The Ruger 57 has a unique size and shape to it. Part of that is because of how long the 5.7x28mm round is and how Ruger wanted to design it. The Ruger 57’s odd shape, combined with its current status as a niche weapon, means that it can be difficult to find a holster designed for it.
You can go the universal route, and we’ll recommend one holster that is a universal fit, but nine times out of 10, I recommend finding one that is custom-shaped to fit a specific model of handgun. There are a few reasons for this, which we’ll touch on throughout the article, but my best overall recommendation is the DeSantis DS Paddle Holster.
My background on this topic mostly comes from my experience as a marketing and PR consultant for law enforcement agencies and FFLs. There is not a group of people on the planet that will talk your ear off about holsters the way LEOs will. I’ve used my fair share of holsters and have heard strong opinions for just about every popular holster out there.
After looking at all the options, I feel like the best overall holster for the Ruger 57 is the DeSantis DS Paddle Holster. Of course, if you’re looking for something to carry concealed with, the DS is probably the wrong choice, but who am I to tell you how to live your life?
Product Reviews
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  |
| Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at OpticsPlanet |
Best IWB (Inside the Waistband)  |
| Check Price at Amazon |
Best Universal Holster  |
| Check Price at Amazon |
Best For Weapon Lights  |
| Check Price at Amazon |
Best for Leather  |
| Check Price at AmazonCheck Price at OpticsPlanet |
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| Check Price at Amazon |
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| Check Price at Amazon |
1. DeSantis DS Paddle Holster
The DeSantis DS is an OWB (outside the waistband) holster that is cut and molded specifically for the Ruger 57. It comes in as my top recommendation for a simple reason: it checks all the boxes. Not only is it not universal, but it also has an adjustable cant going either rearward or forward.
It will fit the Ruger 57 with or without an optic, which is not true of many other holsters. The build quality is even more important than features, though, and here I feel like DeSantis did a great job with it. The holster is industrial-grade thermo-plastic (which apparently just means it’s really strong plastic).
I’m fond of leather holsters, myself, but for duty carry or self-defense, this is a great all-around holster.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Adjustable cant
- Perfect fit for the Ruger 57
- Dual tension
Cons:
- Right-handed only
- Made of plastic
- No color options besides black
The DeSantis DS Paddle Holster is a great all-around solution for comfortably carrying around a Ruger 57. If you’re looking for a duty holster or just something to keep your sidearm handy while out hunting or at the range, the DeSantis DS could be a good choice.
DeSantis DS Paddle Holster
The price of “DeSantis DS Paddle Holster” varies, so check the latest price at
2. We The People IWB Kydex Holster
Most of the time, if you’re carrying inside the waistband, it’s because you’re carrying concealed. In this regard, this holster from We The People does a great job. It clips in nice and strong and won’t slide unless you really mean for it to slide.
It’s made of Kydex, so you’ll get a lot of the benefits of a leather holster without the maintenance of one. This holster allows you not only to adjust the cant but also the height at which the holster rides and the retention on the holster.
The retention is how tightly the holster will hold the gun in place. If you’re just carrying throughout your day-to-day, you may want to adjust the retention to be fairly light so you have a smooth and consistent draw. If you’re taking it out on a run, on the other hand, you may want to tighten it up to make sure it stays in place while you’re bouncing up and down.
Pros:
- Kydex (waterproof, rustproof)
- Adjustable retention
- Adjustable cant
- Adjustable ride
Cons:
- A bit stiff for IWB (compared to suede/neoprene)
- Can scuff your gun over time
If you’re looking for a holster to carry your Ruger 57 concealed, this is the one I recommend you look at. Concealing such a large handgun inside your waistband is probably not going to be particularly comfortable, but the We the People holster will let you position it wherever it is most comfortable for you.
We The People IWB Kydex Holster
The price of “We The People IWB Kydex Holster” varies, so check the latest price at
3. Concealed Carrier TM Universal Holster
As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m personally almost always going to recommend that you go with a non-universal holster that is specifically designed for the model of handgun you have. However, there are a few cases where using a universal holster makes more sense.
If you find yourself in one of those situations, I recommend you check out this one from Concealed Carrier. Most universal holsters aren’t going to be made of a hard or stiff material for obvious reasons, so you’ll most likely be choosing from softer materials.
Neoprene is good, and Concealed Carrier has got it thick enough that I wouldn’t be worried about it tearing when used normally. The clip is secured well and should last plenty long, and Concealed Carrier has added a snap to keep the firearm from bouncing out. These holsters also come with an extra mag holster that could also be used for a pocket knife or pepper spray.
