CrossBreed Reckoning Review – Hybrid IWB Holster
October 11th, 2019
4 minute read
You might recognize the CrossBreed Reckoning holster you are seeing here as the same one that is part of the current “Hellcat Giveaway” featured on The Armory Life. I thought it might be a good idea to review the holster and see why it was selected to be paired with the giveaway package.
A Hybrid for a Hybrid?
For those not familiar with CrossBreed, this is a company that’s all about combining disparate elements and features into new and innovative designs. It’s right there in the name “CrossBreed,” right? In fact, a CrossBreed holster like the Reckoning is a fitting partner for a pistol like the Hellcat, which in itself is a sort of “best of both worlds” design.
My take on the Hellcat from the beginning has been that, from its impressive accuracy potential to its ability to accept optics to its excellent U-Dot sights, it’s a pistol that combines the shooting characteristics and features of a full-size handgun with ultra-compact dimensions.
So why shouldn’t it be paired with an equally adaptable hybrid-style holster?
What’s to It?
The Reckoning holster is made up of a top grain leather backer combined with a Kydex “pocket” that holds the pistol. The result is a holster that offers the comfort of leather against the body and the benefits of modern Kydex around the gun. The leather is offered in black cowhide, premium horsehide or Founder’s Series, the latter of which is 100% vegetable tanned leather. You can also get it in right- and left-hand versions.
But there’s more to the “hybrid” aspect of the Reckoning than simply the materials. The holster is designed to be used as an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, or can be easily converted to outside-the-waistband (OWB) mode with the included belt clips (in either traditional belt loop clips or “OWB Speed Clips” that are designed to snap over a belt for easier donning and removal). All you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver and a few minutes’ time to change it.
On top of that, the Reckoning is designed to be used in the IWB mode in either strong side, cross draw or appendix positions. Additionally, the clips are designed to allow you to tuck your shirt over the holster for added concealment. This is a holster that can do a lot of different things.
Even More Options
If the IWB/OWB configuration capability were not enough, the CrossBreed Reckoning also features adjustments in both modes. For IWB, you can adjust the positioning of the clips up and down between two points for adjusting the height position of the holster. In OWB mode, you can adjust it for cant through the positioning of the forward clip. Looking at the holster from its rear face, there are four clip attachment points on the left versus two at the right (the third lower point is for the front-facing IWB clip on that side). The four holes on the left allow you position the front clip at either the bottom, middle or top positions for a range of cant options. The top position gives you a 10- to 15-degree cant like most traditional OWB holsters.
Additionally, the Reckoning has multiple retention adjustment points. A “Trigger Guard Retention Device” is located at the lower rear face of the holster and is adjusted with an included 1/8″ hex key. This pushes up against the trigger guard as you “tighten” it, and it does not take much to really tighten up the holster. Go in half-turn increments and check regularly as you adjust. If you want even more retention, you can also tighten the four screws on the forward, front side of the holster.
Conclusion
The sample I was able to review came in black cowhide as well as with the “OWB Speed Clips.” The fit and finish of the holster was very impressive, and the adjustments were simple.
I had an OSP version of the Hellcat on hand equipped with a Shield RMSc and tried the holster out with the pistol configured that way. The pistol with the optic was a good fit for the holster, giving you a really good means for low-profile carry of an optic-equipped pistol.
And the price for this highly adaptable, well-made holster? A mere $66.95 as I check on Crossbreed’s site today. It’s available for a wide range of handguns in addition to the Hellcat, and it offers you a range of carry options that would cost you a lot more to acquire if you were to go out and buy dedicated holsters for each role.
While the CrossBreed is an excellent CCW rig, there are other carry options available. Check out our Springfield Hellcat holsters article for some other rigs that might meet your needs.
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Mike Humphries
Michael Humphries is editor of The Armory Life. He has worked for nearly two decades in the firearms industry, serving on the editorial staff of American Rifleman with the National Rifle Association as well as holding editorial positions with publishers such as FMG Publications and GunsAmerica.com. He currently lives in Iowa with his family and enjoys trying out new guns and gear whenever possible.
