Craft Holsters IWB

 One of the challenges of a new carry piece is playing the game of finding the right holster. Sadly my old go-to option is no longer in production, so when I switched to the P365xl, I had to start from scratch. Serendipitously, at this same time I was contacted by Craft Holsters with an offer to review a holster of my choosing*. So with nothing to lose, I opted for their lt.92 Open-Muzzle IWB offering in black, for my little Sig. Not long after sending of my info, I received a box from Slovakia containing the holster and a small break-in kit.

The holster was nicely finished, with even double-row stitching all around. The holster is finished off with a tension adjustment screw and branded pull-the-dot snaps. The leather is evenly dyed and formed well to the shape of the gun. My pistol actually fit nicely in the holster and did not require any real breaking in other than fine tuning the tension screw.

Ride height is exactly where it should be, and the holster keeps the pistol snug to the body and holds it securely. The holster rides very comfortably, exactly what I expect from leather. At the range the draw was smooth, and the mouth reinforcement worked as expected for reholstering. Concealablity is also  good with this style of holster and the small dimensions of the P365.

These photos here were taken after wearing the holster daily for over three months. While it was the milder part of the year, I work in a fairly physical job and I tend to sweat more than the average guy. This is one of the primary reasons I lean towards Kydex. That said, this holster is holding up fairly well considering how some leather items I've daily carried in the past have quickly broken down with similar use. I can't say how the holster would hold up to my sweat in humid late summer, but I never had any issues with the leather falling apart or encountered any rust forming on my gun.

I do have a couple gripes about the holster. Though I don't have a red dot mounted on this gun yet, that is something I plan on having sooner than later, and this holster is not compatible. The cut for the opening reinforcement also leaves the front loop a bit unsupported, and it is sometimes difficult to unsnap because of this. Typically this would just be an annoyance, but if you're the sort that likes to be able to remove the entire holster without removing the gun, this can get to be downright aggravating. 

Overall, I'm definitely pleased with this holster. Fit and finish are fantastic, hitting above what I would expect at the price point; and one of the negative points isn't really the fault of the holster's. It carries comfortably like leather should, and holds up well to daily use. If you're in the market for an affordable everyday leather holster, I'd certainly say it's worth considering.

*The holster reviewed here was provided by Craft Holsters to me for review at no cost

Sig P365XL - First mag review

A little while back Sig released the P365, a tiny micro 9 that somehow squeezed 10 rounds in a nearly pocket sized polymer gun. They may have well have painted the mags blue with "police call box" markings. Then this year they went and stretched it out a little, gave it a little bit of a magwell flair, 12 round flush fit magazines, and put on a flat trigger so it could be part of their "X Series." Then to round it all out, they machined the slide to be factory ready for a micro red dot. 

I had been contemplating slimming down my off-duty setup by switching to a P365 anyway, but now the offer of a gun the same size as my M&P9c, with the same capacity, but almost 2/3 the width and optic ready made it even more tempting. Combine that with getting completely schooled at a LE shooting competition by half the field using optic equipped pistols, and the proverbial nail was driven into the M&P's coffin.

Sig on top, S&W on bottom

S&W again on the bottom

L: S&W, R: Sig

In the hand, the thin, high cut trigger guard and extended beavertail on the XL frame let me get all three fingers on the little Sig, unlike the M&P. The texture is also in the sweet spot of being comfortably grippy without being overly abrasive. Everything locks into battery nice and tight as well, and the sights are some of the best factory night sights I've had on a gun (big green ringed front, and blacked out rear with no outline around the tritium vials.)

Out of the box, the trigger had a decent take-up, but there was a bit of grit and the break wasn't anything I'd call "crisp." I've seen it described as "hollow," and I think that's a good description. On the plus side, it does break fairly consistently at 90 degrees, and the reset is miles above the M&P, even with the Apex trigger.

Today I rounded up about 250 rounds total of 9mm, including 115gr Wolf steel case, some Magtech 124gr FMJ, and half a brick of cheap Remington bulk 115gr brass cased. I also tossed in a few magazines worth of some old Remington Golden Saber 147gr JHP that has been rattling around my nightstand drawer for a decade. I had recently gotten a Yankee Thunder Hang N' Hook kit for a good price recently, so I set that up with a 2" gong and a 1/4 scale IPSC silhouette and just kinda played around to check function and get a feel for the gun.

