It was about two weeks before the 2015 Texas Firearms Festival when I made my final decision which gun I would be carrying all weekend. Last year I had rolled with a FNS-9 Longslide, but this year I wanted something a little different. I’ve had a SIG SAUER P226 Mk25 with a Streamlight TLR-1 as my nightstand gun for years, but it was time to take it out for a spin. There was just one problem: I didn’t have a holster for it. Enter Bravo Concealment, a Texas-based holster company who shipped me a custom holster for my gun with time to spare . . .
That’s always the problem with lights on guns: finding holsters that fit can be a pain in the butt. The last holster I had for this gun was absolutely awful — it didn’t actually fit the gun and light combo, and the word “retention” wasn’t in its vocabulary. I had tried to look for a fitting replacement, but the only holsters I could find that fit the bill were either hugely expensive or simply didn’t work. This was probably compounded by the fact that I really wanted a proper retention holster with a thumb break release, but with the date of the event closing in I just needed something that worked.
Bravo Concealment caught my eye for two reasons. First, their holsters looked professional and clean — some of the other brands look like a high school dropout hastily vacuum-formed it in his parent’s basement. Second they have a ‘rush’ shipping option. There was a wide breadth and depth to their catalog of holsters, and if you wanted something unique and particular they can handle it (in 4 to 6 weeks). But if you need something quick and dirty for a common gun they can do that, too.
The model that Bravo Concealment sent out is their RTT holster. This version is a straight up-and-down no-nonsense holster with no cant whatsoever — the muzzle points directly at the ground at all times … unless you happen to be seated. While it isn’t a retention holster in the technical sense, it nevertheless keeps the gun tightly in place and doesn’t let it move an inch (unless you want it to). I wore this holster all weekend long from load-in on Friday until the last round fired on Sunday and even through some strenuous activity setting up steel targets. The gun never moved.
What I really appreciate about the holster is the workmanship. The holster feels right, all smooth with no rough edges. The belt loops are well made and provide just enough friction to keep the holster from swiveling while allowing the wearer to adjust the position if they really want.
Drawing is quick and painless. There’s a generous cutout under the grip that gives the wearer enough space to get their meaty mitts on the gun and hoist it free. I’ve had a couple holsters that have a bit of material which gets in the way during the draw stroke, and while that might be OK for duty use where you’ll rarely draw your weapon, it sucks for training and range use where you’re doing that constantly. I really appreciated that design feature.
As for the “concealment” part of Bravo Concealment’s name…yep. The first gun I ever carried was a police trade-in P226, and I carried that beast in an inside-the-waistband rig … for about a month. I stopped because it was like a boat anchor in my pants.
The Bravo RTT allows me to hide the considerably chunkier P226 Mk25 (again, with attached weapon light) outside the waistband fairly well, even given my now slimmer figure and appropriately sized jacket. It definitely still needs a concealment garment of some sort, but it gets the job done and does it well. The gun stays flat against my side and doesn’t print any more than absolutely necessary.
I’m a big fan of Bravo Concealment’s work. It seems like everyone and their brother is getting into the Kydex holster game these days — even my local FFL has an in-house line they keep pushing — but very few execute the design this well and with this level of customization. Bravo Concealment doesn’t do that whole dirt cheap pricing thing, but their product is worth the extra few dollars.
Specifications: Bravo Concealment RTT Holster
Fits: Everything, basically
Price: $74.99
Retention * * * *
For a Kydex holster it’s just fine. It works. There’s nothing to actively retain the gun though, which I would like at some point.
Fit * * * * *
Like a glove.
Comfort * * * * *
I like it. I wore it for three days straight and barely noticed it on my hip.
Price * * * *
A little on the spendy side.
Overall * * * * *
I like it. A lot. The ability to customize the holster down to the specific sights on your gun is fantastic, and the finished product works great.
That holster looks like a suitcase! Must be mighty comfortable to sit or bend over using it. Why not show a picture of a person (especially a small person) actually concealing that monster. 🙂
I think he did. Look at the second to last photo in the review. ?
I think he did. Look at the second to last photo in the review. 😉
You might as well eliminate the “edit” feature, since it doesn’t work anymore.
I somehow missed seeing the picture of the person concealing it, but it isn’t well concealed there either. Prints rather obviously.
Really, I should not comment on these things. I hate kydex, and nobody who likes it will care what I think. 🙂
What the OP doesn’t really disclose is that, with (the usual OFWG and. . .) any owb holster, one hand clears the concealing cover (in this case a light jacket). One hand covers / adjusts the owb (over the waist band) ‘roll’. ; P
Good holster, good review. +++ on good retention holsters for light/laser’d pistols much needed. Thank you.
That is what with all these huge holsters ?
Aren’t things supposed to be getting smaller…
Its the size it needs to be for that gun and light. Look at it, almost all the space is filled with gun. I don’t know how you could go smaller.
It looks exactly like my Squared Away Customs holster for my 226 Tac Ops. It took me 6-7 weeks to get mine. It’s not easy or comfortable concealing big guns, but I still do from time to time. Thanks for the review.
^ go big or go home (live with it) GROW BIGGER HANDS ; p . 226 Tac Ops w/the beaver tail is it. I don’t know why (226 ain’t one of them, but) gun mfr’s that make changeable grips that are part of the frame (and extend all the way up to the slide, and out back to the hammer) don’t offer more beavertail grip options. They make a huge difference in grip, slide to thumb-web protection [especially for newer shooters], and gun to hand weld. Manufacturers are always trying to extend the grip out the back, but fail to give you a palm-swell on the side like the 226 Tac Ops with the widened mag-well grips.
My kingdom for the return of an edit button . . .
I think concealing big guns will be much more popular and prevalent after Jan 1, when a screwup doesn’t get you arrested. OOoops. I mean, in TX, of course.
Maybe, before then. It’s suppsed to drop down to the 30’s before week’s end. Winter coats make carrying a breeze. No pun.
To be fair, the loops can be switched for iwb which I think would go a long way toward reducing the profile. I just ordered the bca and am looking forward to giving it a shot.
You have to be kidding. That thing IWB? First you have to buy some pants a couple sizes bigger than usual.
Wait’ll we start putting dash cams on our guns. Holster, gun, light, laser, dash cam, and a battery pack on the opposite hip!
Also a cup holder and obligatory tactical toilet paper dispenser.
I have one for my Glock 35 with an INforce APL that i use for competitions and i love it, run and gun and it hasnt moved a millimeter even on the rare occasions where i bite it and eat dirt. I’ve had mags fly out, shells drop, not once have i ever worried about the pistol. I also like that it is specifically for my g35 and not a G22 with a inch of the muzzle showing.
Wow….might as well have a backpack on your hip….
I kind of like it! If you are out sledding with the kids and one of their snow saucers gets broken, you can whip out your CCW holster and use that to whiz down the slopes. Probably should take the pistol out first, though.
Do any of you have trouble with Kydex holsters scratching the surface of the gun? I got a fobus paddle holster with my glock 38. It held the gun well, but repeated drawing and reholstering eventually put some gouges on my slide.
I’m from San Antonio, and I’d be interested in your opinion on “on your 6 designs.” They’re local to SA and I’ve got 2 holsters. I love them. Thinking about getting one for the same setup you just had from bravo concealment. ive done my research and their prices are tough to beat