Corlissimo
04-08-2013, 05:31 PM
NOTE: This review will skip all the usual info and pictures related to how the holster looks & feels because I can’t add anything more to what’s already been written in justcor's JM Custom Kydex AIWB thread (http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?3597-JM-Custom-Kydex-AIWB-holster-review). Instead, it will focus on the WML related items..
Backstory:
I have severe night vision issues. I practice with my hand held light often but still feel I’m very vulnerable should I ever need to draw my weapon defensively, as it will likely be in a low/no light situation. Having the WML as a readily available option helps solve a problem that has been nagging at me for quite a while. Recently I decided to tackle this potential vulnerability head on via a WML on my EDC P30L.
A member here (I believe it was Orionz06) wrote a little about the Inforce APL light. I liked what I saw and the price was right so I jumped in with both feet and ordered one as well. Naturally, this meant that I now needed to find a holster that would carry the P30L with a WML, no small feat. I pretty much knew from the get-go that I’d need to have a custom holster made so I reached out to JRC since I’ve been running his CDA-AIWB for almost a year now and it’s been awesome. Jim said he could do it for me, but I delayed a bit... as usual.
During that delay I started thinking: So many folks have been raving about various kydex AIWB rigs, maybe I should try one out. This led me to JM Custom Kydex. I called Tony Mayer and ran my idea past him. He said he could definitely make the holster if he had the Inforce APL light to mold it with. I ordered the AIWB rig, as well as an IWB v2 rig, with the plan being that I would send him my light when he was ready to start molding. However, when Tony saw the light online he decided to try one out too so we were set.
First off, I am not a small (read: “trim, in shape") guy… yet, but I’m workin’ on it. I am 6’ tall and 258lbs with a spare tire. Not your car spare, more like from a big rig. This creates challenges when trying to AIWB a full size service pistol, but I’ve been able to do it mainly because I invested in a quality holster (JRC) that happened to work really well for me. That said, I knew, especially after speaking with Tony, that adding a WML would change the equation in a significant way. I was betting that Tony had the plan to make it all work for me. So far… WINNING!... thanks to Tony. :cool:
The most notable, and important, thing that I think Tony did when making this holster was to wrap it the opposite way you normally see holster bodies wrapped around pistols. Instead of wrapping it over the top of the slide, Tony wrapped it under the dustcover and the WML. This meant that the retention adjustment is above the slide and creates a sizable sight channel. This design feature makes the holster very comfortable to wear. With the extra width of the holster to accommodate the WML, it can be a challenge to not only make everything “fit”, but that it all fits comfortably! The difference in feel between the JM Custom Kydex and my JRC is hardly even noticeable, even with the added width, and I’m now EDC carrying a WML with ease. Joy!
Here are some pictures of the rig.
1384
Picture from the rear.
1385
Not bulky at all, and looks like the photos I’ve seen of the JM without a WML.
1386
JM on the left, JRC on the right.
1387
P30L w/Inforce APL, AIWB on left side, IWB v2 on right side.
JM Custom Kydex IWB v2:
I ordered this for use at a range near me that won’t allow drawing from appendix. I also wanted it as a second carry method for those times that I just don’t want to/feel like carrying Appendix, though that is a very rare occasion. The IWB v2 works great with the Inforce APL. It’s comfortable, stays put, and the soft loops are perfect. I ordered mine with the 15 degree cant. Won’t change a thing on it, it’s perfect!
Notes:
Retention is adjustable on both the AIWB, and the IWB v2. Retention is also excellent as delivered, though I have yet to try either out in an ECQC type environment.
It should also be noted that both holsters work very well even without a WML mounted.
I’ve been wearing my new JM AIWB for almost a month now and have absolutely no complaints at all. So far, it is as comfortable as I can expect given my current shape and has been on two road trips: one 5 hours each way; the other 8 hours each way. My typical day has me sitting, standing, walking, and sometimes trekking/light hiking, and is 12 hrs long on average. However, I’m typically wearing the holster for closer to 15-16 hrs daily. I also have the soft loops and they work very well, but the solid kydex loop just locks the holster in position, especially with my WT 5 Stitch.
In dry fire practice it was a very short learning curve. The draw is smooth and easy. Re-holstering is as well, even with my extra girth to work around. At first, I had some light NDs on drawing, but resolved them. They usually occurred when I pulled the grip away from me a little instead of drawing straight up. This was usually the result of rushing my draw and getting sloppy. On the bright side (pun intended ;)) having these “light NDs” revealed that I was muzzling myself a bit on the draw. Unacceptable to me even though I am running a stock v3 trigger. For all I know, I was doing the same thing with my JRC AIWB and just didn’t have an indicator to alert me.
The Future:
Everything is working well with this rig and there are only a couple tweaks that I need to make. The first one is to get high ride kydex loop from JM. Right now, I could use a little more height to get a better master grip more reliably. The second is to place some loop Velcro on the belt loop so my WT belt can really lock it in. I did this on my JRC and it was a great mod.
