Hello: Not too long ago I finally came across a nice deal on a Smith and Wesson 327 Performance Center Aluminum/Scandium snubbie with the 1 7/8 inch barrel SKU number 170245. I bought it with the intention of it being my carry gun. I bought the holster that S&W offers on the website and while the quality is good I do not like it. When I wear it there is too much tension on the rig created by my belt and body that it squeezes the revolver so tight that drawing it is difficult at best! Does anyone have any experience with any other brands or types of holster they would recommend?
Thank you

What kind of belt are you using?

For holsters, I really like El Paso Saddlery and Lobo Gunleather.

I am very fond of the Galco and Kramer higher end holsters, but they do cost quite a bit. Might give them a try.

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NRA Benefactor Member

Some holster designs utilize belt tensioning to aid retention (notably the pancake designs).

Any new formed leather holster will require a break-in period. Typically, just wearing the holstered handgun for a few hours each day over the course of a week will allow it to fully conform to your belt, your body contour, etc. Ease of draw and holstering usually improve quite a bit during this process.

If the holster does not fully respond to this type of break-in, or if you must put this holster into service immediately, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Place your revolver in a plastic bag, then force it into the holster and leave it overnight. This usually provides a small amount of stretching of the leather fibers, sufficient to make the draw and holstering much easier.

2. With the revolver in a plastic bag, coat the outside of the bag with Johnson's Paste Wax, then force it into the holster. The wax will be taken up by the leather fibers and remain there as a lubricant at points of contact. The wax will not harm either the weapon or the leather.

One other suggestion is to (if you haven't already) get a sturdy gun belt, which will support the weight of the holstered handgun without requiring that it be pulled up very tightly. This will improve comfort while also securely holding the holstered weapon in place.

I would not suggest that you give up on the new holster until you have given it a chance to break in properly and show its true characteristics.

Best regards.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Hello: Thank you all for your advice, Sadly I admit that I am not wearing a “Gun Belt” so I will make that my next step and then my weapon holster combo when I have the belt. I thought like my current belt would have been enough considering the weapons lighter weight, I guess not. I like the Pancake holsters with the snap loops on Lobo Gun Leather’s website, I think I will but one after the belt if just for the ease of putting it on and off.
Thanks

RedBerens: The holster I bought was through Smith and Wesson it looks like it is made by DeSantis, it has thier name on one side of it.
Thanks