81,145 rounds
10 stoppages, 0 malfunctions, 4 parts breakages
This past Monday, the P30 broke through the 80,000 round mark. The last 3,753 rounds have been without cleaning or lubricating… not so much to torture the gun, but because I just haven’t got around to cleaning or lubing it. You have to respect a gun that lets you be so lazy.
For the past six weeks, I’ve been using a new appendix holster from Custom Carry Concepts. You won’t find it on the CCC webpage, at least not yet. But the holster — which I call The Shaggy (the nickname of one of its designers) — has taken the place of the Looper for my everyday carry.
Whereas the Looper used its kydex belt loop to provide precision in terms of cant, ride height, and tuck, the Shaggy relies on the holster body itself to position the gun. It achieves this by being wider at the back than the front, turning the entire holster body into a wedge. This allows for the same tucked in gun butt orienation without putting torque on the belt loop, which was always the weak point of the AIWB version of the Looper.
Another benefit of the Shaggy is that the belt loop is a removable part. If it were to crack, you need only replace the loop. Alternatively, CCC will soon also be able to provide a leather loop that attaches in place of the solid kydex loop in these pictures.
The Shaggy certainly looks a little odd. As you can see from this photo (left), the trigger guard area has a bulge that gives it an uneven appearance. But that is the result of the wedge shape and a desire to keep the trigger protected from even the most unlikely problem.
As good as the Looper was when pressed into AIWB service, the Shaggy has definitely surpassed it as a dedicated appendix design. It’s every bit as comfortable and at least as fast & concealable, if not more so. Add to that the holster’s flexibility and improved durability and it’s easy to predict the Shaggy will become the new standard in kydex AIWB.
The holster and the P30 will be busy in the coming week, with lots of range time and a couple of classes scheduled this weekend, as well. In particular, this Saturday the P30 is being loaned to “John_Wayne777” (author of the Handgun Low Light Essentials article) during the Get SOM class in Virginia. So next week you can expect to hear JW777’s comments about the gun after spending an entire day with it.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
Previous P30 Endurance Test posts at pistol-training.com:
- P30 Update 20-Feb-10
- Week Thirty-Four
- Week Thirty-Three
- Week Thirty-Two
- Week Thirty-One
- Week Thirty
- Week Twenty-Nine
- Week Twenty-Eight
- Week Twenty-Seven
- Week Twenty-Six
- Week Twenty-Five
- Week Twenty-Four
- Week Twenty-Three
- Week Twenty-Two
- Week Twenty-One
- Week Twenty
- Week Nineteen
- Week Seventeen
- Week Sixteen
- Week Fifteen
- Week Fourteen
- Week Thirteen
- Week Twelve
- Week Eleven
- Week Ten
- Week Nine
- Week Eight
- Week Seven
- Week Six
- Week Five
- Week Four
- Week Three
- Week Two
- Week One
- Initial Report
I have 2 holsters from CCC. Excellent quality.
Todd,
Could you post some photos of the Shaggy being worn? It would be nice to see the ride height and how close it pulls the butt of the pistol to the body.
Thanks!
I spoke to Rich today and was able to change my AIWB Looper order to this new style – should have it next week.
interesting holster change. nice.
How is appendix carry with a P30 when sitting? I always thought it would be too long to be worth trying an appendix holster for it.
Richard — I’ve been wearing a P30 in one appendix holster or another (CCC Looper, Garrity AIWB, and now the CCC Shaggy) since I first got it, every day, all day. I’ve worn it that way on long drives with no discomfort. It’s all about getting the right holster.
Huh….I guess this means I need to write something up about the P30.
I’ll second Todd’s comment about the comfort of AIWB. I’ve tried AIWB before briefly with other holsters and found it to be a royal pain. (Figuratively and literally). When I borrowed the test gun Todd lent me the original Looper holster and to my surprise AIWB was reasonably comfortable, even with my excess concealment ballast. (AKA gut)
I put the P30 and holster on that morning and didn’t take it off until it was time to give Todd the test gun back that afternoon. I had it on in the car on the way to lunch, at lunch, and on the way back…without discomfort. Carrying AIWB takes getting used to just like carrying IWB strongside did at first, but with the right holster it is absolutely doable. Todd has saved everyone some time and money by finding the right holster.
I agree with TW, but would like to add an addition request. I’d like to see some pictures of it being worn in a number of positions; standing, sitting in a car, squatting, bending over and any other number of every day positions.
Also, does it come in lefty?
For more information or pics of the holster, I recommend you contact Custom Carry Concepts directly.
This enables me to carry a Glock 17 in far more comfort than a G19. Recommended.
CCC lists backing options for the Shaggy: leather comfort layer and leather heat shield. Do you wish your version had either of these options? After using yours do you think either would be a benefit?
Jim — The heat shield was developed for the Looper back during the M&P9 endurance test and I’ve used one on every Looper since then, as well as on my current Shaggy. I’ve never tried the “comfort layer” but it’s essentially a thinner piece of leather.