Note:  Those of you familiar with my writing will detect immediately that the following review isn’t my own work. Instead, this guest review is written by Tony, a law enforcement professional with decades of first-hand firearm experience both at home and abroad. Like Top Gear’s nameless F1 driver The Stig, Tony’s day job requires that he remain otherwise nameless. Some say his blood pressure is measured in copper units of pressure instead of mmHg, and that his duties once required him to wear a fully-automatic Skorpion machine pistol in a shoulder holster. All we can say is, he’s called Tony. You may also know him as the author of the classic Internet text file ‘Loads 2.0‘, the authoritative guide to the defensive ammunition of the mid-1990s.  A good deal of what I know about guns, I’ve learned from him…

Review:

I am pretty conventional when it comes to my handgun concealed-carry methods. In over twenty years of carrying concealed handguns, I have tried just about every carry mode known: belt, paddle and inside-the-pants holsters on my strongside, small-of-the-back, and crossdraw; shoulder holsters of the vertical (Bianchi X15 and 17), horizontal (Galco Miami Classic), and upside-down variety (Bianchi 9R, Ken Null SKR); pocket carry with or without a holster; weakside ankle carry (Galco Ankle Glove) and calf carry (Bianchi 11); briefcase and day planner carry; fanny packs; bellyband and chest (Kangaroo Carry); dedicated holster undershirts from Kramer and 5.11 Tactical, even silly weirdness like a belt with an integral slot holster, the Clipdraw, and a snap-on Kydex trigger guard cover for my Glock pistols (the GlockTech MIC).

Part of the reason I am so conventional (i.e. I strongly favor strong-side carry, either on a stiff gun belt or inside the pants) is that the unconventional stuff just does not work well. I want secure carry, the ability to get a proper firing grip on the pistol before the draw, and a smooth, fast presentation. I also want the handgun in a defensible position and the ability to both draw and holster the handgun using only one hand.

Lastly, of course, I want all-day carrying comfort and good concealment. For me, as for most men, a quality strong-side holster on a properly reinforced gun belt is the best way to go. This is particularly true since I generally carry Glock pistols, which really need a well-designed holster that covers the trigger guard for safe carry.

Sometimes, however, I cannot carry a Glock on my belt, especially on very hot summer days when I may be walking around in shirt sleeves with no cover garment. In the past, I generally handled these situations by carrying a shrouded-hammer S&W Airweight .38 Special revolver in my front pants pocket. This worked very well, and I highly recommend the shrouded or concealed hammer S&W Airweight J-frame revolvers (i.e. the alloy-framed Bodyguard and Centennial series) for pocket and ankle carry. The problem wasn’t the carry mode.

The problem was the handgun itself. While excellent for their intended role – deep concealment – I was limited to five rounds in a heavy-kicking weapon not known for its accuracy, with slow, fumble-prone reloads.

The new breed of mini-9mm pistols intrigued me, and for some time I considered a Kahr PM9. This a tiny, 3″ barrel polymer-frame 9mm pistol with a six-round magazine. I was close to buying one, then I had the opportunity to shoot a PM9 belonging to an officer in a nearby agency. The pistol was remarkably light and compact and shot very well for its size, but the lack of a manual safety really killed the deal for me (he also reported reliability problems).

The Kahr PM9 has a smooth, Glock-like trigger pull, but it really must be carried in a trigger-covering holster to be safe. I wanted a handgun that I could safely carry “naked” in a front pants pocket. Yes, there are many front-pocket holsters on the market, but they are all too bulky for my needs (I own seven pocket holsters from six holster makers; I know whereof I speak). I wanted a lightweight handgun suitable for holster-less front pocket pants carry, like my S&W Airweight, but more powerful, and easier to shoot – and reload – than that five-shot .38 snubnose revolver.

I found my ideal front pants pocket carry handgun in the Ruger LC9. Introduced this year, the LC9 is a lightweight, eight-shot (7+1) double-action-only polymer-framed ultra-compact pistol chambered for 9x19mm and 9x19mm +P cartridges. It features excellent white dot sights and faultless reliability with jacketed hollowpoint ammunition.

The seven round magazines are high-quality MecGar units fitted with flat or finger-rest floorplates (I typically carry my LC9 with a flat floorplate magazine for better concealment, and my spare mag has the finger-rest floorplate for more secure manipulation when reloading). While certainly no target pistol, I shoot my LC9 pistol much better than I ever shot my .38 snubnose revolvers, and its much greater muzzle energy, better recoil control, larger cartridge capacity, and ease of reloading mean the LC9 completely outclasses the .38 Special snubnose revolvers I long carried for deep concealment.

