Don't worry about the $100+ prices on the website, his prices are actually quite reasonable - for the basic slimline that I got my two holsters in, I think I paid ~$60 each at the show. And he stands behind his work, if it's not comfortable or working for you, take it back and he'll fix it on the spot.

(NOTE: this post ended up being a little longer than intended, but I think you'll see from my story why I think it's worth saying!)

Before that, I had tried a Remora holster for my Diamondback DB9 (tiny 9mm, just a hair bigger than your S&W). It was inexpensive, and fit in my waist fantastic, infinitely adjustable, could be put anywhere, held the gun well, etc etc... I loved it.

There was just one problem - it held the gun TOO WELL. Yeah, under controlled draw and presentation practice, it wasn't an issue. BUT I discovered that in a "frenetic" draw, quick, unexpected, with my heart rate up, there was a significant chance of me pulling the trigger while drawing it. Fortunately this was practice, and no round in the chamber. But it happened on more than one occasion. And that was the last time I used that holster!

The reason being that most inexpensive holsters holds the gun in by simple pressure of your belt, and since the size of the grip on a compact .380 is relatively small, it is held in so tight so that you just naturally grab for "a little too much" in your effort to get it out. I grew up around guns, owned them all of my life, I am NOT in the habit of putting my finger on the trigger before I'm ready to fire. BUT IT STILL HAPPENED TO ME!!!

So what am I trying to say? eh, just a point of first hand advice learned the hard way really, whatever holster you choose, practice the hell out of it. Do it under simulated stressful conditions. Sprint 10 feet, then quickly try to present your gun. Don't "pre-think" the presentation beforehand, just do it. Do it a few hundred times, see what happens.

Do it while the gun is cocked, so you know if you $#^$@ it up. And do it WITHOUT a round in the chamber, so you don't shoot your kneecap off if you do @#$#@ it up! I'm glad I figured it out with an unloaded gun in practice, and not a loaded gun when my life depended on it.

and that's the really long version of why I recommend spending AT LEAST $50+ on your holster. Whether it be kydex or leather or a hybrid, and where it's purchased, doesn't really matter, just that it's GOOD, and you practice a lot with it under stress. I think it's even more important for the smaller guns due to the firing problem outlined above, and because it is an often overlooked and superbly critical part of the effectiveness (or complete failure) of your gun should you ever need it

Just my :-)

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing that insight. It is very good advice. One of the reasons I chose this .380 was the click safety. As Im sure you know, a lot of these weapons don't have the dedicated safety, but being relatively new to firearms I wanted the extra safety mechanism.

Is that a Krink with a happy switch?

Safety vs. No Safety is a personal pref. If you dont put your finger on the trigger it wont go bang when you dont want it to.

Personally i prefer no manual safety as it's one extra step to worry about if you ever have to pull it and use it, fine motor-skill loss and all. Now I just have to wait for my Kahr to ship and get here :-):-)

I understand where you are coming from there. I used to have the choice of carrying a 1911 or a Glock, and I unquestionably chose the 1911 because it had the safety (and I just love to shoot 1911's). I wasn't new to firearms, but I was new to carrying them concealed, and the idea of carrying a cocked and ready to go gun, without a safety, was... concerning, to say the very least. :-) (such a heavy gun though, hard to carry in many situations)

In hindsight, the safety has the potential to be LESS helpful for beginners, because it's "one more thing" to remember to do in a panicked moment. And sometimes while you're learning fundamentals with a gun that has a safety, it can instill a misguided sense of confidence in the safety "being there for you", which can lead to the development of some bad shooting and handling habits if you're not mindful of that while learning (I wasn't!).

And that's not to say that safety's are bad. just, be aware of their limitations. Any habits and methods of handling and using a gun that work with a safety should work with a gun that doesn't have one. And if it doesn't, that's a red flag! And I totally understand wanting to carry one with a safety, I did it for years for that exact reason!

