Very tight holster

[Exaviator]

I recently purchased an Uncle Mike's Holster marked as being suitable for a S&W Model 41, (Size 5) but found the fit to be extremely tight. It took quite a bit of effort to push the firearm into the holster and even more to pull it out. Any ideas as to how to loosen things up?

 

[Bozz10mm]

I put the pistol in one of those ziploc freezer bags and put it in the holster. Well, forced it in the holster. Left it a couple of days and that worked. It was a leather holster tho.

 

[Bullet Bob]

So what material is your Uncle Mike's holster made out of?

 

[usmcsgt]

If leather you can wet mold it to a better fit. You just get the leather damp- not wet. You Can use a wood hammer handle to open up the holster a bit. Then insert the gun and use you fingers to form the holster around the shape of the pistol. Take the gun out and let the holster dry 24 hours. The little bit of shrink while drying will give you good retention. I wet form and vac all the holsters made in my shop.

 

[Exaviator]

I should have mentioned that the holster is a standard Uncle Mikes made of a nylon type material, certainly not leather.

 

[bamashooter]

Use whatever you have to insert and expand the holster. When inserting the object, a hot hair dryer / heat gun can be useful. So basically, insert what's needed from either holster end.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Uncles Mickey's - I have several- tend to run small.
It may not always be big enough to accommodate the larger guns listed in the Fit List.

 

[wheelgun610]

I should have mentioned that the holster is a standard Uncle Mikes made of a nylon type material, certainly not leather.

If there's any way to stretch a nylon holster, I've never heard of it.

 

[Smoke]

 

[tlawler]

View attachment 785540

Ha! Too funny…but I tend to agree with you. Uncle Mikes are good for Taurus's, Glocks, and Jennings, but not S&W, especially not something like a Model 41.

 

[chief38]

Ha! Too funny…but I tend to agree with you. Uncle Mikes are good for Taurus's, Glocks, and Jennings, but not S&W, especially not something like a Model 41.

I agree! Uncle Mike's are great for range guns, squirrel hunting or for something other than a CCW for SD. Nylon holsters are not to my liking and I don't recall ever owning one after looking at them once in a store. Their main attribute is that they are cheap!

 

[bamashooter]

If there's any way to stretch a nylon holster, I've never heard of it.

I stretched a nylon holster by snipping the top 1-2-etc threads where the trigger housing would enter in addition to my suggestion. It made the difference between no useable and very usable.

 

[ferider]

I recently purchased an Uncle Mike's Holster marked as being suitable for a S&W Model 41, (Size 5) but found the fit to be extremely tight. It took quite a bit of effort to push the firearm into the holster and even more to pull it out. Any ideas as to how to loosen things up?

If you can get the gun in the new holster now, it will loosen up over time to be comfortable (1-2 weeks). Just keep the gun in the holster over night as well. You can rush it in one day by making the leather wet, but I wouldn't.

 

[Timber Wolf]

I've wrapped pistols in aluminum foil and stuffed them in tight (leather) holsters. Enough layers of foil to give the desired wiggle room.

 

[Smoke]

Ha! Too funny…but I tend to agree with you. Uncle Mikes are good for Taurus's, Glocks, and Jennings, but not S&W, especially not something like a Model 41.

I have an old Uncle Mike's that will fit either my M&P 9 or my Glock 19 and whichever ones on the dresser for the night that's what it's in.

 

[Smoke]

If you can get the gun in the new holster now, it will loosen up over time to be comfortable (1-2 weeks). Just keep the gun in the holster over night as well. You can rush it in one day by making the leather wet, but I wouldn't.

I absolutely agree. I don't like doing anything to speed up the break-in process on a leather holster. But the op has stated clearly that he's talking about a nylon holster

 

[ferider]

I absolutely agree. I don't like doing anything to speed up the break-in process on a leather holster. But the op is stated clearly that he's talking about a nylon holster

Oh, sorry, missed the Nylon part. Then I refer to post #9

 

[Smoke]

I am almost positive this is the last cheap nylon holster I bought. I bought it so long ago I don't even remember where I got it. I know it was a chain Sporting Goods store and I don't think it was Sportsman's Warehouse. I also have no idea what brand it is.

I think I actually only tried to carry a gun in it one time and it didn't work. I mean, it held the gun securely but it flopped out from my belt so it really did look like I was carrying an Ostomy.

All that said the The holster was clearly well made for what it is it's just useless for carry.

I only have two guns in my "Carry Rotation" a Glock 19 and that M&P 9. I never unload either one unless I'm cleaning it,servicing it or reloading it at the range.

If I have a loaded gun in my safe, which would only be one of those two, I keep it holstered so there's no way that I can inadvertently get my finger on the trigger while I'm taking it out of the safe.

For that purpose that holster has served me well for probably 25 years.