Question re: Remora holster

[kewpie]

I am going to buy a Remora IWB for my 66-5. It is the one with the odd-ball 3 1/4" barrel and I am wondering if anyone has any experience re: that specific barrel length with the different Remora holsters specific to that model Smith. Perhaps someone has bought a Remora for the same model revolver in the same barrel length as mine?

(I am thinking there may be a difference in the individual holsters that would facilitate or hinder drawing the gun as to how far the gun fits into the holster?)

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Erich]

I don't have experience with that issue, but I've had good luck just calling Remora to ask questions like that.

 

[kewpie]

I don't have experience with that issue, but I've had good luck just calling Remora to ask questions like that.

Tried, no answer so sent them an email. From their site it would have to be one of 2 - either for 3" or 4". My concern was the fit as affects the rear sight and grip accessability.

I suppose I would rather have it 1/4" too 'short' than 3/4" too long since the holsters seem to allow for a little discrepancy in how the gun is 'slanted' but I was hoping someone with same gun had prior experience.

(I already have one of their 'open top' holsters for a Star PD, and while not specific to the pistol it works well enough once I learned how to avoid snagging the gun on removal. It is a great holster IMO. My neighbor saw it and immediately bought one.)


Thanks for responding

 

[Erich]

Bummer, kewpie; they must be at a show or something. I kind of feel the other way - I'd rather have a semi-soft IWB too long than too short. I've done both over the years, and I've found that the extra length doesn't add much hassle in terms of comfort (especially in a soft holster) and - with the Remora's sticky outside - it would just hold the holster in place that much better. (And the top part of the holster that molds around the revolver is the same shape and effectiveness regardless of barrel length.)

With a too-short holster, though, I've had the barrel dig into me during relatively routine movement, and have experienced bluing wear and stainless scratching. But you're right, though: you're not talking about a lot of barrel protruding in your case, if you were to go with the 3" holster. Maybe none at all. If I had to jump without talking to Alan, I'd go with the 4" nevertheless. But I suspect that Alan might say, "Oh, a quarter-inch is nothing - totally within the extra material we put on every holster anyway." So, it's probably worth seeing what they say.

Just my thoughts, from having been in similar situations over the years and having tried both solutions. Good luck to you with it - and I hope that they call you back pronto.

 

[Goffman]

Bummer, kewpie; they must be at a show or something. I kind of feel the other way - I'd rather have a semi-soft IWB too long than too short. I've done both over the years, and I've found that the extra length doesn't add much hassle in terms of comfort (especially in a soft holster) and - with the Remora's sticky outside - it would just hold the holster in place that much better. (And the top part of the holster that molds around the revolver is the same shape and effectiveness regardless of barrel length.)

With a too-short holster, though, I've had the barrel dig into me during relatively routine movement, and have experienced bluing wear and stainless scratching. But you're right, though: you're not talking about a lot of barrel protruding in your case, if you were to go with the 3" holster. Maybe none at all. If I had to jump without talking to Alan, I'd go with the 4" nevertheless. But I suspect that Alan might say, "Oh, a quarter-inch is nothing - totally within the extra material we put on every holster anyway." So, it's probably worth seeing what they say.

Just my thoughts, from having been in similar situations over the years and having tried both solutions. Good luck to you with it - and I hope that they call you back pronto.

This may be the one and only time that my opinion diverges from Erich's. As a general rule, our viewpoints seems to align closely (great minds think alike ). Having said that, I would recommend a Remora that is a bit shallower rather than a bit deeper. As I've mentioned a few times here on the S&W Forum, I've found that, with revolvers, the Remora tends to stretch a bit and form to revolvers, resulting (after a few months of use) in the revolver sitting lower in the holster than it did when the holster was new. Depending upon the size of the holster when new, this "fitting" of the holster can hinder draw a bit, or at least it has for me with my j-frames (which have boot grips, by the way). I have not found the same issue with semi-autos. I believe (just a belief, not a certainty) that the difference is a result of the fact that the weight of the revolver is concentrated on a fairly small point (the muzzle), whereas a semi-auto has a flat profile that distributes the weight of the gun via friction between the gun and the holster's inner surface.

P.S. I've had a bit of correspondence with Alan in the course of my last two orders, and he's a genuinely nice and helpful guy. If he hasn't responded to your call or email yet, Kewpie, I'm sure that he will do so soon.

 

[kewpie]

This may be the one and only time that my opinion diverges from Erich's. As a general rule, our viewpoints seems to align closely (great minds think alike ). Having said that, I would recommend a Remora that is a bit shallower rather than a bit deeper. As I've mentioned a few times here on the S&W Forum, I've found that, with revolvers, the Remora tends to stretch a bit and form to revolvers, resulting (after a few months of use) in the revolver sitting lower in the holster than it did when the holster was new. Depending upon the size of the holster when new, this "fitting" of the holster can hinder draw a bit, or at least it has for me with my j-frames (which have boot grips, by the way). I have not found the same issue with semi-autos. I boeieve (just a belief, not a certainty) that the difference is a result of the fact that the weight of the revolver is concentrated on a fairly small point (the muzzle), whereas a semi-auto has a flat profile that distributes the weight of the gun via friction between the gun and the holster's inner surface.

P.S. I've had a bit of correspondence with Alan in the course of my last two orders, and he's a genuinely nice and helpful guy. If he hasn't responded to your call or email yet, Kewpie, I'm sure that he will do so soon. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by Goffman; Today at 02:08 AM.

I was thinking the same thing re: having it sit 1/4" higher from the onset and the entire gun being 'held' that way by the muzzle touching holster-end.

Remora did email me back and I am going to trace the gun or perhaps even take a picture of it and size the picture to actual and fax it to Alan.

Thanks very much for your help.