The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: CDR on February 19, 2007, 08:19:10 PM
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I don't know if many of you know about Robert Mika and his superb line of pocket holsters, but they are the favorite amongst many on and off duty police officers in the United States. Mr. Mika is a retired LAPD officer, now residing in Wisconsin, who realized that the holsters that were available years ago for pocket carry left something to be desired. So he designed and made one for himself, according to what he felt was important in a holster, and has been making them ever since. They are a favorite amongst the LAPD and have been so for about 20 years now.
I ordered one recently when I heard Mr. Mika's holsters mentioned by Massad Ayoob in a recent Personal Defense TV episode. Its what Mr. Ayoob uses to carry his 340 PD in his front pocket. Hey, I figured if its good enough for Massad, it's more than good enough for me.
By the way, Mr. Mika is wonderful to deal with and his communication and speed of delivery is superb. Check out the link below if you carry a pocket gun.
http://www.frontiernet.net/~akim/
Regards
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Michael,
Great piece on pocket pistols and holsters......thanks. By the way, I was happy to see that you mentioned Robert Mika's holsters in your write-up and included his link. Very affordable and excellent functionality.
Thanks
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Hi all,
I just wanted to report on the Robert Mika pocket holster I ordered recently for my snubby, which arrived today. I must say I am more than impressed and delighted with its form and function. This has to be the best buy in pocket holsters out there, bar none. It is beautifully hand sewn and padded and a nice, unexpected touch is Mr. Mika's hand written notation on the inside of the holster, written in white ink directly onto the soft black fabric lining before it is assembled. The notations indicate, "Handmade by Robert Mika for (customer's name) on 2/2007". On the opposite side, the gun manufacturer and model the holster was custom made for....in my case "S&W 340 PD" (but will probably be used for the 340 M&P model I have ordered from Smith and Wesson which has the exact same dimensions).
Anyone who orders one of these pocket holsters will be very happy with what they receive. What I especially like about the holster, from a form perspective, is the way it is sewn so it maintains its opened shape inside your pocket at just the right size to effectively allow you to draw the gun out and reholster it easily. No struggling to try and squeeze the gun in and out of the holster opening. It is stiffened to the right degree to remain opened while the material is soft and padded enough to be comfortable and flexible in your pocket. It also effectively covers the trigger guard area while keeping the grip fully exposed to enable a quick and sound grip on the revolver when you need to draw it. Also, the rubberized strip that surrounds the center of the holster effectively keeps the rig inside your pocket when you draw due to its slightly tacky feel. It is also cut at precisely the right shape to sit perfectly inside your pocket at the correct angle without shifting around. I highly recommend this holster and, at $18 shipped, it is priced way lower than it should be for a customized holster made precisely for your gun's specifications. A very nice job by someone who obviously has the experience and knowledge to produce such a product. No wonder the LAPD and other police forces around the country swear by these pocket holsters.
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...Robert Mika pocket holster ... it is sewn so it maintains its opened shape inside your pocket at just the right size to effectively allow you to draw the gun out and reholster it easily...
CDR,
It would be great if you would come back in 3 months and let us know how this holster stands up to being used (on a daily basis??).
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CDR,
It would be great if you would come back in 3 months and let us know how this holster stands up to being used (on a daily basis??).
Will do Don, no problem........hopefully I will just be placing it in my pocket and not drawing it out on a daily basis..... :) Otherwise, I'm moving!!
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...hopefully I will just be placing it in my pocket and not drawing it out on a daily basis..... :)
You should consider spending five minutes a week (or once a month) drawing the gun. Make sure it is unloaded, do a smooth draw (quick not fast) and pull the trigger twice.
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You should consider spending five minutes a week (or once a month) drawing the gun. Make sure it is unloaded, do a smooth draw (quick not fast) and pull the trigger twice.
Hi Don,
You're absolutely right....thanks for the tip. I think this makes a lot of sense in order to become proficient to the level where the pocket draw becomes second nature and one doesn't shoot oneself in the leg or buttocks in haste. Would it make sense to eventually practice the same draw with live fire at the range, or is it simply too risky and dangerous to attempt a draw from the pocket with live fire, regardless of how good one gets? I'm thinking dry fire practice only is best but not sure. With a J frame, is it better to use snap caps for practice?
Thanks.
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Hi Don,
... or is it simply too risky and dangerous to attempt a draw from the pocket with live fire, regardless of how good one gets? I'm thinking dry fire practice only is best but not sure. With a J frame, is it better to use snap caps for practice?
You would have to decide if live fire is appropriate for you. Having said that, if you never practice drawing with live fire, will you do when/if the time comes for real? I have snap-caps for reloading practice but not for dry fire.
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You would have to decide if live fire is appropriate for you. Having said that, if you never practice drawing with live fire, will you do when/if the time comes for real? I have snap-caps for reloading practice but not for dry fire.
Thanks Don,
I think you make a valid point regarding not knowing how one will react in a real life situation unless proper practice preceeds the event. Once I get comfortable with the dry fire draw, and in turn instill in my muscle memory not to touch the trigger until the target is in my sights, then I will proceed with live range practice. I was thinking to always use snap caps for dry fire...do you think it is unnecessary with a J frame?
Thanks
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In regards to snap-caps, I just like my revolver empty when I dry fire. I have snaps for all my guns (9mm, .45s, .22s, 12ga) and use them for reload practice and demonstration purposes.
Another thought...I only dry fire in one place in my home (my home office, I need to get a TV in there instead of the picture of Bane). Any other time, my gun is loaded in my pocket and ready to go.