Bottom Line:
Both the JM Custom Kydes AIWB and the IWB v2 are excellent holsters. Quality workmanship. Tony is great to work with and his Customer Service is top notch. Both holsters are a great value IMO and I will be back for more when the time comes. Highly recommended! :cool:
Backstory:
I have severe night vision issues. I practice with my hand held light often but still feel I’m very vulnerable should I ever need to draw my weapon defensively, as it will likely be in a low/no light situation. Having the WML as a readily available option helps solve a problem that has been nagging at me for quite a while. Recently I decided to tackle this potential vulnerability head on via a WML on my EDC P30L.
A member here (I believe it was Orionz06) wrote a little about the Inforce APL light. I liked what I saw and the price was right so I jumped in with both feet and ordered one as well. Naturally, this meant that I now needed to find a holster that would carry the P30L with a WML, no small feat. I pretty much knew from the get-go that I’d need to have a custom holster made so I reached out to JRC since I’ve been running his CDA-AIWB for almost a year now and it’s been awesome. Jim said he could do it for me, but I delayed a bit... as usual.
During that delay I started thinking: So many folks have been raving about various kydex AIWB rigs, maybe I should try one out. This led me to JM Custom Kydex. I called Tony Mayer and ran my idea past him. He said he could definitely make the holster if he had the Inforce APL light to mold it with. I ordered the AIWB rig, as well as an IWB v2 rig, with the plan being that I would send him my light when he was ready to start molding. However, when Tony saw the light online he decided to try one out too so we were set.
First off, I am not a small (read: “trim, in shape") guy… yet, but I’m workin’ on it. I am 6’ tall and 258lbs with a spare tire. Not your car spare, more like from a big rig. This creates challenges when trying to AIWB a full size service pistol, but I’ve been able to do it mainly because I invested in a quality holster (JRC) that happened to work really well for me. That said, I knew, especially after speaking with Tony, that adding a WML would change the equation in a significant way. I was betting that Tony had the plan to make it all work for me. So far… WINNING!... thanks to Tony. :cool:
The most notable, and important, thing that I think Tony did when making this holster was to wrap it the opposite way you normally see holster bodies wrapped around pistols. Instead of wrapping it over the top of the slide, Tony wrapped it under the dustcover and the WML. This meant that the retention adjustment is above the slide and creates a sizable sight channel. This design feature makes the holster very comfortable to wear. With the extra width of the holster to accommodate the WML, it can be a challenge to not only make everything “fit”, but that it all fits comfortably! The difference in feel between the JM Custom Kydex and my JRC is hardly even noticeable, even with the added width, and I’m now EDC carrying a WML with ease. Joy!
Here are some pictures of the rig.
1384
Picture from the rear.
1385
Not bulky at all, and looks like the photos I’ve seen of the JM without a WML.
1386
JM on the left, JRC on the right.
1387
P30L w/Inforce APL, AIWB on left side, IWB v2 on right side.
JM Custom Kydex IWB v2:
I ordered this for use at a range near me that won’t allow drawing from appendix. I also wanted it as a second carry method for those times that I just don’t want to/feel like carrying Appendix, though that is a very rare occasion. The IWB v2 works great with the Inforce APL. It’s comfortable, stays put, and the soft loops are perfect. I ordered mine with the 15 degree cant. Won’t change a thing on it, it’s perfect!
Notes:
Retention is adjustable on both the AIWB, and the IWB v2. Retention is also excellent as delivered, though I have yet to try either out in an ECQC type environment.
It should also be noted that both holsters work very well even without a WML mounted.
I’ve been wearing my new JM AIWB for almost a month now and have absolutely no complaints at all. So far, it is as comfortable as I can expect given my current shape and has been on two road trips: one 5 hours each way; the other 8 hours each way. My typical day has me sitting, standing, walking, and sometimes trekking/light hiking, and is 12 hrs long on average. However, I’m typically wearing the holster for closer to 15-16 hrs daily. I also have the soft loops and they work very well, but the solid kydex loop just locks the holster in position, especially with my WT 5 Stitch.
In dry fire practice it was a very short learning curve. The draw is smooth and easy. Re-holstering is as well, even with my extra girth to work around. At first, I had some light NDs on drawing, but resolved them. They usually occurred when I pulled the grip away from me a little instead of drawing straight up. This was usually the result of rushing my draw and getting sloppy. On the bright side (pun intended ;)) having these “light NDs” revealed that I was muzzling myself a bit on the draw. Unacceptable to me even though I am running a stock v3 trigger. For all I know, I was doing the same thing with my JRC AIWB and just didn’t have an indicator to alert me.
The Future:
Everything is working well with this rig and there are only a couple tweaks that I need to make. The first one is to get high ride kydex loop from JM. Right now, I could use a little more height to get a better master grip more reliably. The second is to place some loop Velcro on the belt loop so my WT belt can really lock it in. I did this on my JRC and it was a great mod.
Bottom Line:
Both the JM Custom Kydes AIWB and the IWB v2 are excellent holsters. Quality workmanship. Tony is great to work with and his Customer Service is top notch. Both holsters are a great value IMO and I will be back for more when the time comes. Highly recommended! :cool: