Clay1

"If you want an even gamier version of the DOJ go for the Rusty Serrick Rangemaster version." Do you have a link Mayonaise?

I see that holster dynamics are a very personal choice. It looks like the best way to go is to try as many as you can. If nothing else the changes in he holster rules is making all of us rethink of choices for holsters.

Mayonnaise, now that is exactly the kind of comment for which I was looking. Thank you very much for the wonderful words of wisdom. The 560 is a nice true carry holster, but I am looking for a pure competition holster at this point. Again, thanks for the comments. Rick

I've shot 22 rimfire silhouette with my Anschutz 1710D Signature and the gun has been put on the scale at more than one club. The scales will have to be part of the game I guess in IDPA too. I live in a smaller town and asked one of the local packaging companies, if I could bring in the rifle and weight it on a certified scale. No problem they said. Just one lady really opened her eyes while she was at the counter and I pulled the rilfe out of the case at the request of the guy that would weight it for me. Personally I would have waited until the store was fairly empty, but they had no issues what so ever with it. By the way, I gave them every piece of business that I could as a result of them helping me out. The business was a locally owned "Mailboxes Etc.". Very nice people. The point is that you should know the weight of your firearm and it should be no surprise whether you are under or over the limit.

By the way if you do want a 5183, I would buy one but they don't fit the G34 again, they are currently on sale for $14 bucks. Safariland at less than Fobus pricing: http://www.holsters.com/closeouts/model5183-closeouts.asp Enjoy the deal if it fits your gun. Rick

I'm hearing a lot of good responses on Safariland. It just wasn't my experience the first time that I called them. Maybe I was a little too fast in my judgement of them but the above is the how it happened. I'll call again on Monday and see what happens with a different rep. It's always nice to hear good things about a company. Every company has a bad rep once in a while. Your great comments will have me call again, before I write them totally off. Indshrk, thanks for the pointer on a specific model.

I wish that it did. The deal is that the G34 has a longer slide. In some styles of holsters the muzzle area is open so slide length isn't that big of a deal. When this area is closed it is gun specific only. Thanks for the thoughts though. Rick

Duane, thanks for the holster comment and bring the post back to the topic at hand. I've been trying to research the Safariland 560/561, but don't think that they make one for the G34. I don't want to get too much in a hurry and buy just the first thing that I find. We do have until April 15th - that's a good thing. I have three shoots this month. Hopefully I can see some of the alternative holsters at these events.

I see what you mean Ted. I do realize that if "I" focus on it anymore than I am already it is going to turn into a festering, nasty sore. I can't change anything now - I wrote letters - it's done. Now, I can say that I won't shoot IDPA anymore, but what does that do except deprive me of another shooting opportunity. I'll modify my current equipment to meet spec - think that it can be done. I don't like the idea of having to do it, but I really think that it can be done. I do still get mad about it, but I think it is only hurting me. What I should be doing is more dry fire practice and more live fire and shooting every damn shoot within a couple of hour drive - no matter if it is IDPA, USPSA or some new organization that is started in as a result of the disappointment with IDPA. Bring them on the more the merrier. It should be about the shooting. Like I said, I am still having a hard time getting past it.

Big Dave, yes I understand the 3/4" rule depends on body shape. The light in the belt tunnel depends on the holster. The difference between you and that rep is you are aware of the rules in the first place. J Kelly, on Brians site they 560/561 is not offered for a Glock 34. Rick

Ted, there are so many good things that the new rule book has done. Explainations are better, old questions have been answered or clarified. I can see that a ton of work went into it. More good than bad, but when the outcome hits me in the pocket book, the hair on the back of my neck just stands up and even though I have vowed to move forward everytime this holster issue comes up it just grates me. I recieved the best news today. Mark Miller of Mach 2 tactical wrote and told me that he would be able to modify my currently illegal holster and my currently illegal mag pouches to be in compliance. Best news in a couple of weeks. The sad point is that the mag holders were not "IDPA approved" by .2" The bad guy isn't going to do the home invasion or car jacking armed with a damn measuring tape. Sending it in is just frustration. Mark's a great guy though - check out his web page: http://www.m2tactical.com/

Called Safariland moments ago to ask about holsters that might work with my Glock 34 for IDPA competition. I asked for a competition holster specialist. The young rep that answered the phone was a nice enough young lady. Personally didn't care if she was from Mars as long as she could answer a few question. I asked about the new IDPA rules and which holsters might meet the new rules. She said: "I don't know much about competition holsters". Didn't I just ask for a competition holster rep??? That is what I was thinking but didn't say that and wasn't rude. Just asked if there was someone else there that could answer some questions. She said no, but she would try and help me. I asked about which holsters might fit the new IDPA rules for no light in the belt channel. You could feel the blank stare over the phone. I felt sorry for her since this poor kid trying to work for a living obviously had no training about the products that she was trying to sell. I guess it is no different than the kid behind the gun counter at Walmart. I guess by calling the manufacturer I expected more. I wrote to Safariland and asked for them to please do some training for their employees. Maybe this was a rare experience, but how many of you have had something similar happen to them?

