New holster break in

[flatbutt]

I just received my new Fist leather holster for the 686 and it is of course wicked stiff. I just want to check with you all before I start rubbing it with anything.

Any recos?

[Arizona_928]

Plastic zip lock bag

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Plastic zip lock bag

huh?

[cabmandone]

I plan to just wear mine. I have to do some adjustment on my trigger guard clip. Mine is an Urban Carry Lock Leather. Maybe treat it like a ball glove and twist it around a bit?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

huh?

Hahah!

What don't you understand about it? Clearly, you rub it with a plastic zip lock bag. It takes a while and at first seems like it's not doing anything, so have faith and keep on rubbing. Sometime after the first 72 hours, you'll start to notice a very subtle change. That's when you have to get really serious and start rubbing harder and faster. This is where it's really getting good. If you wear out the ziplock bag, don't worry, that's natural. Just get out another (or maybe 2). Ok, now that you've got the bag seasoned by rubbing it on your junk, now you can use that bag on the holster. At this point, it should only be a few more days. If you have a problem with the bag, start over and go through the process again. This is going to work better than anything you've ever seen before. You won't be sorry.

[Arizona_928]

Put your spoon in. Zip lock and shove it into the holster until it is a nice fit.

I did this when I went with a leather holster for a ppq, and no one made a custom fit. Used a simular frame holster and zip lock bag trick until it was a nice fit

[serene911]

Get a good leather conditioner. I use Skidmore's Leather Cream. Got it on Amazon,highly
recommended. Rub it in,work the leather,repeat,repeat,etc. It's good stuff,great reviews.

[rfuerst911sc]

I have heard but have never tried : apply a liberal coat of leather conditioner of choice . Leave it on overnight . Next day rub in the conditioner that is leftover from the previous application . Then remove by rubbing any excess conditioner . The theory is the oils in the conditioner have to penetrate the leather to be effective . Let us know what you use and how it works out .

[Superman]

I asked Professor Higgins about this, and he said he has never oiled a holster in his life. So I set about loosening it myself, and it took less time than I expected. The holster was made to fit the gun, but it took some force to get the gun to go all the way into the holster. Shoving it ALL THE WAY IN is good policy, as you surely know. Then just leave it there. She won't mind. Then I had to sort of soften the upper edge of the holster so it would be easier to get the cylinder past the upper lip. As i say, it did not take as much work as I expected.

[Jeff Higgins]

Absolutely never, ever, under any circumstances, apply any sort of oil, conditioner, cream, gel, or liquid of any kind to a leather holster. Doing so will ruin it. Leather softens over time. Holster makers know this and account for this - that's why they make them "tight" to begin with. Speeding the process in an unnatural way with any kind of liquid will only result in a prematurely loose, floppy holster.

On top of that, whatever you apply to your holster gets applied to your gun as well. Many leather conditioning products have ingredients in them that are harmful to the finishes on our firearms. Yes, even if you have a stainless steel firearm, some of these products can "stain" the firearm.

The best way to break in a new holster is to simply wear it all the time. Keep the gun in it all the time even when you are not wearing it. Yes, wrapping the gun in something like a plastic bag, or some prefer wax paper (I'm leery of what might be in the "wax", though), adds a bit more "stretch" and speeds the process. But nothing beats just wearing it all the time, and keeping the gun in it all the time. Even overnight, in the nightstand.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Absolutely never, ever, under any circumstances, apply any sort of oil, conditioner, cream, gel, or liquid of any kind to a leather holster. Doing so will ruin it. Leather softens over time. Holster makers know this and account for this - that's why they make them "tight" to begin with. Speeding the process in an unnatural way with any kind of liquid will only result in a prematurely loose, floppy holster.

On top of that, whatever you apply to your holster gets applied to your gun as well. Many leather conditioning products have ingredients in them that are harmful to the finishes on our firearms. Yes, even if you have a stainless steel firearm, some of these products can "stain" the firearm.

The best way to break in a new holster is to simply wear it all the time. Keep the gun in it all the time even when you are not wearing it. Yes, wrapping the gun in something like a plastic bag, or some prefer wax paper (I'm leery of what might be in the "wax", though), adds a bit more "stretch" and speeds the process. But nothing beats just wearing it all the time, and keeping the gun in it all the time. Even overnight, in the nightstand.

thanks professor!

[speeder]

Jeff is right and a properly kept, high quality leather holster will last for generations. Here is my uncle’s from when he was a detective in the 1970s and ‘80s, I carry a revolver in it and it’s better than new, IMO.

[speeder]

[cabmandone]

Wore mine out yesterday during my walk around the woods. MAN that thing is tight. Putting the pistol in the holster will push the slide back. I didn't know storing the pistol in the holster was a good move but that's what I've been doing so it's good to know I'm doing something right! I'm on holster number 2. I bought a IWB/OWB made by Crossbreed that is made of kydex and leather. I couldn't get comfortable using it OWB so I bought the Lockleather holster and it's WAY more comfortable. I'm glad I found one I can work with. At the rate I'm going I'd have had more in holsters than I did in the pistol.

The kydex allows the pistol to slide in easier and has a lock. The lockleather is tight but has a lock that grips the trigger guard. I guess the lock is for when the holster is broken in because right now I can't engage the trigger guard lock and the pistol will not fall out of the holster.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That’s pretty cool Denis.

Tight belts kill my back so I use a belly band. You lose the cool factor of a well made leather holster but it’s way more comfortable.

[Flat Six]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Wore mine out yesterday during my walk around the woods. MAN that thing is tight. Putting the pistol in the holster will push the slide back. I didn't know storing the pistol in the holster was a good move but that's what I've been doing so it's good to know I'm doing something right! I'm on holster number 2. I bought a IWB/OWB made by Crossbreed that is made of kydex and leather. I couldn't get comfortable using it OWB so I bought the Lockleather holster and it's WAY more comfortable. I'm glad I found one I can work with. At the rate I'm going I'd have had more in holsters than I did in the pistol.

The kydex allows the pistol to slide in easier and has a lock. The lockleather is tight but has a lock that grips the trigger guard. I guess the lock is for when the holster is broken in because right now I can't engage the trigger guard lock and the pistol will not fall out of the holster.

Same with my Urban Carry Lock Leather holster. Took a couple weeks of daily wear to break in just right; I found that loosening the lock tension screw improved both draw and re-holstering during break-in.

I wear mine at ~3 o'clock so it stays pretty snug as it wraps around my side; at 4:30 it opens up a bit.

Best concealment holster I own. Comfortable, secure, easy to draw/re-holster, and doesn't print.