Best holster for CAS today?

[McCrower]

I am new to CAS.

What holster/rig is the most popular in CAS today? and why?

and

Is there any historically correct holsters that works ok for CAS?

[Johnny Dingus]

Howdy McCrower,

Welcome to CAS.

Well to answer your question.  I really can't.

It all depends on what you the shooter want to get out of the sport.

If you want to be the fastest and are young enough to go against the fast young bucks, or you are spry enough and still have that desire,  then something Mernicle or Kirkpatrick makes will help.

But if you want to enjoy the sport and shoot as good as you can but know you will not out shoot the fast guys,  and you want to get a lot of enjoyment out of every time you shoot you could easily shoot that holster in your post.

I shoot my Johnny Ringo Rig, Hand of God Rig and even some times my Dodge City Holsters.  I do well in all of them.  Now I am not the fastest Gunfighter out there but I place in the top 5 most of the time.

You need to decide if you want to spend your money to shoot 18 second stages or take your time and enjoy 30 second stages.  I have as much fun as the fast boys but I spend a little more time doing it.



Johnny Dingus

[McCrower]

Thank you.

I understand that my questions were a bit wide..

I really don't know about holster and CAS rigs (yet  ), but what I am looking for is a rig which looks kind of authentic compared to the rigs from 1880's - 90's, and that is possible to use if I want to compete against the young and quick 18 sec. shooters of today.

Any links to rigs like mentioned if possible? 

[Shotgun Franklin]

You'd be much better off going to several local shoots before you spend any money.
You, at this point, need to know more about the sport and what part of it you want to enjoy.

[McCrower]

You'd be much better off going to several local shoots before you spend any money.
You, at this point, need to know more about the sport and what part of it you want to enjoy.

Ok, I will explain. There are no Cas shooting in my part of the country ( norway) yet. But there is talk about starting up in my local club this summer.. I have a Uberti  1873 cattleman 5 1/2 in 357. and would like to buy a rig too it which is both authentic looking, and can be used in cas shooting ( the speed shooting part of it). I don't like buying a new and expensive rig just to find out after some months that it can't be used in cas if we locals start up. All i am looking for are some tips and advice from you pros.  

Excuse me for beeing ignorant, but people learn their whole life.

[Jefro]

The most popular amongst the top guns is the Longhunter rig, neither of mine have the mexican loop. Another top of the line is the Evil Roy. There are plenty more just as nice that cost less, but you have to know where to look and what to look for, a good place to start is at local matches. A few things they have in common is they are very stiff, low cut,  with a slight flare at the top, and they are fully lined. To many to list, but here's a few, and there are a bunch folks right here that make some fine leather. Good Luck
Longhunter
Evil Roy
Rio Bravo
Korupt Karl
Lonerider
Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[joec]

This is one I like but decided to go with NCOWS instead as my quick draw needs has long ago passed me by. 

http://www.irongrizzly.com/Full-Rigs/The-Grizzly-Fighter-CFDA.html

[outrider]

McCrower...welcome to the forum...You might want to talk with Boothill Bob...he is from Sweden or...Andy Rombach from Germany and Bill Logan from France  all excellent leather craftsman.  They have projcts and holsters posted on here... 

[rickk]

What holster/rig is the most popular in CAS today? and why?

That is a Ford Vs Chevy, or Farmall Vs John Deere question 

We all have slightly different needs and visions...The best rig is the one that works for you.


(And I prefer Farmall's...but Chevies verses Fords seem to be a dead heat around here.

[Trailrider]

Ok, I will explain. There are no Cas shooting in my part of the country ( norway) yet. But there is talk about starting up in my local club this summer.. I have a Uberti  1873 cattleman 5 1/2 in 357. and would like to buy a rig too it which is both authentic looking, and can be used in cas shooting ( the speed shooting part of it). I don't like buying a new and expensive rig just to find out after some months that it can't be used in cas if we locals start up. All i am looking for are some tips and advice from you pros.  
Excuse me for beeing ignorant, but people learn their whole life.

CAS shooting is less about how fast you can draw the guns from the holsters (2 guns generally required, depending on if you are following CAS rules closely), than it is about following the scenario of a particular stage with 2 revolvers, the rifle and the shotgun. Yes the events are timed, but missed targets cost a 5 second penalty for each miss.  Period-correct holsters of the 1860-1900 period are of three general types: "slim jim", which are a simple style fairly closely adhering to the shape of the gun, with a narrow belt loop sewn to the back of the body; "loop-style", variously the Mexican-loop, Denver-loop, Kansas-loop, but all having the body and a skirt of a single piece of leather, with the skirt folded over to form a belt loop, and the body inserted through slots cut in the skirt; and military holsters of a type generally with a full or partial flap to retain the gun in the holster.

If you can obtain a copy of the book, "Packing Iron", you will have a good bariety of the original holsters and belts to examine. Later holster and holster-belt styles were mainly a creation of Hollywood, but are geared more to fast draw.

Welcome to the campfire, Pard!

[TN Mongo]

I would agree with Jefro's list of popular rigs in CAS today.  All of the ones he has listed are SASS approved.  SASS is the largest sanctioning body for CAS.

All the makers Jefro listed are pretty big.  There are many small makers that can make you a custom gun rig that is as good, if not better, than any of the large companies.  Good gun leather is expensive whether you buy something from one of the big makers or a smaller custom maker.

Look at the website links that Jefro has included to see the style of holsters and belt that most top shooters are using.  Many of the makers who are members of this forum can make you a top quality rig and include features you like from a combination of the holsters you will see on the websites listed by Jefro.  Good luck!

[Massive]

I think you pretty much have your answer on the gamer side of things.  Blending gamer and authentic features is something a lot of makers could do, and without that you are not likely to get the best blend of authenticity, uniqueness, and gamer features.  Outside of Kydex or steel, which is something I personally do, just about all of the other gamer features can be added to the main holster types to some degree.  Adding at least some features to traditional designs.

We have a few guys here who make holsters out your way, though the mails don't discriminate.

[Cliff Fendley]

I have sent a few historically accurate rigs to Sweden and looking at what Bob makes it seems they are pretty much using what a lot of us are here in the states.

Too answer your question you can compete very well with one that has the same look as an 1880's or 90's as long as you choose one like a Cheyenne holster of Meanea or some of the others that didn't have the gun sunk real deep.

I shoot NCOWS and am not into the real fast game but I use a holster that was copied from an original FA Meanea and it works well enough for me.

The top picture on the Cheyenne page of my website is my personal NCOWS working cowboy holster and belt.

Your only talking fractions of seconds to be saved with a different holster made for fast draw, most is skill of the shooter.

A well practiced and skilled shooter can use a period rig and still out shoot many others using a gamer fast draw rig.

Most of the ones we make today have got CAS in mind even when making them look original. That is why we tend to make them out of thicker and stiffer leather than many original holsters were.

The biggest thing is practice, practice, practice.

[Red Cent]

He does not have any local matches to go to and see leather rigs.

Any holster that will safely retain the handguns during a match is legal. They can be cut down in front, barely covered on the side, and canted up to 29 degrees.

Remember, SASS is one shooting sport that you need to reholster fast during the stage. For that reason, get good leather even metal lined to keep them opened. You want a big hole to hit when you reholster.

Something like this:



Or something like this:


..



or these:

[Dalton Masterson]

I prefer the Hand of God style of holsters from Will Ghormley's patterns. I was using the basic Cheyenne Menea style holster, and while they were fairly quick, the lower cut of the Hand of God rig and the wide open mouth of the thing makes it a dream to use in a match.
Otherwise, the rest of the folks are correct. Its a very wide question that depends on what your idea of a perfect rig is, not what everyone else thinks is the perfect rig...
Good luck, and welcome!
DM

These are the Hand of God holsters I went to...


These are the Cheyenne style I was using before. They are pretty good too, as mentioned by Cliff.

[Slowhand Bob]

I am one who thinks that there is one of the traditional style holsters that does lend itself well to being souped up for race day but first ya gotta figure out what works best for you.  I am very glad to see Jefro with us and can tell you that he is a very completive  shooter and could give us a lot of insight into this from the shooters view.  Also remember, we can generalize but there is no fast and set rule that covers all.  I am going to give my thoughts for the strong side holster only, my verboseness would require a book otherwise!   

First is how low ya like yore gun to hang, where the grip is in relation to your hand while relaxed.  A few strap on the lowest drop Buscadero belt combined with a low hang holster and then strap it on as low as they can ride and stay up.  Its almost like they have to dip the shoulder, at the buzzer, to draw their pistol ( I'll make no comments from the peanut gallery, as I am not qualified to judge).   Next up the ladder is the one that I think may well be the most popular holster in SASS right now, those holsters with a fair to moderate amount of drop from the belt, and I will reference the Long Hunter as that example.  From there shooters can and do move the holsters belt fold to where the gun butt will actually rise above the belt line and there have been some really fast shooters using this 'high ride' through the years.  Take your choice on this and then we can move on to the next design element.

Strong side cant  would be the next element I would consider,  and I like to think of it in relation to the way the elbow does its locomotive thing when pulling a gun upward from a holster.  I have to personally consider this due to joint problems in most of the joints in my hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.  Stress injuries were already bothering me before I started playing SASS sp I actually made my leather around these considerations early on but the mechanics should work equally well for those without problems (but remember there are always exceptions).  If the gun is really hung long and low at the finger tips, no cant is better unless we are using some sort of extreme Buntline Special.  As we get higher I think that we will reach a point, even with shorter barrels, when many shooters elect to add in muzzle forward cant and start shifting the holster slightly forward of the hip.  Remember, no set rule but it does seem popular with the high scorers in our area.  I always preferred a real 'high ride' holster and around fifteen degree of cant but have seen a few with more.  Remember that barrel length does throw all of this out of kilter if going above the medium to short barrels that the faster shooters normally prefer.

All of the other features, skeletal liners, extreme throat cuts, tension devices, positioning locks and cuts, etc etc could actually be considered in the same light as fishing lures, once we get past a good basic modern holster that fits well and presents itself to the grip well.  "Gee if I accidentally let my horse sit on my holster it will get crushed out of shape if it doesnt have a heavy metal liner!"  Well that is a true statement all right but it also goes a bit past the functional need of a good competitive holster design, if you want it and have the bucks, go for it, it helps the makers economy alright.  I also like the idea of tensioning devices and positioning devices, it allows one to just make everything a little oversize and let Mr Customer crank it down to what he wants.  A good maker used to have to jump through hoops trying to accomplish through fitting.   

Actually a bit over simplified but in many ways these are true to some degree.  Think about all these new holsters that are cut down in the front till they are literally cut below the frame, does that really add speed?  Her is where some of the fast guys need to help me out a bit, I thought that the draw stroke that has been used since the modern era of a good speed shooting draw was to draw the gun pretty much straight up and out of the holster and not sweep or arc it towards the front??

Wanna see a couple of traditional designs that have really been jazzed up while still maintaining most of the styles original good looks, look at the Kirkpatrick Prospector Rig or Mernickles new Evil Roy Slim Jim model.  Very fast and functional looking California style holsters.  This has always been my preferred holster style and in particular when the barrels are short and wearer comfort is important.       

[Cliff Fendley]

He does not have any local matches to go to and see leather rigs.

Any holster that will safely retain the handguns during a match is legal. They can be cut down in front, barely covered on the side, and canted up to 29 degrees.

Remember, SASS is one shooting sport that you need to reholster fast during the stage. For that reason, get good leather even metal lined to keep them opened. You want a big hole to hit when you reholster.

Something like this:



Or something like this:


..



or these:

No offense but It depends on the rules where he will shoot. He asked about something that looks close to historically accurate and not a one of those you posted are close to what would have been seen in the era of the cowboy.

The Will Gormley pattern that Dalton posted is not exact if you were re enacting but it is a nice compromise for a working rig with the inspiration of the real old west which I believe is what he is asking about.

[Boothill Bob]

Howdy McCrower.
Nice to have you here on the forum pard.. Are you planing to make the holster by your self or buy one? In Norway you have "Heck the gunhand", he´s a great holstermaker. If you want to make one yourself I´ll be glad to help you..
If you have Facebook you can ad me Henrik Boothill Bob Brandt and we can talk some more..

//BhB

[Jefro]

He asked about something that looks close to historically accurate

I really don't know about holster and CAS rigs (yet   ), but what I am looking for is a rig which looks kind of authentic compared to the rigs from 1880's - 90's, and that is possible to use if I want to compete against the young and quick 18 sec. shooters of today.

Any links to rigs like mentioned if possible?  

Well actually he said "looks kind of authentic" and he wants to compete in the "18" sceond range. Tha'ts why I refered to the Longhunter rig, clearly the most popular rig used by the top guns, and with the mexican loop it  "looks kind of authentic", add fully carved if you want to spice it up. That style is about as close as yer gonna get to traditional, and low cut enough where you can actually palm the gun coming out of the holster, and reholstering. Good Luck

Jefro Relax-Enjoy

ps; I'm really not competetive, but do have the pleasure of shooting with some of the top guns in the country on a regular basis. Red Cent knows a little something about speed, he's a former EOT World Champion Senior

[Red Cent]

Silver Senior. 2005

Thanks very much Jefro.