Sight Channel Question

[cleanview]

I I have been using a dowel rod with a grove for the sight itself and the channel the sight would go through on the way out. But I am really curious if the channel should be the entire distance to the mouth of the holster? Sometimes it seems like that sight channel affect the fit, as in the leather not touching the slide.

[JLSleather]

Just one guy's opinion -- I don't think the channel needs to - or even should - go all the way the length of the holster. For formed channels, you might consider the distance from the top of your holster to the stitch line under the trigger guard. In English, that means that when the trigger guard clears the rig, you lose pressure (hopefully) and the front sight can clear itself inside the holster.

If you're talking about the leather not hitting the SIDE of the pistol, that's where the forming comes in

[cleanview]

I have just noticed on a lot of the kydex holsters that the channel is relatively short and with the sight channel going all the way up, that is the dowel rod being in there when forming, there is only about 1/8 - 3/16 inc to catch.

The way you describe it in relation to the trigger guard really makes sense.

Thank you

[JLSleather]

Glad I could help - welcome.

[chiefjason]

I run mine to around the ejector port, not much higher. Probably about the same as JLS, I just use a different reference point on the pistol. The change in fit is more dramatic on smaller pistols too, that's where I really noticed it and decided to change from a full sight channel.

Edited August 11, 2014 by chiefjason

[cleanview]

I did a little sig p229 (?) and that was the first time i really thought about it.

Thanks so much