Do you fellas store your handguns in the holster? I don't have a CCL yet and I store one pistol (HK USP .40 compact) in the nightstand and one (Springfield xd .45) in the gun safe each in one of these holsters http://www.unclemikes.com/products/sidekick_ambidextrous_hip_holsters.html I was wondering if by doing this does it have a bad effect on the gun's finishes (ie. trapping moisture, rust etc.)? And if it does, is there a better way? Thanks
Storing Handguns in the Holster
- Thread starter jmcrawf1
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I'm not an expert on the matter, but I know you should not keep your gun in leather holsters overnight. They tend to absorb moisture, then that moisture will just sit on your gun if it isn't removed. Taking the gun out lets the holster dry out. If you have a kydex holster of some sort, I don't believe this is an issue.
gcrookston
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I've lived in such varied climates as Utah, Seattle, Mississippi, Louisiana north and south Texas and Colorado.
Storing guns in holsters and even cases is not, in my experience, ideal. Leather and some fiber materials will hold moisture. Once, in Seattle, I watched them cut a revolver out of a leather holster that had rusted into it so severely other extraction was not possible (and besides, the officer it belonged to was requalifying and didn't have time for it to soak)...
I've seen guns sprayed with pin-prick rust from storage in hard and soft cases off all types.
The ideal way to store a weapon is in the open air (preferably a gunsafe), with a light coat of oil with the metal coming into minimal contact with anything...
That being said, I store my carry gun in a Bianchi nylon holster. My nightly routine is to take it out of the holster and wipe it down with an oil cloth before depositing it by my bed...
Storing guns in holsters and even cases is not, in my experience, ideal. Leather and some fiber materials will hold moisture. Once, in Seattle, I watched them cut a revolver out of a leather holster that had rusted into it so severely other extraction was not possible (and besides, the officer it belonged to was requalifying and didn't have time for it to soak)...
I've seen guns sprayed with pin-prick rust from storage in hard and soft cases off all types.
The ideal way to store a weapon is in the open air (preferably a gunsafe), with a light coat of oil with the metal coming into minimal contact with anything...
That being said, I store my carry gun in a Bianchi nylon holster. My nightly routine is to take it out of the holster and wipe it down with an oil cloth before depositing it by my bed...
GunNut
Member
My guns are always in holsters if they are loaded.
I've never had any issues, but don't leave my guns in holsters for extended periods of time that have gotten wet or soaked in sweat.
I've never had any issues, but don't leave my guns in holsters for extended periods of time that have gotten wet or soaked in sweat.
W.E.G.
Member
My Glock lives in the FOBUS holster.
Except when being discharged, cleaned, or the occasional ride in some visititng holster, it will live there as long as I live.
My Glock does not rust. My FOBUS holster does not retain moisture.
Except when being discharged, cleaned, or the occasional ride in some visititng holster, it will live there as long as I live.
My Glock does not rust. My FOBUS holster does not retain moisture.
Shawnee
member
Hi gcrookston...
Coincidentally... I saw a policeman show up at a range to requalify and his gun had to be cut out of his holster too.
IMHO - storing guns in holsters and cases is a good thing to avoid if at all possible. Even cordura holsters because when the cordura sheds water and/or body oils it has to shed it somewhere, and guess where that's going to be.
Coincidentally... I saw a policeman show up at a range to requalify and his gun had to be cut out of his holster too.
IMHO - storing guns in holsters and cases is a good thing to avoid if at all possible. Even cordura holsters because when the cordura sheds water and/or body oils it has to shed it somewhere, and guess where that's going to be.
I STORE my handguns in BoreStores silicone-impregnated gun "socks". I CARRY in a leather holster. The handgun(s) I carry are taken out of the holster when put away for short periods.
Unless your handgun has a stainless finish, long-term storage in a leather holster will leave "marks". Don't know about the nylon or other synthetics - don't use them.
