Post by 4track on May 7, 2012 18:34:39 GMT -5
My first line, training/defense bat belt is equipped with an XD45/TLR2:
I like it, and it works well for my particular needs and tastes.
I also have a Beretta 92FS/X200 on standby, which serves as a backup weapon for the above system, should the XD ever go down beyond my means of repair.
The problem, however, is that, until recently, I have not been able to find a Safariland holster that would permit me to equally exchange the 92 for the XD.
The reason that I cannot find a Safariland for this swap, is because my 92 is equipped with the Dawson Precision rail.
If you are not familiar with the Dawson Rail, then set your way-back-machine to 2002…a time before dust cover accessory rails were a standard feature on M9's and 1911's.
The Dawson Rail is basically a slimmed down Picatinny spec rail that is hard mounted to the dust cover of the handgun. The slim rail interfaces with a special adapter for the Surefire X200-300 series weapon lights.
To my knowledge, Safariland has never made a holster compatible with this combination…until now.
I recently acquired a Safariland model 3285.
This holster was clearly designed for the military user, as it is compatible with ANY generation M9 pistol, with ANY brand or model of light/laser unit mounted/unmounted. This includes both trigger guard mounted rail conversion systems (i.e. Surefire, ITI), the newer M9A1's (with integral rails), and oddball cases (The Dawson Rail).
The 3285 is truly a hybrid holster, comprised of mixture of Kydex, injection molded plastic, rubber, Cordura nylon, and hook & loop components.
The holster is butt ugly, however, function triumphs over form, in this case.
The belt hanger, T-spacer, and retention hood can each be removed and re-attached to the opposite side, making this holster truly ambidextrous.
The housing that covers the light/laser unit is a mix of adjustable rubber and nylon flaps, with hook and loop holding it all securely together.
Beneath the outer, Cordura flap, there is a small hook & loop pocket, which stows the hex head wrench needed to complete any modifications to the holster….a very nice feature to have for in-the-field adjustments.
This adjustable fit flap system permits the flexibility of using, literally, ANY style light/laser, including the old-school generation of 6.0v incandescent units from Surefire.
Unlike most Safariland SLS and ALS holsters, the interior of the 3285 is NOT pseudo-suede lined.
Instead of a friction fit, or ejection port catch for retention, the 3285 utilizes a set of injection molded, black plastic rails that interface with the lower edges of the M9's slide.
This rail system permits the holster to retain the weapon, either, with, or without, the light/laser unit mounted to the handgun.
The sight channel is also high enough to permit clearance for most suppressor height iron sights.
The rudimentary looking rotating hood on the 3285 is slightly different from other ALS and SLS hosted systems.
Rather than pushing down and forward with the thumb, the rubber hood is simply pushed forward. The catch mechanism is a small nipple, which slips in and out of a small hole in side of the kydex.
This is one area of the holster that I initially disliked, as I feel it is a bit lacking, tacitly.
I would rather have seen the same style hood as the ALS and SLS type holsters on the 3285, however the 3285's hood is easy to use, and requires very little retraining to master.
However, when defaulting to my standard "push down, then forward" manipulation from the 6280, the 3285's hood naturally flops forward with ease.
For my uses, I removed the belt hanger and T-spacer, and mounted my 3285 into an SKD/HSGI drop leg rig.
In this fashion, it nearly perfectly replicates my 6280/HSGI in terms of fit and function.
The 3285 holster is available in FG and FDE (or BLK) with both the drop belt hanger or 6004-style leg shroud.
With the flexibility that this holster provides, it would be useful to anyone who is issued/using and M9 pattern sidearm, and who may use any variety model of issued/privately purchased light/laser units.
I like it, and it works well for my particular needs and tastes.
I also have a Beretta 92FS/X200 on standby, which serves as a backup weapon for the above system, should the XD ever go down beyond my means of repair.
The problem, however, is that, until recently, I have not been able to find a Safariland holster that would permit me to equally exchange the 92 for the XD.
The reason that I cannot find a Safariland for this swap, is because my 92 is equipped with the Dawson Precision rail.
If you are not familiar with the Dawson Rail, then set your way-back-machine to 2002…a time before dust cover accessory rails were a standard feature on M9's and 1911's.
The Dawson Rail is basically a slimmed down Picatinny spec rail that is hard mounted to the dust cover of the handgun. The slim rail interfaces with a special adapter for the Surefire X200-300 series weapon lights.
To my knowledge, Safariland has never made a holster compatible with this combination…until now.
I recently acquired a Safariland model 3285.
This holster was clearly designed for the military user, as it is compatible with ANY generation M9 pistol, with ANY brand or model of light/laser unit mounted/unmounted. This includes both trigger guard mounted rail conversion systems (i.e. Surefire, ITI), the newer M9A1's (with integral rails), and oddball cases (The Dawson Rail).
The 3285 is truly a hybrid holster, comprised of mixture of Kydex, injection molded plastic, rubber, Cordura nylon, and hook & loop components.
The holster is butt ugly, however, function triumphs over form, in this case.
The belt hanger, T-spacer, and retention hood can each be removed and re-attached to the opposite side, making this holster truly ambidextrous.
The housing that covers the light/laser unit is a mix of adjustable rubber and nylon flaps, with hook and loop holding it all securely together.
Beneath the outer, Cordura flap, there is a small hook & loop pocket, which stows the hex head wrench needed to complete any modifications to the holster….a very nice feature to have for in-the-field adjustments.
This adjustable fit flap system permits the flexibility of using, literally, ANY style light/laser, including the old-school generation of 6.0v incandescent units from Surefire.
Unlike most Safariland SLS and ALS holsters, the interior of the 3285 is NOT pseudo-suede lined.
Instead of a friction fit, or ejection port catch for retention, the 3285 utilizes a set of injection molded, black plastic rails that interface with the lower edges of the M9's slide.
This rail system permits the holster to retain the weapon, either, with, or without, the light/laser unit mounted to the handgun.
The sight channel is also high enough to permit clearance for most suppressor height iron sights.
The rudimentary looking rotating hood on the 3285 is slightly different from other ALS and SLS hosted systems.
Rather than pushing down and forward with the thumb, the rubber hood is simply pushed forward. The catch mechanism is a small nipple, which slips in and out of a small hole in side of the kydex.
This is one area of the holster that I initially disliked, as I feel it is a bit lacking, tacitly.
I would rather have seen the same style hood as the ALS and SLS type holsters on the 3285, however the 3285's hood is easy to use, and requires very little retraining to master.
However, when defaulting to my standard "push down, then forward" manipulation from the 6280, the 3285's hood naturally flops forward with ease.
For my uses, I removed the belt hanger and T-spacer, and mounted my 3285 into an SKD/HSGI drop leg rig.
In this fashion, it nearly perfectly replicates my 6280/HSGI in terms of fit and function.
The 3285 holster is available in FG and FDE (or BLK) with both the drop belt hanger or 6004-style leg shroud.
With the flexibility that this holster provides, it would be useful to anyone who is issued/using and M9 pattern sidearm, and who may use any variety model of issued/privately purchased light/laser units.
