{"id":568,"date":"2022-11-23T21:34:57","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T21:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=568"},"modified":"2022-11-23T21:34:57","modified_gmt":"2022-11-23T21:34:57","slug":"desantis-grd-holster-review-ayoobs-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=568","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis GRD Holster Review \u2014 Ayoob\u2019s Take"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By Massad Ayoob<\/a><\/p>\n

K<\/span>ydex appears to dominate the holster market today, but a lot of die-hard pistol-packers still favor leather. It isn\u2019t just tradition. Leather holsters break in quickly for comfort on the belt, more so than Kydex, though they take longer as a rule to break in insofar as gun-to-holster fit. They also can allow a more silent draw when a dangerous situation dictates discreetly getting a gun in your hand.<\/p>\n

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The DeSantis GRD, shown here with the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro, is one of many high-quality holsters made by the\u00a0company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now comes DeSantis (famous at first for their gunleather, but for some time now offering a thorough line of Kydex rigs) with a unique blend of the two concepts. They call it the Variable GRD, model number 194, and this outside-the-waistband (OWB) holster is loaded with useful features.<\/p>\n

The DeSantis catalog entry on this product reads:<\/p>\n

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The #194,\u00a0Variable GRD<\/strong>, is built from premium saddle leather and has many unique features. The reinforced mouth (top section), on both sides, allows an easy one-hand return. It\u2019s both ambidextrous and adjustable for height and cant with the 1.5\u2033 belt loops. 1 3\/4\u2033 belt loops are available separately. The #194 also features the GRD (Gunhide Retaining Device) which not only helps retain the weapon with an\u00a0AUDIBLE CLICK<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0but helps secure it from a rear takeaway attempt. The #194 is now available for many commonly carried autoloaders in black and saddle tan.<\/p>\n

2022 DeSantis Gunhide Catalog<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"DeSantis\n<\/picture>
While leather is the main material used in the GRD holster, the rig uses an internal Kydex component to lock the gun into place when\u00a0carried.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The GRD Element<\/h2>\n

\u00a0\u201cGRD\u201d stands for \u201cG<\/strong>unhide\u00a0R<\/strong>etaining\u00a0D<\/strong>evice.\u201d The main body of the holster is leather \u2014 a rich tan color or low-key black, your choice \u2014 with a molded piece of rigid synthetic is blended into the interior. The trigger guard of the firearm is held firmly enough that you can do backward somersaults and the gun won\u2019t fall out. When you\u00a0want\u00a0<\/em>it to come out, though, its open top design allows a quick draw.<\/p>\n

\"grd\n<\/picture>
The GRD is not a security holster like those worn by police officers. Rather, it uses a positive retention device to ensure the gun remains safely in the rig during normal\u00a0activities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s not a security holster<\/a> per se, but the company does promise that it will give some resistance to a snatch attempt from an attacker behind you. Our testing showed that it was indeed the case. However, anyone pulling it straight up and forward along its intended draw path, as the wearer would, could probably get the gun out. Harder for the bad guy, still easy for you. As a weapon retention instructor of long-standing, I see that as a selling point.<\/p>\n

The Variable Element<\/h2>\n

The adjustments built into the #194 allow the user to set it for straight up draw (no cant or neutral cant<\/a>) if you perform your draw to the shot standing bolt upright and are wide enough front to back that your holstered pistol of choice doesn\u2019t cause a tell-tale bulge under your clothing. For better concealment, or if you bring your upper body forward in a draw to your fighting stance, the #194 allows FBI tilt, also known as rearward cant (muzzle) or forward tilt (grip-frame).<\/p>\n

\"DeSantis\n<\/picture>
The DeSantis GRD, along with the Hellcat Pro 9mm, makes for a great CCW\u00a0setup.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ingenious design also allows the pistol to be switched from right-hand carry to left, and back. This is more useful than a lot of people realize. As a firearms instructor, I often have to lend holsters to this or that student who came to class with an unsuitable scabbard. Some of those folks are going to be southpaw even though I\u2019m not. Even if you don\u2019t teach, you might have to lend a holster to someone you care about. And, don\u2019t forget, any of us might suffer an injury to our dominant upper limb that requires us to trust non-dominant hand only for gun handling during the healing process. A quickly convertible holster like this one gets another bonus point on that score.<\/p>\n

Our Test<\/h2>\n

Our test sample DeSantis rig is one of several holsters made for the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro<\/a>. I wanted to get this article in to the editor expeditiously and was going on the road for a couple of months with only three days home. My friend John Strayer, who EDCs a Springfield Hellcat Pro<\/a> every day, offered to do the carry portion of the test.<\/p>\n

