8 Essential Tips for Maintaining and Caring For Your Concealed Carry Holsters
Many people like to follow a routine schedule after each range trip, breaking down their weapons and wiping them down. Concealed carry holsters don’t have that luxury, so they must be cared for differently.
Choosing the right holster for your body and lifestyle is vital. The right holster will make you comfortable while offering quick and easy access to your weapon.
Table of Contents
Take Care of Your Holster
For concealed carry, a holster that fits well and allows a consistent good grip and easy draw is essential. It should also be comfortable and durable.
A leather holster should be conditioned regularly with either saddle butter or Fiebings 4 Way Care. It’s not hard to do and keeps your holster in tip-top condition. It’s the same maintenance you perform on your gun and other gear. It’s common sense but needs to be addressed.
Clean Your Holster Regularly
Depending on where you live, your firearm may be exposed to a lot of dust and dirt. You likely already have a regular cleaning schedule for your gun to take to the range or at home, but remember your concealed carry holster!
Every couple of months, lightly wet a cloth with clean water and wipe down the exterior and interior of your holster. If you have a leather holster, use saddle soap to clean the leather.
Replace Your Clips
Most concealed carry holsters for men use some clip to stay attached to your belt. The clips are generally made of some plastic polymer.
They are very effective at holding a handgun in place, and they don’t wear down over time. However, some clip designs need fixing.
For example, leather holsters sometimes lose their tension. This can leave the trigger exposed, which poses a safety hazard. It is essential to check the clips regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
Inspect Your Holster
Most gun owners know the maintenance required for their firearm, wiping down, occasionally disassembling, cleaning, and lubricating it. However, many must pay more attention to maintaining and caring for their holsters.
Concealed carry holsters are with you every day, and they’re exposed to sweat, pocket lint, dirt, and dust much faster than the guns in your safe at home. Over time, these particles can cause damage. For example, grit can scratch your pistol’s finish as it’s drawn.
Lubricate Your Holster
Many shooters know that their firearms must be maintained and lubricated, but fewer people realize that holsters also need to be lubricated. This is especially true for hybrid holsters that combine leather and Kydex.
While Kydex is a very smooth and gun-safe material, it can still pick up tiny particles of lint or dirt, increasing the friction between your firearm and the holster. A little bit of oil can help prevent this from happening.
Clean Your Holster if Needed Be
Many firearm owners have a cleaning schedule for their guns but sometimes forget that holsters need cleaning too. They are exposed to your body, sweat, lint, and other debris that can cause corrosion.
Kydex is a durable material that can withstand much of this wear and tear, but wiping down your holster daily is essential to prevent lint from building up. You should also do a more thorough cleaning once a month. Doing so will keep your holster looking like new.
Check Your Holster’s Fit
There are a lot of different holsters to choose from—ones that clip on the outside of your pants, ones that fit inside your waistband, and even those that go on your ankle. Each type has its pros and cons.
A holster that fits well will firmly hold your gun while making it easy to draw. You can check a holster’s fit by pulling the gun and seeing whether it stays seated.
Keep Your Holster Clean
If you have a regular cleaning schedule for your firearms, you probably take the time to wipe them down after each range session. However, many people need to remember that their holsters require attention too.
Holsters are pressed against your body, sweated on, and can collect lint. Additionally, they can become brittle from excessive heat or dry up with body moisture.
It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking your concealed carry holster daily. This only takes a minute and can help mitigate potential problems later on.
