Versacarry Holster Review

The Versacarry is an injection-molded S-clip that hooks on your belt and weighs less than an ounce. An extension protrudes inside your pants, and to the end of this extension is fitted a contoured polymer rod colored for a specific-caliber barrel. The rod is sized smaller than actual bore size. For a 9mm (.355 caliber) handgun, the rod is .335 inch in diameter. The barrel of your carry gun slips over this rod, and since the rod is angled toward the clip, it creates a tight friction fit, holding the handgun in place.

The Versacarry is not model specific, and it is offered in different lengths to accommodate different-length barrels. However, by selecting a longer or shorter Versacarry, you can also vary the depth at which the handgun rides in your pants, increasing or decreasing concealability. It's sort of an assisted form of holsterless carry or a modernization of the old OSS string holster. Maybe it's best called an IWB carry assist tool.

Two common criticisms of the Versacarry need to be dissected. The barrel rod is not dangerous. If it were to break off, it should fall free of the bore during the draw stroke because it is undersize. If it does not, it will be safely ejected when the gun is fired because it is not a true obstruction. This was extensively tested during product development. The Versacarry also comes with an optional triggerguard. I did not use it when testing this holster because there are no prying fingers where the handgun rides inside my pants behind my belt. If you're afraid that someone might stick his fingers inside your britches, maybe you should employ the triggerguard.

30-Day Carry

I've actually used the Versacarry off and on for three years with a variety of handguns but most often with a Diamondback DB380. For this 30-day carry test, I used a slightly larger Kimber Solo in 9mm (the same Versacarry works with both pistols). It was comfortable, and I didn't have to utilize pants that were a size larger. It's also ambidextrous and can be worn in any position, even crossdraw. I found conventional strong-side carry behind the hip to be the most accessible and snug position. Handguns with sharp edges or protruding controls on the body side could decrease comfort; with the Versacarry, there's nothing between your body and the handgun.

Versacarry also offers a similarly designed inside-the-waistband (IWB) magazine carrier. It locks to the magazine with an insert mimicking the top portion of a cartridge. To retrieve your spare loaded magazine, grasp it normally as when drawing from a magazine pouch and pull.

Like the holster, the mag carrier works unlike any other system on the market, but no failures were experienced during the 30 days of carry, which included three range sessions. This is a very concealable way to carry a spare magazine and should be considered even if you do not like the Versacarry holster/handgun carry device. Comfort will depend on magazine shape, sharp edges and design.

Both the handgun and magazine carrier were easy to put on and take off the belt, but as easy-carrying as both are, they're not everyday range training tools in that to reholster or insert a spare magazine, you must remove the holster or magazine carrier. (This does not mean you should not train with them.) On the other hand, they are very effective deep-concealment carry tools that'll work with any defensive pistol regardless of the light or laser you might have attached to the pistol's dustcover.

Versacarry units are available for .380-, 9mm-, .40- and .45-caliber pistols. Snubnose .357-caliber revolver units are also available, as are carriers for most single- and double-stacked magazines. I was very skeptical when I first saw the Versacarry, but I gave it a fair shake and was rewarded with an unconventional but affordable, comfortable covert carry device.

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