The Falco Roto Shoulder Holster is an amazing new take on a old design

[@tylerw8216]

I have the roto holster for my 4" S&W N frame Model 57. It works great but one huge recommendation to make for anyone buying this holster. Either use Loctite or plumbers tape on the roto screw or do as I do, use a rubber O-ring bushing to keep tension on the tightened screw. Thankfully I was getting into my car when the screw backed out and the revolver dropped onto my center console. The O-ring fixed the issue and I rechecked every screw for tightness. CHECK ALL SCREWS for tightness. Once that was done, it has never failed and the screw has not moved. Great design and holster!

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That is something that I am going to have to keep my eye on.

[@lizzardwizard2000]

I have 4 of these Falco/Craft Roto holsters. They are the only commercial manufacturer left who still makes this old design. The practical reasoning behind it is to allow a “normal” draw of large heavy pistols and revolvers. It carries as a vertical shoulder holster. Especially good for seated draw in an automobile. All of my holsters from this company required extensive breaking-in using the “plastic bag” method.

[@skycop3855]

Nice rig. Shoulder holsters good for so much. Nice review.

[@artemisp.folglemeyer]

I have three of these holsters. One is a double rig for .357 S&W 586/Colt Python both 6" barrels. The second is for 1911 .45 (and will fit my S&W M41), and last, Browning HP. Also have two of the Nylon holsters for Browning HP and Sig Sauer P239. All are great holsters, and Falco is where I go for any holster. The shoulder holsters conceal well with a loose fitting "shirt jacket". I never use it as "open carry"...I have belt holsters for that, but will use the shoulder rigs with a hunting vest over them. CC in summer is difficult for any holster. A shoulder holster is, for me, much more comfortable than any belt holster. As noted, excepting summer, it is easy to cover the holster.

[@travissmith2211]

Open baseball jersey is an option for cover garment. Not too hot and doesn't raise eyebrows in public. Short sleeve button up shirt worn open would work as well.

[@GUNMETALGUYUSA]

Great review I have had my eye on one of these for a while thanks for the video take care

[@steveturners1258]

