Hey All -

New gun owner, have an M&P 22 since March. Just picked up a holster that I can use at the range, it's a Blackhawk Sherpa. Made of nylon and carbon fiber, fits the gun well and seems like exactly what I'm looking for.

I noticed last night after trying it out, that it seems like it will wear the finish on the top of the slide at the edges... seemed like a slight mark after just the one use (holstering and drawing multiple times to get familiar). Is there anything I can do to keep it from happening? A spray, something on the contact points?

TIA,

Dan

Any kydex or plastic holster will cause more wear. Anything that rubs against anything will cause some wear. The only question is how much?

Here's my 1911 after using it with a kydex holster:

Plenty of honest wear on that gun. I'm not concerned because I got the gun to use not look at.

However, you can reduce the potential for wear by buying a good leather holster. The Blackhawk Serpa is an inexpensive holster. It has some issues one of which is excessive wear on the finish.

The M&P will hold up better, but the .22 model doesn't have the same finish on it as the ones made in the US.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

All holsters will cause wear of some kind, it will depend on how much drawing and re-holstering you do. Do you want a show piece, or a working gun?

__________________
Don

I think guns look better when they're well used.

I believe the comments about the finish on the .22 to be accurate but every weapon I've ever carried shows wear marks shortly after I've started......just sayin'.

__________________
Get off my lawn.....

If you holster and draw during training like you need to do you will get wear. if you don't want wear never train with it just put it in the holster and never draw it. If you train with it like you should it will wear. one positive thing about wear is it looks better then rust.

After one use seems odd, too tight?. I have drawn mine from my holster probably 100 times and still nothing yet noticeable but......

As stated they all eventually will leave some wear but this is to me a good thing - character for my carry gun, just me though. Also, if using kydex (or any type I guess) make sure you keep it dust free later on down the road. I spray my holster out with canned air every now and then to get the dust out. Helps and dust will cause wear more often than folks think.

Peace

Thanks for the replies. I did buy the gun to shoot it, but as I said I've had it less than 60 days. I know it'll get wear as I use it, and I have no problem with that. It's a bit like a new car and that first scratch, you know it's going to happen, just not in a hurry for it.

I understand HikerDan. It's frustrating when stuff like this happens. Unfortunately, the only solution for you is to switch to a leather holster. It will wear on yor gun much less.

__________________
Freedom isn't free.

Been carrying my 9c since march in a blackhawk check six leather holster and a pro carry leather iwb and still don't have any noticeable wear. Leather is the was to go.

So I looked at the holster a couple of nights ago, and there seemed to be a couple of raised spots. Shouldn't have anything to do with retention, so I took some 220 grit sandpaper and knocked them down, then rubbed on a bit of silicone spray.

Used the holster at the range for the first time yesterday, and it was exactly what I was looking for. Checked at the end of the day, and no noticeable wear from use.

As an aside, it was a great day. Set up a little course and went through it multiple times with the M&P22 and the 15-22, it was so much fun. Last trip to the range was alot of stovepipes and FTFs, switched ammo and this trip was nearly perfect.

Use dry silicone spray on plastic holsters, will decrease the wear on pistol. fellow pistolero told me about this and it works well.