NPV
Fanatic
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2018
- Messages
- 18
For the past few months I have been carrying my 1911 in the Appendix position. I have found it comfortable, concealable, and fast. I know a few members have asked me to give them my impressions of the 5 Shot SME and I recently bought a JM Custom Kydex 2.5 holster to compare it to. So I figured it might be best to give a quick comparison of the two holsters.
Belt Attachment: As with anything from JMCK you have an array of options to choose from when deciding on belt attachments. I decide to go with pull-the-dot loops in the the "Wide" hole position as I prefer to not have to take my belt off to thread my holster on. Also the wider space between the loops adds in stability. The SME comes with a fixed 1.5" split loop which allows you to position your holster directly over a belt loop on your pants. I have found the JMCK to be more versatile on holster position due to the wider width between attachment points. It is also more stable because of this. With a lot of pants I wear the belt loops are too far to the outside to use with the SME as I prefer my holster to be closer to my centerline. So for the majority of the time I don't actually use the split loop as intended; as seen below.
SME
JMCK 2.5
Ride Height: The JMCK holster comes with two holes in each side of the holster so that you can adjust both ride height and cant. The SME comes fixed in one position and has a few degrees of cant built in. Currently I have the JMCK holster adjusted to the lowest possible ride height with no cant and I plan on keeping it that way as it allows me to quickly get a master grip without being uncomfortable or too high. The SME still rides a bit lower and because of the negative cant it places the grip of the pistol parallel with your belt.
Comfort: Both of these holsters are very comfortable even with a Government model 1911. The JMCK holster has a piece of velcro on the back with a sponge pad attached which eliminates any kydex rubbing where you wouldn't want it to. The SME being made of leather has a "soft" feel but it doesn't have a wedge or pad at the muzzle end and sometime this can cause a bit of discomfort when sitting for long periods of time. Though the full length sweat guard on the JMCK can and will poke you if you bend over with an empty holster. The only time this a problem is if I'm at the range picking up dropped mags in between strings of fire, but really it's not a big deal on a day to day basis.
Concealability: Surprisingly both of these holsters make concealing a full-size 1911 a breeze. Both holsters have a built in "wing" to aid in tucking the grip in toward your body. The JMCK use a Raven Concealment Claw and the SME uses a stitching in leather wing. I've found the RCS Claw to add a bit more tuck than the wing on the SME. Sometimes the grip, when using the SME, will push away from my body a bit and the magwell can print ever so slightly.
In the pictures below I am pushing my stomach out a bit so that you can see some printing. If I am standing up straight with good posture at a natural rest you would not see any printing. As seen though the magwell of my 1911 prints through my shirt with the SME just a bit.
JMCK
SME
Speed: It is often unfair to compare the speed of draw from a kydex holster to that of a leather holster but not in the case of these two. I took the average of 5 draws from concealment with both holster and came up with the following; 1.198 seconds from concealment with the JMCK and 1.214 seconds with the SME. Obviously I'm no Miculek but it gives you a pretty good idea of what's achievable with these holsters.
Cost: Neither of these holsters are cheap but to me they are both worth it. The JMCK cost about $80 depending in the options you choose. The SME costs $200 and has a long wait.
Final Thoughts: I have no qualms about recommending either of these holsters or AIWB carry to any individual who is well versed in firearms safety. As long as you re-holster properly it is impossible to "blow you balls off." One holster allows for more options while the other is just a well-executed piece of leather from one of the best holster makers in the industry.
Belt Attachment: As with anything from JMCK you have an array of options to choose from when deciding on belt attachments. I decide to go with pull-the-dot loops in the the "Wide" hole position as I prefer to not have to take my belt off to thread my holster on. Also the wider space between the loops adds in stability. The SME comes with a fixed 1.5" split loop which allows you to position your holster directly over a belt loop on your pants. I have found the JMCK to be more versatile on holster position due to the wider width between attachment points. It is also more stable because of this. With a lot of pants I wear the belt loops are too far to the outside to use with the SME as I prefer my holster to be closer to my centerline. So for the majority of the time I don't actually use the split loop as intended; as seen below.
SME
JMCK 2.5
Ride Height: The JMCK holster comes with two holes in each side of the holster so that you can adjust both ride height and cant. The SME comes fixed in one position and has a few degrees of cant built in. Currently I have the JMCK holster adjusted to the lowest possible ride height with no cant and I plan on keeping it that way as it allows me to quickly get a master grip without being uncomfortable or too high. The SME still rides a bit lower and because of the negative cant it places the grip of the pistol parallel with your belt.
Comfort: Both of these holsters are very comfortable even with a Government model 1911. The JMCK holster has a piece of velcro on the back with a sponge pad attached which eliminates any kydex rubbing where you wouldn't want it to. The SME being made of leather has a "soft" feel but it doesn't have a wedge or pad at the muzzle end and sometime this can cause a bit of discomfort when sitting for long periods of time. Though the full length sweat guard on the JMCK can and will poke you if you bend over with an empty holster. The only time this a problem is if I'm at the range picking up dropped mags in between strings of fire, but really it's not a big deal on a day to day basis.
Concealability: Surprisingly both of these holsters make concealing a full-size 1911 a breeze. Both holsters have a built in "wing" to aid in tucking the grip in toward your body. The JMCK use a Raven Concealment Claw and the SME uses a stitching in leather wing. I've found the RCS Claw to add a bit more tuck than the wing on the SME. Sometimes the grip, when using the SME, will push away from my body a bit and the magwell can print ever so slightly.
In the pictures below I am pushing my stomach out a bit so that you can see some printing. If I am standing up straight with good posture at a natural rest you would not see any printing. As seen though the magwell of my 1911 prints through my shirt with the SME just a bit.
JMCK
SME
Speed: It is often unfair to compare the speed of draw from a kydex holster to that of a leather holster but not in the case of these two. I took the average of 5 draws from concealment with both holster and came up with the following; 1.198 seconds from concealment with the JMCK and 1.214 seconds with the SME. Obviously I'm no Miculek but it gives you a pretty good idea of what's achievable with these holsters.
Cost: Neither of these holsters are cheap but to me they are both worth it. The JMCK cost about $80 depending in the options you choose. The SME costs $200 and has a long wait.
Final Thoughts: I have no qualms about recommending either of these holsters or AIWB carry to any individual who is well versed in firearms safety. As long as you re-holster properly it is impossible to "blow you balls off." One holster allows for more options while the other is just a well-executed piece of leather from one of the best holster makers in the industry.
