A Few Tips for Using Custom Gun Holsters

Sometimes the firearm you carry for self-defense is sufficiently unique that you need a custom-molded holster. Alternatively, you may have a unique set of requirements that a company’s standard inventory can’t meet. Fortunately, there are a variety of custom holster options available on the market today.

If you need a custom-molded holster for your concealed-carry gun, holster manufacturers offer this service.

While molding a holster to a specific firearm can be a painstaking process, thermoforming Kydex simplifies this.

Buy Custom Holsters

Determine Your Needs 

Before you order a custom-molded holster, it’s necessary to evaluate your needs in terms of what method you use to carry and the position.

If you want deep concealment and wardrobe versatility,  IWB holsters are ideal, attaching via belt clips.

If, however, you want a traditional belt holster, suitable for either concealed or open carrying,  OWB holsters are preferable.

While some gun owners choose shoulder holsters, ankle holsters, pocket holsters, and other options, waistband holsters remain the standard for  concealed and open carry.

Popular waistband positions include strong side, appendix carry, and cross draw. Ultimately, your choice of holster must be durable, reliable, and safe.

Custom Holster Tips

When you purchase a custom custom-molded holster, it’s essential that you carry and practice with it until you determine that it meets your needs. Wear your holster in the position you intend to when practicing on the firing range, and always draw from that position.

You should be able to acquire a full firing grip on the weapon, the trigger guard should be fully covered and inaccessible until you draw, and the holster should be comfortable to wear.

Adjust the retention, cant, and ride height

Passive-retention Kydex holsters are thermoformed to a particular firearm’s exterior surfaces. As a result, when your handgun is fully seated in the holster, you will hear an audible click as it snaps into place. In a custom-molded holster, the retention should be adjustable using two, usually Phillips head, screws.

Using a screwdriver, tighten or loosen the screws until you find the necessary ride height and cant, so a custom holster should allow you to adjust both to maximize concealability and access.

Tighten your screws

Belt clips are attached to OWB and IWB holsters via screws. You should periodically evaluate these screws, re-tightening them if necessary.

TIP: If you find that the screws become loose, apply a thread locking compound, such as Loctite.

Check the fit and comfort

Comfort is an oft minimized element of an ideal holster. However, if your holster is custom molded to your specifications, it should be comfortable to wear at all times.

As a custom holster, it should also be adjustable regarding retention, ride height, and cant. You should be able to tailor all three elements to your carry position and method, wardrobe, preferred draw stroke, and weapon type.

Wear it with your gun belt

It’s important to ensure that your custom gun holster fits your gun belt properly. Try it with belt loops and belt clips, finding the perfect combination to evenly distribute the weight and keep your weapon securely in one place.

Keep it clean

Holsters can collect moisture, oil, solvent, lint, dust from firing ranges, and other debris from regular use. Whether you choose to carry a leather holster or a Kydex holster, it’s important to keep your holsters  clean and well maintained. Fortunately, Kydex is easy to clean, requiring only warm soapy water.

Kydex Holsters

Kydex, a rigid, durably constructed thermoplastic, is one of the most popular options for a concealed-carry holster. Strong and resistant to water, chemical solvents, oil, and other contaminants, Kydex will protect your weapon and remain functional for years.

While a  Kydex holster is more durable than leather, it does have its limitations. Don’t leave Kydex on the dashboard of your vehicle in direct sunlight because thermoplastic is susceptible to heat, which could compromise the holster’s passive retention.

Contact Incognito Concealment About Your Custom Holster Options

As a holster manufacturer, we always strive to stock as many IWB and OWB holster options as possible, meeting the needs of a diverse range of gun owners.

We also offer a custom molding service for firearms that we don’t list in our catalog. Give us a call at  (586) 333-4240, and we’ll discuss your options regarding custom molding and our other quality products and accessories.