An excellent competitive shooting holster needs to meet many demands. It must secure your weapon and keep it in place while allowing you to present it easily.
One of the most important things to consider is the material your holster is made from. Choosing a construction material should reflect the demands you place on your holster.
Keep it Clean
While IWB holsters are designed to take quite the beating, it’s no surprise they can get dirty/dried/smelly over time. We clean our guns, dishes, pants, and cars, so it’s no stretch to assume we should do the same for our holsters (especially those used for concealed carry).
Whether your holster is made from leather or Kydex, cleaning it regularly is vital to keeping it looking new and working correctly. A little soap and water go a long way, but if your holster needs love, you can use a saddle or pure glycerin-based soap. Remember, less is more with saddle soap – rub in a dime-sized amount and apply evenly to the entire holster surface.
Aside from removing sweat, dirt, blood, and grime, this is an excellent opportunity to check on the condition of your holster’s hardware. Inspect clips, washers, and screws for rust or damage. If they look worn or compromised, you should replace them. Inspecting the retention system for wear and tear is also a good idea, ensuring your firearm is securely held in the holster.
A good dehumidifier is a wise investment for anyone who wants to protect their guns and holsters from moisture damage. Humid climates can cause rusting, and moisture can damage plastic and leather. Using a dehumidifier will keep your gun safes, holsters, and accessories from becoming too dry or brittle, protecting them for years.
Keep it Dry
We clean our guns, dishes, pants, and even our cars; why not treat your holster with the same attention? Like all firearm accessories, a good quality competition holster requires care and maintenance to retain its functionality over time. It’s easy to overlook your holster, but it is one of the most essential pieces of equipment you carry daily.
Leather is very durable; however, it’s susceptible to moisture and the environment around it. This is why it’s so important to properly store your holster and any other leather products in a cool, dry area with plenty of air circulation.
An improperly stored holster can develop mildew, mould, and fungus that will ruin the holster and your weapon. Keeping your holster away from sunlight is also essential, as this will dry out the leather and cause it to crack or split.
Your competition holster is designed to be worn outside the waistband, allowing you to present your weapon in a controlled environment quickly. As such, it typically does not feature any added retention device. Some shooters prefer active retention, but others find that a passively retained gun is more comfortable to wear over long periods.
Many competition holsters will “click” when your weapon is inserted and removed from the holster. This is caused by a design feature in the holster that allows for an interference fit of your gun’s trigger guard.
As with any screw fastener, the screws in your competition holster can eventually loosen over months or years. We recommend using blue, medium-strength thread-lock liquid (like Loctite) on all the male threads that contact female threads to prevent loosening over time. We also advise that you occasionally remove the screws, wipe down their heads, and re-tighten them to the desired retention level.
