I have never had a plastic or Kydex holster. I have had a couple of Nylon / cordura ones but they didn't stay around. I like a good leather one.
Leather Verus Plastic
- Thread starter jimmyj
- Start date
Autonomous
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2017
- Messages
- 1,094
- Reaction score
- 1,666
A knife such as that is more of a mountain lion on your back sort of weapon. I've seen images of African PHs with a belt knife in the center of their back where either hand can access it.
Example: 1:40 https://youtu.be/yL14J9sb5GI
I carry…both. Usually it’s a Foxx IWB with a leather pad and a plastic shell. For the record I mostly carry Glocks.
I'll stick with leather.
Model 15-4ever
Member
Putting shooting games and Call of Duty aside, let's talk concealment.
Both start out very stiff.
Over time, the leather holster conforms to your body.
Over the same time, your body conforms to the kydex holster.
You pick.
Both start out very stiff.
Over time, the leather holster conforms to your body.
Over the same time, your body conforms to the kydex holster.
You pick.
I carry all my Revolvers in leather, mostly Kramer horsehide. Only drawback I have is that the holster tends to creak on the belt. My wife can tell I'm carrying by that fact alone. I do have a couple Urban Carry Lockleather hybrid holsters for my Sig P365's and they seem to be pretty nice.
No plastic holsters though!
No plastic holsters though!
rednichols
Member
It helps to recall how the Kydex holster came to be popular: Neale Perkins at Safariland saw how he could create a waterproof holster using the same equipment he used to make leather holsters; and Bill Rogers needed money so licensed his technology to Neale.
After that, at trade shows these new Safariland holsters w/b displayed in a fish tank filled with water, to demonstrate. But these were still susceptible to the hot interiors of squad cars. By then the gunleather industry had begun to fragment and lost interest in gunleather innovation; and Kydex took the crown.
I've designed and built heaps of Kydex holsters while I did consulting design for the industry all through the Nineties as Nichols Innovation. I like it. But it has become a burgeoning tech because it is as easy to get into the biz as becoming a housepainter or wallpaper hanger: have materials, will travel.
Now even Safariland has changed over to injection moulded nylon plastic, the patents having long since expired. Holsters don't exist for any of the reasons that gun writers say they do; they exist so that you don't have to leave your pistol behind on the kitchen bench. That's right, they're a portability device only, so use whatever material you LIKE because aside from their respective weaknesses -- don't go swimming with a leather holster, don't leave a Kydex holster in a hot car -- they're both great.
After that, at trade shows these new Safariland holsters w/b displayed in a fish tank filled with water, to demonstrate. But these were still susceptible to the hot interiors of squad cars. By then the gunleather industry had begun to fragment and lost interest in gunleather innovation; and Kydex took the crown.
I've designed and built heaps of Kydex holsters while I did consulting design for the industry all through the Nineties as Nichols Innovation. I like it. But it has become a burgeoning tech because it is as easy to get into the biz as becoming a housepainter or wallpaper hanger: have materials, will travel.
Now even Safariland has changed over to injection moulded nylon plastic, the patents having long since expired. Holsters don't exist for any of the reasons that gun writers say they do; they exist so that you don't have to leave your pistol behind on the kitchen bench. That's right, they're a portability device only, so use whatever material you LIKE because aside from their respective weaknesses -- don't go swimming with a leather holster, don't leave a Kydex holster in a hot car -- they're both great.
Attachments
Autonomous
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2017
- Messages
- 1,094
- Reaction score
- 1,666
Would waxing the leather where it rubs reduce friction and therefore the squeaking?
I think it is worth a try.
What's the difference between injected molded plastic and Kydex?
And thank you Autonomous for that video. I haven't seen it in years and it still gives me the willies!
And thank you Autonomous for that video. I haven't seen it in years and it still gives me the willies!
rednichols
Member
If it only squeaks on a leather belt then I'd agree, of course, about leather holster on leather belt; likely a pancake?. Which is why saddles squeak, they are assembled from a parts collection vs being built 'whole' like gunleather. Saddle makers take them apart to service them which can't be done with a holster.
BUT if your holster were to squeak on a web belt, then it w/b because Kramer doesn't use glue when the layers are assembled. Not saying they don't, saying it's a worthwhile test for you.
Attachments
rednichols
Member
What's the difference between injected molded plastic and Kydex?
And thank you Autonomous for that video. I haven't seen it in years and it still gives me the willies!
Kydex is a sheet of what's called an amorphous plastic: the warmer it gets, the softer it gets. This allows it to be die cut from the sheet, then assembled (sometimes after an initial heating), then the complete assembly heated in an oven and formed in a padded press just like wet leather holsters are. Hybrids with a shell of Kydex have been formed with a die vs a rubber pad; easy to make the dies.
Injection moulding is very different. This process uses what are called crystalline plastic, which stay hard as heat is applied until reaching the melting point, at which temp they instantly melt. Injected into a metal die at this point, the cold metal chills the melted polymer to take a 'permanent' shape of the die.
There are other types not used in holster, notably the thermoset. This polymer melts only initially for injection moulding, then when it sets it can never melt again. High heat only chars it, and this polymer is used on the handles of your cooking pots so that stovetop flames can't melt the parts.
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I use both. Never too old to change to something better.
Tanners Owner
US Veteran
I too use both, but use kydex for competition only. I do prefer quality leather however.
