Lots of talk about holsters out there, and most of it's good. We especially hear wonderful things about custom made holsters and they really are that good (more on that later). But what about a holster for someone on a budget, or as a backup, in case the nice one gets damaged?
I am by no means an expert on the subject, but here are my five cents worth on 'cheap' holsters*.
For this article, I'm actually reviewing and using a leather pancake by Bulldog Cases: $20 at my local gun shop. It fits the gun alright out of the package and is quite nicely concealable. A few steps to break it in and mold it a little better:
1) Oil up the gun and wrap her in plastic wrap. Shove firmly into the holster.
2) Get out some leather conditioner (any handbag/jacket/belt treatment works) and apply liberally to front and back of holster. You may need a couple of coats in order to really make a difference. Wipe off any excess conditioner. During this step, don't draw and reholster your gun too many times or it will need to be rewrapped in plastic.
Leave the gun wrapped and in the treated holster several hours to overnight to let the leather mold. Then slide it on the belt and wear it.
I like to wear it around the house with an unloaded gun for a few days to get used to the fit and feel of a new holster and give the leather time to mold a little more.
During this break in process, you can take some time to see if any wardrobe alterations need to be made to maintain concealment and how it stands up to daily abuse. A few quick excercises will help prepare the holster for duty.
With an unloaded gun (or training 'bluegun') find a zone with a safe backstop. Is the gun unloaded? Good. Check it again. Still unloaded? Good. Where's the ammo? Next room? Next state? Good. Check it again. Now try a few of the following: (Check it again.)
1) Practice drawing from concealment. Make sure the muzzle doesn't cross something you don't want to destroy. Adjust your draw stroke or reposition the holster if necessary.
2) Lay on the ground and practice reaching your gun and drawing from the floor. Is it where you expect it to be? Practice until it you're not fumbling too much. (Yes, for this one it's ok to make sure the curtains are closed and nobody's watching.)
3) Sit down. Sit in a chair, type on the computer, write a check, reach for your gun. You may find you'll have to adjust the position a bit for comfort or reach.
4) Sit in the car. (Find a safe zone. Gun unloaded? Good. Check again.) Drivers side, passenger side, back seat if you spend time there. Draw from behind the wheel. Someone is carjacking you with a gun, can you reach yours?
5) Draw with your other hand. For this one: grasp with 'wrong' hand, draw, give the gun a half turn, replace in holster, take a proper grip, draw again, and bring sights on target. Watch that muzzle!
So you've tried a few exercises and fixed any trouble spots, now take it out to the range for one of your standard practice sessions. Be Safe!
After all that, your 'cheap' holster (or any other holster) is ready for action.
*No matter what, the holster must cover the trigger!
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