I Carry: Smith & Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp in a CrossBreed Holster

Welcome to another episode of "I Carry," Shooting Illustrated's weekly video series covering the guns and gear needed to put together a potential everyday-carry kit. Today, we have a Smith & Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp in a CrossBreed holster. We also have a CK Tactical speedloader, a Leatherman multitool and a Streamlight flashlight.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 Carry Comp ($1,092)

In 2018, Smith & Wesson release two new options for fans of its Model 19. One was styled and configured like the classic K-Frame first produced in the 1950s, only with updated and modernized internal mechanisms. The other, the Carry Comp, was a 21st-century take on the platform, providing defensive shooters with a compact, carry-sized variant that still featured the sturdy construction and six-round capacity of the K-Frame design.

There are a few elements of the Carry Comp that all combine to soften the felt recoil from heavy .357 Mag. defensive loads. First is the heft of the all-steel frame. Unloaded, the gun weighs just over 34 ounces. In addition to the wood grips, the gun also ships with a pair of overmolded-rubber grips that help to absorb some of the energy from each shot. Finally, at the muzzle-end of the gun, the “Comp” aspect of the revolver becomes clear, as the short, 3-inch barrel is crowned with a ported barrel that redirects muzzle gases upward to combat muzzle rise.

CrossBreed MaxSlide OWB Holster ($58.50)

To better-support and spread out the weight of the Model 19 Carry Comp, I chose CrossBreed’s MaxSlide holster, an outside-the-waistband design that offers some versatility in carry position. The MaxSlide features traditional holes cut for a belt when worn in the strong-side carry position, but an additional cutout beneath the forward belt slot allows the gun to be carried in a reverse cross-draw position as well.

This gun-and-holster combination might seem out of place for a video series that focuses primarily on concealed-carry, but it’s important to recognize that concealed-carry rigs don’t have to be tiny, tuckable holsters hidden inside a waistband. Thanks to the shortened barrel on this Carry Comp revolver, very little of this rig is below the belt, allowing a short jacket to cover the entirety of this concealed-carry setup. Since it’s all outside the waistband, it can be quickly and easily accessed, too.

CK Tactical Ripcord Speedloader ($10 for two)

Speedloaders have long been a go-to tool for defensive wheelgun owners, but the new Ripcord from CK Tactical brings new innovation to this old-school market. Instead of having the standard, round wheel with a release knob at the rear, this speedloader is constructed from a flexible polymer. The design allows each round to be loaded into its own clip, and the whole loader is locked together with a simple notch. To load, push rounds into an empty cylinder like a normal speedloader, then grab the tab on the edge and pull. The loader is stripped away, and rounds are loaded into the cylinder. Pretty quick and easy.

Leatherman Charge+ ($139.95)

Since we’re carrying a heavier gun like the Smith & Wesson Carry Comp, we can probably make room for one of Leatherman’s larger multitools: the Charge Plus. With 19 different tools in a package that weighs little more than 8 ounces and measures only 4 inches long, how can you go wrong? With pliers, wire-cutters, a 154CM-steel knife blade, saw, scissors and more, you’ve got pretty much any tool you need to solve any issues that crop up in your daily routine.

Streamlight ProTac 2L-X ($85)

Your daily routine can also be enhanced with a solid flashlight, and we’ve got a good one to look at in the Streamlight ProTac 2L-X. This one’s a little dinged up, and there’s a reason for that. I actually carry this light pretty much every day. It’s great. You get 500 lumens max, with a lower, 40-lumen output mode for close-up lighting. One of the features I love about the Streamlight is its TEN-TAP programming system, which allows users to choose the modes available. Since I use this more as a utilitarian light, I enjoy having the low-output mode first, with a rapid double-tap dumping 500 lumens when needed.