Holster Wear

[rikman]

Which type of holster would put less wear on a stainless or blue pistol? Myers types or good old leather?

Thanks,
Rikman

 

[kingpin008]

I'm not familair with "Myers types", but in general, kydex holsters cause more holster wear on pistols than leather will.

 

[rikman]

Thanks for the reply Kingpin

 

[General Geoff]

Kydex concentrates wear on small points and edges. Leather wears larger areas of finish, but more slowly.

 

[kingpin008]

Kydex concentrates wear on small points and edges. Leather wears larger areas of finish, but more slowly.

Good point - I should have been a bit more specific.

 

[rikman]

Thanks General...looking at Serpa on Midway USA right now....that's kydex,right?

 

[kingpin008]

Rikman - Yeah, Serpa holsters are kydex.

The majority of holsters you're going to find are either leather or kydex. So if it looks plastic, it's kydex.

 

[gym]

I like leather anyday. everytime I go with some new krydex or plastic, it just scratches up my guns, and that pisses me off. Get a good Mitch rosen or Galco, DeSantis. It's as important as the weapon. Don't get a cheap holster because it says tactical on it. My shoulder rig is a beautiful piece of work, as are all my leather rigs. The Fobus just sits in the box. Plus the plastic stuff hurts your body if you wear it all the time where as the leather dosen't in my experience of almost 40 yrs.

 

[bigfatdave]

So if it looks plastic, it's kydex.

Actually, no. There are a lot of cheap injection-molded plastic holsters out there that are NOT thermoplastic like Kydex.

 

[joe_security]

Safariland and Bianchi offer suede lined holsters. Real leather holsters. Some of the Milt Sparks are as soft as suede on the inside.

 

[MrOldLude]

Actually, no. There are a lot of cheap injection-molded plastic holsters out there that are NOT thermoplastic like Kydex.

Just about any injection-molded part available is going to be thermoplastic. Maybe not an acrylic/PVC blend, but certainly a thermoplastic polymer.

 

[bigfatdave]

I was misusing the term thermoplastic, it seems.

Kydex (technically "KYDEX Thermoplastic Sheet(tm)" ) is a specific product that will be deformable when heated, and is far superior to the injection-molded non-adjustable stuff used by the lower-end holster makers.

As you can adjust Kydex for the exact desired fit, it CAN have lower wear if it is properly formed, while you're pretty much stuck with whatever Fobus sets you up with. A thin Kydex holster will have most of the advantages of a thin leather holster, while staying open on the draw and being a lot easier to clean off. Leather is less abrasive than a somewhat rigid plastic, until it absorbs some dust and crud, which will rub on your weapon as the holster flexes and may not be easily cleaned out.

I still have no idea what a "Myers Type" holster is, and the OP may be under the impression that holster wear can be avoided in a carried weapon. It really can't be avoided, but it can be minimized and you have the choice between wear everywhere (leather) or wear at a few retention points and holster edges (Kydex) or wear in random spots plus an overly bulky holster (injection-formed).
Personally, the holster wear aspect is a minor concern, and Kydex wins out for a bunch of other reasons, e.g. staying open, having retention without silly straps, being molded to the gun on one side and my hip on the other, holding the gun in close for better concealment*, and being easier to clean out.


* (I will not comment on the value of concealment to someone posting from IL)

 

[Justin]

If you're concerned about holster wear on your gun, you're carrying the wrong gun.

Defensive pistols are tools that are meant to be handled, drawn, fired, shot, and most importantly used.

 

[rcmodel]

More importantly, Kydex, or plastic, or leather, or suede doesn't wear the finish.

Dirt/fine grit inside the holster is what wears out the finish.
It acts just like rubbing compound.

Just keeping the holster as clean as possible inside will go a long ways in reducing holster wear.

I like to run a Swifter duster through my plastic holsters to get out all the dust occasionally.
And a light rub with Armor-all reduces friction.

rc

 

[REAPER4206969]

Kydex/polymer holsters are much easier on the finish than leather. Kydex will quickly wear a few spots, then stop. Leather will wear large areas over longer time.

 

[Seraph]

If you're concerned about holster wear on your gun, you're carrying the wrong gun.

There are some good posts in this thread, among some misconceived ones (nobody knows EVERYthing, afterall), but the above quoted one is best, and truest. If you carry and use a sidearm, it isn't going to remain like new. You can try a lot of different things, including tough finishes like hard chrome or Ionbond DLC, but nothing will be 100%. This doesn't vex me, personally, as I think honest holster wear looks dead sexy.

Here's what 3 years' carry in top shelf leather does to Melonite QPQ:

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Myers types or good old leather?

S.D. Myers holsters are good old leather.

 

[Super J]

I'm yet to find a holster set up that does not produce wear on a carry gun. The most important lesson that I learned years ago, is to make sure to clean the inside of your holster as the gunk that accumulates in it only acts as an abrasive material attacking your precious firearm.