Holster Problem - Advice?

[bruss01]

Ok, yesterday was a red-letter day in the history of my firearms hobby. Two things were waiting for me when I got home - my CCW permit came in the mail, and USPS also delivered my LONG awaited holster from Bulman Gunleather!

Let me say this about working with Bulman Gunleather - they have always been polite, prompt to return voice mail and email messages, and have treated me in a 100% professional manner. I was advised when making the purchase that there was a 3 month wait. I was ok with that. There was an additional delay, I was told when I called to check, due to a backorder on a part needed to complete my order. I was ok with that too. So anyway, it was not cheap, and it was not fast... but I can say after seeing the final product, it was worth the price and worth the wait! This is a PROFESSIONAL looking product, it feels SOLID and the care that went into making it is obvious. This does not in ANY WAY look like it was put together in a garage by a hobbyist. I'm very impressed and would recommend them without hesitation.

BUT.... I do have a problem with this new holster, and I'm hoping to get some advice. It fits my CZ pistol LIKE A GLOVE. I mean, a very snug glove. After I put the belt on (the BulmanGunleather belt) and put the holster on the belt (a bit of a challenge, everything is very new and stiff) I put the nose of the pistol in the holster and eased it down... about an inch. Then I pushed a little more firmly... then a little more firmly still.. and WHUK it seemed to snap into place like a precision-made part. All well and good, I thought. Then I tried to draw it out (there are no retaining snaps or buckles). I pulled with my right hand... then pulled harder... then pulled HARD. No movement, it's as if the gun has become welded or glued inside the holster. I shifted the belt around where I could get ahold of the gun with both hands and PULLED. I gave myself a wedgie the likes of which I haven't had since high school, but that gun DID NOT BUDGE, not one iota. I had to remove the belt, remove the holster from the belt, and using both hands work for a few minutes to get it loose. When it came loose it gave just a smidge, then just a smidge more, then a smidge and a half... then WHUSH it's out.

This is only my second new holster ever, the first being a Bianchi for my Ruger GP-100. The Bianchi has a retaining strap with a snap. It's a solid fit, with no appreciable slop when the gun is seated, and with the snap undone, the Ruger glides in and out with ease. Now, I bought the BG holster for IDPA competition, and obviously I can't use it if it takes five minutes to get it out of the holster, that wouldn't reflect well on my IDPA scores. So, what to do? I will of course contact BG and ask them what their suggestions are... but what do you guys do with new holsters that are SNUG? A little graphite inside the holster? Oil? Stuff it with a damp washcloth overnight? Don't worry, I won't be trying any of these without the advice of someone "in the know". Unfortunately the holster, belt and mag pouches arrived with only a receipt, no use and care instructions. The holster is BEAUTIFUL and I am disinclined to send it back after waiting this long for it.

Suggestions?

 

[Thefabulousfink]

If it is an IWB holster, put your gun in it and wear it around. The movement of your body will cause the leather to strech around the gun and make it a little looser. An OWB holster dosen't move as much, so you will have to break it in by hand.

Working the gun in and out of the holster should loosen it up, but if it is still tight you may need to soften the leather. Get a leather conditioning oil like you would use to break in a baseball glove (mink oil works well). Rub the oil into the inside of the holster until the leather starts to absorb it. This will soften the leather a little, but not enough for the holster to loose its shape. Now put your gun in the holster and work it around. When the holster is looser, but still a little tight, remove the gun and let the holster dry.

Remember that the holster will get looser the more that you use it, so only loosen the holster enough that you can draw and holster your gun with too much difficulty. Also Remember to clean the mink oil off you gun after you are done.

 

[bruss01]

Thanks, FF.

It is an OWB (it's for IDPA). I remember the baseball glove I got when I was 7 (still have it, btw) and how my dad had me work neatsfoot oil into it to make it usable. Your suggestion sounds like essentially the same concept. Hopefully I can identify which parts are too stiff, I don't want to just oil the whole thing and have it lose it's shape and resilience. It's really beautiful, I'm sure it will be the envy of all at the next IDPA match, even if my scores arent! (not the fault of the holster, either!)

 

[the naked prophet]

Being an amateur holster maker myself, that's the way all new holsters are. You wear the gun around the house for a few days, and it'll loosen up a bit. Then if it's still tight, you wrap the gun ONCE in a piece of plastic like a cut ziploc bag, and holster it and let it sit overnight. Then it should be better. Of course, you should then do 50-100 draw/reholsters to smooth it up. If that doesn't make it fit better, you should do the bag trick one more night. The holster should always be tight enough that if you hold it upside down with a full mag in the gun, the gun won't fall out with a little shaking.

 

[FJC]

Another amatuer holster maker here.

I would avoid using any oil on it - you want a baseball glove to soften up, you don't want a holster to soften.