Pros:
- Slim, soft fit
- Fits more than just Ruger 57
- Comes with an extra mag carrier
- Snap to hold the gun in place
Cons:
- Won’t be a perfect fit
- Neoprene can get hot, sweaty
- Won’t last as long as tougher holsters
The low price and advantages of the Concealed Carrier holster far outweigh the cons, so if you’re in the market for a universal holster, this would be the one I’d check out first.
Concealed Carrier TM Universal Holster
The price of “Concealed Carrier TM Universal Holster” varies, so check the latest price at
4. Skydas Gear JEDBURGH
Here’s another Kydex option for you if you’re leaning in that direction, especially if you know you want to put a weapon light on your Ruger 57. It’s cut specifically for the TLR-1 from Streamlight, but it can fit other lights that are either a smaller profile or very close in size and shape to the TLR-1.
The retention is adjustable, and the holster is cut so that you can also have an optic mounted on your Ruger without causing any problems. The biggest issue I have with the Jedburgh is that the belt loops aren’t big enough for most duty belts, so it probably won’t work as a duty holster. If you’re just wearing a normal civilian belt, you should be just fine.
This will also work just fine without a flashlight attached, so if you think you’re going to attach a light to your 57 but haven’t yet, you can still use this holster until you do.
Pros:
- Can accommodate a weapon light
- Works with red dots
- Adjustable retention
Cons:
- Belt loops too small for duty belts
- Retention screws can come loose
- May need some breaking in
In summary, if you’re looking for a duty holster, look elsewhere. If you’re looking for an OWB holster for everyday carry, this can be a fantastic option, especially if you plan on putting a weapon light on your Ruger 57.
5. DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide
As I mentioned earlier, I’m a fan of leather holsters, and the leather DeSantis holster is a great option at a reasonable price. It has a slightly forward cant (FBI cant) of about 10-20 degrees, and the cant is not adjustable, so if you don’t like forward cants, then you may want to move along.
The retention is adjustable, which is not always the case for leather holsters, but is a really nice feature for leather because leather tends to slowly stretch and loosen over time. Being able to gradually tighten the retention as the leather gets older can significantly lengthen the overall life of the holster.
The snap is up at the top and positioned well for your thumb to break it when you need to draw, and the belt loops are larger than the Skydas Gear. I haven’t tried one with a duty belt, but the holes look big enough that, with a little convincing, it would slide on.
Pros:
- Leather (yes, this is a pro)
- Stylish
- Adjustable retention
- Compatible with red dots
Cons:
- Cant is not adjustable
- Leather needs proper maintenance
It’s a good holster, made of premium leather, and is a nice tight fit on the Ruger 57. That said, it might slowly rub off the finish on the slide, but it does its job well and is a good option for carrying around a Ruger 57.
DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide
The price of “DeSantis Thumb Break Mini Slide” varies, so check the latest price at
6. Skydas Gear OWB Kydex Holster
Skydas also makes a highly-rated OWB holster that is designed for a Ruger 57 without a light. Even better, you can get this model with either normal belt loops or loops sized for a 2” duty belt. Also great is that the holster comes with clips to convert into an IWB holster as well.
If I were to sum up this holster in a single word, it would be “versatile.” Most holsters are “what you see is what you get,” but with this one, you can adapt it fairly well to however you’d like to use it.
The converse of that is that it isn’t really the ‘best’ at anything; it’s a jack of all trades but a master of none. So if you want a holster for one specific task (e.g., carrying a Ruger 57 OWB on your hip), there’s probably one that’s better for you. If, though, you want a little flexibility in how you carry, this may be the best choice.
Pros:
- Can be IWB or OWB
- Can be ordered with duty belt clips
- Durable Kydex
Cons:
- Fit isn’t as perfect as it could/should be
- Minimalist design
This could be a good option for a lot of folks, especially if you want to try carrying IWB and OWB and aren’t sure which one you’ll stick with long term. The biggest drawback for me is that there’s nothing that really shouts “switch to me” for this holster. It’s good, solid, and fair price, but nothing super special about it.
Skydas Gear OWB Kydex Holster
The price of “Skydas Gear OWB Kydex Holster” varies, so check the latest price at
7. Tru-Fit Tactical OWB Kydex Holster
This holster does a lot right, which is why it’s on this list. Tru-Fit produces all of their holsters in the U.S.A., and they’ve taken the time to put a smooth finish on the inside of the holster to hopefully prevent it from scuffing your 57.
