Experimental Raptor Support Page
The Raptor is a simple, versatile inside-the-waistband holster. It features built-in cant and tuck for increased concealability, a stable two-clip design with optional DCC Monoblock compatibility. There is also an optional backer that ups the comfort level, and foam wedges to tweak the ergonomics. This page will help you get your Raptor set up, adjusted and maintained, and solve any problems you may have.
Interactive Hardware Diagram
Drag to orbit · middle-drag or right-drag to pan · scroll to zoom · hover a part to highlight it and its label. Labels appear as the diagram explodes.
Care & Maintenance
- Cleaning: Wipe the interior and exterior with a damp cloth to remove lint, sweat residue, and debris. Mild soap can be used on Kydex shells; avoid solvents that may degrade the material or any mounting hardware.
- Hardware checks: Periodically inspect screws, clips, and attachment points. Belt clips, concealment wings, and wedge pads can loosen over time from daily carry.
- Retention adjustment: Most Kydex holsters use adjustable tension screws. Re-check retention periodically, especially after cleaning or reassembly.
- Sweat and moisture: Body-side moisture accelerates wear on hardware and can promote corrosion on the firearm. Drying the holster after extended carry and applying a light film of oil to the firearm helps mitigate this.
- Storage: Store holsters flat or mounted to avoid warping, particularly in high-temperature environments like vehicle interiors.
Backer care: the backer is fully washable. Reverse the installation steps to remove the backer from the holster, wash the backer with mild soap and water, and allow it to dry completely before reinstalling.
Features & Adjustment
Features
- Precision-formed .093 Kydex to provide excellent durability while keeping bulk to a minimum.
- Built-in 7.5-degree grip tuck and a slight inward tilt for concealment.
- Compatible with standardized slide-mounted optics mounted behind the ejection port and with suppressor height iron sights up to 0.5″ tall. (Not compatible with optics mounted on the frame or over-hanging the ejection port.)
- Comes standard with two T.REX IWB Tuckable Clips for increased stability. Clips are universal size—they fit belts 1.5 – 1.75 in.
- Tuckable clips provide adjustable ride height and ±15-degrees of cant.
- The top hole pattern provides -5 to +15 degrees of cant and is DCC Monoblock compatible.
- Fully adjustable retention.
- Made in the USA by T.REX ARMS.
Retention
For IWB holsters (Sidecar, Raptor): adjust the retention screws incrementally in small turns. Correct retention means the gun does not fall out when held upside down, and the draw stroke is smooth and easy. T.REX does not guarantee an audible click on retention. If you cannot achieve correct retention with adjustment, contact T.REX for warranty support; they will send replacement hardware or a replacement holster.
Ride Height & Cant
The updated holster ships standard with two T.REX IWB Tuckable Clips that fit belts 1.5–1.75 inches wide and provide adjustable ride height along with ±15 degrees of cant adjustment. An angled slot in the center channel allows further cant adjustment beyond what the mold provides, enabling the user to optimize the holster for their chosen carry position. Ride height is adjustable by selecting different clip hole positions. Retention is fully user-adjustable.
Claw
A claw is a small lever that mounts to the holster shell and presses against the inside of the belt. As the belt pushes against the claw, it rotates the holster body so the grip of the firearm tucks inward toward the torso. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce printing under a cover garment, particularly with longer-gripped pistols.
The T.REX IWB Adjustable Claw provides 21 distinct adjustment positions through a combination of four outward offsets and three vertical positions. This level of adjustability allows the user to:
- Control grip tuck — More outward offset equals more aggressive rotation of the grip toward the body. Users with larger pistol grips or thinner builds generally benefit from more offset.
- Match the beltline — Vertical adjustment keeps the claw flush with the belt edge, which is especially useful when carrying at the 4 o'clock position with a forward cant, where the holster body sits at an angle relative to the belt.
The claw is designed to flex under pressure, which increases comfort during movement and reduces stress on the holster shell over time. It mounts facing outward from the body and can be installed on either the front or the back of the holster depending on carry position and preference.