To put it simply, judged against a larger belt-carry pistol like the Glock, SIG P226/P229, H&K Compact, Ruger SR9c et cet., the Ruger LC9 loses. Compared against its true competition, however – pocket pistols like the S&W J-fame revolvers, .380 ACP autos, et cet: the Ruger LC9 wins – hands down. This is a true pocket pistol that shoots better, and has much more power, than other pocket pistols.

I carry my Ruger LC9 9mm pistol in my front pants pocket, safety catch on, with the flat floorplate magazine, loaded with eight rounds of Hornady “Critical Defense” 115 grain jacketed hollowpoints. The pistol is fitted with the Crimson Trace Laserguard sight (LG-431) zeroed at 50 feet. I carry one spare magazine with the finger-rest floorplate on my weakside hip, behind my cellphone, in a leather clip-on mag carrier. In one second I can draw and fire the pistol into the head of an IPSC target at 20 feet 95% of the time. Yes, the Crimson Trace laser sight helps.

All that being said, I don’t always carry my Ruger LC9 in my front pants pocket. There are times I prefer to carry the pistol inside the waistband. Front pants pocket carry is great for deep concealment, but not so great otherwise. It’s slower and not as conducive to obtaining a proper firing grip as belt carry, and a huge problem if you are sitting down when the need for the handgun arises. Thus I sought a good inside-the-pants holster that could accommodate my LC9 with the Laserguard, and found few options on the market.

An eBay search revealed a few small-maker Comp-Tac Minotaur MTAC-type holsters for the LC9 Laserguard , which I strongly considered. But these holsters seemed larger and bulkier than what I wanted. I already own a Comp-Tac Minotaur MTAC holster for my .40 S&W caliber Glock pistols, and the LC9 Laserguard in such a holster is not appreciably smaller, easier to carry, nor easier to don and doff than my Glock 27 in the same holster. I wanted something with minimal bulk that could be easily slipped in and out of my waistband while seated in my car (a small two-seater sports car), and the Comp-Tac holsters – while truly excellent and a great favorite of mine – do not meet this criterion.

 

Further Internet research brought me to the Versacarry, an odd-looking Kydex clip with a muzzle plug.  (Check it out at https://www.versacarry.com/)

I figured, what the heck, for $24 I will give it a try. Viewing the handy size chart, I ordered the XS size to get the highest ride height and thus the best possible firing grip on my LC9. View the LC9 photographs on the size chart, and you will see how the LC9 looks carried in my belt. Versacarry also offers some helpful videos you should watch if you are interested.

To put it simply, I am quite pleased with my Versacarry XS for my Ruger LC9 Laserguard 9mm pistol. The Versacarry works as advertised. It is safe, solid, secure, low profile, and – most important for me – the absolute lowest-bulk carrying option available (short of shoving the pistol in my belt, Mexican-style, which I refuse to do).

I have carried my LC9 for long hours, including some vigorous exercise, and it has never shifted nor loosened its grip on my pistol or belt (not true for a related carry method, the Clipdraw – I have had Clipdraw equipped pistols and snubnose revolvers work themselves up and out of my waistband, dumping the handguns on the ground. I will never use a Clipdraw again). The Versacarry is ambidextrous, so it works for strong-side carry, cross draw, and even the small-of-the-back carry some men favor (I do not).

The clever Versacarry design allows for any underbarrel accessories – in my case, a Crimson Trace Laserguard. But some may carry white lights or light-laser combos, and the Versacarry accommodates those, too. No metal touches the handgun, so there are no wear issues. The Versacarry is small, low-profile, and rather innocuous-looking. I keep one in the right-side door pocket of my car and have no fear any passenger will ask “why do you have a pistol holster in your car?” The Versacarry looks like an iPod or cell phone carrier or something equally innocent. No-one would take it for a pistol holster.

All gun-carrying choices involve trade-offs, of course, so what are the drawbacks of the Versacarry? There are only three: two quite minor, one major.

