New IWB CCW holster: Crossbreed SuperTuck or CompTac Minotaur? You Make The Call

I finally broke one of the last pair of belt clips for my Tucker Gunleather "Texas Heritage." I was thinking about getting a different holster for a variety of reasons, so now I'm shopping for a replacement.

For now, the candidates are the Crossbreed SuperTuck Deluxe and the CompTac Minotaur MTAC.

My 2 favorite carry guns are a S&W M&P .40 S&W fullsize and a Glock 30. I tend to carry the 30 more simply because it's smaller, but the M&P is thinner, so sometimes I carry it instead. I could get an extra Kydex body for the Minotaur, and carry either gun, which is one reason to favor the Minotaur.

On the other hand, I don't know anyone who owns a Minotaur. I've actually seen a CrossBreed SuperTuck up close, because someone I shoot with regularly wears one, carrying a full size S&W M&P (9mm, but it's the same size as my .40 S&W version).

Both the MTAC and SuperTuck have an appealing feature: they stay open, so should allow for easy, one-handed, no-look re-holstering. This is not a feature of my Texas Heritage.

Both holsters are similar to the Tucker Gunleather "Answer" I bought years ago. I haven't worn the "Answer" in years because it's made for a 1911, cannot be converted for other guns like the MTAC, and all of the belt clips have long since broken.

That is one thing I have grown to hate about the Tucker Gunleather clips: they always break, no matter how careful I am, and replacement clips are $25 with shipping. Replacement clips for either the Minotaur or SuperTuck are cheaper. The only down side to the CrossBreed clips is that they're metal, so might gouge/scratch the leather seats in my car, and/or catch on things in general. But that's also a good thing, because metal can (usually) be bent back into shape, in the event that it gets caught on something.

One thing I really liked about the "Answer" was the thick and sturdy leather, with full suede backing. It was extremely comfortable to wear, with no metal-skin contact, regardless of weather.

The few inner-side views I can find of the Crossbreed are not so encouraging, despite my buddy swearing by his:


vs. the Minotaur, which has a lining, covering up all the hardware that could otherwise poke or chafe one in the side:


The new holster will be worn with my existing Tucker Gunleather 1.5" gunbelt, which has held up extremely well.

Assume price isn't an issue. Both the Minotaur and SuperTuck are within $20 of each other, and would be far cheaper than another Answer + spare belt clips.

So which one should I get?

A buddy of mine recommended a CompTac Minotaur years ago and I haven't had any other holster since. I have had a few IWB holsters and the Minotaur seems to do a great job of covering all the areas that cause discomfort when pressed against the body for several hours.

Holy moley, I wasn't expecting feedback THAT fast.

Thanks for chiming in. I'm leaning toward the Minotaur simply because it seems more similar to my Tucker "Answer" than the CrossBreed. The inner-side lining likely explains part of the price difference between the MTAC and the SuperTuck.

I picked mine up on the EE at about half the cost of a brand new one. I picked up another Minotaur on Ebay (gasp) from their factory defects pile at about 25% off. When I got it the only defect was a portion of the brown leather died a bit darker. It's IWB so it didn't bother me a bit.

MTAC - I own three of them. Build quality, like other Comp-Tac gear, is superb.

I have a holster that looks like the top picture. It's not that make/model but it has the exposed hardware on the back. I never notice it. I have not had any 'chafeing problems.

I've worn it over 24 hours straight, no issues.