I was pleasantly surprised with how much the little gun didn't flip. Not to say it isn't snappy, it is a micro gun shooting full 9x19mm rounds, especially with the heavy +P defense rounds, but it was more than manageable. The trigger seemed to smooth out somewhat throughout the session, and once I settled in I was having no problem spinning around the little 2" steel plate at 10 yards without any struggle. Everything I put in the mag fed and fired with no issue as well.

Overall I'm more than happy with the little gun. Just need to wait for my holster and mag pouch to arrive, and for Sig to actually release their new Romeo Zero to screw on the top.

Sig-Sauer P290-RS

I think the new changes actually make it look a lot better. I'm sure they'll release a 'rainbow' finish in a few weeks to correct that.

SigSauer P938

Side by side with the P238.  Only a little longer than the .380, and supposedly should fit in some of the same holsters.

Like I said when I first heard though, I'm sure it'll be too rich for me, despite being darn close to my ideal CCW gun.

ETA: MandaFern found this link with more info.

Sig P224 Ad

Found by Guns Holsters and Gear.  The P224 is essentially a cut down, sub-compact P229.

Sig 1911-22

So many little things that people seemed to have missed at SHOT, like Sig's .22lr 1911.

Sig716

Sig also revealed their 7.62x51mm AR10 type rifle during SHOT.

Pic from CTD

I think it looks good, and has a lot of features I'd go with right out of the box.  Maybe I'll be able to get one in a few years....

On a more serious note, they're making them in a 12.5" SBR, 14.5" carbine, 16" patrol carbine, and 20" marksman package (pictured above.)

Sig Academy and 522 Commando

Jay G was lucky enough to go on a tour of the Sig Academy recently, and came back with some good pictures and lots of information.  Looks like a fantastic facility, and I'd  love to be able to go through the place.

The bloggers also got to look at and handle just about all of Sig's product line, and a couple things not out yet, including this 522 Commando-

That's right, it's a cute .22lr, with a tacticool fake can to hide the 16" barrel.  That is massive amounts of cool in my mind, I may have to pick one up eventually.

(While we're on the subject, if anybody connected to Bravo Company or Lauer Custom Weaponry happen to read my blog... those guys are like a day trip away from here...)

Sig .50bmg Pictures

The other day I mentioned Sig is coming out with a .50bmg rifle, among other things.  TFB has pictures.

Sig's 2011 Products

The Sig Sauer Handgun Blog has the skinny, the P210 looks to be returning, and the 7.62x39mm carbine has made an appearance.  Part way through the list is this one too-

SIG 50 .50 CAL BMG, 29″ Barrel, 5 Round Box Magazine, Bi-Pod

It should be interesting to see Sig's take on a big rifle.

Browning 1911-22

Browning's apparently coming out with a .22lr chambered 1911 clone.  Cool.

Unfortunately (at least in my mind) is that they've decided to follow the Sig Mosquito and build it to be about 80% of the size of the centerfire equivalent.  Le'sigh, as the French would say.  I don't quite understand the reasoning for building scaled down .22lr clones unless you're going for the novelty approach like the old half-scale Tippman Browning Machine Guns.  Those were cute.

Sig 7.62x39 Rifle Announced

Late last week it was revealed that Sig will be coming out with their 556 type rifle chambered in 7.62x39mm, and possibly using standard AK mags (may look like this.)  While I'm not actively looking for something like that (I feel the AK platform does everything I need for that particular cartridge,) it is always good to see new developments and options.

Utilizing the proven and abundant AK mag is also a great idea.  I can't help but think part of the AR's popularity is that there are possibly hundreds of magazine options these days, and having some weird proprietary magazine seldom helps sales. Unless you can produce them in decent numbers and for a great price (S&W M&P15-22 at less than $20 comes to mind, now that they're easier to find.)

Just in time?

Well find out come Tuesday...

Sig has released some info on a new sub-compact, the Sig P290, and in the couple days it's been bouncing around the interwebs, I have to say it's grown on me.