The thing that sets this holster apart from the rest is the aesthetics. You’ve got a lot of color choices ranging from black to blue to red to pink, with green and tan mixed in there for good measure. It fully covers the trigger guard and allows for optics.
The retention isn’t adjustable, but it is almost perfect for the Ruger 57, which is even more surprising given the low price. This is a high-ride holster, and it does not come in a version for duty belts. Overall it’s a lightweight but strong holster that works well at a low price.
Pros:
- Near-perfect retention
- Rides high
- Lots of color choices
Cons:
- Retention is not adjustable
- No duty belt compatibility
Since this is an OWB holster, the color choice can actually matter a lot more, assuming, of course, that the quality of the holster is on par with other options. Other than offering different colors, the Tru-Fit is a solid choice that can work for everyday carry.
Tru-Fit Tactical OWB Kydex Holster
The price of “Tru-Fit Tactical OWB Kydex Holster” varies, so check the latest price at
Buying Guide
Holster Material
Most OWB holsters will either be Kydex or leather, though you may see some other ones. Stiffer materials provide better retention than softer ones, so when your firearm is exposed and visible, it’s usually a priority to make sure that it’s not easy to take from you.
When you’re carrying IWB, stiffer materials can hurt, especially when carrying a gun the size of the Ruger 57. You may still want the benefits of the stiffer material, but it may be worth it to go with something softer like neoprene or a suede holster.
Carry Location
All of the holsters we talked about in this article are either OWB or IWB, but theoretically, you could carry a Ruger 57 on your ankle or under your jacket. Where you want to carry will narrow down your holster options significantly, and you’ll find the most choices around the waistband.
Carrying a Ruger 57 on your ankle will most likely print pretty badly, as even sub-compact handguns can print if your pants aren’t loose enough, so be aware of that if your plan is to carry concealed.
Retention
Retention refers to how the handgun is kept from coming out of the holster when you do not intend for it to do so. Kydex and leather holsters will have internal retention, which essentially just means the material squeezes in the right places when the gun is fully inserted.
Leather holsters will often also have a snap at the top, and some Kydex holsters do as well, but most soft-bodied holsters will have a snap. Some low-riding holsters may not have a snap, especially if they’re intended to be carried on the back, where it is awkward to unsnap.
Extra Mag Capacity
It’s worth considering whether you want to find a solution for carrying an extra magazine. If you’re carrying at all, it may be worth going to a little extra trouble to carry double the capacity. That said, the Ruger 57 has a 20+1 magazine capacity thanks to the physical size of the 5.7x28mm round, and that’s an awful lot of shots.
For reference, my Glock 43 has a paltry 6+1 capacity. It would take me three extra magazines to reach and exceed the number of shots the Ruger 57 can shoot with just one.
Most holsters don’t come with an extra mag pouch, so you can always shop for them separately.
Cant and Riding Height
These are completely subjective and up to your personal preference, though they can be affected by where you’re carrying them. IWB holsters will typically ride lower than OWB (so bending over doesn’t suck quite so much), but cant is anyone’s game.
If you aren’t sure what cant you prefer (rearward or forward, and to what degree), just go with something mild—either a slight forward cant, slight rearward, or straight up. Chances are, even if it’s not perfect, it won’t be far off, and it will still absolutely be functional until you can try out another holster.
FAQs
In my humble opinion? No. It is just too big to fit properly inside the waistband without being uncomfortable and printing against your shirt. That said, if you can find a way to conceal it properly, nobody robbing a 7/11 is going to expect you to whip out 21 rounds of firepower from inside your pants.
It should be tight enough that the gun doesn’t come out by accident but does come out when you want it to. I’m unaware of a specific PSI or other ratings for the ‘right’ retention. It also depends on what you plan on doing while carrying. If you plan on jogging with it, you’ll want the retention tighter, even if it means you have to give it a good yank to pull it out.
It depends on what you’re buying it for. If you want a gun with good stopping power, great ballistics, and low recoil, then yes, the Ruger 57 is worth it. If those aren’t priorities, it might not be worth it.
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Conclusion
No matter how you want to carry the Ruger 57, chances are there’s a holster manufacturer wanting to capitalize on it. We highly recommend the DeSantis DS Paddle Holster because it is ideal for both duty carry and self-defense.
The choices on this list should cover most situations, but are there any other holsters that belong here? Have you had any experiences with any of these holsters? Let me know in the comments.