I think the cover is just added expense with no added functionality. It's a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. YMMV

This topic has been beat to death.

i dont know why people rave so much over the crossbreed. crossbreed is okay dont get me wrong, and i definately couldnt make a better holster myself, but it doesnt compare to the mtac in any way,your opinion may vary. mtacs are available for shipping the day you buy it, crossbreeds take up to six weeks, and it took almost exactly 6 weeks to get mine. i had already had an mtac and frankly i was a little dissapointed when i first laid eyes on the crossbreed with how highly they were praised, especially considering i paid close to 100$ shipped for it. the metal hooks take more effort to get over my belt than the kydex mtac ones, the single sided leather is rougher and doesnt offer as much cushion, and i dont like how much wider the crossbreed is. also, mine is for an XD and the loaded chamber indicator hangs on the crossbreed when i go to insert the pistol, slight design flaw with the XD molding which wont affect other guns. the mtac also allows you to buy kydex paddles to accomodate any gun, so you only have to buy a 40$ kydex plate to change weapons instead of an 80+ dollar holster. but some people still prefer the crossbreed (and i have heard that heavier guns do benefit from the wider holster, it distributes the weight across your belt more). if you have to buy without trying, my vote goes mtac. but in reality, they both are both about as comfortable as a holster can be...you arent making a terrible decision nomatter which you buy.

Supertuck fan here. I got the horsehide version. I dont see how it could be any more comfortable, and I carry a big a@@ USP45 . The horsehide si thin so it doesnt adsd to the thickness of the holster. The clips are very good, they wont overbend or loosen up and slip off the belt. They're on there! I looked at the Mtac but it looks pretty thick, two layers of leather and then kydex. It may only be a little bit but it makes all the difference when carrying a gun this big.

I've carried my G23 in an MTAC and a Crossbreed, and I prefer the Crossbreed, it seems a little more comfortable to me. Both are excellent holsters.

I LOVE my MTAC, it was my first concealment holster and will be my last, super comfortable, conceals well, and is priced well.

MTAC is a more refined, better designed holster. Crossbreed has the better warranty, hands down.

I would also recommend you take a look at the Galco King Tuk. Good holster at a competitive price point.

I had a problem with my hip managing to hit the mag release with both the MTAC and SuperTuck.
Was about the go back to a CTAC since it has kydex over the mag release, but I decided to give the Galco a shot first and (so far) have not had the problem with the Galco.
It's likely related to my boney hips but regardless of reason it's quite disconcerting to have your mag fall out of your gun upon the first shot.

currently have and love my crossbreed for my 226, been eyeballing the MTAC though. Pretty sure ill be gettin one for my 19


I mean get both right?

Raven Phantom + Comp-Tac IWB Belt clips.

Yeah, the Minotaur might look prettier... I have one for a CZ 75. Its a fine holster.
I prefer Supertucks. I have several of them. They are more comfortable to me.

The Raven system is intriguing, but I don't want to wait 45+ days. Also I prefer the adjustable cant of the other holsters so far discussed - comes in handy at times.

The aforementioned shooting buddy who wears a Crossbreed is supposed to bring it with him when we shoot shotguns this weekend. So I'll get an up-close look and get to try it on with my own M&P. That will probably be the decision point. As nice as the Minotaur looks, I can't try one on before purchase.

That's completely subjective, as myself and many others will argue that the CB is a better design. It has thinner backing, and provides a greater belt clip offset distance, which to me makes the holster more comfortable and more stable.

MTac ftmfw! If I carry IWB thats what I use.

Just to add something, Tommy Theis holsters are essentially the same as the Crossbreed but for much less cost and no wait time, and excellent customer service.

Just wanted to mention about Crossbreeds supposedly 6 week wait...... I got mine within a week. Most people I hear talking about it say the same thing.

I few times I have notice people mentioning that the clips on the Cross Breed "might" damage something. I wish someone would give me an example. They haven't even dented my leather gun belt, snagged my pants, or caught on my seat.
Great holster. Very thin compared to that extra leather. I have the Galco King Tuk - Don't like it at all.
I'll stick to the CB ST
Good luck!

Voted "other." CompTac Ctac. Great retention, no sweaty/smelly leather, won't hit your mag release, very thin, holds its shape so it is easy to re-holster (rather than collapsing), still holds the gun firmly when the holster is removed from your pants, very easy to put on/take off the pants compared to the leather hybrid ones, gives a reassuring "click" when you holster. Did I miss anything?

you missed the fact that hard kydex against the body is way less comfortable than leaher.

