Stainless Steel vs. Leather Holsters

[Candiru]

I've read that storing guns in leather holsters encourages corrosion, which is understandable--the leather acts as a low-grade sponge, holding moisture close to the finish. The moisture is usually sweat-based, though, so you've also go salt in there, which makes it even more corrosive.

How big a consideration is this for stainless steel guns, though? I've yet to see something made of stainless steel, like a sink, rust from exposure to moisture. My guns get at least a wipe-down every week with a silicone-impregnated cloth and a relube every other week if they haven't been shot. The gun seldom leaves the holster, but given that my state isn't infamous for its humidity (like Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, etc.), I always figured this would be enough. I worry, though--even about the ones in nylon holsters.

And in case someone was going to say, "just take the guns out of the holsters before you put them away," I have a small and very cluttered safe, and the guns in question are DAO. Wedging them into the safe without something covering the trigger would be an unsafe (ha ha!) proposition.

 

[dfariswheel]

It takes more "effort" but even stainless can and will rust.

Besides the moisture problems, leather is also tanned with chemicals that promote rust.

Options include:
Using one of the newer moulded form-fitting nylon holsters, or a Kydex holster.

Simply UN-loading the guns????? before putting them away.

Keeping them wiped down with something like CLP Breakfree will certainly help prevent corrosion, but you'll need to keep a close watch.

 

[P95Carry]

I think for most part, stainless handles leather well over prolongued periods. Some stainless guns do tho have small parts of steel that can be external and so show corrosion, instance in my case, decock lever and slide lock lever on the SIG. These do tend to corrode from the very sweat-humid environment close to body and so a CLP rub over daily is worthwhile.

I wouldn't worry too much - just make a daily inspection and if in doubt a light rub over will help protect.

 

[Candiru]

dfariswheel, I hadn't even considered the tanning chemicals in the leather. Thanks for pointing that out. I'll probably buy a cheap Uncle Mike's pocket holster for storage purposes, unless someone can recommend something superior and/or less expensive.

On a side note, after reading your reply I decided to check my PM9. Lo and behold, there was a speck of rust in the area of the slide stippling. Admittedly, it has been riding in my pocket for the past four hot summer days, but it's still a wakeup call. I'll add my carry gun to the list of things that need to be wiped on a daily basis.

 

[Gunmeister]

True Story: A close friend has what was once a really nice stainless steel Walther PPK/S .380 (pre S&W), he kept it in the glove box of his pick up encased in a thick leather holster made in South Africa. We live in West Central Florida where beside being quite hot, it rains almost every day from June through most of September so we spend our liesure time fishing or swilling beer, very little if any time spent shooting. He had forgotten about the gun in the glove box until early November. We were discussing the virtues of .380acp, .38spl, 9mm and etc. when he remembered the Walther. The inside of the holster had turned black, the outside was green from mold. The Walther was ruined. Every sharp edge (PPK/S's have many) had pitted and erroded miserably there were black pits all over the slide and frame, inside was OK but the barrel had pitted badly also. Any surface not actually in the holster looked fine. The end of a beautiful gun which now is beyond economical repair.

 

[Zach S]

Sinks are made out of a different type of stainless, while it wont rust (not that I've seen anyway), it isnt suitable for firearms.

The area I live in is pretty humid (I had a rusty fngerprint on my 10-22 barrel after one day of replacing the stock). My carbon firearms get wiped down on a weekly basis, and my stainless ones every now and then. Carry pistols are stored in the holsters, both stainless kimbers. I havent had a problem with them rusting as a result. My 5" Kimber did develop some rust on the right side going from the back of the grip to the tang, from where I've picked it up to move it and get something else. I blasted it today though.

I normally just wipe them down with a CLP when I put them up for the day, once a week (or two) I put a coat of rig grease under the grip panels.

 

[PCRCCW]

Correction.......MOST leather/holster makers who know better, use what is called Vegetable tanned leather and there are no chemicals/residue that can harm a gun left in the leather. Chromeric or Chrome tanned leather will eat your gun over time. These are pre dyed colors like upholstery leather....

Any gun left in a holster made from anything that will trap moisture, in a humid environment will suffer from the trapped condensation and rust the hell out of your gun.

For your safe troubles......I have the same thing going on. Keep your guns in hard cases that stack in the safe, dont keep them in holsters and wipe them down when needed.

Shoot well........

 

[Standing Wolf]

Even when stainless steel doesn't corrode, it can easily—are you ready for this?—stain.

 

[rockstar.esq]

As for storage suggestions, I'd have to state two obvious things. First unload the gun! Second, wrap it in an oily rag when storing it. Not to get totally grumpy but there are thousands of metal items that we use everyday. Why does a firearm pose such a quandry? I know it's not a doorknob by if you've got a stainless gun, most of your corrosion problems are already solved. If you are looking at it daily (as in for holstered carry) you'll notice if somethings awry. I feel for those of you who get rust spots on your guns from just looking at them. Maybe you could consider a dehumidifier! This isn't high tech, people have owned and maintained firearms for over a century. Mostly without the benifit of a host of products designed to make it easier on the owner. I own a kydex holster I knew before I bought it that they have a reputation for wearing on the finish of a gun. That said, the wear on my gun's finish is extreem to say the least. Leather has it's share of problems too. Thus far, I have yet to see any appreciable wear on my guns holstered in "cheap nylon" holsters. Last I checked, they are advertised for being made of closed cell foam. Which prevents water, sweat etc from migrating through the material and ruining a guns finish. Either way I hope that the movement towards "Hi Tech Low Drag" and "Tactical" will give way to a renewed interest in simple, common sense.

 

[ACORN]

I had a stainless Ruger Single Six I left in a cheap cowboy rig. The length of time I don't remember now. When I took it out it had litte black spots, like pepper on the external surfaces. I don't know if the holster caused them or not but I'll never leave another one holstered again.

 

[Tropical Z]

Its a bad idea to "store" any handgun in a leather holster.

 

[CDignition]

Most Stainless rust is from tiny particles of steel that are imbedded in the SS surface from manufacturing...Unless it is Passivated to remove these particles, it will appear to rust...Some lower quality SS can have more carbon in it, and even some Iron, and this will also deteriorate quicker..Mostly it isnt a concern...

 

[svtruth]

Stainless

SS is subject to something called crevice corrosion. It is protected by a thin layer of oxide on its surface, like Al is. If oxygen is kept away it can and will corrode enthusiastically. A damp holster could nicely exclude oxygen and, if leather, compete for the oxygen thus eating up the SS.

 

[fedlaw]

I've been carrying my Kimber Stainless Target II in an IWB Alessi for more than 6 months. So far no problems. I do, however, clean and lube the gun every week even if I have not shot it.