I just got a DeSantis Sof-Tuck holster for my 45 Shield. It is holster #106NAI4Z0 which is the holster recommended for the 45 Shield. When I insert the gun fully into the holster it sticks and is very difficult to get out of the holster. The holster is so tight that it partialy racks the slide when I try to get it out of the holster. Has anyone else tried this holster for this gun?

I have that holster I bought for my Shield 9 when I bought it, my Shield 45 fits a little tighter than the 9 but not as tight as you are describing.
Maybe the leather just needs to soften up a little?

I have the same situation with my holster. Do you think my 45 shield may stretch the holster too much to still hold my 9 mm tightly?
Would love not to have to buy another holster.

That Desantis holster is too small. Get a kydex holster made for the .45.

I don't think it is going to stretch enough to make a difference. Besides, as a IWB holster your belt is going to help compress the it and help hold the pistol in place.

Wrap your gun in wax paper from the kitchen. Take about two or three wraps around the gun and grip and trim off some of the excess, especially on the barrel end. You want the end of the barrel covered by the wax paper but not a wad of the stuff there. Press your empty Shield into the holster as far as it will go and park it on the shelf for about 24 hours. When you remove the gun from the holster, hold the holster securely in one hand and move the gun quickly in and out of the holster several times, enough to kind of warm up the wax on the paper and transfer a bit of that to the inside of the holster. Remove the wax paper and test the gun for fit. It should be better. If it's still way too tight, wrap up the gun again and reinsert it in the holster and leave it again over night. You will want to start out with the gun just a bit snug in the holsters since it will likely continue to get a bit looser over time and use. Usually doing this will help gain just a bit of space inside your holster plus the wax will make the movement a bit slicker. Like I said, take it slow and easy because you don't want to over do this. Wear the gun and holster as much as you can for a few days and see what happens. If it's still really tight, give it another treatment.

The .45 Shield will fit in the same holster as the 9MM Shield, EXCEPT for the length of the barrel, which is about a quarter inch longer on the .45. If your holster is open at the bottom so the barrel can fully enter the holster, both guns should fit just fine. The Shield has a slightly longer barrel/slide and the grip area is slightly longer. Other wise the grip frame is the same size as near as I can tell.

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So long ... Ken

Thanks, I had it in a dress sock last night instead of the wax paper and now I am wearing in IWB around the house. Living in Fla. my choice of **** is a T-shirt. While wearing the gun in the holster, the grip on the shield is like sand paper on my skin. How do you get around this?

Get a BladeTech IWB version. Replace the plastic clip with an Ulticlip for 15.00. One of the best ways to carry the Shields IWB. The Ulticlip will never come loose, holds about 45lbs. of "test pull," and hides behind your belt. It is all spring steel. It also acts like a "tuck holster." If you wish, you can stick a small patch of "fuzzy" side Velcro onto the clip face and edge it underneath to protect the underside of a leather belt, such as a dress belt and you're read to go. Handgun locks secure in the BladeTech, comes out easy and has a tension adjustment. This is the ONLY holster I can use with the Green Laserguard Sight because DeSantis doesn't make a mini-Scabbard belt version for the gun at this time.

I used 220 grit sandpaper on the side of the grip that touches skin.

I have a DeSantis Invader for another pistol that I have and don't like the retainer clips (I had one break but DeSantis sent me a new one free of charge). Don't get me wrong, good holster. I prefer metal clips as they don't break or get a crease like some of the plastic ones I've had on other holsters and eventually break. Instead, I purchased the Crossbreed Holsters Minituck for the M&P Shield .45 ACP. (CrossBreed(R) Holsters MiniTuck(R) IWB Concealed Carry Holster). I love it and it is a very comfortable holster. I also have one for my SIG P938. Good all day wear holster. Have even slept with it on with the pistol holstered as well.
As for the grip issue, I either a) tuck a t-shirt and then have a dress shirt over it (either tucked or untucked) or b) I position at what I call the "3:25" position (not quite 4 o'clock) if I just have a t-shirt on and it doesn't rub my skin raw. Hope this helps.

Mine streatched nicely. Just wear it and sweat a few times. Mine looks like a molded holster now. And yes, change the plastic clip. You don't even need a nice one. I put a $3 metal clip and it made a world of difference in how secure it is to the belt.

Oh, and the first step in finding the right holster, make sure you find the right belt.

I just compared the SKU and UPC numbers for the Shield 9/40 & Shield 45 on DeSantis's website and they are using the 9/40 holster for the 45, so yes it will be tight...at least for awhile.

Even if it does stretch to fit better, the Sof-Tuck will never be a good holster in my opinion. I also bought one for my Shield (9mm) and hate the thing! I also have a Desantis Mini Scabbard for the Shield and yes it's OWB but it's just a fantastic holster and I also have a Desantis Nemesis I use with an LCP and that is another fantastic product from Desantis so I'm not bashing them but the Sof-Tuck is just not one of their products worth owning...IMO

I have a Shield 9 with an aftermarket Talon "rubber" grip on it. It is very comfortable, and was easy to install. Talon also makes a "granulate" grip for the Shield. You don't want that one. It's very sandpaperish.

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What, me worry?

I have a Desantis "Cozy partner". That I use for my Shield 9.... it fits the 45 perfectly, even without adjusting the tension screw. Model 028X7

and then theres this guy

I have three DeSantis holsters, although not for my Shield. The only one I like is the Inside Heat for my M&P 9c. For my Shield (and now for my 9c and my Glock 19), I use AlienGear IWB holsters. Comfortable, lots of adjustments available, excellent fit (superior to any DeSantis kydex), and inexpensive. For the price of one DeSantis, I can buy two AlienGear. Good product, good warranty, good price.

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LTC_D
US Army (Retired)

Anybody here make their own holsters? I picked up a leather DeSantis IWB when I bought my Shield but I don't like the bulk. I had a hard time getting it on and off with the metal clip. I'm in the process of making my own leather OWB.

I have a DeSantis Intruder IWB holster for my Shield 9mm and it works just as well for the 45 Shield.

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gunfighter48
NRA Life Member

Holsters need a break-in period. However, with any holster, it is always wise to get into the habit of thumbing the slide, that is, holding the slide in battery with your thumb while holstering.

The soft tuk I never really liked, I currently am wearing a pocket tuk AIWB for my 45 shield and its perfect.

I make most of my own holsters. I started about seven years ago when I purchased a very early Sig p250. At the time I couldn't find a holster anywhere and so I went on line, saw a few videos, and luckily I located a Tandy store 1/2 hour from my house where I could pick up all the material I needed to make my first holster. To date, I probably made more than a dozen.

I made this one pictured originally for a Glock 36; it fits the Shield 45 perfectly.