Apparently it's a completely new platform, so far in 9x19mm (which is pretty nice in a tiny pocket rocket) with a "6-8 round capacity," which I'm hoping equates to a stubby mag as pictured, and an extended mag with a finger rest.

No word on pricing, and probably out sometime next year.  Steve has more pictures and stats over at TFB.

9 milli

Cro was in town for one last pass before heading over for a year or so.  Obviously it meant we'd turn some money into noise and smoke.  One last hoorah for him with targets that don't shoot back for a while.

Cro & his M9

Me & the Sig

More to come... got 700+ photos to sort through and find the good ones.

Phone wallpaper

The camera has a "whiteboard" effect that I think makes for cool gun pictures. That's my current wallpaper on it.

More Sig 226 & 229 E2

I keep seeing search engine hits for these, so I thought I'd mention the online American Handgunner for Sep/Oct has an article on them.  I have to admit, they look kind of goofy now that I see them at some less than flattering angles.

Impromptu Range Trip

Cro called to let me know he was heading to the range, so I threw some ammo in my range bag and headed out to meet him and one of his coworkers.  Here's some choice pics(more after the jump.)  Aside from the disgusting humidity and mosquitos, it was a good time.  Anyway, pics(as always, click to make full size):

USP Thoughts and Impressions

Dan picked up an H&K USP 9mm for a good price brand new, so he was willing to overcome the whole "you suck and we hate you" thing and buy it.  He almost didn't because of that, but he likes how it feels anyway, and they are pretty decent in quality, so more power to him.

I'll admit, it's a decent looking gun.

Look, Tupperware!

Overall, the fit and finish is quite nice, as you'd expect from something with H&K stamped on it, and it fit both of our slightly over-sized hands pretty well.  It came with fixed sharp three dot sights, and handles and points pretty well.  We didn't really do much accuracy testing, just a roughly kill zone sized target at up to 25 yards. (it was an impromptu evening range trip primarily to just blow of some steam... pretty well accomplished aside from the poor AR bolt...) Boils down to if it were a goblin, it would have been hurting.

Down to my opinions on it.  I'm pretty meh.  The checkering on the front strap is a bit too course and sharp for my likes (it's cut, er molded, at like 8 lpi...). The front strap has to be my biggest complaint.  It sure provides a pretty aggressive grip, but just holding the gun hurt my fingers to the point of distraction. The grip is also much boxier than my Sig, and the muzzle flip is pretty snappy, more so than my Sig even without the light.  (My only major complaint about the Sig.)  On the other hand, Dan has been a revolver guy up till this point, so he didn't really notice the flip at all.

No malfunctions were experienced in the 100 or so rounds shot through it, where my (albeit much much dirtier) Sig had 2 stovepipes in the same amount of rounds.  She needs a good scrubbing.

Another down side is the proprietary H&K rail, something Sig went away from by the time they got around to the Pro2022 series in favor of a 1913 standard rail.  I'll never fully understand why some makers insist on their own system when there's a fantastic industry standard out there... and I'm not at all surprised H&K is one of them.

Sig E2 update

I keep getting lots of search hits for the Sig E2 pistols, so I'ma toss up more info for those people.

Sig has them up on their site now (P226 E2 & P229 E2) (not sure how long they've been up, but they're there) with a MSRP of $1,149 for either, around $150 more than the base models.  The E2s do come with night sites (optional on the plain ones for about $75) and short reset triggers though, so about the same as a comparable non-E2.  And I'm sure the street price will be a bit less, at least if you have a dealer that isn't trying to screw you or in a corporate owned giant box.

Anticipation

I shivers with it.

Just sent a 2022 magazine down to Ohio to the folks at Raven Concealment Systems so they can mold me a single magazine holder to match the light compatible holster I have on order for the Sig. Of course, as with any high demand semi-custom product, the wait time is a bit over a month at present.

I do like my Serpa, but I can't have my light on the gun, which kinda sucks in my opinion, and they only make them in black. Black is so 2001 when it comes to tactical stuff. For a little extra, the Raven Concealment stuff comes in Coyote/FDE/tan/mocha/whatever we're calling it this week. More importantly, my belt is brown leather, so it matches better.

I'll be posting more about the stuff when it shows up and I get a chance to put it through it's paces.