I must be inmune to IWB discomfort
My Milt Sparks IWB leather & my Blade Tech IWB kydex feel the same as far as comfort

I wear boxers so the IWB holster sits against the cotton.

I will not wear any other iwb other then a mtac. For me it's the only iwb option.

I got to play with a shooting buddy's Crossbreed SuperTuck today, and I really liked it. Will probably get the Crossbreed rather than the MTAC.

He also owns the MTAC, and will bring it to our next shooting event. He cited some of the reasons given above, regarding why he prefers the Crossbreed to the MTAC.

I like the "less is more" approach of the Crossbreed. It's a lot thinner than both of my Tucker IWB holsters, especially the Answer. As with the Answer, I can easily re-holster in the Crossbreed with one hand, without looking.

I also liked the Crossbreed's metal belt clips. They are far sturdier than Kydex, but also thinner, and therefore less likely to catch on things. Even with extremely careful handling, I have gone through 2 sets of clips in the last 2 years. Not doing that again.

when i bought my xd, the guy told me he preferred the desantis, raved about it. i looked at them and the galco king tuk, which seemed better built with two fasteners in each clip, etc, so bought that. i see one person likes it, one hates it. i haven't even used it yet as it's easier to just put my glock with it's clip on the slide inside the pants and carry that. need to dust off that king tuk already and try carrying the xd to see how it feels.

Having the mounting hardware backed by leather is a better design, IMHO. I used to get the pinched pretty bad with my Supertuck. That is not possible with the MTAC.

I'm a nit picky type of guy:
MTAC
a) The clips look really long. I'm concerned they may cause discomfort when sitting.
b) Extra thickness. I don't see the point, as I wear undershirts. If I was going to have the holster against my skin, then I might prefer it. But I'm also not sure how much the screws stick out and might poke at me.
c) 4 screws holding the holster vs. 6 on the other brands.
d) I like the ability to change holsters. Though I'm not sure I'd really like this. I may want different holsters with different cants for the gun. I may also want each holster to form better to me and the gun I'm carrying. I may not like switching holsters as frequently as I change my carry gun. But the ability does make carrying different guns cheaper than buying separate holsters.

SuperTuck
a) Wish they had interchangeable holsters.
b) I really can't stand the symbol of a Roman torture device that crucified Jesus (and others). Seems disrespectful and dishonoring, and gives glory to the real bad guy. It bothers my conscious to parade it around.
c) Like the simplicity. There's nothing added that I don't need (like extra backing, extra perimeter stitching that does nothing).

KingTuck
a) Like the clips.
b) The clips are attached with two screws. Like the overbuilt sturdiness, but I wonder if it takes away some maneuverability since the clips can't pivot. Probably won't have the holster squeak like the others.
c) Not sure I'd like napa leather.
d) The description sounds like two leathers sewn together. I don't need, nor prefer this.

Theis
a) Looks like SuperTuck.
b) You can get small frame version. I might like the idea of the contoured cut-out around the hip for comfort. Or you can get the full version for longer guns.
c) Doesn't look as refined as SuperTuck. But cosmetics shouldn't be a big deal.
d) Combat cut. Even though I've read about it, I'm not if I'd prefer it or not. Theis has a free trial period in case you don't like it.
d) Price is real good.


I'm leaning towards Theis because of price. SuperTuck is a close 2nd choice (and I would find away to get rid of the torture symbol).

Jake

The combat cut is a must IMO. Without it the gun is much more difficult to draw, and the fact that CB charges extra for this option is a bit annoying. Just one more reason to go with Tommy Theis.

Crossbreed Supertuck here, very comfortable to wear all day long with a full size Xdm9. I haven't had any issues with the metal clips damaging anything to include leather seats in the car. Customer service is great and their parts are lifetime warranty. I bent one of my clips one time, caught it on a seat belt. I sent an e-mail asking how much for a new clip and they sent it free of charge and it arrived in about 2-3 days. It also only took about two weeks max to get mine when I ordered it.

