trying on holsters?

[mr.72]

excuse the noob question here...

Is it normal to "try on" holsters, with your CCW gun, in a store before buying?

Also, even though most online/mail-order holster makers seem to offer some kind of generous return policy, is it good etiquette to buy them, try for a few days, and then return it if it doesn't work?

I'm just trying to figure a way to not add useless items to my "holster box". I already have two that are not going to work most of the time, and I have a hunch most of the others I would try won't work either.

 

[burningsquirrels]

if you go to a gun shop, ask them, and they'll make sure you're unloaded and they usually make you do it within eyesight.

i also went to bass pro shops. i bought $300 in holsters, lol. ended up with none of them working, so i returned them all. the return counter girl thinks i'm a wierdo now, doh. haha!

what are you ones you have that don't work? you can always try to sell them on here...

 

[ochmude]

I would say for the most part no. IMHO it's never really a good idea to unholster your CCW for any reason other than an actual defensive situation or to unload and secure it (i.e. when you get home, assuming you don't CCW in your home). Now I have made arrangements with gun shop owners to either bring in an unloaded gun in a locked case to try a holster, or to borrow the same gun if he has it in stock. In any case, I would definitely ask the shop owner before doing anything of the sort.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Is it normal to "try on" holsters, with your CCW gun, in a store before buying?

Not in the manner you appear to describe. I have been allowed to try holsters for fit with identical guns from the display case. Another vendor at a gun show allowed it - in fact encouraged it - but my gun had been inspected at the door and the action zip-tied before entering the show. She cut the tie while trying the holsters, then retied it when I was finished. (Phoenix area members may be familiar with this vendor - Kats.)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Wow, I'm glad the owners of gun shops in PA aren't as up tight as some of the other states represented here.

I agree it's not a good idea to "draw" your weapon inside a store but asking the owner if it's OK to test out the holster with your handgun shouldn't be a problem. By asking to try it out you are informing him you are going to "try it out" with your handgun so that no one in the store thinks you are "pulling a gun" on anyone. I really don't see a need to bring any gun into a gun shop in a "locked case". I have brought guns into a shop for repair in a case but it wasn't a locked case, just a normal case like the one S&W revolver now come in.