TacRig is a new company to me. I only just noticed them maybe a year ago. A few months ago they offered to send me a holster for my Hellcat Pro so I could test it out and let people know my thoughts. What they sent me was both the AIWB and strong side IWB backer plates, a shell for my Hellcat Pro and another shell for my Tactical 4.0.
TacRig is a truly modular platform that allows you to buy multiple backer plates and holster shells in order to mix and match for different configurations with different guns. I was very apprehensive at first about the design. These holsters are a two piece, riveted design that is a bit wider than what we are all used to and thats because they have to have that extra material in order to rivet the sides and have the pull tabs that mount the holster to the backer. How comfortable can a holster that wide be, how well can it conceal, is there any real advantage to this holster over the standard clamshell design we are used to.
These backer plates are a real innovative concept. Appendix, strong side, magnet and velcro mounts, chest rigs and even a beltless design. You can really use this one single shell to carry or store your holster/firearm in so many ways. With all the holes in the backer you also have the ability to make a lot of adjustments in ride height and cant as well as the bonus that its super breathable and helps keep you cool while you carry. The backer also flexes and conforms to the body which adds even more comfort to your daily carry.
One thing that cant be overlooked in this design is that it’s not a 50/50 split holster. What I mean by that is that the top half of the holster, the half that presses into your belt holds the majority of the holsters mass. Most holsters are made in such a way that 50% of the holster is on the belt side and 50% is against your body. This doesn’t seem like it makes much of a difference but it does. With the TacRig you have very little material being pushed into your body vs a standard clamshell where half of the thickness of the gun gets pressed into the body. This alone aids in comfort in a way that you cant possibly understand until you try it and once you do it’s real hard to go back to standard holsters. Not having all that excess plastic pressed into the body and instead having it pressed into the belt makes a world of difference.
Long past are the days of needing a pad or wedge in order to have a buffer between you and your holster, TacRig has solved that problem. Sure you may want to add a wedge to help push the lower portion of the holster away from the body and keep the grip of your firearm tucked into you for increased concealment depending on body type but there is no need for adding a pad or wedge for comfort.
The TacRig holsters are a fixed retention system which may or may not work for you. Personally I found the shell for my Hellcat Pro with Steamlight TLR 7X to be too tight for me to get a smooth draw while the holster shell for my Tactical 4.0 was just perfect. If this is a problem that you encounter, either too much retention or too little retention its an easy problem to solve. Lightly run some heat from a heat gun in the retention area taking care to not overheat or stay in one spot too long. When the plastic starts to get flexible you are ready to work it. If you want it tighter just keep your gun in the holster and press in slightly in the retention area and hold till it cools and hardens. If its too much retention do the same except from the inside press outward in the retention area just enough to make it more loose. You can run your gun in and out several times while it’s almost hardened back up to make sure it’s where you want it. A little bit goes a long ways when making these adjustments.
After a couple months of using these holsters daily I’ve decided they are a must have for anyone wanting something different from the same old holsters every holster company on the market is selling. All of the materials are high grade and well crafted. TacRig’s customer service is great. The company is constantly adding new options and new products. Their holsters are comfortable and concealable. What more could you want? Through my testing all of my apprehension has been laid to rest and I’m happy to give a solid recommendation for these holsters.
Leave a Reply