Jason, you - and the beautiful Katarina - made me buy this very holster. It is comfortable, I like it. However, I discovered a few things about this holster which I am not excited about. Most importantly, it's difficult to get a good firing grip. You are showing it yourself in your video: at 1:22, you have a good inch between the web of your hand and the top of the grip; at 1:35, it's even worse - and you change your grip to a proper one at 1:39. At 3:45, you are doing it again; it's hard to see, but your pinky is hanging way below, unlike when you are firing, so it's not a proper grip yet. 4:59 to 5:01 give the best information: you are gripping the gun low, rotate the holster, and then change the to a proper grip - which takes you 16 frames, or 0.32 seconds. If the holster was not vertical-vertical, if it had at least 15 degrees cant, I probably could easily get a proper grip from the get go. Perhaps I still can with a little help with my other hand; need to practice to find the best approach. On 2:08, you demonstrate your struggle with the further magazine pouch. I ordered horizontal, forward-looking counterbalance and don't have that issue. I wasn't sure if leather belt strap would inhibit movement (like bending sideways,) so I ordered an extra, "elasticated" set. Now, that is totally unfit to go with a snap button (the top button on those is reinforced by binding to triple layer and is OK, but the bottom one is attached to a single layer.) The first time I tried to unsnap the button, it ripped from the material. Falco offered me store credit in form of single-use discount code for that. (Obviously, I can't combine it with another code, so I have to get something inexpensive.) Fortunately, leather straps worked just fine for me. I don't particularly like the design of that safety snap button; you are supposed, obviously, to undo it with the trigger finger, and then it ends up in the trigger area; but it's too early for the booger hook to be around the bang switch, so I now need to practice that additional motion of the index finger back on the slide as I bring the gun to bear. And then I need to tuck the strap behind the holster so I can rotate it. I would have liked better a properly oriented thumb straps (unsnapping towards the body.) Falco holsters come in four grades, basic/comfort/classic/premium (listed in the order of increasing the amount of processing); I came with the "classic" but now -I- -think- -I- -cold- -have- -ordered- -a- -lower- -grade- -and- -saved- -a- -few- -bucks- . Redacted: Never mind, top grain leather is worth the premium. Perhaps I order a holster for the other hand with the store credit I got just to see. I don't know, don't have much experience with leather; could use an advise.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Steve, wow... what a write up. Sorry you had a bad experience with the holster. First thing I will say is, don't judge my hand placement for the in-studio demonstrations. I have to get my hand out of the way so people can see, plus I am concentrating on talking, filming and demostrating (there is a lot going on). Plus the holster was being re-seasoned after the flood and things are way tighter that normal as I break this in again. The range footage was literally the first time I took it out. What I find myself doing is riding my thumb down my side between the grip and my body (Yes I am wearing the holster as I write this to describe what I am doing). My hand comes straight down and my middle and ring finger unlocks the holster snap, but I have big hands that I can pull that off. I then rotate and draw. My draw is about half of what you see in the video now since I worked on it. But it took some time to get it there which is why it took so long to put this video out. I wanted to be sure I had it down before I gave an opinion. The unsnapping is what gets me the most on my hand placement right now (yes I find it a little awkward to release the snap). This combination of thump, middle finger and ring finger gives me the correct hand placement high up on the grip. It took me some thought and time with the holster when I was learning but really I am doing the same thing with my thumb that I do when wearing an OWB holster, just doing it cross draw with my thumb riding my side. I like your idea about the forward draw on the counterbalance and a slight cant on the holster. I just wonder if a 15 degree cant would print a larger gun like the P320 I have. I guess a P365 or G43 wouldn't be so bad. I have been trying to imagine what that draw would be like. Leather is a different animal. It takes time to break it in and get a good draw. I was always a leather person and found that when I went to kydex, My draw times are WAY faster since there is no leather to "hold the gun back". Also, A shoulder holster is a little more advanced than an OWB or IWB. Now add leather, rotation and the retention strap, I can see where frustration comes in.

[@steveturners1258]

@@TheRogueBanshee Oops, did my rumblings made you think I had a bad experience? I meant I like the holster, I do, but have a few issues with it. And I will need to reassess after much more practice. Still, I would like to have a better grip from the start. Perhaps I should forgo the whole rotoholster part and just go with vertical holster, model x07 "Jaguar", which looks like it could offer a proper grip. Yes, tilt would likely aggravate printing with a larger pistol; with my PPS it wouldn't be much of an issue. Horizontal would also work, except I really dislike the idea of pointing muzzle in that direction. And I must give praise to Falco for their support of nearly any handgun imaginable.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Thanks for clarifying. I was very afraid you had a bad experience. If one of my viewers has an experience that is not to my standards (which is very high) I feel bad. I like the idea of going horizontal with the counterbalance. Ever since I read your comment, that has been going through my head and I totally can see where that would solve my reload. I am much like you that I do not want my gun going horizontal and have the muzzle pointing backwards. That is why I decided on the Roto. I plan on doing an update video on this sometime late winter when I have more time using the holster while concealing it under a jacket.

[@donniehankins9902]

😊

[@donniehankins9902]

😊

[@DAWGnROADIE]

Nice review

[@osgoodblack6464]

Thought about a rig like that for when i wear a suit.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

I have 2 use cases for this holster and you just mentioned one of them :)

[@steveturners1258]

So thought I, but for me the straps and connector on my back ever-so-slightly reveal themselves, especially when I bend down, esp. under light colored suit jacket; under black jacket, not that bad. (But perhaps I wear suspenders, who cares?) I am planning to wear shoulder holster under thicker, winter jacket.

