Feel free to add your anecdotes and things you’ve heard - this is an open discussion + a review. I want to document the long-term.
aliengearholsters.com
The Alien Gear Photon IWB/OWB ambidextrous holster is relatively new, being released in May of 2023. I know AG makes some good holsters, but being new we have the time before it goes from “New and cool” to “Tested and reliable” or “Do not buy.” I haven’t seen a lot about it, only found it on their site when looking at holsters.
I have carried it for 30+ hours at this point of the thread, configured below. Here is my immediate notes:
P320 Compact, with mag carrier attached. Set up for appendix carry, right hand dominant.
Pros:
• Modular as all hell.
• Ambi, for the wrong handed.
• Kydex (adjustable tension, consistency in draw/reholster)
• Low profile, even with a mag carrier expansion wing.
• AG Photon Mag carrier can be positioned wherever - or attached to the holster via a skeletonized “arm,” which is adjustable.
• Adjustment options. Clip size (1.5” and 1.75”), height, cant. 3 holes to choose.
• Screw adjustments. You have to screw everything in, it comes pre-loctite’d with the yellow one.
• Available at big box stores. I drove to Bass Pro for it.
• All Photon holsters (light-bearing or not) are optics compatible, just check before buying. I don’t think it likes optics that have forward-protruding windows like the SRO.
• $45. Mag carrier is $25.
• Comes with a “claw” to help reduce printing. Might help, although I do not have holsters to compare to.
Cons:
• Kydex. Can be uncomfortable.
• Only L1 retention. Just the friction, so not ideal for OWB if you like your gun with L2 or L3 retention.
Neither pro nor cons:
• Comes in pieces. You have to assemble the entire thing. Do not have black carpet or the screws will go to Narnia.
• Takes a good minute to find proper fitment.
• Should accept threaded barrels, although I do not know for sure. I do know they will protrude from the holster.
The above will be updated as I get more time with it and more people get one and say their words.
Impressions:
Sits low enough in appendix configuration to carry a P320C with a small gut. I’m new to carrying, and had no issues.
I have a suede holster that is slightly more comfortable but this is secure. Doesn’t feel cheap, mag carrier arm bends enough to curve to your body but isn’t floppy. Sits well when seated, although I need to adjust to sit straight or slightly forward, since I have pudge. Haven’t tried any other position since I feel appendix being the most secure, minus the whole gun pointed at your junk park.
By this time it just is there, and honestly comfortable enough I forgot. The clips combined with retention are a mental security - the gun is not going anywhere and the gun will come out without the holster when I want it to. I only had one bad experience - I got pinched sitting down in my car. I carry appendix, do the math. Holster isn’t really at fault - but it happened because of rigidity.
Print wise, there is a small amount but I can chalk that to the gun I carry, being a “bigger” one. With my size and build, it looks less like a gun and just baggy shirt. Tight shirts “Print like a fax machine” as my friend says, and yes he was right. Holster issue, maybe. To me, wardrobe issue but I thought it was worth including.
I spent a good 20 minutes or so with the holster and my unloaded gun trying to simulate a ND. I had no luck, I tried everything from t-shirt getting caught and aggressive reholstering to partial bad trigger discipline. When reholstering with a finger on the side or not fully on the trigger, the gun will not holster OR your finger is not able to continue, but the gun does. I reholstered at multiple angles, with torque and tried to simulate an ND. No luck. The only ND I was able to successfully simulate is having a golf ball sized ball of tshirt in the trigger guard while reholstering. The close second being finger partially on the trigger, for the obvious reason. Yes, this is my gun with my trigger, and yours may be lighter or heavier. This was a stock P320C trigger. You may have manual safety, so this entire section could be irrelevant. So far, not been able to find a flaw in the safety of the holster.
So to end the first post in this thread - it works. It seems adjustable enough to make everyone happy. It beats buying a $200 LAS Concealment Ronin and not liking it. If you’re in the market - check it out, especially if you have a different gun or a light, since I unfortunately do not have more guns or a light to give my 2 cents on.
