[haertig]

How well do Remora IWB holsters work for large full-size pistols (e.g., double-stack 9mm with 15+1 capacity)?

Their holsters are on sale for 1/2 off through tonight, and I was thinking of buying one, pretty much as an emergency holster only, for my H&K P30. I don't care for IWB of even small pistols like the PF9, but sometimes IWB is your only option. Do these Remoras do well with large pistols? I'm talking about their original style no-clip IWB holster.

My P30 is about the size of a Glock 19, and weighs 2lbs, 2.5oz fully loaded. A loaded spare mag weighs 10.7oz. So pretty much a porker as carry firearms go. I do have a very nice OWB + belt setup for the P30, but I was just mulling over buying an IWB setup while the Remoras are on sale cheap. That is, if they are up to the task of a full-size and heavy firearm. I'd get the (free) separate mag holder with it.

 

[ole442]

I carry a Springfield XD9 Sub Compact w/13 rounder in it and a 16 rounder in my pocket. No problems IMO. Not real easy to re-holster even with the re-enforced opening but I still like it. I think the 16 rounder would carry also but I worry about it showing so I carry the 13 rounder.

 

[phideaux]

Never leave the house without my Sig 1911 Ultra Carry 45. The Remora is the only way I carry it, Sooooo comfy, and concealable.

But , be sure to get the sweat shield one.

This is a 1911 with 3.3" barrel at 32+ oz loaded.

Jim

 

[CJP32]

I have carried a Judge Public Defender (28oz unloaded) in a Remora without any problems. I do keep my belt pretty snug which does help with the Remora holsters. For the price it's worth trying, heck the mag holders are well worth having too.

 

[CJP32]

I just bought another Remora for my Pitbull and my dad's Bodyguard , right before this sale. I did get it 40% off and a free magholder so it so I still did pretty good, less than $40 shipped. I've bought a Remora for all of my carry guns.

 

[haertig]

I let the sale slip by this time. But Remoras are always going on sale it seems, so there will be many other chances in the future. My email inbox is full of the frequent Remora ads.

I just wasn't sure if I'd be carrying this big P30 IWB. I don't even carry it OWB, although I have a great setup for that ... just too hard to conceal. So I didn't buy the Remora ... this time. My son is absolutely in love with his, as are his friends in love with theirs. But I never use the one I have for my PF9. My wife doesn't use the one I got for her gun either. She says it feels like an eel in her pants. Yeah, they kind of are like that. They do work to hold you gun in place though, a pretty neat design. Personally, I do not find IWB to be comfortable or convenient, no matter what holster I've tried. Part of that is no doubt because I'm fat.

I may still get another Remora on their next sale though. It's good to hear they do well with big/heavy guns. My only experience with them has been with smaller pocket pistols.

 

[FIREGUY]

haertig. First full disclosure I love remora holsters. My S&W Shield 9mm has been riding in it for over two years (every day). Before that I had my XD 9mm compact in one for quite a while. They have really evolved over the years with clips of different types. I have stuck with the old original with sweat shield and reinforced opening. I have a drawer full of holsters (some over $100) that I no longer use.
Just bought one for my son that wears your typical silky shorts with only a draw string for retention (Shield also). I always recommend these to the ladies because they like to wear in areas that are not common to us male counterparts. I always have mine between my underwear and outer garment. May be the reason for the eel like feeling.
Anyway they are always having sales and for the money you cant beat them.
I never had any issues with the double stack XD with the remora.

 

[darkwriter77]

I've carried everything from a Kel-Tec P32 all the way up to a full-size 1911 and S&W 686+ in a Remora holster. They hold. They're comfy. They just plain work. The only reason I haven't been using my Remora holsters anymore is because I've taken a liking to Kydex for my carry holsters because 1. They don't take up as much room inside my waistband (Remoras are a bit "poofy," which does make them more comfortable by cushioning pokey parts, but also makes the overall package fatter), 2. You can store your firearms in your safe or wherever in a Kydex holster without worrying about it causing the gun to rust (nylon and leather holsters can hang onto moisture and salts from sweat).

That being said, I still do have all of my Remoras in every size from itty-bitty all the way up to huge auto and semi-auto sizes, and I do still use them every once in awhile ... just because.

 

[haertig]

As kind of a followup on this thread, I tried my Remora holster for a while today. Not the "one for a full size auto" that I started this thread about, but the one that I've had for a while for my PF9, but never used. I had forgotten that I had bought it actually.

I decided that today would be a test. I wore it from 4:00pm until 10:00pm. Riding with a friend to downtown, walking several blocks, eating dinner in a nice restaurant, walking another mile or so, 3 hours listening to the Colorado Symphony in their large auditorium with walking around during intermission, walking back to the car, and then driving home.

To be honest, I hated it. It was not comfortable, but it was tolerable. But that's not the bad part. It failed to stay in place. On this trip, there was no opportunity to "go into hiding" for a reset of the holster. So all adjustments to position were as small and discrete as I could make them in a crowd. But anyone who knew what they were looking at would have immediately known I was readjusting a holster despite my efforts to be discrete. I started off with it in right appendix carry. It felt secure at home, and for the first few hours. Then it started slipping down and rotating. By the time the concert was over and we were walking back to the car, I had to have my right arm and hand pressed against the gun pinning it to my leg so it didn't slip down and fall out at my ankle. It had shifted down below my belt and rotated muzzle-to-the-rear. It was heading south in a big way.

