iwb-strike.pngThis holiday weekend, I’ve been breaking in my new Don Hume holster for my Glock 26, “Little Boy.” To assist me, I looked up “breaking in a new leather holster” on the internet. This is what I found - a step-by-step procedure.

Note: I edited the original text a little to correct terminology errors. Clip vs. magazine and bullets vs. rounds. The eHow author must not actually be a gunnie. Other than those errors, it looked like good advice.

New handgun holsters are usually stiff and tight. They should be, because the leather will mold itself to you and your use like a baseball glove or shoe.

  1. Empty your handgun and/or the magazine of any rounds.
  2. Push the handgun as deeply into the holster as you can.
  3. Wear the holster and handgun around the house, as much as possible. This will speed up the holster conforming to the gun and to your body. Wear a belt holster with the belt you usually wear.
  4. Draw and holster the pistol whenever you find a few moments. Only through repetitive use will drawing and holstering become easier. Work any catches or snaps as well, to break them in also.
  5. Twist the holster on occasion, perhaps once or twice a day for the first week, flexing the leather one way and the other. This will loosen the collagen fibers (the tough inner structure of leather).
  6. Store the handgun in the holster at night. The leather, softened by a day of your body heat and sweat, will continue to break in overnight.

The holster is still tight and catches on the slide a bit but it’s getting better. I’ve only had it since Friday so I’ll keep working with it.