My Crossbreed finally arrived yesterday. I wore it the rest of the day.

It is very comfortable, being a good bit thinner than the Tucker "Texas Heritage" I have been wearing. Unfortunately, I ran into one really big, show-stopping problem right away. The damn thing pushes the magazine release! I was sitting down working on something on the floor, and when I got up, my magazine was behind where I had been sitting.

It looks like the leather covers the mag release. The leather is so stiff that it's almost inevitable that it will press the button and release the mag. I don't know that this will get "fixed" once the leather gets broken in. Seems like a major design flaw.

That never happened with the Texas Heritage, even though it was made for a different gun (an XD). The Heritage doesn't cover the mag button - but it does have a tab of leather that goes back and keeps the back end of the gun from biting into you. Which was one reason it was so comfortable.

It was already after business hours when this happened. Going to call Crossbreed today and see what they say.

Having done some "research" on the Interwebs, it seems this is a fairly common problem with the Crossbreed and holsters like it.

I called Crossbreed, and they had two ideas:

1) There's a process you can do with a damp washcloth, a plastic water bottle cap, and some sort of round-ended tool (screwdriver handles often work well) to soften and stretch the leather from the backside, in the immediate area of the magazine release. I'll probably try this first, as it's cheaper and faster than option #2.

2) Get the Combat Cut. The non-Cut Supertuck has more leather than I had become used to with my Tucker Texas Heritage. When I go for a draw from the Supertuck, I often get a handful of both leather and gun. Not good. But getting the Cut requires sending the Crossbreed back in, and paying another $10, so it's not a quick or painless fix like #1.

I never had a comfort problem with the mag release button poking me when it was uncovered, as with my Texas Heritage. So I don't foresee any problem arising from getting the Combat Cut. So, I think I'll send my SuperTuck back in for the Combat Cut, at some point.

Combat Cut is something I completely forgot to consider, when I borrowed my buddy's Crossbreed a few weeks ago. I haven't talked to him since yesterday, but I'm thinking his Crossbreed (which was also made for a full size M&P) must have already had the Combat Cut.

They're not uncomfortable. I tend to ride my holster low, however, so there's nothing sticking out on the bottom. It's also flexible kydex, so it will bend and form with you.

The comp-tac Minotaur Spartan is the same thing as the MTAC without the backing and perimeter stitching, and also undyed. It eliminates the extra thickness, and is cheaper, too. The screws don't stick out at all. I wear boxers, so I can't feel the metal on the back, but it's comfortable, and the edges are dug in to the leather, so they won't catch on your drawers or pinch or anything like that. It's comfortable.

That holster ain't goin anywhere, it's rock solid. 6 is excessive in my book.


Having the ability to swap kydex bodies is awesome, in my book. I only have one carry gun that I'll carry IWB, (the other is a pocket pistol) but I like the idea, in case I get a new gun. The cant is also adjustable by means of moving the clips up and down.

Overall, it's an awesome holster, I'd recommend a second look.

Rather than pay another $10 and wait a week or so, I found a local guy willing to cut down my Crossbreed for free.

We figured out exactly where to cut away material, and he's going to cut it and burnish the edges. I should have the holster back in a day or two. Can't wait to start wearing it again.

A few years ago I bought a Crossbreed which was a good investment. Held close to my body... people never saw me printing with it. My only grip was it felt like it shifted a lot during daily activites but not to a point I was printing. A few months ago I switched to the MTAC to see what the hype was about..... Holy Crap!!! Why had I not done this earlier? The leather is more comfortable, the clips don't feel like they are going to rip my belt off, and it hasn't shifted from my 3:30 at all!!

Honestly I would suggest the MTAC over the Crossbreed any day. Overall the MTAC is a better product.

YMMV

The modification is done. I've been wearing the gun for several hours, and the magazine hasn't suddenly appeared on the floor. Don't think it will. The Tucker Gunleather IWB holster I used for years never had that problem, precisely because it didn't cover the magazine release button.

Here's my custom combat cut Supertuck:


and the backside:

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