This Remora is one that has their sweat shield. The small sweat shield, not that giant flap that is also available. I was carrying a PF9, which a is very lightweight handgun. I may have done this carry all wrong, please correct me if necessary. I was wearing jeans with a regular belt. The gun was stuck between my underwear and my jeans, with about 2/3 of it below the belt and the rest above. I had the underwear hiked up "nerd high" in an attempt to keep the rig from touching my skin. Thus the Remora was touching jeans on one side and cotton underwear on the other. And the butt of the gun was contacting my skin. Obviously, I had an untucked dress shirt (Hawaiian style) as a cover garment.

Was I rigged up correctly? These Remoras are advertised to stay where you put them. My experience was just the opposite. Are you supposed to go commando so that the Remora touches your skin?

 

[phideaux]

Mine rides high,
High enough that the sweat shield touches skin above the undies.

Never moves if its touching skin.

Positioning it high ride is the key.




Jim

 

[haertig]

Thanks. We'll give that a try next time. That might also help it be a little more comfortable. The way I had it, too low, lead to the muzzle poking into the top of my leg at the bend when sitting. That was the uncomfortable part. I was afraid that placing it too high would have the thing pop out of my belt since it's not attached to anything. Probably an unwarranted fear that lead to all my issues yesterday.

 

[darkwriter77]

I forgot that I posted a video regarding this a few years back:

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Qze8_t9os[/ame]

 

[mtn_chef]

Love the nerd high comment....
I have two remoras one for my PF9 and one I bought for my 3" barrel taurus 605. The PF9 one has the sweat shield and I use it more often than not. Kitchens being hot... are not comfortable places for underwear, so that holster after about three hours isn't terribly comfortable. It's comforting to know its there and I actually use it mostly for my quick don walking to the car holster. A pocket .380 is what lives in my pocket while actually cooking on the line. Once I'm in supervisor mode, walking the building or in and out I've got the pf9 in the remora stuck like glue to my hip at 4 o'clock. Boxers just make it move too much; and let's be honest... I'm only wearing underwear to the doc's office or something formal. The revolver model does the trick but I opted for the little additional clip thing. This rig for the revolver isn't my favorite, actually I'm still in the market to find a good working IWB holster for this 3" j frame clone. However this holster does fit most of my larger autos quite wonderfully. I've carried my glock 19 and a 1911 with this holster and it's pretty ok. With the 1911 the little clip accessory (think it's called a ulti clip?) keeps it from moving much. Depending on the cover garment the sweat shield on this holster will poke out while carrying at 4 o'clock. Can't say appendix carry is ideal for these holsters if I was seated for any length of time.

 

[phideaux]

Love the nerd high comment....

Care to elaborate on that comment?





Jim

 

[haertig]

Care to elaborate on that comment?

I'm sure he was referring to this:

The gun was stuck between my underwear and my jeans, with about 2/3 of it below the belt and the rest above. I had the underwear hiked up "nerd high" in an attempt to keep the rig from touching my skin.

That's when your boxer-briefs are yanking up until the elastic touches your boobies, and you're giving yourself a wedgie.

But it keeps the gun from touching your skin. :Cooltu: Ignoring the other problems it causes in the process...

 

[BlakeHanson]

...That's when your boxer-briefs are yanking up until the elastic touches your boobies, and you're giving yourself a wedgie.

I only regret that I can only click the 'like' button once.
I rolled when I read that!
"man-boobies"

 

[mtn_chef]

yep that's what i meant...

just go commando it's cooler that way...less laundry. Round here underwear is like formal atttire, only for weddings or funerals so you don't have to launder that suit cause you wore it for a couple of hours. IWB holster and underwear result in one garment going left and the pants twist right and no amount of adjusting the belt or holster gets you anywhere. Eventually you're in a rest room dropping trou and reassembling the kit 2-3 times in an 8 hour day. My alien-gear holster and a 1911 either pulled the boxers up every time I sat or pushed them down; no rhyme or reason. Gave up on the 1911 and switched the shell for my glock 19. With just my regular pants that rig just stays put all day. The neopreme is more comfortable against the skin than the remora, but I tolerate both well enough. Carrying is supposed to be comforting not comfortable...it ain't no couch, little discomfort reminds you what goes with carrying. Truth be told this is why I love winter, you can wear a high ride belt holster and a jacket totally comfortable and concealed. I keep thinking about a shoulder holster except the $100 base price of a decent one keeps me from making that purchase.

 

[BlakeHanson]

... just go commando it's cooler that way...less laundry.

Bare in mind that some guys just can't do that. If I don't keep the 'twins' constrained, one will be calling me from Bangladesh (Bang-leg-ish?) and the other one from Bangkok
The long-distance charges are just too great.
If 10 .40 cal hollow-points from the G27 in my pocket won't be enough, I guess I'm toast.
I just can't see needing more firepower than that pushing a cart in Sprawlmart.
If I'm going into a known bad-zone it's going to be in a OWB holster on the belt at 3:00 under a long-tail shirt with a 15rd mag.

It's great to be prepared for the worst all the time, but I don't wear a tux everywhere just in case a wedding breaks out.