Best way to soften up a new holster?

[nailknocker]

Bought a new holster for my snubbie, it's real stiff, and a little creaky, plus it holds the gun to tight. Nice leather holster, just stiff, what is the best method to get it to relax a bit, aside from wearing it 24-7 for a month or two. Thanks

 

[Sylvain]

I heard wrapping your gun with wax paper (used for cooking) and keeping it in the holster for a few days could help.

 

[dcahsr23]

i have used saddle soap in the past. make sure to test it first cause it cold discolor. and follow the direction on the saddle soap.

 

[scott delaney]

soak it with mink oil and throw it in the dryer for a while ....it works with baseball gloves

 

[Double T]

Wax paper would be the best bet as you want to stretch not overly soften. A lot of custom leather places do not recommend anything but wax paper or something similar.

 

[Sylvain]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiuXvlhSKOE

 

[lon]

If you like your new holster you will listen to the wax paper-plastic baggie guys and not the oil-saddle soap guys. All high quality, hand boned holsters start out with a very tight fit... your rig will loosen up in time to a nice fit ( think retention). Oil will destroy that fit. Avoid exposing good leather to heat.

 

[nailknocker]

Great! I have never heard of the wax paper trick, I will be trying that. Thank you all.

 

[jgreiner]

Bought a new holster for my snubbie, it's real stiff, and a little creaky, plus it holds the gun to tight. Nice leather holster, just stiff, what is the best method to get it to relax a bit, aside from wearing it 24-7 for a month or two. Thanks

Be careful about "softening" a holster up too much much. Worn, soft holsters can cause AD's. Especially around the trigger area.

 

[jgreiner]

Bought a new holster for my snubbie, it's real stiff, and a little creaky, plus it holds the gun to tight. Nice leather holster, just stiff, what is the best method to get it to relax a bit, aside from wearing it 24-7 for a month or two. Thanks

What I did was to put a freezer baggie over my MP...and fit it into the holster overnight. Next morning, removed the baggie, and the gun fit like a glove.

 

[pocketpistolpete]

wax paper and sleep with it on your waist!

 

[88E30M50]

I have a Galco Fletch I bought for my RIA Compact. It was stiff when I bought it and thought I'd help it break in by applying some leather conditioning oil. Bad idea. It softened it up quite well and ruined it for carry. It now flops around and has almost zero retention. I have it in a box down in the basement now in hopes that in 10 or 20 years, it will dry back out and be useful again. Waste of $70.

 

[SAILORGOLF46]

Thanks wanted to know how to strach one myself.

 

[elpenguin0717]

a regular plastic bag works just fine as well i stick it in a bag then place in holster then let it sit for atleast 24hrs

 

[red_zr24x4]

The only thing I put on my holster is shoe polish. It covers any scratches and keeps a nice shine on it.
I use a Galco concealable, no retention strap. After about 3 yrs it still holds my 226 nice and tight.

 

[arbys1]

Work a dime sized spot of neetsfoot oil or mink oil into the holster. Only a dab its very easy to over do oil on leather there should be no excess oil residue if so get it off. That's it put it to work. Good leather needs conditioning every year or so to keep it breathing. My son & I have been doing this on Rawlings HOH gloves for years. If you think your holsters tight try having a catch with a brand new $300 glove without any break-in. Tighter than a nuns coin purse. Make sure super positive its good leather ie. Bull hide. Good luck

 

[KPierce]

This is what I do and it works well for me.

After inserting the weapon into the holster close inspection will show you where the tight spots are by miniscule grain stretching in those ares. I then use a damp rag to wet the area slightly. Once it dries I remove and re holster the weapon again, If it's still too tight I re dampen the tights spots again.

Only do this on the tight spots and not the entire holster. Have never had to dampen the tight areas more than twice myself.

Has always worked for me and needs no special materials. I have used this method on a couple of my Galco shoulder rigs and they are easy to withdraw and re holster a weapon, while not being lose.