Our Top Picks For A Great Fast Draw Holster

CategoriesProducts
Best Hybrid Holster:Galco KingTuk Holster
Best Paddle Holster:Tactical Scorpion Gear Holster
Best Leather Holster:1791 Holster
Most Affordable Holster:Amberide IWB KYDEX Holster
Best Kel-Tec Holster:SDH Swift Draw Holster

Our Reviews Of The Best Holsters For Fast Draw From Our Research


Galco KingTuk Inside The Waistband Holster

The Galco is a leather and Kydex hybrid holster which is also a tuckable IWB design. The backing of the holster is made from good quality steer hide and it is raised to form a sweat shield against your skin.

The holster itself is Kydex and is molded to fit Glocks from models 17 through 31. If you like the look and features of this holster but are not a Glock owner, then you can find a KingTuk series for other guns such as S&W, 1911s, and more.

The Galco has a patent pending on their unique clip design for securing the holster to your belt or waistband. You may say that clips are clips but good quality clips can make a holster, particularly if it is going to be your default choice for everyday carry.

The Galco certainly does have good clips and they can be adjusted in position in order to raise or lower the ride height. The only thing that some carriers may object to with these hybrid holsters is that the retention can’t be adjusted but for IWB carry, it may not be such a big deal.

The holster will, however, give you a quick draw and is very comfortable for an IWB design. Naturally, the leather backing will take a short while to soften and adjust to your body but this is the deal with all leather holsters. The Galco KingTuk comes in black only and is not available in a left-hand version.

Pros

  • Really comfortable
  • Passive retention is good
  • The ride height is adjustable

Cons

  • Retention is not adjustable
  • No warranty is offered

Tactical Scorpion Gear Polymer OWB Fast Draw Holster

The Tactical Scorpion is an OWB paddle holster Taurus auto-pistols. They do also make an identical paddle holster for the S&W M&P shield series and many others.

The nice thing about paddle holsters for OWB carry is that they generally can be worn with almost any thickness of a belt or without a belt.

The Tactical has all of the features that you would want in a quick draw holster. The trigger guard is fully covered for safety and the retention and cant is adjustable.

The paddle is quite soft but it does have hard plastic at the back to ensure that the connection with the holster is solid. Taking into account the price, this is a good paddle holster that will certainly suit your purposes if you like OWB carry.

Unfortunately, the company does not provide information on whether they make a left-hand model. I would have to assume that they don’t.

Pros

  • Excellent price
  • Adjustable cant and retention
  • Comfortable to wear

Cons

  • Non that we could find ( bear in mind it’s an affordable holster)

1791 GUNLEATHER 3-Way 1911 Holster – Ambidextrous OWB CCW Holster – Right or Left Handed Leather Gun Holster

The 1791 company makes good leather holsters in the more affordable price range. The 3-way 1911 holster is no exception. The leather is quality and the stitching will hold up for a long time.

The attractive features of this 1791 are that it is fully ambidextrous and with its different belt holes, it can be worn with three different cants for both left and right-handers.

The holster is made to fit standard 1911 frame pistols and will fit well for guns that have shorter 3.5-inch barrels.

It will not be a great fit though for the baby 1911 style guns though. The holster ships with good instructions on how to wear the leather in to fit your gun like a glove. As is normal with a leather holster, the retention when new will be very tight but will loosen a bit after a week or so.

The holster covers the trigger guard in 1911s very well and once the holster is worn in, it will be a great fast draw leather holster and the three cant options make it that much more versatile.

Pros

  • Ambidextrous
  • Three different cant positions
  • Good quality leather and stitching

Cons

  • Information on belt sizes is not available. It fits a one-inch belt with room to spare. I assume that it will fit up to 1.5-inch belts

Amberide IWB KYDEX Holster Fit

The Amberide IWB holster is available in left and right-hand draw and the model under review is molded for Glocks but the company makes identical holsters for most of the popular brands of auto-pistols.

The Glock Amberide will fit Glock 19s up to the 45, generations three to four. It does not fit the Glock 23/32 gen 5 and it will also not fit Glocks with lasers or optics.

