Oh happy CCW day for me! (Questions too)

[jefnvk]

Is today a happy CCW day for me? It sure is! Found out last week both my CCW permit had been approved and my new CCW holster had arrived at my house. So, after sitting around all week waiting on Friday to come, I made the 8 hour drive home from school. Today I picked up my first CCW permit, and seen my holster for the first time. I'm prety excited!

So, for my question, I see people recommend that holsters are worn in to a gun before use. What are peoples preferred methods of doing so, if any?

BTW, the holster is an IWB Canute in cordovan colored leather and black sharkskin trim from UBG Holsters. Nate is a great guy to work with, with a decently priced, very nice looking product. Customer service is top notch as well.

 

[Lonestar49]

Couple of ways IIRC

...

If its in regards to a too tight fit of your gun within the holster, and you're worried about holster wear on the sides of your gun, I have heard that you can do a couple of things to shape your holster to your gun for a better fit, less wear, and a comfy fit, not too tight, not too lose.

Get your holster wet, then wrap your gun in cellophane or wax paper, just make sure it is water proof, and not torn, other wise, use the good stuff..

Then, once your have your gun wrapped up for the night, put it in the wet holster and leave it 24hrs, so the holster stretches and dries around your protected gun for a better, closer fit to your guns exact size.

Or, just wrap your gun and put in the dry holster, wrapped, and leave it 24hrs.

If you're talking about softening up the holster itself, the area that will touch your skin, otherwise, mold it to a more natural fit to your body, having never had that problem with the IWB holsters I use, we'll have to wait for others to chime in..


LS

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Originally posted by jefnvk:
BTW, the holster is an IWB Canute in cordovan colored leather and black sharkskin trim from UBG Holsters.

Coincidentally, I have one (but in plain black). A most excellent holster, IMO.

Any good piece of leather like this is going to require some break-in, just like a new pair of leather shoes. If yours is anything like mine, about ~20-30 draw cycles will "etch" the inside and loosen the fit up very slightly so the gun will slide in and out without excessive force, yet still not fall out when held upside down and shaken. Should it still be too tight (unlikely), wrap the gun in some plastic (like the plastic bag it came in), cram it in the holster and leave it overnight like this. A wide-bodied holster like this also has to conform to the shape of your hip. The only way to do this is to wear it. Under no circumstances should you apply any moistening or softening agent, e.g., water or neatsfoot/mink oil.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Don't do any of that stuff yet. You probably won't need it, and you'll remove the nice boning work your craftsman did on it. That boning is what holds it tight and secure.

Just make sure it unloaded, and practice your drawstroke a couple hundred times. If its tight, it'll loosen up. If its still too tight after that, then you should consider the bag trick mentioned.

 

[jefnvk]

Thank you much! As it is now, the gun fits almost perfectly inside, and doesn't fall out, so I'll just work on the drawing.