After a year of strong side carry with an HK VP9 + Inforce APL, I decided to switch back to appendix carry so that meant I needed a new holster… and a new gun. (With AIWB carry I prefer a hammer-fired TDA gun for the tactile feedback of thumb on hammer when reholstering. I also like the “stress buffer” a TDA gun offers on the first shot.)
The new gun is an Urban Gray CZ P-07. It came with a threaded barrel and suppressor-height night sights and I added the Cajun Gun Works ProGrade upgrades. The P-07 is truly a great gun to begin with and the CGW parts elevate it to pure awesomeness.
The holster is a T. Rex Arms light-bearing Raptor for the P-07 + Surefire X300U. I’ve retrofitted it with some Velcro and a gel heel pad (a holster hack courtesy of a blog post from Melody Lauer aka Limatunes) so that it carries comfortably all day long – driving, walking, sitting, jogging, whatever… I also carry two spare 17-round mags in T. Rex carriers and I keep a third spare in my glove box.
My belt is an S.O.E. EDC Cobra belt – very sturdy but also easy to deal with during inevitable restroom breaks and the fold over Velcro strap provides a little extra help to ensure the holster stays exactly where I want it.
No EDC is complete with just a gun and a mag or two – I also carry a handheld flashlight in my front pocket, a Clinch Pick knife centerline on my belt and, in my back pocket, an ITS Tactical EDC medkIt that contains a tourniquet, combat gauze and gloves. I have supplemented my firearms training with medical training and plan on getting much more of both!
A lot of my friends marvel at the fact that I carry a larger gun with a weaponlight – and appendix, no less – but the right holster and belt make all the difference in being successful. As for the weight? Well, my motto is “suck it up, buttercup!” … Dangerous times, and all that 😉