Attachment Options
Tuckable Clips (standard): The two included tuckable clips provide stable belt engagement and allow the holster to be tucked behind a shirt. The top hole pattern offers -5 to +15 degrees of cant.
DCC Monoblock (optional): The top hole pattern is also compatible with the optional DCC Monoblock metal attachment. The Monoblock features two independent teeth for redundancy and provides a significantly more secure belt fit than the original plastic clip. The enlarged central area of the holster body is specifically designed to work in conjunction with the Monoblock, pressing the belt tight and eliminating movement—particularly important when carrying heavier setups with lights and optics.
Installing the Raptor Backer
The backer attaches to the Raptor holster using posts and half-inch screws threaded through existing mounting points on the holster:
- Start on the claw side. The claw-side posts must be installed first. There are three different hole positions on the claw side to accommodate different holster sizes—select the position that aligns with the backer's mounting holes for the specific holster configuration.
- Install the sight-channel-side posts. Thread posts through the holster's sight channel mounting holes and secure with the included half-inch screws.
- Verify alignment and snug all hardware. Ensure the backer sits flush against the body side of the holster shell without shifting.
The Raptor Backer is fully ambidextrous. For left-handed holsters, simply reverse the post orientation during installation. No separate left-hand backer is required.
| Backer Size | Reference Slide Length |
|---|---|
| Small | Glock 19 |
| Medium | Glock 17 |
| Large | Glock 34 |
Selecting the correct size is a matter of matching the backer to the overall slide length of the holstered pistol. When in doubt, the included manual provides a full reference chart cross-referencing specific pistol models to the appropriate backer size.
Hardware Reference
All T.REX holster hardware uses 8-32 thread pitch, which is a standard size readily available at hardware stores if you need an immediate replacement. The standard Holster Hardware Pack covers the fastener sizes used across T.REX Kydex holsters:
| Component | Included Lengths |
|---|---|
| Posts | .500″, .375″, .250″, .125″ |
| Screws | .625″, .500″, .375″, .250″ |
| Washers | .375″, .250″, .188″, .125″ |
The variety of lengths allows users to adjust ride height, cant, and attachment-point spacing as well as replace hardware lost or worn during everyday carry.
Compatible Accessories
Raptor Holster Backer
A soft, breathable pad constructed from closed-cell PE foam and Alcantara, a synthetic suede-like material that is water and stain-resistant. Simply attach the Raptor Holster Backer to your T.REX Raptor Holster with the included hardware and instantly increase its comfort. The Raptor Backer currently only works with the Raptor Holster. It will not work with the Sidecar.
View productDCC Monoblock Gear Clip
Machined from 10XX steel alloy, giving it significantly greater rigidity and clamping force compared to injection-molded plastic clips. The clip's clamping force is strong enough to secure a holster to a waistband without a belt. Accommodates belts up to 1.5″ wide.
View productIWB Tuckable Clip — Metal
Heat-treated C1050 spring steel with a textured powder coat finish. Fits belts up to 1.75″ wide and 0.275″ thick, with ±10 degrees of cant adjustment and ride height adjustable via slotted mounting hole. At 0.025 inches thick, the clip maintains a low profile under tucked garments.
View productIWB Adjustable Claw
Compatible with all Sidecar and current Raptor designs. It provides 21 distinct adjustment positions through a combination of four outward offsets and three vertical positions. The Raptor Claw mounting holes are spaced approximately 1 inch apart.
View productHolster Wedge
A small foam pad that attaches to the body-facing side of the holster. It fills the gap between the holster and the body, pushing the muzzle end outward and the grip end inward — improved concealment and improved comfort by distributing pressure and eliminating hotspots. Uses a hook-and-loop system for quick repositioning.
View productReplacement Hardware Pack
Provides the screws, posts, and washers needed to maintain, reconfigure, or repair T.REX holsters and mounting systems. Screws and posts can loosen or strip over time with daily wear — keeping a spare hardware pack on hand prevents downtime.
View productRaptor Pistol Mag Carrier
An IWB mag carrier designed to complement our Raptor IWB Holster. It features an adjustable hole pattern that offers up to 40 degrees of rearward cant and has a built-in 1 degree of inward tilt for ergonomics and concealment. Ships with a DCC Monoblock installed.