\"John\n<\/picture>
5-Gun Master and daily carrier John Strayer did the two-month carry test of the DeSantis GRD\u00a0holster.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What you need to know about John Strayer is that he was among the first IDPA Five-Gun Masters and competes in other disciplines as well, such as USPSA and ICORE, all of which demand a fast draw if you\u2019re going to win. He has won so many state and regional championships that he has lost count. He has carried a gun daily at work and off work for 30-some years. Suffice it to say, when John Strayer talks about this sort of thing, I listen intently.<\/p>\n

\"review\n<\/picture>
The GRD is a good-looking rig with ample clearance for a slide-mounted optic on the Hellcat\u00a0Pro.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John carried his Hellcat Pro in this holster for two months straight, from work to church and everything in between. A Floridian, he spent many sweaty days at work, 14 days of 14 hours each doing hurricane support during the Hurricane Ian crisis including one 36-hour stretch without sleep.<\/p>\n

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Here\u2019s John\u2019s after-action report on the #194.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecurity is excellent,\u201d John told me. \u201cDraw is quick. It has two distinct, palpable \u2018clicks\u2019. As you holster, you feel a tight spot, and then it snaps into its molding.\u201d<\/p>\n

This DeSantis outside the belt holster held the Hellcat so tightly to his body that it concealed even under untucked t-shirts.<\/p>\n

\"strayer\n<\/picture>
When holstering, the wearer of the GRD holster can hear and feel the \u201cclick\u201d of the pistol locking into\u00a0place.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strayer added, \u201cThis holster protected the gun very well. It didn\u2019t hold moisture, even though I carried quite a bit under an un-tucked shirt, close to a body that produced a lot of sweat. It simply did not retain moisture; when I took it off at night the holster was dry. I say that because I\u2019ve had leather holsters in the past that were soaking wet when I took them off. That\u2019s one reason I went to Kydex a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"gun\n<\/picture>
From this view, you can see the internal Kydex mechanism that helps to lock the Hellcat Pro into the\u00a0scabbard.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nothing is perfect for everyone. John\u2019s one complaint with the holster was that when he took a drawing grasp, the high cut of this holster kept his middle finger from getting the high grip he\u2019s accustomed to using. He adapted, though. \u201cI just loosened my middle finger at the start of the draw, and once the Hellcat was past the retention point of the first \u2018click,\u2019 the middle finger went into place just fine. That\u2019s a problem I have with a lot of holsters, not just this one.\u201d It should be noted that John is not a small guy and does not have thin fingers.<\/p>\n

\"belt\n<\/picture>
In this photo, you can see the rigid belt loops used by DeSantis. The left loop is arranged in the high position which would create a butt-forward tilt to the gun when\u00a0carried.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Master shooter concluded, \u201cI would recommend this holster, especially when you need deep concealment with an OWB holster. There was no protrusion when sitting in the diner and leaning forward talking to friends, for example. I really liked its tight profile to the body for an OWB holster. It did take some breaking in.\u201d (As most leather holsters do.)<\/p>\n

About the \u201cClick\u201d<\/h2>\n

You noticed at the beginning of the article that one cardinal advantage of a leather concealment holster is the silent, surreptitious draw. How do we reconcile that with a holster whose own manufacturer speaks proudly of its \u201cclick\u201d?<\/p>\n

\"desantis\n<\/picture>
DeSantis reinforces the mouth of the rig and uses top-shelf hardware and stitching for the\u00a0GRD.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

John Strayer explains, \u201cThe click is audible going in, but not enough to really notice coming out. If you really listen for it you can hear the rake of the leather, but it\u2019s nothing like the loud noise most Kydex holsters make when you draw.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bottom Line<\/h2>\n

The DeSantis #194 Variable GRD holster is an extremely versatile piece of concealed carry kit, and a good value at well under $100 retail.<\/p>\n

Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in and discuss this article and much more!<\/em><\/p>\n

Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n

Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n

Featured in this article<\/span><\/h5>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\"DeSantis\n<\/picture>\n <\/p>\n

DeSantis Variable GRD Ambi Hellcat Pro Holster<\/span><\/h3>\n


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By Massad Ayoob Kydex appears to dominate the holster market today, but a lot of die-hard pistol-packers still favor leather. It isn\u2019t just tradition. Leather holsters break in quickly for comfort on the belt, more so than Kydex, though they take longer as a rule to break in insofar as gun-to-holster fit. They also can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}