Drawback #1 (minor)

The Versacarry leaves the handgun almost entirely exposed, so there is no protection for the firearm’s finish from your sweat and dust. This means nothing to me, as my LC9 rides between my belt and trousers (on the outside) and my shirt and underwear (on the inside). Thus my sweaty skin never contacts the LC9. If, on some odd occasion, I was wearing the LC9 next to my skin, I still would not worry. I keep a Hoppe’s Gun & Reel Silicone Cleaning Cloth in my desk drawer and just wipe the LC9’s blued steel slide once in a while. Works like a charm, and never a rust concern.

Some might worry that the firearm’s safety catch – being wholly exposed – might work itself from “safe” to “fire” without your knowing it. All I can say is: that has never once happened with my LC9 in all my months of carry. The Ruger LC9 safety catch was specifically designed to be easily swiped from “safe” to “fire” by the shooter’s right thumb, but my waist flab has been unable to accomplish that task.

Drawback #2 (minor)

Since the LC9 pistol rides pressed directly into my right side, it does not present the ideal positioning for a firm firing grip. This is true for all inside-the-waistband holsters, however. If you want maximum concealment, you have to give up something. Also, one-handed re-holstering is impossible, it takes two hands. You have to remove the Versacarry from your waistband, snap-insert it to the pistol, and then place the pistol (with its installed Versacarry clip) back into your waistband. This is not a big deal for me, since I would not be returning the LC9 pistol to the Versacarry. I would simply make sure the safety catch was engaged, and then put the pistol in my right-hand trouser pocket.

Drawback #3 (major)

The Versacarry is only suitable for pistols that have a manual safety catch. Since the trigger is completely exposed, it is possible that something could enter the trigger guard and discharge the pistol. I would never carry a Glock with a loaded chamber with the Versacarry, for example. Since defensive concealed carry pistols are always properly carried with a loaded chamber, that means the Versacarry is not suitable for many popular pistols like the Glock, Kahr, SIG/Sauer, Ruger LCP, KelTec PF9, et cet.

I carry my LC9 with a fully loaded magazine and a loaded chamber, and the safety catch set to “safe.” You could, of course, carry your no-safety-catch pistol in the Versacarry with an empty chamber – that is what Versacarry recommends – and then draw and rack the slide “Israeli-style” when trouble threatens. But that method assumes you will have two hands free to ready your weapon for firing. That assumption does not always comport with reality.

In my experience, if you are going to need a defensive handgun, you are going to need it really quickly at very short range, and your weak hand may be busy fending off the attacker while your strong hand draws your sidearm. Empty chamber carry will do you no good in this common scenario. Empty chamber carry assumes you will have (a) adequate forewarning of the danger, and (b) enough time and distance from the assailant to draw and rack the slide of your pistol. You might…but I doubt it.

In sum, I very much like the Versacarry and recommend it for anyone seeking a minimal-bulk inside-the-waistband concealed carry method for a pistol with a manual safety catch. The Versacarry is particularly useful for anyone who carries a pistol with underbarrel accessories and/or need to put on or take off a sidearm multiple times a day in confined spaces (like a car) due to job requirements e.g. entering secured facilities like courthouses, jails, prisons. I have such a job, and such a pistol, and the Versacarry works very well for me.

Whenever possible, I carry a .40 caliber Glock pistol in a secure belt holster. But when that isn’t an option, I carry a Ruger LC9 Laserguard in my pocket or with a Versacarry, and I have full confidence in my choice.

P.S. If you think my concern about trigger guard intrusion accidental discharge is silly or far-fetched, you should read this news article about an experienced, highly-trained SWAT police officer who was shot by his own .40 caliber Glock 22 pistol. There have been multiple cases like this: just ask Plaxico Burress.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

55 COMMENTS

  1. “I wanted a handgun that I could safely carry “naked” in a front pants pocket.”

    The author’s credibility just went completely down the toilet. No need to read further.

      • Potential for accident seems greater than when using a pocket holster because:

        1) handgun may move out of position i.e. so that it can’t be gripped quickly, safely.

        2) handgun more exposed to pocket lint etc.

        3) under stress one might pull its unguarded trigger while drawing.

        A question about cocked and locked carry, where in the draw is the safety released?

        • Valid points for concern when looking at pocket carry, yes. Point 1 is dependent on type of pants/pocket shape/fit. Point 2, for my part, a firearm too sensitive to some stray pocket lint may be a bit too delicate for a carry piece. Point 3, this is why the author specifically mentioned needing a firearm with an external safety.

          Again, I think these are valid points for concern. However, to take the mention of “naked” pocket carry and use it to dismiss the author’s credibility…that sort of absolutism is often found closely accompanied by ignorance.