I SO in IDPA and while I prefer leather, I do appreciate competitors who use kydex and can hear the “snick” when the gun is properly holstered.
Think there is a place for each
I SO in IDPA and while I prefer leather, I do appreciate competitors who use kydex and can hear the “snick” when the gun is properly holstered.
Think there is a place for each
rednichols
Member
I began carrying a semiauto for the first time, a P365, last spring. All my revolvers have leather holsters. While I spent some time researching what leather holster to buy for the P365, I bought a couple of interim holsters.
First a Galco Tacslide, a hybrid kydex and leather holster. I initially liked this a lot as it is comfortable and easy to draw and reholster. I soon realized, though, that the zero cant tended to make the pistol butt print when I bent over. Good for the range though.
I next got a kydex paddle holster with adjustable cant from Rounded by Concealment Express, shown here in a left handed version in photos from their website:
I like this one a lot, very smooth draw and reholster, with a satisfying click when it locks into place. Adjustable retention tension as well. Easy on and off. It became my primary carry holster for a number of months in addition to range duty.
About a month ago I received a Lobo Gunleather Enhanced Pancake:
I've been carrying with the Lobo since. It's very well made, very comfortable, and provides for a ready draw, easy reholster, and good retention. And, as you can see, it's leather.
My view is that the Lobo offers somewhat better concealment, and comfort, and is a piece of gear that I like wearing everyday. It's a nice piece of craftsmanship. I think the kydex holster will likely remain my preferred range holster for the P365, and that it provides for a smoother draw and reholster. (Not necessarily faster, but smoother.)
No kydex for my revolvers though. Ever!
This thread is about my search for the right holster for the P365, and the preferred holsters for this gun of other forum members: Holsters for Sig P365
Looks like Lobo was inspired by my design of the slide holster for DeSantis in the '90s. And the other day I spotted several of my 'peep toe' FlatSider holsters for Aker, same decade, with my paddle, on a TV show. Paddle holsters appear in film and TV because the director can have them added and subtracted from scenes without the actor needing to unthread a belt etc. Ditto shoulder holsters (Dirty Harry's actor did not wear his shoulder holster while having his jacket on, with a few exceptions).
And zero angle holsters on the belt? Never a good idea. Whatever angle someone thinks they like, they have shifted it around their waistline on the belt until the hand falls naturally to it, and zero angle is only across the belly. Therefor a bad idea.
Attachments
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2006
- Messages
- 19,525
- Reaction score
- 30,821
Don’t own any plastic kydex holsters. Not saying they aren’t viable and affordable, I just like the real deal (Horsehide) as a personal preference.
Super Trucker
Member
I prefer kydex, but neither is problem free.
Leather is nicer looking, but is harder to get dust/dirt out of, they hold moisture from sweat and cause rust if you leave a gun in it (I had this happen to an XD .45). I had a Kramer horsehide hide pocket holster destroy the finish on a j-frame and s&w says they can't refinish scandium.
Kydex is easier to get dust dirt out of, doesn't hold moisture, but if not made correctly can also destroy a finish.
For me its easier to draw and reholster with kydex (using competition times as the gauge). I can leave the gun in the holster without fear of it rusting.
My current kydex EDC holster cracked and started making all kinds of squeeky noise as I walk. It's warrantied for life but I haven't had time to send it in so I've been using my competition holster at the moment.
Pick your favorite and make it for you as neither is perfect.
Leather is nicer looking, but is harder to get dust/dirt out of, they hold moisture from sweat and cause rust if you leave a gun in it (I had this happen to an XD .45). I had a Kramer horsehide hide pocket holster destroy the finish on a j-frame and s&w says they can't refinish scandium.
Kydex is easier to get dust dirt out of, doesn't hold moisture, but if not made correctly can also destroy a finish.
For me its easier to draw and reholster with kydex (using competition times as the gauge). I can leave the gun in the holster without fear of it rusting.
My current kydex EDC holster cracked and started making all kinds of squeeky noise as I walk. It's warrantied for life but I haven't had time to send it in so I've been using my competition holster at the moment.
Pick your favorite and make it for you as neither is perfect.
Grayfox
US Veteran
I have no more use for a plastic holster than I do for a plastic gun. I much prefer metal and leather. Yeah, I'm old and set in my ways. 
I mix n match.
For example, I have a Kimber Scorpius 10mm 1911 which is a metal gun. I have both leather and kydex options for it.
I also frequently carry a M&P .45 which is plastic. Again, I have both leather and kydex options for it.
Never really got into the whole plastic for plastic, leather for steel thing. All my guns are tools and if they get finish wear, I really don't care.
The one thing I don't care for is nylon, I always felt like the gun was gonna fall out for some reason.
For example, I have a Kimber Scorpius 10mm 1911 which is a metal gun. I have both leather and kydex options for it.
I also frequently carry a M&P .45 which is plastic. Again, I have both leather and kydex options for it.
Never really got into the whole plastic for plastic, leather for steel thing. All my guns are tools and if they get finish wear, I really don't care.
The one thing I don't care for is nylon, I always felt like the gun was gonna fall out for some reason.
BigMoneyGrip
Member
All of my guns, plastic and blued steel, ride in leather. And that would be of the Milt Sparks variety. However, I do have one on the books at Barranti.
