Holster Wear

[palooka]

Is there a significant difference in wear on the finish of handguns from different holster materials? Is leather better than synthetic ?

 

[mr_goodbomb]

I never understood why it mattered, the condition of the firearm. If it functions, who cares? They're made to be used and carried, not sat on a shelf.

 

[Hoth206]

My personal experience has been that there's not a whole lot of difference. The kydex tends to wear fairly heavily on the parts where it holds the pistol in the holster (i.e. the front of the trigger guard) and relatively less on the rest of the pistol.

Leather tends to more evenly wear the finish on edges more evenly, not in the "hot spots" that tend to pop up with kydex.

I've heard, however, that kydex is usually a little easier to keep clean (wipe out dirt & sand) so it should theoreticaly be a little easier on finishes.

 

[Old Fuff]

I never understood why it mattered, the condition of the firearm. If it functions, who cares? They're made to be used and carried, not sat on a shelf.

No, not necessarily. The use, if any, depends on what the gun's owner wants to do with it, and not ALL guns are made to be used or carried.

If you chose to "use or carry" the guns you own that's your business, but others are free to do whatever they want to.

 

[BullfrogKen]

Pretty much what Hoth said.

Some leather is easier on a finish than others, too. Rough leather on the inside of the holster is going to be more abrasive to the finish than smooth. Some manufacturers make the holster with the rough side out; others use two pieces of thinner leather for smooth sides on the inside and the outside. That's a more expensive option.

 

[Guardrail]

Stay away from the 220 grit sandpaper holsters.

Guardrail