View productPHLster Enigma
The Raptor is compatible with the PHLster Enigma. The Raptor can also be worn at 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, or other non-appendix positions. Removing the Raptor Claw provides additional carry-position flexibility for strong-side or cross-draw positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my T.REX holster have an optic cut?
Yes. All T.REX holsters include an optic cut as a standard feature at no additional cost.
Which weapon lights do T.REX holsters support?
T.REX holsters support a wide range of common weapon lights. Supported lights appear in the drop-down configurator on each product page. The most common supported lights include the Streamlight TLR-1, TLR-7, TLR-7A, TLR-7 Sub, TLR-8 (limited), SureFire X300U, X300V, and others. Always confirm via the configurator for your specific gun/light combination.
The TLR-8 (and all TLR-8 variants including the 8A and 8AG) will not fit any T.REX holster designed for the TLR-7. T.REX does not manufacture any holsters compatible with Olight weapon lights.
Will a compensator or threaded barrel fit in a T.REX holster?
Generally yes. Most slide-profile compensators will fit because T.REX holsters have an open bottom — the comp protrudes below the holster body. The key requirement is that the compensator must not be wider than the slide; any comp that widens beyond slide width will not fit.
The 'Cover Threaded Barrel' option adds approximately 0.5 inches of additional Kydex length to the holster sides to provide more coverage over a compensator or threaded barrel. The end of the holster remains open.
Does the Raptor work with the PHLster Enigma?
Yes, the Raptor is compatible with the PHLster Enigma. The Raptor can also be worn at 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, or other non-appendix positions. Removing the Raptor Claw provides additional carry-position flexibility for strong-side or cross-draw positions.
Does the Sidecar or Raptor support tucked-shirt carry?
Yes. Both holsters support tuck-in carry. The Raptor ships with tuckable clips — you tuck the shirt between the holster and your belt, with only the clips visible.
How do I adjust holster retention if my gun feels loose or falls out?
For IWB holsters (Sidecar, Raptor): adjust the retention screws incrementally in small turns. Correct retention means the gun does not fall out when held upside down, and the draw stroke is smooth and easy. T.REX does not guarantee an audible click on retention. If you cannot achieve correct retention with adjustment, contact T.REX for warranty support; they will send replacement hardware or a replacement holster.
What is the difference between plastic and metal clip options?
Both function reliably. The choice is largely preference:
- Plastic clips are easier to put on and take off the belt.
- Metal clips are lower profile and sleeker in appearance.
Can I carry without a belt — athletic wear, sweatpants?
The tuckable clips are designed exclusively for use with a belt and will not retain properly without one. For beltless carry — such as gym shorts, athletic wear, or other waistbands without a rigid belt — Discreet Carry Concepts (DCC) clips are the recommended alternative.
Can I get replacement screws or hardware for my holster?
Yes. T.REX sends replacement hardware free of charge. Contact customer service with your shipping address and, if possible, a photo of your holster to help identify exactly which hardware is needed. All T.REX holster hardware uses 8-32 thread pitch, which is a standard size readily available at hardware stores if you need an immediate replacement.
Is my cracked or broken holster covered under warranty?
Yes. T.REX warranties all holsters against cracking or breaking under normal use. Contact customer service, be prepared to provide photos of the damage, and you may be asked to return the broken holster. T.REX will replace it.
Can I return or exchange a holster for a different gun configuration?
No. Because all holsters are custom-made to order for a specific gun/light/hand configuration, T.REX cannot accept returns or exchanges to swap one gun fit for another. If you ordered incorrectly, check the T.REX eBay store — they periodically list factory-second and returned holsters there at reduced prices, and you may find the holster you actually need.
How long does it take for a holster to ship after ordering?
All T.REX holsters are handmade to order. IWB holsters (Sidecar, Raptor) ship in 1–3 weeks. You will receive a shipping confirmation email with a tracking number when your order ships.
What happened to the Nomad holster?
The Nomad was discontinued. The Raptor was developed to do everything the Nomad did, with improvements in manufacturability. If you are looking for a replacement for a Nomad, order the Raptor.