[@bob_mosavo]

Thanks, Jason 😁 Does the rotation stay in place while briskly walking or jogging?

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Yes, the strap the snaps the gun into the holster also keeps the holster from rotating.

[@HomesteadDork]

That's an interesting holster!

[@mkshffr4936]

My thought is a western spring clip skeleton shoulder holster under a western snap up shirt. Should work well for a full size revolver.

[@tylerw8216]

I carry my S&W 4" Model 57 .41 mag in the roto holster. Works great!

[@libertyHammerNM]

Does the pivot feature add width to the holster? My concern is that the pivot feature makes it a little harder to conceal.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

It does add a little extra bulk but only about an extra thickness of leather. Falco also has a buyback program you might want to check out in case you don't like it.

[@spartanj2957]

It does look the gun is riding to low and or loose.I would get one but the holster seems to soft id prefer a stiffer one easier to draw and push in .

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Low and loos is just an adjustment issue. You can tighten up the shoulder straps and let some slack out of the bottom strap to raise the holster. I prefer it a little lower though. Thanks for watching.

[@oldmgtow5323]

It's too loose and floppy for a smooth draw. You need to properly adjust it and break it in, then see if it works. Under the pressure of a self-defense situation in which you need a smooth, fast draw without thinking about what you're doing, that contraption will get you hurt.

[@j.hunter5007]

Just got one in for my 1911. I really wanted to like this holster but can not. I'm 6' tall and a fit 170 pounds and this holster just doesn't fit me. I had wanted a shoulder holster that could give me a vertical carry at my side but this carries at my waist. That being the case, I might as well get a cross-draw holster - for a lot less money. I've shortened the adjustments as far as they will go and the holster still hangs at my waist, and the straps want to slide off my shoulders. It seems like the mfr sized these for larger bodies. As the reviewer noted, the rear mag is hard to get at.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

That sucks! depending on how long ago you bought the the holster. Falco Holsters will buy it back from you.

[@j.hunter5007]

Actually, getting them to do a buy back is a massive task. I contacted them immediately up receiving and trying on the holster harness. The customer agent went with the narrative that I must have an odd body shape, and for me to buy a custom smaller holster harness instead. And... I just discovered a REAL problem with this holster. The "securing" snap on the holster does NOTHING. My 1911 easily slides in and out of the holster, regardless if the strap is snapped or not. So... the holster is a big fail if you want your 1911 pistol to be secured, and NOT FALL OUT of the holster by accident.

[@MrMark-hm9lk]

Horizontal mag pouch

[@kylewood8327]

Looks nice but living here in Texas it’s just to damn hot 9-10 months out of the year. IMO this type of holster is not a civilian friendly CC holster, it’s more of a duty rig for someone in a professional line of work.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

Shoulder holsters are definitely a "need" holster based on environment. Up here in Montana, I use them for cold weather carry and I would probably hate life in heat and humidity with this holster.

[@kylewood8327]

@@TheRogueBanshee Exactly…

[@allenshay9783]

How much was the holster?

[@BinaryPun]

Retails for $200 now.

[@allenshay9783]

6:56

[@snakeeyes20a]

Mags should be horizontal

[@spidennis]

You call this falco ? Not Craft holsters? What is the difference?

[@TheRogueBanshee]

I call it Falco because that is the company that makes it. Craft holsters is a different company that I believe re-sells Falco holsters as their own.

[@spidennis]

@@TheRogueBanshee I see that falco has a few distributors. Thanks. I contacted falco about a new custom design feature.

[@TheRogueBanshee]

@@spidennis I am not sure if it will work on the customer design, but try to use the code BANSHEE at checkout. On normal orders it saves ten percent. They are pretty good people over there at Falco, I will be visiting their boot at SHOT in a few weeks to talk to them about their holsters.

[@spidennis]

@@TheRogueBanshee they are 30 percent for Christmas!

[@TheRogueBanshee]

@@spidennis Thats an awesome deal!