Unless your handgun has a stainless finish, long-term storage in a leather holster will leave "marks". Don't know about the nylon or other synthetics - don't use them.
thebaldguy
Member
I remember the damage done on a once beautiful S&W Highway Patrol revolver. This guy had got a holster and belt made in Mexico. He put the almost perfect gun in the leather holster, and let it sit in it for years; that's how he stored it. I saw the gun occasionally over a period of years; each time the rust got worse. I had warned the guy from the beginning about the leather, but he liked the holster.
gcrookston
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Shawnee, I saw it in Seattle, King County about 1990. Can't remember the name of the indoor range, but law enforcement used to go there for requalification. I remember the guy working there telling me that it wasn't exactly a rare event to have officers show up with guns that wouldn't function due to neglect.
Sir Aardvark
Member
I keep my CCW pistols holstered at all times (unless I'm going to shoot it, of course).
I carry daily, most often in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2, which is leather.
My carry pistols are a Glock 30 and a SIG 229.
The Glock is plastic - needless to say, I do not worry about it rusting.
My SIG is Aluminum/Stainless.
What I do worry about is a negligent discharge by having a loaded Glock unholstered.
The only thing keeping a loaded Glock from shooting is about 5 pounds of pressure on the trigger - that's all, no safeties or anything.
A Glock is a negligent discharge waiting to happen if one does not exhibit exquisite trigger discipline - needlessly unholstering a loaded pistol, especially a Glock, is just one more chance to have something go wrong.
Another thing to worry about is bullet setback; this occurs if you constantly cycle the same round into the chamber again and again. The bullet can get pushed back into the case a little bit each time. This can cause a critical overpressure event (AKA: ka-BOOM!), especially in .40S&W caliber.
So unloading my unholstered firearm because I don't like unholstered loaded pistols laying around makes even less sense to me.
So.. I do not feel comfortable taking my firearm out of the holster so that it can sit loaded in my safe. Also, I don't feel comfortable unecessarily loading and unloading my carry ammo so that it can sit unholstered and unloaded in my safe.
As for my non-carry firearms... they sit unloaded and unholstered in the safe.
The reason I chose the CCW handguns that I did was mostly based on the fact that they are incredibly rust resistant and easily maintained - so... if you're thinking of letting your guns sit in holsters, make sure that they can't rust..
I carry daily, most often in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2, which is leather.
My carry pistols are a Glock 30 and a SIG 229.
The Glock is plastic - needless to say, I do not worry about it rusting.
My SIG is Aluminum/Stainless.
What I do worry about is a negligent discharge by having a loaded Glock unholstered.
The only thing keeping a loaded Glock from shooting is about 5 pounds of pressure on the trigger - that's all, no safeties or anything.
A Glock is a negligent discharge waiting to happen if one does not exhibit exquisite trigger discipline - needlessly unholstering a loaded pistol, especially a Glock, is just one more chance to have something go wrong.
Another thing to worry about is bullet setback; this occurs if you constantly cycle the same round into the chamber again and again. The bullet can get pushed back into the case a little bit each time. This can cause a critical overpressure event (AKA: ka-BOOM!), especially in .40S&W caliber.
So unloading my unholstered firearm because I don't like unholstered loaded pistols laying around makes even less sense to me.
So.. I do not feel comfortable taking my firearm out of the holster so that it can sit loaded in my safe. Also, I don't feel comfortable unecessarily loading and unloading my carry ammo so that it can sit unholstered and unloaded in my safe.
As for my non-carry firearms... they sit unloaded and unholstered in the safe.
The reason I chose the CCW handguns that I did was mostly based on the fact that they are incredibly rust resistant and easily maintained - so... if you're thinking of letting your guns sit in holsters, make sure that they can't rust..
Geronimo45
Member
Sometimes I do. Since it's a plastic skeleton-ish holster and a stainless steel gun, it's not likely to be a problem for the next few hundred years or so.