          JSG

    • If you read what he is actually saying, he meant that the gun was ‘naked’, as in ‘no holster’.

      Does his credibility still warrant toilet flushing, or did you just ‘jump the gun’ on his meaning?

  2. Loads 2.0 should be required reading for every gunny; I downloaded it to my computers years ago and still turn to it from time to time. So, thank you, Tony.

    Tony’s POV is interesting, and while I disagree with some of it, the rest I take to heart. Especially the part about carrying with nothing in the pipe, which effectively turns an efficient self-defense gun into an inefficient self-defense club. That’s only one of the reasons why I like J-frame revolvers for deep concealment — they’re always ready to shoot, and NDs are very difficult to come by with such stout trigger pulls.

    Shot capacity is a lot like prunes — is five enough? Is ten too many? Having “only” five for sure does not bother me. Unless I’m attacked by the Jonas Brothers in zombie mode, five will be enough. Since I’ve been shooting pocket revolvers since Hector was a pup, I’m very accurate with them. Loaded with +P hollowpoints, they give away nothing in firepower to conventional (non +P) 9mm rounds, which is all the power that most most tiny nines are rated for. For example, Ruger warns against feeding the LC9 a “steady diet” of +P ammo. The Kimber Solo manual is silent on the subject, but +P is not stamped on the barrel. The Sig P290 is +P rated.

    Also, I do not want safeties on my CCW pistols. I much prefer a DA or DA/SA trigger for concealed carry, where the firm, long pull provides all the safety I will need. A DA or DA/SA pistol with no external safety will deploy more quickly that one with a safety on. Even though it takes a blink of an eye to switch a safety to the off position, that blink of an eye may be the difference between life or death.

    In the end, we are all different, have different needs and different comfort levels with different guns. If “one size fits all” was actually true, there would only be one gun. The essence of determining what is right for each individual shooter is to experiment and practice. I’m glad that Tony found what works for him, but it would not work for me.

    • I have to agree with Ralph for the most part. I have zero interest in a safety on a SD firearm.

      Most of my issues carrying a decent sized (Glock 19) pistol went away when I switched to holstered Appendix In WaistBand carry a month or so ago. I can not see myself changing to anything else at this point. Just be careful re-holstering.

      Thanks Tony for writing this up. You are obviously experienced and I enjoyed your ammo write up previously.

    • The manual for the Ruger LC9 says to not “use a steady diet” of +P ammo. This is not the same as “not recommended for +P”. Practice with fmj and carry with +P.

      • Dude- practice with the same round you will carry. Nothing could be worse than practicing with a different round than the one you’ll rely on to save your life.
        So many people do that, mostly to save a few bucks. The first time they actually fire off an expensive defense round, they realize it can alter everything they’ve come to know about their pistol.

  3. Nice work Tony – I am grateful for the insight. Keep writing!

    I pocket carry my factory-restored DB9 in a suede-like holster that stays in the pocket from a draw. Still, the damn thing will rotate from time to time, going horizontal. I will periodically have to rotate it back into draw position.

    I am with Ralph on safeties. I soured on safeties in the Army after I failed to “rotate your fire selector from safe to semi” despite six weeks of intensive training and missed two easy targets.

  4. Why is he taking credit for a “anonymous” text file from 15+ years ago? Did you read the text file? This guy sounds like an asshole, It starts off with an advertisement:
    “Buy it. (The Ayoob titles – and other items like Cor-Bon ammunition and Spyderco ‘Clipit’ folding knives – are available mail order ($9.95@ and $3.95 shipping and handling) from “Police Bookshelf,” P.O. Box 122, Concord NH 03302; telephone # 1-800-624-9049. American Express, VISA, Mastercard, and Discover cards gladly accepted. Order today – you will be grateful.)”

    “Tactics and marksmanship win gunfights – not having the latest ‘wonder bullet’ in your gun…. but no foreign stuff is anywhere near as good as domestic ammunition when it comes to vanquishing hostile attackers. Buy American… Great ammunition is no more expensive than mediocre ammunition, so carry the best…Thus you must select your handgun load very carefully, and the detail of the handgun ammunition section reflects this… ‘Glaser Safety Slugs’ are one exotic round I can fully recommend…”
    Doesnt that statement contradict itself over and over again? IMHO DDupleks Hexolit 32 slugs dont look that bad and they’re Latvian.

