Triangle Tactical Podcast and Blog on Guns, Gear, and Competition Shooting
Ben pointed this out to me from my match video from Sunday’s Fun Match. You’ll notice that the pistol is just beginning to clear the holster, and I’m all leaned over, shoulders crooked, etc.
I suited up with my belt, holster, and pistol last night and spent some time dry firing in the garage while trying to keep my shoulders straight on the draw stroke. Unfortunately this particular holster sits a bit higher when it’s on my CR Speed belt than it does on a regular leather belt which makes the pistol ride higher, meaning I have to pull it out even higher when drawing it.
I like the holster for IDPA, and I’ll continue to use it for that game, but I’m finding myself using the CR Speed rig more and more so I’m starting to look into options for a budget minded dropped/offset holster for USPSA. I’m somewhat happy with my current draw speed, but as we learned from USPSA Grand Master Chad Thompson in episode 89, speed is the economy of motion, so to go faster, I need to limit all of this extra movement.
Ben is correct.
If you currently have a Bladetech or Comptac, you need Stoeger’s Boss Hangar for that holster. He also sells a complete holster.
I would also look at the awesome Ghost Stinger.
Good luck.
I’m using the locally made D&D holster, but I’m considering DIYing something similar to a BOSS hanger. Looks pretty simple.
I shot Statesville recently and a buddy has the Boss hangar on his Bladtech. I was extremely impressed with it. They are on backorder though because they are so wildly popular. I don’t know if his complete holster is on backorder.
The last I heard they were waiting on a truck to dump a gazillion of them on their doorstep.
I forgot to mention, Stoeger has that Ghost Stinger in stock. For the price, it cannot be beat and it is every bit as good as his Boss hanger system. IMHO, It has better adjustability.
I’m done and sorry, didn’t mean to hijack the thread.
Lol, you didn’t hijack the thread. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be ready to shell out a hundred bucks for a holster too soon, definitely going to look for a DIY solution first. We’ll see what I can come up with…
Lucas, back in June I shot with Chad at Sir Walter. I posted a video of his stages along with mine. I had the same head dip and shoulder movement you’re talking about. By looking closely at how Chad drew, my mistakes were easily seen. When I mentioned this to my wife she said I had always drawn like this; she just thought I was retarded or something.
I started working on it in dryfire, and I estimate that it took roughly 4000-5000 repetitions before I fixed the problem.
I think you can fix it in dryfire if you don’t want to spend money on it.
This topic does intrigue me because my Comp Tac International holster has a dropset attachment I could put on. Keep us posted if you get something new.
This is clearly preposterous. Buying new gear is the only way to fix technique deficiencies.
Ass.
>>>This is clearly preposterous. Buying new gear is the only way to fix technique deficiencies<<<
LOL! Skillz!
Hey Luke, I just thought of something that might hep ya. I have a Comp-Tac or Bladtech or something (can't remember). But, I use it for my M&P 40 Pro. I am replacing the drop-offset portion of it with the Stoeger hanger. You can have this drop-offset for free if ya like. Send me a private email and I"ll send you a pic of it to see if it is something you can use.
I had the head dip too (made worse by a switch to a high-riding Safariland holster). I’ve managed to mostly train it out, though it wasn’t until I had a friend (a physical therapist) show me a couple of shoulder flexibility exercises that the light began to dawn.
Dropped and offset may be intrinsically faster, but your problem also might have something to do with a lack of flexibility in your arm/shoulder/back, which tends to worsen as we get older.
A little flex work now might make you faster than a dropped/offset holster will.
Of course, since I live in California, I’m legally bound to also suggest incense, resonant chanting, and communing with crystals vibrating at same frequencies as the power points in your area.
It’s just what we do out here.
I have been using this holster for IDPA (because it’s ok for women): http://www.daranichtactical.com/USPSA_IPSC_Custom_Dropped_and_Offset_Holster_p/dt-uspsa-holster.htm
It’s listed at $70 for basic black. I like it – I can show it to you at the next Wake Co. Action Pistol match if you want a close look.
I have that Daranich holster also and love it. Slim profile and easy draw. Really like the Daranich Tactical equipment!
Luke,
I have an offset holster around here somewhere I bought for my wife way back. (Fair warning: She liked it so much she had me knock her up, and that was the end of her fledgling competitor shooting career.) I’m sure it must be for a 1911, but if you’re interested in a loaner let me know. Think it’s a Comp-Tac, we’ve mostly been a Comp-Tac house until recently, but might be a Blade-Tech.
But honestly, the holster’s not your problem. All that extraneous movement is your problem. Just don’t do that. 🙂
You might try dry firing with your back up against something fixed. If you have a metal support post in your basement or garage, that works great. The convex corner of a wall works too, a little sharp. Obviously you need something along your spine that doesn’t block your elbows from moving back past your centerline.
You really don’t want much movement at all except your arms/hands bringing the gun up to your line of sight. Rest of your body should start in a slightly forward biased “fight position,” and stay there throughout.
As we all know, shooting a pistol well is kind of like sculpting. The key is to take away all the extraneous crap until you’ve finally got it right. 🙂 KISS.
–Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
Thanks for the offer, but I think I just need to train through it. Noticed I was doing it with my carry holster the other day too.
That’s the tactical shuffle. Most times you see it with drop leg rigs from guys who don’t adjust it properly upwards…you my friend have gone the other way.