Breaking in a holster

[FireEMSPolice]

How do you break in a holster? I have a Gould & Goodrich Model K341 Triple Retention Duty Holster. I got it when I was in the police academy at the advice of my friend, an LEO. I keep having a hard time with the retention strap on the side. Once the weapon (Sig Sauer P226 .40) is holstered, it is difficult to snap that side retention. I got it out to see if I could work it better as I am applying for armed security officer jobs.

How do you break in a leather holster? I put my gun in it hoping to make this work. Thanks!

This is the holster:

http://www.gouldusa.com/catalog/showProduct.php?modelID=126&color=Black&size=undefined&hand=Right%20Hand&hardware=undefined&gunID=00241&gunMan=SIG+SAUER&gunModel=P226

[ff000525]

You just need to practice with it, and by saying practice, I mean a L O T of practice. I'm trying to find the directions I have received with many of my Safariland holsters.... anyway, the warning section states that you must practice drawing and holstering and be able to draw from the holster in less than two-seconds before using it on-duty (hhhmmm, wonder if this voids the warranty if not able to do?). Even though the SL 6280 is one of the most simplistic duty holsters out there, I still practiced with it for hours when I received my first one. Practice drawing/holstering sitting, standing, kneeling, and even laying down. The more movements you make to draw, the more you have to practice. I wish it was like a baseball glove where you can just stick a ball in it, oil it, and wrap a rubber band around it and in 48 hours its broken in, but oh-well. Practicing will break the holster in and get you proficient all at the same time. At first my wife made fun of me for walking around the house drawing my blue gun when I started the academy, now she just keeps reading when I do it

[jmaccauley]

You're looking at 500-1000 draws. Do 40-50 a day until it becomes natural and the leather will gradually loosen up. More important than that is your ability to get it out without thinking about twisting it .

[Mr. Security]

Breaking In Method

I prefer to shoot through my holster.

[N. A. Corbier]

You're looking at 500-1000 draws. Do 40-50 a day until it becomes natural and the leather will gradually loosen up. More important than that is your ability to get it out without thinking about twisting it .

Beat me to it. When I wore a Safariland 075 SSIII holster, I had about 600 draws in the thing before I went to work with it. If you can't draw, present, and reholster the weapon without thinking, with one hand, then don't wear it yet.

Safarilaminate is even worse than leather, because its plastic and doesn't "wear." As someone once described it in a gun magazine: It looks like leather and wears like iron.

[Sierra 1]

Perfect opportunity to not only practice the drawstroke (4 or 5 count recommended), but also receive some needed trigger time with dry practice. Just practice 25- 50 drawstrokes per day. If also dry practicing (recommended), do not spend more than 10 minutes on the task (will lose concentration). I have some specific dry practice rules/guidelines if you need them.

[Bill Warnock]

I can but reiterate Nathan's advice to you. Your actions safety release, drawing the weapon, trigger finger on the frame of the firearm, coming on target, proper trigger finger placement inside trigger guard, firing (dry fire), re-holstering and reapplying the safety release must be rote. If after the first couple of times, you have to look at the holster to insert the firearm you need to redouble your efforts. Do not spend more than 10-15-minutes at a time in practice. The action will become smoother as time goes on. Practicing in front of a mirror is good to start off but one has a tendency to look at the mirror as you re-holster. Try to avoid that because in real life you will not have a reflection to guide you.
It cannot be repeated too often, practice is key and doing it correctly as you practice is essential. You cannot afford to practice mistakes.
As Nathan has written, if you can't use your firearm and holster efficiently, don't even consider wearing it and you could be seriously injured or worse.
Enjoy the day,
Bill

[FireEMSPolice]

Folks, I am pretty well versed in firearm techniques. I just want to know how to break in a holster. I have already gathered that its not like a baseball glove..lol

[Alaska Security]

In all honesty, my most major concern is with ability to clear the holster quickly. if that weapon has to come out as a guard, then it's SHTF time and when all is said and done you'll have plenty of time to be able to reholster.

Just my 2 bits.

[CAPTAIN KOOLAID]

Breaking in a holster

leather is leather sore break it in like baseball glove.

[NRM_Oz]

Playing Baseball as a teenager I learnt the only way to break in leather is to wear it in with a bit of help from some mit moisturiser or GLOVEUM I think it was called. Bloody Nylon is worse to get used to sometimes.

[HomeInCalifornia]

Duty holsters can be broken in by lots of draw practice.

Smaller concealment holster for CCW in leather can be broken in by getting a lot of repetitions in and out of the holster with the gun.