    “Never use hand-loaded or re-loaded ammunition for self-defense!…This junk will either misfire or ruin your gun. Use only fresh factory-loaded cartridges, period. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule: use factory-loaded cartridges only.”
    It sounds like he screwed up his first reloading attempt and double charged a case, or had a squib and didnt realize it before it was too late.

    “Hollowpoint ammunition is also safer for all parties concerned… your attacker is safer because he is far less likely to die from one or two hollowpoint bullets than the five or six round-nose slugs…”
    So the hollowpoints magically inflict physical damage which is incapacitating but not lethal? Um… ok, good luck with that. If your really worried about your attackers survival why not carry a trauma kit, it might actually do something, and QuikClot is cheap.

    “.380 ACP (9mm Short, 9x17mm, 9mm Kurz) Now we’re getting into some decent stopping power.”
    LOL!

    I’ve only gone thru 20% of this text file and my head all ready hurts. I did a search and cant find any mention of a chronograph, gel tests, barrier penetration tests, etc. How is this an “authoritative guide to the defensive ammunition”? It sounds more like one guys personal interpretation of company marketing materials, mixed with a bad reloading experience, and a dose of hero worship, just what I would expect from a LEO.

    “A good deal of what I know about guns, I’ve learned from him…”
    I’m sorry.

    • Is there a reason you seem to see nothing at all in the text mentioned and read by shooters novice and professional alike? I mean no one with any sense takes a text file as doctrine. There’s useful stuff in the file, especially for the time it was written, and the file is far from the point of todays post or did I miss something as to why you spend most of your reply reviewing the file instead of the gun review ?

      • LC, it’s just matt being matt. He offers useful comments sometimes, but nobody ever takes his rants seriously.

      • And there’s a lot of shi**y stuff in there, even for the 1990s. I loved the “don’t ever use 147 grain – they are cursed!” line. Really? How many tests did he run to decide that they are cursed? And does “cursed” mean they didn’t expand? That they didn’t penetrate far enough? That they overpenetrated?

        (Yes, I know – 147gr 9mm has had its share of bad results in the past. But this guy didn’t cite to any of that.)

        So: when I see an author who:

        (1) insists on remaining anonymous;
        (2) has made bold assertions without any supporting evidence; and
        (3) recommends a style of carry (pocket carry without holster) that is generally not a good idea,

        I’m no longer interested in reading any more, either.

        Honestly, I’d rather have seen another one of mikeb3000’s posts. At least I KNOW it’s going to be mostly BS before I click on the link.

        • I never said it was a great document. Back when I first read it I took it all to mind then did exhaustive research on what was claimed. The fact that its heavily dated as far as suggested ammo is obvious but only relatively recently have 147 gr 9mm rounds gotten consistently better. But, that non controversial gem aside, the rant would be better wasted on the review itself rather than an off topic critique. Loads 2.0 is dated and opinionated but served enough of the purpose of informing me and making me inform myself that I was content enough with it as a loose reference text. I’m sure a lot of us did after reading it, I used it to find stuff worth researching as I knew there was no one stop shop for bullet ballistics. To date there’s no single book or person I trust to provide such data and that the anonymous writer of Loads 2.0 isn’t on that fictional list was fact long ago but still. Matt ranting on that has caused me to counter rant on his rant. My original point is now moot.

          • I mean, its exactly like the Anarchists Cookbook text files from the same era. It was cool when I was 12, but now?

  5. I bought a Versacarry as another option, besides Nemisis pocket carry, for a TCP 380. I’m not inclined to carry chambered with either. I also found sweat to be an issue with the Versacarry when hiking. Additionally, and maybe this only applies to mouse size guns, I had the pistol work up off the dowel and fall out when working on the ground, bending, kneeling then standing. I don’t mind having it as an alternate to get the pistol out of pocket carry, but then I don’t consider either more than an alternate to a 9mm or 45 in a Crossbreed type IWB. So far, I only find pocket carry or a fanny pack as options for bicycling.

    • So far, I only find pocket carry or a fanny pack as options for bicycling.

      As a full-time bicycle commuter, I completely agree. And for pocket carry, I don’t think anything works better than a S&W 642/442.