Thanks, let me know what you think/experience.
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The Alien Gear Photon IWB/OWB ambidextrous holster is relatively new, being released in May of 2023. I know AG makes some good holsters, but being new we have the time before it goes from “New and cool” to “Tested and reliable” or “Do not buy.” I haven’t seen a lot about it, only found it on their site when looking at holsters.
I have carried it for 30+ hours at this point of the thread, configured below. Here is my immediate notes:
P320 Compact, with mag carrier attached. Set up for appendix carry, right hand dominant.
Pros:
• Modular as all hell.
• Ambi, for the wrong handed.
• Kydex (adjustable tension, consistency in draw/reholster)
• Low profile, even with a mag carrier expansion wing.
• AG Photon Mag carrier can be positioned wherever - or attached to the holster via a skeletonized “arm,” which is adjustable.
• Adjustment options. Clip size (1.5” and 1.75”), height, cant. 3 holes to choose.
• Screw adjustments. You have to screw everything in, it comes pre-loctite’d with the yellow one.
• Available at big box stores. I drove to Bass Pro for it.
• All Photon holsters (light-bearing or not) are optics compatible, just check before buying. I don’t think it likes optics that have forward-protruding windows like the SRO.
• $45. Mag carrier is $25.
• Comes with a “claw” to help reduce printing. Might help, although I do not have holsters to compare to.
Cons:
• Kydex. Can be uncomfortable.
• Only L1 retention. Just the friction, so not ideal for OWB if you like your gun with L2 or L3 retention.
Neither pro nor cons:
• Comes in pieces. You have to assemble the entire thing. Do not have black carpet or the screws will go to Narnia.
• Takes a good minute to find proper fitment.
• Should accept threaded barrels, although I do not know for sure. I do know they will protrude from the holster.
The above will be updated as I get more time with it and more people get one and say their words.
Impressions:
Sits low enough in appendix configuration to carry a P320C with a small gut. I’m new to carrying, and had no issues.
I have a suede holster that is slightly more comfortable but this is secure. Doesn’t feel cheap, mag carrier arm bends enough to curve to your body but isn’t floppy. Sits well when seated, although I need to adjust to sit straight or slightly forward, since I have pudge. Haven’t tried any other position since I feel appendix being the most secure, minus the whole gun pointed at your junk park.
By this time it just is there, and honestly comfortable enough I forgot. The clips combined with retention are a mental security - the gun is not going anywhere and the gun will come out without the holster when I want it to. I only had one bad experience - I got pinched sitting down in my car. I carry appendix, do the math. Holster isn’t really at fault - but it happened because of rigidity.
Print wise, there is a small amount but I can chalk that to the gun I carry, being a “bigger” one. With my size and build, it looks less like a gun and just baggy shirt. Tight shirts “Print like a fax machine” as my friend says, and yes he was right. Holster issue, maybe. To me, wardrobe issue but I thought it was worth including.
I spent a good 20 minutes or so with the holster and my unloaded gun trying to simulate a ND. I had no luck, I tried everything from t-shirt getting caught and aggressive reholstering to partial bad trigger discipline. When reholstering with a finger on the side or not fully on the trigger, the gun will not holster OR your finger is not able to continue, but the gun does. I reholstered at multiple angles, with torque and tried to simulate an ND. No luck. The only ND I was able to successfully simulate is having a golf ball sized ball of tshirt in the trigger guard while reholstering. The close second being finger partially on the trigger, for the obvious reason. Yes, this is my gun with my trigger, and yours may be lighter or heavier. This was a stock P320C trigger. You may have manual safety, so this entire section could be irrelevant. So far, not been able to find a flaw in the safety of the holster.
So to end the first post in this thread - it works. It seems adjustable enough to make everyone happy. It beats buying a $200 LAS Concealment Ronin and not liking it. If you’re in the market - check it out, especially if you have a different gun or a light, since I unfortunately do not have more guns or a light to give my 2 cents on.
Thanks, let me know what you think/experience.