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In regards to snap-caps, I just like my revolver empty when I dry fire. I have snaps for all my guns (9mm, .45s, .22s, 12ga) and use them for reload practice and demonstration purposes.
Another thought...I only dry fire in one place in my home (my home office, I need to get a TV in there instead of the picture of Bane). Any other time, my gun is loaded in my pocket and ready to go.
Hi Don,
When you get the TV, you can still shoot at Michael...just schedule your dry firing session for Wednesday's. If you miss him the first time, you can get him on the re-runs later that evening.
Regarding the snap caps, I think it is a great idea for reloading practice, especially with speed loaders. I was looking at it from the perspective that snap caps would protect the snubby's firing pin during dry firing or do I not need to concern myself?
Thanks
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Strangely enough, I discovered I have a Mika holster for the NAA .32...like the frozen snow leopard in Hemingway's "Snow os Kilimanjaro," I have no idea how it came to be in my pocket holster bin, but it does seem to work excellently.
I'm a big fan of blue guns for draw practice, handling skills, etc. As I've mentioned, blue guns never ever go bang, and that's a huge plus. You can get the blue Rings guns directly from Rings (http://www.blueguns.com/) or from Brownell's (http://www.brownells.com/). ASP also makes 'em in red, and a little cheaper (http://www.asp-net.com/streettraining.html). Or SoftAir stuff...especially the cheap clear plastic ones...works, too.
I usually use snap caps in my DA revolvers...I don't suppose it's really necessary, but I'm used to it and it's not a big deal. I do totally agree that draw practice is important with a pocket pistol, because very pocket is different...I like to do a few draws every time i get a new pair of jeans (I keep a blue J-Frame in my office, if you must know).
Michael B
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Thanks Michael. I like snap caps for my S&W 686 and figure it is probably a good idea for a snubby when my M&P 340 arrives sometime in March. I've decided to get that one first and then probably the stainless 640 later on.
I don't know if anyone uses this type of snap cap, but they are great and I highly recommend them. I think they are significantly better and more realistic in feel than typical plastic snap caps. I've attached a link to a video showing them in action as well as the link to the manufacturer's web site. They're called A-Zoom........have a look.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/images/Part3.mov
Part3.mov
http://www.lymanproducts.com/azoom/index.htm
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Over the last 8 or 9 years, I've have Robert Mika make three pocket holsters for me.
After years of service, they are just as good as new.
I can assure you that they wear well.
Mike
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Another craftsman I recommend is RJ Hedley of Winter Haven, FL. RJ is a fine gentleman who makes every pocket holster (and that's all he makes) as if he was going to carry it himself. If it doesn't meet RJ's standards, it becomes scrap and never leaves his "factory" located in the living room of his home.
Most of my pocket carry guns ride in RJ's work:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v250/flyandscuba/DSCF0184.jpg)
Visit www.hedleyholsters.com for more information about the man and his products.
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Well, y'all can do what you want with YOUR guns, but having personally broken firing pins on both a Smith 19 and a Colt Python by dry firing, I will NEVER again snap any revolver with an empty chamber. I make my own snap-caps by filling the primer pockets of worn-out cases with GE Silicone II. Works great!
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Ok, you have sold me. I am ordering a Mika pocket holster for my 638-3 bodyguard. It does such a good job of protecting me on a daily basis, it is time to treat it to something nice.
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can anyone recommend the square cut or the round cut, and why?
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can anyone recommend the square cut or the round cut, and why?
Hi norfdet,
I like the round cut as it seems to follow the shape of the pocket that it sits in. Have a look at the inner fabric of your pockets. If it is perfectly square then a square would fit well. If, on the other hand, the pocket is curved on the side, as mine are on my Elites or Dockers, then I think the rounded Mika would work best. I also like the way the rounded Mika just easily slides into your pocket. With a square holster, you may have more of an issue if the pocket is narrow as you have to squeeze a wider holster into this pocket. JMHO. I think you will love the Mika holster. Mine is awaiting a 340 M&P that is still on order. The good news is that S&W began shipping them last week. Welcome aboard!!
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flyandscuba,
I too carry in an RJ holster and I am a huge fan. As I posted on the PagerPal postings which I have quoted below. I am most likely going to email Mica and see if he thinks his holster would work on a Keltec. May just get one before I get the J-frame which is next.
Hope this helps,
-Jose
http://idpashooter.blogspot.com
Re: Pager Pal
« Reply #11 on: Today at 09:23:10 PM »
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norfdet,
Maybe I should look for mine and just send it to Bane. That should really get us covered. Mike, you game? He can then send mine off to our friend matthew if we have not managed to disuade him yet. How many of us has he persuaded to look into LaserGrips, just imagine. Unfortunately, no LaserGrips for my Keltec P3AT, not sure how they would add them anyway!
Just as an aside. I carry in an RJ Hedlely holster http://hedleyholsters.com/ and really love it I use the Right handed back pocket holster although I tend to carry it in the front pocket but with nice dress slacks it really allows almost no printing. Not to mention RJ was very nice. Just to throw another idea out there.
-Jose
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Yeah, on top of RJ's high quality -- he is just a down-right nice guy. I've enjoyed a couple of opportunities to sit with him in his "factory" and watch hi create a thing of beauty from what seems to me like a few scraps of leather. He has a wealth of knowledge as well and it is always good to learn with a master craftsman while enjoying a nice glass of sweet tea...
Speaking of J-frames -- RJ has a nice collection of BBQ guns...one of my favorites is "The Grim Reaper"!