Leather Holsters and Striker Fired Pistols

[Gosut]

A short while ago, I had the opportunity to shoot a Glock. That had me thinking about holsters for that type. What gives me pause is the safety is built into the trigger. That has me thinking a holster must be ridged and completely cover the trigger area, as well has have good retention (strap or otherwise). There's a certain incident that made the rounds of an accidental discharge where the top of the holster folded over and caught the trigger. Obviously, the leather can't be that soft,. But is leather for a striker fired pistol holster just not a good idea? Is there some way to eliminate risks?

For instance, is "boiled leather" for a holster an option, or would it soften over time and exposure to sweat and the elements? Is there a way to form and incorporate a rigid metal support for the opening of the holster? Is there some other way entirely?

Just curious.

[Mablung]

Just make it like one ordinarily would, using a good leather, treating it properly, ensuring the leather is adequately dense, not oiling the crap out of it so that it becomes soft, and paying attention to when it degrades to the point it needs to be replaced.

I've carried a firearm nearly every day for almost ten years, much of my time spent with striker-fired guns, in both Kydex and leather, and I'm convinced the accidents people attribute squarely to leather holsters are the result of user error and improper maintenance.

[Hags]

Going to stick my neck out here. Maybe not striker fired, but you get the point.  I have made several holsters for striker fired weapons, my own included. You can make a holster that has very good trigger protection and retention.  Some say a reinforcing piece is not needed. I agree, but I like them to add a bit of rigidity and a place for tooling and contrast.  I also would add, it would be very difficult for this to cause an inadvertent trigger pull. I get most of my retention from the trigger guard on the back of the holster and a bit from the ejection port.  The guns literally click when they seat. Add the tension of the belt and wearing the holster,  you have to "mean it" when you want to draw the weapon. As far as "boiled leather", I think of Roman leather armor. Might have been a thing, but my wet molded holsters are very rigid and hard. Hope this helps.

[chuck123wapati]

Leather works fine. Here's a Glock 43x holster i just finished. i took a different approach than Hags not that it matters. Mine fits the pistol so it  slides in and out easily but is tight enough to not move in the holster and wear the finish. I feel i want my pistol to come out easily and fast if i need it.  My retention is the strap as you can see. The trigger should be covered so you don't accidently stick your finger on it while pulling it from the holster. I use 10 oz. wet molded and no stiffener they get very hard and have never had a problems with any of the weapons I've made this style holster for. I cant see the top of my holster even fitting inside the trigger guard to cause a discharge.  Having a worn or ill fitting holster that causes a discharge is the owners fault making sure you are safe goes farther than just checking your pistol that is how you eliminate risks. 

[Dwight]

I know not everyone will agree with me . . . but there is a 100% cure for the OP's question.

Buy real guns . . . not those striker fired imitation plastic fantastic boondoggles.

But again . . . MY opinion . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

[chuck123wapati]

12 minutes ago, Dwight said:

I know not everyone will agree with me . . . but there is a 100% cure for the OP's question.

Buy real guns . . . not those striker fired imitation plastic fantastic boondoggles.

But again . . . MY opinion . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

lol I agreed with you until I fired one the other day. They are fun as all get out and I think have finally gotten most of the bugs worked out. But your right they will never be a 1911.

Years ago my wife fixed my mind so I can change it.

God bless you too Pastor

[fredk]

educate me; what is a 'striker fired pistol' ?

[chuck123wapati]

3 minutes ago, fredk said:

educate me; what is a 'striker fired pistol' ?

it is a different action that does the same thing (hits the firing pin) as a hammer in the firearm. A hammer fired weapon is like a1911 for while a striker fired has an internal striker system with no hammer, its a simpler and lighter mechanism.

[fredk]

thanks

[Gosut]

The trigger pull is also a lot less in a striker fired handgun, or at least it was in the Glock I shot. The stiffest I've encountered is in double action revolvers. These are revolvers that rotate the cylinder and cocks the firearm and fires when you simply pull the trigger. This revolver also worked single-action. This is when you pull back on the hammer with your thumb, which also rotates the cylinder, then pull the trigger to fire. Single action in that revolver had a lower pull than double action, but the pull on the Glock was less than both.

My firearm knowledge is limited, but I haven't encountered a revolver with a safety. That's a button or small lever you have to push or slide to enable the firearm to fire. Some semi-automatic pistols have safeties. The Glock safety is built into the trigger, hence my concern. Not trying to start a safety / no safety debate. The take-away on safeties on pistols is if the lack of one makes the shooter uncomfortable, then the shooter shouldn't buy a pistol that doesn't have one.

FWIW, I liked shooting that Glock,  so it's really just a holster question with me. The holsters that day were Kydex (tm) and a leather pancake. I didn't have a chance to to examine the leather one.