CajunBass
Member
It's probably not a good idea, but I've never seen any damage from it personally. At one time I had a Bianchi John Wayne commerative holster that I left hanging in my gun cabinet with a Mitchell Arms SAA in it as a decoration really. I checked it fairly often, and wiped the gun down with a silicone rag from time to time. It stayed like that for ten, twelve years and never showed a bit of damage, but it wasn't ignored.
I have seen a beautiful double 12 ga Ithaca turned into a blob of rust (slight exageration) by leaving it in a fleece lined leather gun case. I like to cried.
Fobus type hoslters should be no problem that I can imagine. Same for Nylon unless they get wet somehow.
I have seen a beautiful double 12 ga Ithaca turned into a blob of rust (slight exageration) by leaving it in a fleece lined leather gun case. I like to cried.
Fobus type hoslters should be no problem that I can imagine. Same for Nylon unless they get wet somehow.
Lonestar49
Member
Uncle Mike's IWB clip-ons
...
No rust and..
Double-Post
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No rust and..
Double-Post
Lonestar49
Member
Uncle Mike's IWB clip-ons
...
No rust and..
I use nothing but Uncle Mike's #15, 15, 1, 5, 15, 1, IWB clip-ons, top to bottom, for storing my guns in my small safe. Each gun is lightly covered with EEZOX, for rust protection and a little comes off into the material of the holsters, making a tiny pattern on the metal parts that touch, and are easily wiped clean, but tells me they're protected.. lol
They, the UM's neoprene holsters, also prevent any from getting scratched, as the holsters muzzle-ends are closed and protect the guns barrels from any accidental hits going into the safe, along with any of the smaller guns from getting scratched, or putting a scratch on any of the other guns that I stack the 2 smaller guns on top of..
Same for putting any of the HD/SD weapons, on-duty, on any tables, on top of my PC tower, etc., no scratches, and no dust, spiders..lol, getting into the barrel.
And if ya have to go outside, with gun, they are so easy, and fast, to clip on or just put in a front pocket.
Great, all around, inexpensive, holsters for so many "good" uses..
Ls
PS.. no kids
...
No rust and..
I use nothing but Uncle Mike's #15, 15, 1, 5, 15, 1, IWB clip-ons, top to bottom, for storing my guns in my small safe. Each gun is lightly covered with EEZOX, for rust protection and a little comes off into the material of the holsters, making a tiny pattern on the metal parts that touch, and are easily wiped clean, but tells me they're protected.. lol
They, the UM's neoprene holsters, also prevent any from getting scratched, as the holsters muzzle-ends are closed and protect the guns barrels from any accidental hits going into the safe, along with any of the smaller guns from getting scratched, or putting a scratch on any of the other guns that I stack the 2 smaller guns on top of..
Same for putting any of the HD/SD weapons, on-duty, on any tables, on top of my PC tower, etc., no scratches, and no dust, spiders..lol, getting into the barrel.
And if ya have to go outside, with gun, they are so easy, and fast, to clip on or just put in a front pocket.
Great, all around, inexpensive, holsters for so many "good" uses..
Ls
PS.. no kids
RustyShackelford
member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2006
- Messages
- 4,018
Big mistake...
I'd avoid keeping firearms in holsters(loaded or unloaded,
). It's not a safe or secure way to store them and does not reduce wear or damage. I'd buy a well made gun case or at least buy a few Bore-stores, www.deltaforce.com . Bore stores protect weapons in a thick pad that is treated with chemical agents that reduce rust/mildew/etc.
Also check and clean your weapon holsters, too.
Think safety and be alert!
Rusty S
I'd avoid keeping firearms in holsters(loaded or unloaded,
). It's not a safe or secure way to store them and does not reduce wear or damage. I'd buy a well made gun case or at least buy a few Bore-stores, www.deltaforce.com . Bore stores protect weapons in a thick pad that is treated with chemical agents that reduce rust/mildew/etc. Also check and clean your weapon holsters, too
.Think safety and be alert!
Rusty S
stevereno1
Member
I keep them in holsters, though none are leather. kydex, and fobus plastic, but after reading these posts, I may have to change up.
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