Check with your holster maker, but I've had the best success using the ziplok bag method listed above. If there are portions of leather that are snapping around the gun itself (and thus not getting stretched when fully inserted), try only half-inserting the gun and leaving it overnight.

And as suggested, many draws/reinserts will work it in as well.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Just a clarification, only use Oil if the holster is way too tight.

From you discription, it sounded like the holster was extremly tight and you could not get the gun out. You should allways try and and "dry fit" the holster first. If the holster is still too tight after working the gun in and out, a little oil will lossen it up.

Different styles of holsters have different levels of stiffness, for IDPA you probably want the holster fairly stiff so that the gun doesn't shift on you, but with a smooth enough draw to still be fast. If you do use oil in the holster, just use a little bit on the parts that bind (along the top of the slide near the front sight, stay clear of the trigger guard as that provides most of your retention).

 

[bruss01]

Thanks guys, I will try the plastic bag trick, it sounds pretty harmless. I'll post on the results and hopefully some photos of the rig itself for your perusal tomorrow.

Yes, FF it was very stuck, as in "brace with one foot and pull with both hands until you're red in the face" stuck. Fit perfect when it was in, though. I checked and it looks like nothing was holding up the works, just a snug fit, simple friction. Go figure.

 

[tegemu]

Gary Brommeland, and probably all good holster makers, have the same problem with their new products. With my Max Con V's, that were the same way as yours, Gary advised wrapping the gun in wax paper, fully inserting it in the holster and leaving it overnight. If that was not enough use two layers of wax paper and repeat, just be careful not to overdo it, it is almost impossible to reduce any overstretching. I have used the wax paper tecnique on 4 holsters and 1 Mag holder so far and it has worked like a charm every time. The wax paper also leaves a bit of wax behind to work as a protectant and a lubricant.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Have done the ziplock baggie thing, works great. Also holstering and wearing around the house until it breaks in a bit is a good idea.

 

[enfield]

Get a leather conditioning oil like you would use to break in a baseball glove (mink oil works well). Rub the oil into the inside of the holster until the leather starts to absorb it.

DON'T EVER do this. Not to a holster. Sheesh.

 

[Old Fuff]

1. For expert advise, first talk to the holster maker.

2. If the leather wasn't oiled in the first place it probably shouldn't be oiled now.

3. It is usually O.K. to wax a molded holster.

4. Do try the plastic bag trick. and work the gun in and out of the holster this will burnish the tight places.

5. Like a tight pair of shoes, it will wear in with use.

 

[shotgunkevin]

Wear it in. You really shouldn't expect a new holster to be suitable for carry for a couple of weeks, in my experience. I usually will leave the gun in the holster for days on end, and do a bunch of drawing and reholstering in the evenings. At first, you won't be able to do it with the holster on your belt. Just hold it and work the gun in and out. Watch TV or something.

The goal should be smoothness, not looseness. And don't use oil!

 

[LHB1]

Quoted from Milt Sparks website:
My holster is too tight! What's the best way to break it in?
Tightness in a new holster is not uncommon and is much preferable to the alternative. If the draw is a little stiff at first, it is recommended that you work with it to see if it doesn't loosen up with a bit of use. About 25 to 50 presentations should be a good indicator of whether the holster will break in sufficiently on its own or if maybe a little blocking out of the leather is in order. There are many variables as to why a holster would be excessively tight ranging from the texture of your guns finish, to slight changes in climate or humidity from where the holster is made. Regardless of the reason, a too tight holster can easily be remedied by the end user with a method we have been recommending to customers for over 20 years.

To block out (stretch) your new holster first UNLOAD your pistol or revolver and place the gun into the 4 mil plastic bag that your new holster was packaged in. Then carefully insert the bagged gun all the way into the holster (do not! I repeat, do not!! wet or spray the holster with any solution to aid in the stretching process). The blocking out process as described above will in no way harm the crisp detailed molding of your new holster, nor will it ruin its retention qualities. It serves simply to stretch the leather a few thousands of an inch larger than the gun. The amount of stretching time needed for satisfactory results range from a just a few minutes to overnight.

I suspect if you called Josh Bulman that he would recommend a similar technique for your holster.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[bruss01]

I tried the plastic bag method, left the gun in the holster 24 hours.

When I tried to take it out, it seemed a good deal easier. Still much stiffer than you would want for a sport like IDPA, but I was able to get it in and out without straining anything. So I worked it in and out probably a dozen times, and it seems to be improving more. I will leave it in the bag another day, and then try the insert/extract process a few hundered times and hopefully that will get things to a proper state. I was recommended to do that with my DA revolvers (dry fire) to smooth the trigger pull. Monotonous, yes, but effective.

Thanks again for the good recommendations, guys.