Design-wise, the holster has all of the basics right. It is raised at the back for a sweat guard and it also covers the trigger guard of a Glock completely.

The cant and retention are fully adjustable and the belt clip will fit belts of up to 1.5-inches in height. The Amberide is also offered in four different color options and the company has a lifetime warranty on their products.

For those that favor Kydex molds, the Amberide is a good fast draw choice at a good price. It is also a versatile holster as it can be carried appendix style as well.

Pros

  • Right and left-hand draw
  • Can be carried appendix or IWB
  • Adjustable cant and retention

Cons

  • The ride height is not adjustable

SDH Swift Draw Holsters Paddle Holster Kel-Tec PMR-30

The SDH is a Kydex paddle holster for OWB carry. The model under review is for the Kel-Tec PMR 30 and it is nice to cover holster makes that cater specifically for some of the less popular auto-pistols. They do, however, make the same model of the holster for most auto-pistols and even some revolvers.

SDH does not make the holster for a left-hand draw but will do so if requested. I am not sure how much extra they would charge for this though.

The SDH has adjustable retention but unlike most paddle holsters, the cant can’t be adjusted at the back with an Allen key.

The mold, retention, and overall fit for the Kel-Tec PMR-30 are excellent and if you have been struggling to find a holster that is specific to your gun, this holster is definitely worth trying out. The price is also reasonable.

Pros

  • Great fit for the Kel-Tec
  • Adjustable retention

Cons

  • Cant is not adjustable

Buyer’s Guide For Fast Draw Holsters

There may be some debate as to what constitutes a fast or quick draw holster. Some within the gun community will list IWB, OWB, and leg holsters amongst others, as fast draw holsters. I have a slightly different criterion for selecting fast draw options.

Firstly, the holster must be designed as a fast draw holster which means that the holster itself must compensate for human error which may come about when drawing under stress. You may put in a great deal of practice but there is nothing like the cocktail of fear and adrenaline to override your muscle memory.

If a holster requires you to have an almost perfect straight up and down draw action in order to be shooting ready with speed then it is not a true quick draw holster. Secondly, there are many holsters with extra retention features that certainly try to not reduce your draw speed but invariably they will.

Our top picks of quick draw holsters use only passive retention and are IWB or OWB options. We see a genuine quick draw holster as being most suitable for people on the range engaged in competitive shooting and for those people that favor a swift draw over the safety of higher retention holsters.

As always, I have also tried to find quality options for right and left-handers, as well as leather and Kydex/polymer choices.

Another thing to consider when buying a holster specifically for the fastest draw is the barrel fit. Some holsters will not have any extra retention features but because they are designed to accommodate all sizes of pistols, they are open at the bottom.

This can cause problems if your barrel sticks out too far from the holster. Again, when trying to consistently draw quickly, this can lead to your front sight catching on the holster.

It also doesn’t give you much leeway in terms of your draw-it will generally require you to draw from a perfect angle.

The Ideal Lift

Drawing consistently fast is also dependent on other holster design issues. If the fastest draw is your top consideration for a holster then it is best to avoid options that are made for too many gun types, especially if it is made for another gun but claims to be compatible with your gun.

Of course, there are times when these types of holsters may fit your gun really well but there are just as many cases where the retention is way too tight or too loose.

Rather play it safe and get a holster that you know will fit your gun.

A Simple Technique

There may be more to think about if you want a fast draw holster for everyday carry purposes but if you are looking for a range holster remember the fast draw technique.

For the most consistent fast draw under time pressure, the position of your holster is important. Start by holding your hands up to either by your ears or in the air in the “hands up” position. Let your hands drop naturally to your hips.

Where your shooting hand naturally rests is where your holster should be. Your hand should naturally drop onto the grip of the gun.

This is the best way to ensure that nerves don’t mess with your draw speed.

Final Thoughts

That concludes our round-up of fast draw holsters. As a parting shot, just remember that your choice of clothing can also have a major impact on your access and draw speed.

If you want a holster for EDC and not range use, wearing the wrong clothing can reduce any benefit that you may get from a fast draw holster.