Holster choice is as important as your selection of firearm because a good gun in a bad holster is like having a race car with lousy tires. There are a lot of factors that come into play when you're looking at holster performance, and it all starts with gun fit.

What's great advice without compelling choices? Here's half a hundred great holsters and belts built by some of the top makers in the country.

Gun Fit
Obviously, a holster holds a gun, but it needs to do so properly. If your gun is too loose, it can move and be in a bad position when you need to draw, and at worst the gun can actually fall out. I don't want to be put in the position of trying to explain to the little old lady at the checkout counter that there is no need to worry as I pick up my gun from the floor---not to mention trying to figure out what to say to the responding police officer.

Conversely, a holster that is too tight could foul your grip or throw off your draw and derail your shooting. I have tried some holsters that were so tight that it was nearly impossible to retrieve the firearm.

The better the boning of a leather holster the less tight the holster needs to be. Boning is the process by which quality leather holsters are fitted to a specific model of handgun, and it entails forming the leather--when wet--to the contours of the gun with a smooth tool or "bone." A properly boned holster will adhere to the trigger guard, slide stop and other physical features detailed into the leather, eliminating the need for a strap to hold the gun in.

The best way to tell whether your gun fits a holster properly is to holster the unloaded pistol or revolver and then run hard and jump up and down. The gun should remain firmly in the holster during these vigorous actions, but it shouldn't be so tight that it impedes the draw. If you find yourself tugging hard to lift your gun from the holster, you need to loosen it. If you have an adjustable holster, the adjustment screw will change the tension easily. Leather holsters can usually be broken in by simply wearing them around the house.

Comfort & Support
If you're going to carry for extended periods of time, a holster needs be comfortable. Comfort has a lot to do with how well the holster fits the contours of your body and how well the holster and belt supports the weight of the gun. The key to proper support is thick, high quality leather in the holster and especially the belt.

While frequently overlooked, gun belts are extremely important. They contribute to both comfort and security of your carry rig. The belt is what keeps the holster positioned upright and prevents it from flopping around.

Don't use a common casual or dress belt. For maximum support, the belt should be made of thick two-ply leather to help support and distribute the weight of the gun.

If you intend on using your belt with an IWB (inside the waistband) holster, order the belt two inches longer than normal. Whichever belt you choose, be sure that it is properly sized for the belt loops of your holster. If you have a 1.5-inch belt opening in your holster, use a 1.5-inch wide belt. Many shooters struggle with draws and reholstering because of ill-fitting belt/holsters.

Cant
Cant is the angle at which the holster sits on the belt. Holsters are variously designed for a "straight drop," "cant forward" or what some call a "radical cant." Some holster designs offer adjustable cants.