      • Ralph, I’m glad to hear you’re a bicycle commuter. I’m a ways off from carrying (my only handgun is an old Ruger Mk I), but I’ll get a real pistol and a CHL one of these days. I’m a frequent bike commuter, when my work as a general contractor allows, and I’ve wondered how to deal with this situation, especially in the summer. My bike has a basket on the front (full disclosure, my bike is also pink), so I was thinking something in the basket, but having the gun attached to the bike and not to my person seems a little wrong. Bicycle carry is perhaps a neglected subject.

        • -carry on bike: yeah, it seems wrong to me too.
          -carry on person: depends upon how you go. I do pocket carry, and with the right pants, that doesn’t change. Problem is, if you bike hard, you’re not likely doing it in cargo pants.
          -Depending upon the holster, you could drop into a pocket on the shirt/jacket w/o printing. But it can flap in the wind, or otherwise not be in a good position.
          -The big fear I’d have is the more likely case of getting hit by a car and needing medical attention, as opposed to needing a gun. One takes their chances, as always.

          I have to admit to being interested also, as I like to bike. What I found was, if it was sub-hour, I’d pretty much ride as-is, in regular pants, pocket carry included. More than an hour, and the lycra comes out, and the revolver tends to stay home–too much weight slows me down! plus the pain of concealment…

          • I’m more of a commuter, I don’t even own any Lycra, and though I bike at a pretty good clip, I’m no racer. Mostly, if it’s over a half hour commute (here in Portland, biking is often quicker for shorter commutes), I drive, though weekend rides with the kids can be longer (but slower).

            The pocket pistol seems like the way to go for biking or other active endeavors – I don’t like the micro autos, so I guess airweight hammerless .38 is the way to go, ala Ralph. I’m pretty well settled on a CZ P0-1 for my first “real” pistol, so maybe bike carry won’t happen with that.

            • As usual, try before buy, and all that. Me, I went LCR, but in 357Mag, as I didn’t like shooting even low-power 38spl wadcutters out of the 38spl version. I found that in a Nemesis holster sits real well in the Dockers/generic black plants that I wear regularly, and is very unobtrustive/noticable/annoying. I’d love to get a pocket 9 though; maybe someday… probably 380, as I hate recoil.

              Good luck! At 30minutes or less, I’m guessing most any carry isn’t going to be all that bad.

              • I’ve never shot any of the little revolvers, though it sounds like the recoil can be wicked. I’m totally comfortable with mid-size 9mm, or large .45 type pistols. I’ve experienced recoil more with rifles and shotguns…shotguns it matters less, and rifles I’m good for about 15 rounds through my .30-06 Browning BLR before I get flinchy with the sore shoulder.

                I am really tempted by the cheap surplus CZ-82s in 9×18 Makarov. Pretty small, accurate, easy to shoot gun.

  6. Great review, though I was surprised to hear about your bad luck with the Clipdraw. That was on my Ruger SR9c back when I had one for EDC and I never had a single problem with it in the year I had it. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones.

  7. Perhaps I sound disrespectful, but my Mall Ninja alarm just started blaring. Sounds kind of like a dude I know who must remain anonymous, but his online name is Gecko45.

    • You can put that one to rest. Tony doesn’t spend time lurking or ranting on other websites. He’s too busy.

  8. I really do not have a problem with external safeties and on a light trigger I would prefer them.
    Heavy revolver triggers not so much.
    LC9 is not all bad.
    Sort of like the LCR.

  9. I have an LC9 and I too think it the best 9mm pocket pistol on the market. I just added XS Sights to it, which I find much better than the stock sights. I don’t subscribe either to the “naked” pocket gun concept. Therefore I use a “Remora” holster (www.remoraholsters.com) that works great as both a pocket holster and an IWB holster. Might be a safer option for “Tony” to consider.

    • I’m a huge Remora fan and wrote an extensive write-up on them for TTAG last year. They’re great and very innovative IWB holsters.

      • Ralph – I believe your review earlier this year was the one that first got my attention about Remora, while I was waiting for my LC9 to arrive at my gun dealer. I also bought a single and double mag holder from Remora at the same time.

    • TTAG posted a viddy of this a while back. It involves drawing the pistol while assuming something like an iso stance but with a deeper knee bend and racking the slide at close to eye level. I think Israeli security forces adoped it to make up for the unsafe guns they were using in the early days. To me, it looks kinda goofy, and way too slow.

    • It means carry without a round in the chamber. You punch out with the strong hand while holding the slide with the weak hand on the draw.

      Don’t think I’d ever do that, as the chances of me needing that first shot RIGHT NOW are probably pretty high if I ever pull my gun.

