Out of Abilene, Texas comes a holster that’s one of a kind. The Quick Click & Carry (QCC) holster is made of leather and magnets. It sounds a bit ridiculous at first. But it works, and the company keeps making it better—so much better that this gun-packer of 13 years is giving up old rigs in favor of the QCC.
Last winter, JM4 Tactical, the family-owned business that produces the QCC, sent a sample to test. Results were mixed. Retention of the gun was excellent, without the use of straps. The QCC simultaneously exploits magnets for retention (via the slide) as well as the method for securing the holster to the waistband. It’s a brilliant design that makes a body think, “Why hasn’t someone thought of this before?”
Excellent retention on that first model is no exaggeration. I stuck a QCC-holstered gun to a steel building, open end down, on a day when the wind was blowing hard enough to peel targets off their backing and send them flying away like some kid’s lost kite. The rig stuck solidly, seeming to mock the wind.
And yet, drawing the gun from inside the waistband was fairly easy in terms of retention. The only problem was the Glock 42 I was carrying—a medium-size gun on the QCC size chart—rested a little too low inside my waistband, whether in my customary appendix or in the four-o’clock position, to perform a smooth draw. It took some fishing to get the grip high enough to draw, and the gesture fell short of being discreet.
Even so, I liked the original QCC. It was comfortable and kept the gun close at hand. The deal-breaker for me, though, was being poked in the top of the thigh when seated. This open-bottom holster, like so many others, carries the 42 just low enough to cause a blister after a day that involves a lot of sitting. So, I gave up on it, considering it yet another good design that didn’t fit short-waisted me.
Lo and behold, other consumers—a lot of them, apparently—gave JM4 Tactical the same feedback. Instead of just rolling along enjoying healthy sales to the larger-framed masses, JM4 CEO and designer Chad Myers went back to the drawing board and created a second iteration of the QCC, which he calls a high-ride model.
The high ride QCC is just slightly different than its predecessor. The new design includes a layer of flexible leather between the body and the back of the slide, whereas the original design’s gun backing doubled as the fold-over waistband attachment. Now, they are separate. As the name would indicate, the firearm rides higher in relation to the waistband. No more thigh-poking. JM4 Tactical continues to sell both models.
This holster has carried my Kahr CT 380, which has a slightly larger footprint than the Glock 42, very comfortably in the appendix position for over a month now. I’ve experimented with four-o’clock as well, but the higher position of the gun means printing is hard to avoid when bending over, and I’ve never considered that location entirely secure where theft risk is concerned.
Why the Kahr and not the Glock? My 42 now wears a Streamlight TLR-6 light/laser device, and it’s about a quarter-inch shy of being small enough to fit in the medium QCC. There is a larger model made to fit with this light, as well as models to fit most other popular gun/light combinations. It appears that fitting a firearm with a threaded barrel or RMR sight is probably beyond the current size choices.
I have found retention to be very secure, though JM4 does warn that the subcompact I’m carrying is about the maximum that can be safety toted in the high ride. Larger but still compact guns, i.e. the Glock 19, are too heavy and the risk of falling out is substantial.
Due to the non-accommodation of the light attachment, I’ve reserved my old AIWB setup for carry that stretches into nighttime. But otherwise, the QCC is my go-to. It lives up to the “Quick” moniker, which I love, as I can grab it and install it on my waistband on the fly. It’s a great system for people who are busy or don’t want to fuss with a holster.
Current color offerings for the high ride holster are black, brown, and natural tan. I went with black thinking it’d be the least noticeable when the tab shows over my belt, and it is. However, the staining from the leather dye makes me wish I’d chosen tan. The holster stains both skin and clothes. So far, the marks have come out with regular soap, but if I were into expensive clothes or transitioning from IWB carry to the beach, that would be a problem.
JM4 advertises the QCC can be worn without a belt—and it can. I’ve found that the looser and lower the waistband, however, the more necessary a belt becomes. For me, while seated, my upper abs push the grip and belly-side leather flap outward. If I don’t have a belt on, quite visible printing ensues. Likewise, with fashionable mid-rise jeans, the grip tends to wag a bit with my gait, producing a print that’s not blatant but would be obvious to an observant onlooker. So, I’ve continued to wear belts most of the time with the QCC low ride.
This holster has held up to lots of physical activity including moving hay bales and riding horses. It’s the only rig I’ve felt would stay secure to my body when on a horse, and thankfully has helped me get rid of the awful fanny pack I used to use as a holster for riding. Myers advised me that the high-ride version of the QCC isn’t recommended for jogging or running. I can attest that the original QCC stayed put for running. My knees have since made their deterioration known, so I’ve not replicated that test with the high-ride version.
Reholstering with the QCC in place is doable, as the holster stays open when empty. With wear, the leather shield between my body and the gun has broken in with an outward bend, covering the holster opening. It’s important to reholster very carefully, avoiding covering the support hand with the muzzle as well as impingement of the flap into the trigger guard. All reholstering of any sort should be done with care; this one is no exception.
The JM4 Tactical QCC high ride model is my new primary holster. There’s also a tuckable version of this model for those who wear shirts tucked in. Prices start at $79.95, or less for the non-high ride version in plain steer leather. Exotic leathers are an option for some models. The JM4 Tactical high ride holster is an American-made product for a good price, plus choices to satisfy those with a taste for luxury. Whatever model a person picks, I believe it to be a good value for a holster that should last a very long time.
A good gun holster is necessary for holding your weapon and at the same time, it doesn’t make you uncomfortable. Original QCC is a better option and can be worn without a belt.
Thanks for the article. Although, I have to say that I read lots of “get used to” ,or sort of not ideal bits. For the price, it Seems to me it should work, hands down. I do like the concept though. I have been using IWB holsters from a small company in Michigan (I believe) , Foxx upholstery, for years and have numerous of their holsters. They are hybrids and are custom for your model sidearm. Reasonable price, form to the body, absolutely no dye transfer, and because they are kydex outer, the tension can be customized by the user. Retention is great, although I would say you do need a belt.