Retention Holster Question

[jpruitt]

I'm asking about holsters that have screws you tighten to adjust the level of retention. I've never had one, they make me nervous. It seems to me that if you tighten such a holster enough to keep the gun secure, that would make it a tight enough fit that you would scratch/scuff up your gun whenever you draw or reholster. Is this an issue?

 

[TarDevil]

No, not an issue (assuming you see buying a reputable holster).

 

[JTQ]

Depends on what you're talking about.

A tension screw on a Davis Leather Liberty ( http://davisleathercompany.com/concealedcarry/ ) or a High Noon Topless ( https://www.highnoonholsters.com/leather-holsters/belt/extreme-duty/topless ) is there to tighten the fit of the holster as the leather stretches over time. It's not really a retention device. It is the design and shape of the holster that provides retention. The amount you can tighten down those holsters with the screw is somewhat limited.

On the other hand, a holster like a Comp-Tac International ( https://comp-tac.com/international-holster-belt-paddle-drop-offset-holster-comp-tac/ ) or a Blade-Tech Classic OWB ( https://blade-tech.com/products/classic-owb ) gets most of their retention from how much you tighten the screws, though the shape, typically a nub in the trigger guard, does provide some retention. You can loosen them up to the point where they are mostly just held in place by gravity, or really crank them down to where you nearly give yourself a wedgie when trying to draw. It's your call how much retention you want, though admittedly these will not provide as much retention as a true retention holster would provide.

Regarding scratches or scuffs on your gun, for perspective, I borrow this from the Milt Sparks FAQ section

https://www.miltsparks.com/questions.php

"The act of drawing your pistol from whatever container you choose to carry your weapon in, creates friction at the points of contact, and eventually those points will begin to show signs of wear. For that reason it would be unreasonable to expect that your personal sidearm will remain in pristine condition forever. It matters not whether your holster is lined or un-lined, as a lined holster simply delays the inevitable. If you practice hard your guns finish will wear, or maybe it would be better to say, develop character. You will have to learn to deal with it.

This is not to say we are insensitive to our customers concerns about holster wear, its just that the reality of the matter sucks. Holsters whether they are made of plastic, leather, horsehide/cowhide, lined or un-lined, soft leather/ hard leather do not protect gun finishes as much as we would like. Nobody in the industry (at least the ones that are honest about it) can claim they have the solution in their product."

 

[herrwalther]

The screw itself does not come in contact with the firearm. As long as it isn't a bubba made holster, an adjustment screw just closest the distance between materials such as leather/leather or kydex/leather. All holsters will produce wear on a firearm, but not from the retention screw.

 

[AlexanderA]

There are several levels of retention, and these are defined to some extent by each manufacturer. What you are talking about here is generally described as "Level 1" retention, in which the gun is kept in the holster by friction, and maybe by molded-in nubs. "Level 2" retention has a positive catch, for example something that hooks the trigger guard, that you have to release in order to draw the gun. "Level 3" adds a second device, such as a hood over the rear of the gun, that you also have to release. The more levels of retention, the more training and practice you have to have in order to draw quickly. Level 3 is for policemen and other open carriers who are in danger of having their gun grabbed.

 

[jmorris]

Any holster with use will wear finish to some degree. Kydex will be harder than a lined holster. I have some Safariland level IV retention holsters that are as easy on the finish as anything, but if you don’t know how they operate I could had you the gun in a holster and I bet it would take some a minute to get it out, if they get it at all. Would be very hard to “take away” with the design but they can be drawn faster than many concealment, non retention style holsters.