Galco Avenger Holster Review

We got our mitts on an OG favorite, the Galco Avenger. It’s typically considered a range holster because of its open top, but the friction provided by its leather interior and the mechanical retention setting provides plenty of grip for concealed carry.

The beefy holster is well-suited to our favorite time of year — when it’s cold and cover garments let you get away with more comfortable carry options. The Avenger rides high and has a neutral cant, so it’s perfectly suited for outrigger carry at 3 o’clock … which you can
get away with when wearing a heavy coat.

We paired the classic Galco Avenger with another classic — the SIG P229, a heavy, metal-framed pistol that benefits from the holster’s durable leather construction as a winter carry combo. There’s no worry of embrittlement in the cold and splitting the way thinner grades of Kydex do with heavy pistols. We also love the highly sculpted and reinforced holster mouth that won’t close up when empty. We also noticed the mouth mold takes into account the 229’s decocking lever for a precise and stable fit.

Galco provides a retention adjustment screw; that’s it for customization. The only downside is the 1.75-inch belt loops. Belt tech has taken us to a norm of 1.25- to 1.5-inch belts, so we’d love to see an update to the Avenger that provides the same level of stability and panache with today’s smaller belts.

Galco Avenger

Fits:  Many popular pistols, including SIG P229 (shown)
MSRP:  $136
URL: galcogunleather.com

[Editor's Note: This article first appeared in Concealment 21.]

More on Holsters and Concealed Carry

• GBRS Group x TXC Holsters: .
• Many of the Best 9mm Pistols come optics-ready.
• Modern Holsters: Carrying into the Future.
• No Look? No Way: Eye Contact while Reholstering.
• PHLster Summit

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