I tested the Tuckable IWB holster from The PJ Holster Company. If you like IWB holsters, this one gave me a smooth presentation and outstanding concealment.
While I was I was headed out to dinner with my wife, she told me, “You’ve got to get a new holster.” Although I’m sure some people fantasize about their spouses telling them they will purchase firearm accessories for them, this statement put me on full alert. What she meant was my holster wasn't doing a good job hiding my gun under my clothing.
I went shopping. My Kahr CW9 is my EDC gun, and I needed to hide it better.
The PJ Tuckable caught my eye because they allow customers to choose custom options for their standard products. I was looking for, or was actually ordered to find, a J hook style that was “tuckable”. I needed to carry my 9mm, and still be able to tuck in my shirt.
What custom options are available? I asked Paul Giannaula of PJ Holsters. He told me customers can vary ride heights, ride angles, colors, coverage of sweat guard, and coverage of mag release buttons, as long as their design doesn’t compromise the safety of the product. They will custom mould for laser and light mounted guns also.
I found the PJ Tuckable to be a fair priced holster, even without their policy on customization.
PJ Holsters accomplishes the “tuckable” part of this holster by adding another sheet of kydex to the scabbard part. This is formed into the belt loop part of the design, allowing the garment to tuck between the belt loops and the scabbard. It is a “taco style” scabbard with adjustments just under the dust cover part of the slide. The tension adjustment is done using two Chicago screws with a rubber bumper in between.
I bought one and strapped it on.
Here’s a rule of thumb: Start with an adjustment that does not allow the gun to fall freely from the holster, without the tension of being in the belt line. Add enough tension to hold it securely without affecting the draw. The PJ Tuckable has plenty of adjustment for this purpose.
The Tuckable can be purchased in a variety of cants. I picked the FBI 15 degree cant, which is my choice for comfort and conceal-ability. The J Hook design works for me, even if I have an untucked shirt. There are other belt attachments, including a molded clip and a closed loop, which Paul tells me is very popular.
My Tuckable has rounded and beveled edges, which is a critical feature for something one wears under one’s clothing. The sweat guard goes all the way to the rear of the gun, where it is smoothly profiled so it doesn’t cut into my hip or ribs. I wore it for a few weeks before even talking about the product. I needed to try it using a variety of clothing and belts.
During my wear testing, I didn’t get any rattle, nor did I experience any of the typical discomfort from wearing a firearm every day. It did not show any signs of wear when I drew and presented the gun dozens of times. I carried it mostly under a light T shirt, which is why I picked the CW9 for EDC.
Another rule of thumb: Don’t carry it until you’ve presented the gun from it at least a couple hundred times. Some experts say 500 times. I’m ok with that.
My Tuckable allows a consistent master grip for good presentations. The gun flows smoothly from the holster, and there is ample room for chunky sights. The inside fits well around my micro 9 mm, which suggests that they use pretty good molds for a custom fit. You know, the kind of holster that says “clop” when the gun locks in.
Some users prefer a method of rotating the grip of the gun slightly inward, to add to conceal ability. This is usually done by adding a block of material on the trailing edge of the holster, which presses the rear of the gun into the body. I don’t care for this type of design, because it adds more material to the holster. The PJ Tuckable holster uses that second sheet of lightweight Kydex to accomplish the same thing. The butt of the gun is pressed pretty well into the body without making it uncomfortable. This makes it a pretty reasonable product for the appendix carry crowd.
The PJ Tuckable is a good quality holster for a reasonable price.
I’m back on my wife’s good side, and my strategy for getting new accessories worked.
www.PJHolster.com
