To all the ProArms guests

[N.U.G.U.N.]

I always hear comments from gun elders like you that you have closets full of holsters.

Well I just started shooting competitively in a local group.  It's not IDPA or anything, but it's enough to show me that my current holster is woefully inadequate. (It's a generic nylon holster in the Uncle Mike's fashion.)  The competition has been a great learning experience. I've learned what I don't like about my holster.  First, the gun sits too low in the holster preventing me from getting a good grip from the get go. Second, I think I do not like retaining straps. So I am looking to acquire a new holster.

I don't have enough money to spend buying and trying numerous holsters. My budget is about $25-$40, maybe a little bit more.  I do like the Serpa style release. But Serpa doesn't make a holster for my pistol - Ruger P-345. In fact, I've found that one of the main downsides of my particular pistol is that there are not many holsters made for it.  And many that I've found which are specifically made for it are in the $85-$250.  Way more than I can convince my wife to let me spend.  So I got thinking, that maybe one of you (or someone you know) might have carried a P-345 and now carry something else. And perhaps you have an old holster lying around that you'd like to get rid of. 

[Gail]

I will check with the rest of the group as I don't have one. I'll let you know.

Gail

[Gail]

Well Mas didn't have one but here's his suggestion:

Don Hume JIT is made for the P345, will serve his needs, and is right in the specified price range.

Here's another resource for used holsters:

http://www.holstertrade.com/trade/index.php

but they do not have what you are looking for right now, I checked.

[cwrovers]

Don't dismiss retaining staps so quickly.  You can find a decent "generic" hoslter with a thumb break strap that will work well and fit your p-345.  By generic, I mean one that loosely fits a range of handguns.  I would stay with some of the better brands however.  There have been many comments about holsters throughout these forums.

Try a variety of holsters with your p-345 and test the retaining strap to ensure smooth release, as well as the proper positioning of the holster on your body.

Strapless holsters need to fit very exactly to properly retain the gun, and therefore the selection will be smaller, and pricier.

Or you could just start saving up a holster fund and get one after the fund has grown to an adequate level.

cw

[N.U.G.U.N.]

Or you could just start saving up a holster fund and get one after the fund has grown to an adequate level.

I just don't want to do that, and pick the wrong one. Nothing like spending $85+ on the wrong thing.

[Gail]

Hang in there Jason,

     Although none of us had a holster for the P-345 that wasn't in use, Chris and Steve tried some out at the store on Saturday. I am not entirely sure what they told me worked and I don't want to tell you the wrong thing, so I am waiting for an answer from Chris via e-mail. I will post it here ASAP. Chris had a holster that he likes a lot and found that the P-345 fit it well.

Gail

[Gail]

Here's what Chris had to say about the holster for the Ruger 345.

It's a Bianchi Model 7 Shadow II for a 29/30 Glock and I cut the thumb snap off to make it an open top. The thumb snap isn't needed. In this configuration it fits a number of guns - S&W M&P (full and compact, I carry a compact in it) SIG P-250, Taurus 800 series, Taurus 24/7, and it's even an acceptable IDPA fit for the CZ-75 and some other similar sized pistols. JB and I checked the fit at Pro Arms and the Ruger 345 is just fine.
 
Chris