin’
I like my leather holster for comfortable carry but realize that it will wear prematurely if I use it continuously for range work. For that I do use kydex in the same position, cant angle and style as close as possible to my leather gear.
I just wanted to add a bit to the information posted about injection molding rather than the blanket statement that injection molding is a most cost effective manufacturing method.
The difference in cost between the two manufacturing methods is all based on economy of scale. Injection molding requires expensive tooling dies that can be used multiple times. For the size and fairly intricate shape of a holster, it’s probably around $5-15K for a die but could be less depending on how durable the die is. The part cost is then stupid low like $3 per holster since there is no labor involved and a machine is just pumping them out at a very high speed. The only way this method becomes cost effective is if you can spread the relatively massive tooling cost across a large volume of holsters sold.
Kydex, on the other hand, does not require any specific tooling. As you mentioned, it comes in sheets and is formed under heat (meaning it’s a thermoplastic polymer) to the shape desired. There’s a lot more labor involved since the sheets need to be cut to shape and then formed unlike the injection molding process which can make a complete holster every minute or so. But without the tooling cost, you don’t need to sell thousands in volume.
This is why you’ll only ever see Kydex options for less common guns. Only the most popular guns can support enough sales to make injection molding practical. Also, a small or startup company probably doesn’t have the capital to front $10K for tooling plus $3 per holster on a 2,500 part run to sink into an injection molding (nevermind the business risk involved since injection molded parts are usually made in one big production run and you may never sell all the thousands of holsters manufactured.)