  14. I purchased an LC9 three days ago, and today was the first chance I had to go to the range. I was very pleased, and any errant shots were attributed to my inexperience with DA only pistols. I can say that the first shot fired in every magazine was as accurate as any handgun I have ever fired. So, I definitely agree with the author’s statement that the LC9 is ‘accurate enough.’ The Versacarry arrives in a couple of days, and I am anxious to try it.

  15. I really enjoy all the posts..I think tony'[s experinence is real.
    As far as caliber is concerned,a well placed 22 will do the job like a 45.Just look at the latest high school shooting.3 dead 1 gravely wounded with a 22 cal pistol.
    In my not so humble opinion the grand paw should be a held responsible for leaving a firearm accesible to any kid ,let alone a teenager with issues.The young man should also be tried as an adult as im sure he will be.
    Its all about bullet placement and what you can comfortably and tacticly shoot well.
    As far as “israeli” style carry and shooting is concerned,there’s a plus and minus to every choice in life.I have close quarter combat experience and carry a gun for a living.Depending on my threat level on a particular day,i carry israeli style and have trained in this style..Its like everything else.If you practice the same draw ,rack and fire or draw and fire a thousand times you start to develop “muscle memory”.
    Down side:Yes you need two hands.
    upside:if i get into a scuffle and i loose controll of my weapon ,i have 1 chance to go to plan b.If i loose controll of my glock 23 with a round in the chamber and no safety,im in a world of hurt.I use holsters from horse shoe leather in england and the hold your gun very tight..I was trained with a weak hand push in close quarters draw and then a quick rack and if that dosent get my opponets attention to back off ,the winchester silvertip will.
    In closing,i think this is a great discussuion and forum and i think tony is real.
    I was tthinking about the ruger LC9 and will probably buy it for a lighter deeper conceal gun.if it jams once with factory ammo,i will shit can it.$ is not an option when you carry for a living or self protection…thanks for letting me rant.God Bless the USA.

  16. wow ,,I certainly enjoyed all the comments that I read for the last 30 minuets,,,and yes I`m going to order one of those versacarry holsters ,,, I`m getting a lc9 in a couple of days and wondered what type holster would be the best for concealed carry ,, I think I have found it, by reading all these comments ,, thanks,,,,,, Vince , In Sarasota , Florida.

  17. I purchased the versacarry and found it to be disappointing. The tension on the belt clip is so stiff it is very difficult to slip it over your belt. You have to hold it and your gun at the same time while trying to spread the clip and you just can’t get on very easy. Since you can’t reholster with it you have to take it off your belt to reholster. When trying to do this the vertical barrel stud gets caught in your tighty whities
    I also purchased the ruger LC9. The firing pin retainer pin has broken for the second time allowing the firing pin and spring to fall out of the gun over the hammer. I go back to the dealer tomorrow to find out what is the next course oof action. I have also emailed ruger customer service and I am awaiting their reply.

  18. I was looking at the Versacarry online, and I don’t think I’d feel comfortable using it with a Glock, even with the new trigger guard feature. The trigger guard only covers one side of the trigger, the outside, which means something could possibly get wedged in the trigger guard and depress that short Glock trigger.

    But why not with a Kahr? My P9 is like shooting a DAO revolver. That’s a long, deliberate trigger pull. I fear an AD no more with that than with my Chief’s Special.

    I carried a DAO Smith 3953 for years—Mexican style—and there’s no way on God’s green Earth something could have tripped that trigger. I don’t think there were multiple cases of snubby revolvers going off in the past, and plenty of people carried them in pockets, or in soft suede IWB holsters…

  19. It is difficult to pull the trigger on Ruger LC pistols on purpose…doing so by accident seems highly unlikely…just sayin’

  20. -Time for someone to add to this column: – I am a ret. 35 yr vet. LEO, and now I carry (concealed) my S&W Mod 3954 or my new Sig 290 w/laser – in my VersaCarry rig. It allows left or right side carry, in or outside the trousers, and I have not had any problems with it snagging or getting anything caught near the trigger guard. I also carry my guns fully loaded, no safeties. Hats off to the young Texas LEO that came up with the VersaCarry!

  21. Some prefer to keister their gun in the clinch position. Nature’s holster is the only truely natural method of carry. Reholstering with large front sight posts may require additional repetition to achieve proficiency. Nature’s holster can also adapt to accommodate weapon lights, lasers, spare mags and bayonets.

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