Now I'm NOT a firearms instructor, nor am I very knowledgeable. I'm just a guy that's learned a few things the hard way and has had to kick a few of those bad habits I picked up early on :-)

dammit, THIS is why I don't have a twitter account. I am flat out incapable of typing out an idea in less than 1000 characters. 140? hah! I can't do it!

I really want to find a place out here where I can try setting up a basic "Run n Gun", just to practice shooting with an elevated heartrate, changing situation, etc.

In OTHER news, just saw this guy over at Bud's. For $200, looks like a good way to enjoy the feel of a 1911 without the ammo price tag... I'm temped! I'm also eying an M&P 15-22 for the same reason....

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...red+Wood+Grips

Francis your best bet would be to start shooting IDPA or ISPC or 3-gun. You could do excercise and then shoot and then exercise but physical stress isnt quite as good as psychological stress when it comes to that. But the shooting sports would be good cuz you would experience psychological stress. :-)

Yeah, I'll probably get into whichever is closest to me when I get back from Venezuela next year.

No post 86

It was originally a kit from a factiry 5.56

mmmm... just found a Hungarian AK clone for $599.... with things they way they are these days, that might be hard to pass up........

(always figured I'd get an AK "someday", give me an excuse to sell the SKS)

I think I've decided on getting a 40 S&W and want to get something with a manual safety as well. Wanting to stay under $500...can you think of any particular makes/models that I should look into?

Can't really offer any advice in that department. The only 40 I've shot was my old Glock 23. It was a good gun, but not quite my speed. Ended up selling it. Still got the ammo for it, but have yet to pick up another 40 cal pistol. Seems like a good round though.

Similar here.
I shot the 22, 23, 27 and 35 before decided on 21.
I too have .40 cal ammo for a gun I don't have anticipating I will.

When purchasing a gun, aside from shooting it to see if what cut out to be, one also has to consider availability of ammo at times of anarchy, or high demand as now. A .40 won't be easy as a 9 or 45.

I went to a gun show a few months ago looking at the Berretta Storm, XD, Glock 27 and forget what two others, all in .40. Swore that is what I wanted. Ended up walking out with a S&W Shield in 9 mm.

That said, if .40 is a must, for $449, if you are patient and lucky enough to find one, there will be no finer gun for concealed carry in that caliber than the S&W Shield.

Any big boy quality .40 is over that price. I'll probably end up with a Sig. 40 and a Shield.

This is my dream .40.
It will set one back a grand but boy ain't she purty.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...ducts_id/50921

I have heard good things about those Shields..

Same here on the caliber considerations. I guess that's why I don't have a 40 gun right now. I tried to streamline the ammo stocks. 9mm was a given. .45 was a given (for me)... and .40 became the completely competent but odd man out...

yep, that sure is a pretty looking gun. :-)

Want to see the single most gorgeous rifle I think I've ever laid eyes on? I'm just a little short on the cash or I'd buy it up in a heartbeat :-)

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=322196026

Image

WOW!!!!!!!

That is amazing work.

Here is the Shield in 9.
The .40 is identical with difference being one less round in mag capacity.
As you can see, manual safety, engaged, just above the back part of my thumb, easily deactivated as you draw.
Best part, less than an inch thick.

Image

Looking into this and maybe I'm getting more $ than I anticipated, but I guess I'd rather be spending more money up front to get something I know I'll be happy with from the get go than buying something I know I'll regret and need to sell to buy another. If that exceeds the $500 figure, so be it.

I'm wanting something that isn't compact and will fit nicely in my entire hand with the grip. Obviously that rules out a compact and most likely a subcompact I believe. I'm also thinking I'd like a 4" barrel for improved accuracy. Then again, I may find out that what I think I want isn't possible to conceal and may far exceed what I was hoping to spend.

I know the thing to do is get my butt in a shop and get a feel for them myself, but I want to at least have some sort of idea of what to ask for in terms of makes/models that will fit what I'm looking for.

Seems like the Springfield XD's offer some stuff I can find on armslist available in .40S&W that has a 4" barrel and has a grip safety that can be had in my desired price range.