In today’s ever-changing and unpredictable world, personal protection has become an increasingly important concern for many people. Whether you are a law enforcement officer, military personnel, or just someone who wants to feel secure, having a reliable holster for your weapon is crucial.
While holsters worn on a waistline are the traditional choice for many, the concept of holstering your weapon on a plate carrier has gained popularity in recent times.
In this article, we explore the pros and cons of having a holster on your plate carrier, and how to properly set it up for optimal performance. From avoiding common mistakes to getting ready for an emergency situation, we’ve got you covered. So read on to know all about holsters on plate carriers!
Should You Keep a Holster on a Plate Carrier?
This question gets thrown around quite a lot in the tactical gear community, and the answer isn’t as clear-cut as it may seem.
There are a lot of people who think that holstering a gun on a plate carrier is a great idea and also there are a lot of people who think that it is a terrible idea and your pistol and holster should always be carried on your belt line.
Now, on one hand, having quick access to your handgun on a plate carrier can be a huge advantage in certain situations. On the other, however, you’re adding more weight and bulk to an already bulky piece of gear that is meant for mobility. Also, you are going to lose a lot of space on your plate carrier setup that could be used for other essential items like magazines and medical supplies.
But let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each side of the debate.
Pros of a Holster Mounted on a Plate Carrier:
- You can have quick access to your handgun when you need it.
- You have a bit more mobility by not having an additional piece of gear around your waist.
- You don’t need to worry about dealing with a separate belt line holster that could get in the way when crouching or crawling.
- It’s easier to draw your weapon when you are driving or sitting in a vehicle.
- Wearing a holster on a plate carrier can help distribute the weight of the weapon more evenly across the body, reducing strain on the hips and lower back.
Cons of a Holster-Plate Carrier Combo:
- More weight and bulk added to an already bulky piece of gear.
- It takes up valuable space that could be used for other essential items like magazines and medical supplies.
- The holster can interfere with reloading, or accessing pockets in your plate carrier.
- If you take off your plate carrier, you now have to unhook or unbuckle your holster as well.
I personally prefer keeping my holster off my plate carrier and having my pistol and its mags all on my battle belt setup (or tactical belt depending on the situation and my loadout).
My biggest reason for this is that I want to keep my pistol set all on my waistline because that allows me to have access to my firearm and my mags even if for some reason I need to take off my body armor.
But all-in-all whether you should keep a holster on your plate carrier or not will ultimately depend on your specific needs and preferences. There are certain types of situations that can really benefit from the holster-plate carrier combo (like when you are in a mobile unit where you spend a lot of time in a vehicle driving around), and there are other situations where it just won’t make sense.
So if you are considering holstering your pistol on your plate carrier, just be sure to weigh all of the pros and cons before making a decision.
How to Attach a Holster to a Plate Carrier?
If you are going to go with the holster-plate carrier combo, then you’ll need to know how to properly attach your holster and make sure it is secured safely and securely.
The exact way to do this will depend on the type of plate carrier you are using and the holster itself. But in general, you will need to attach the holster to the MOLLE webbing on your plate carrier with a special adapter (unless you are using a soft MOLLE holster).
Now there are quite a few different holster MOLLE adaptors available from simple clamps to larger platforms. The key here is to make sure you get one that is compatible with your holster and the webbing on your plate carrier.
Once you have the adaptor you just need to attach your holster on it and the combo to your plate carrier. It’s rather simple when you have the right adapter and everything fits properly.
Where to Keep a Holster on a Plate Carrier?
When it comes to where to keep your holster on a plate carrier you have two options. You either keep it on the front of the carrier or on your dominant side.
If you keep the holster on the front of your plate carrier, then it will be easier to draw your weapon but you may not have as much mobility when crouching or crawling. Also, it will take A LOT OF space on the carrier and you will need to shift your magazines around while still making sure you can get to them.
On the other hand, if you keep your holster on your dominant side then you may have more mobility while crouching and crawling but it will be a lot harder to draw your weapon. And I at least think the drawing motion will be very unnatural.
Now the exact spot will also depend on if your pistol is your primary weapon or your secondary one. As if you have a rifle, you have to make sure the holster won’t interfere with it.
If I for some reason decide to keep my pistol on my plate carrier, I would place it at front of the carrier. Bottom right side from the center. This would allow me to easily access the pistol while still leaving room for magazines on the front of the carrier.
But at the end of the day, just like with most of the gear on your setups, the optimal place to keep your holster will always depend on your own preferences and needs. So find what works best for you and stick with it.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, whether or not you should use a holster on your plate carrier will depend on your individual needs and preferences. There are certain situations that can benefit from this combo (such as when you are in a mobile unit) but then there are other situations where it just won’t make sense.
If you do decide to use the holster-plate carrier combo, just make sure you attach it securely and you know where the optimal place is to keep your holster on the plate carrier. Ultimately, find what works best for you and stick with it!