I have been on the USPSA site and have done the zip code search of clubs. I found some of the listings are of clubs that have shut down now. I see clubs listed with no match info. I have written some of the clubs to ask for match schedules of this upcoming year. Is there a site for area 5 that list matches? I live in southern Wisconsin. Thanks for the info.

I shoot both IDPA and USPSA (US version of IPSC-you already knew that). At the IDPA nationals they take an equipment survey. My book is at work, but I don't think that ANYONE shot an HK at nationals in 2004. They are quality defensive handguns, but I have heard that their triggers and difficult to get where competition shooter want them to be. On the other hand Glocks were almost double everything else in the field. The Glock 34 was the dominant gun and nothing else even came close. I bought two G34s one for me and one for my wife and they are great, have lots of aftermarket options and have the features that competitors want. If you would ever shoot a 1911 the G34 isn't any larger and it is much lighter in weight. Would recomend the G34 without any hesitations.

I did much better than expected at qualifying for IPSC or I should say USPSA not because I was fast but because I shot two of the 4 stages clean and on the other too droped very little. After that I said that I should speed up. I tried and my scores took a dump. I have to focus on getting all of the points that I can and do it with an economy of motion. I have to try to shoot As and see what I need to see to get them, just not any more than what I need to see.

Gabe, I am trying to be in the move forward mode and not complain too much because this is what we have and either play here or go to another sandbox. No having said that I sure do like to read your posts. Many of us feel the same way, but are just trying to pull it together so that we can move beyond being pissed and start pulling the trigger in a trained response way. I have a hard time focusing on shooting when I am so bumbed about silly holster rules etc. If you can't tell, this not complaining any longer for me is much harder than I thought it would be. Let's just call it a goal, but I am just not totally there yet. Is the 560 IDPA legal? I would like a good answer to this one too.

I did a search for the Safariland model 5183 and the DeSantis Pro Fed and guess what? Neither holster is even made for a Glock 34. The most popular weapon at the IDPA nationals for 2004. I'm not complaining much just stating a point. I won't buy a Billy holster because he is making me buy a new one in the first place. OK, not complaining is a work in progress for me, but it is still greatly subdued believe me.

Comp-Tac's locking paddle interests me for the easy on, easy off feature and it's proven speed. But the belt holster seems to fit the rules with the least muss and fuss. Directly from the final rules: "The Safariland model 5183, Wilson Combat Practical and the De Santis Pro Fed typify pouch style holsters that meet IDPA criteria." Which Comp-Tac is closest to these. Still open to all holsters that meet the new criteria, but again, I am buying a gamer's holster. That is my intension from the beginning and I make no apologies for it.

SSP is for double action or safe action pistols. ESP is for single action pistols among other things. Springfield advertises it and lists it's action as single action to get the attention of the 1911 crowd. Springfield did that one all by themselves.

So it sounds like I wasn't too far off with Comp-Tac; sounds like a no brainer. Now for specific holsters. I see that Matt Burkett likes the locking paddle. I was considering the "Belt Holster". What is everyone's favorite Comp-Tac and why? Thanks

I said that I wasn't going to compain and that I was just going to move forward - can you tell that I really, really want to pitch a fit still - BUT I won't. I need a new holster for my G34. I could try to modify my belt tunnel "full of light", but I am thinking that I might just shoot that one in USPSA and not cobble it up. Then again the idea of switching back and forth between two holsters probably isn't the way to go either. I bought my current holster in December of 04 - I'm getting close so I better count - calm ocean, calm ocean 3, 2, 1 ... OK, OK so what do I buy because I still am a gamer at heart. Yes, you might not like it that I play to win this game, but I happen to be a competitive spirt. If that makes me less of a REAL combatant - I don't care. I want a kydex holster that will not interfer with my Dawson Adjustable sights and something that is FAST still. Can those of you that have been around longer than this new guy point me in the right direction? Here's what I am considering: http://www.comp-tac.com/index.html The one they call their Belt Holster. So what do you guys think? Thanks I was going to buy another pair of mag holders anyhow for USPSA, because you really need more than two, so I will buy the next two for IDPA and make them my backup mag carriers for USPSA so I will have 4 total. Rick Ingle

Funny thing is that I might get one piece of spam per month. I have my internet options set to not allow cookies and to prompt every site that requests one on my machine. If it is a chat board like this I allow it and banking sites etc. I just don't allow cookies by everyone out there and I think that has really stopped the junk mail. Sig Lady, nice way to handle the boys. Sex is a constant thought among us males, you shut 'em down, but you did it without using a sledge hammer. Rick

Carmoney, don't know where you are in IL but there is a Classifier on Feb 5th in Wisconsin. Check out this link: http://wisconsinidpa.com/calendar.htm Just trying to help.

"The incredibly silly 'daylight' and 2" rules are still there." Yes it is, but I have to take the same tact as Round Gun Shooter. I have to move forward at this moment. I sent three letters to HQ on this same subject and they kept it. Now it is time for the heat gun to come out and play with Kydex. Upsets me, but this is the last I will complain about it. Now it's time to shoot by the rules or move on to something different.

So far it looks like 39 oz for SSP, which won't go into effect for 12 months. Love my 2 G34s but the all steel CZ line of pistols are interesting for ESP.