Remolding a Kydex Holster for Better Retention. Help!

**rwb1500** · September 10th, 2012, 01:21 PM

So I got a holster from a guy who's starting to bend Kydex. I like everything about the holster but the retention. While it has a little it isn't definitive. I've used plenty of quality kydex, and this one just doesn't allow the gun to snap into place like it should. It seems to rely on random points of friction for retention. I doubt that was the intention though.

From my meager knowledge on the subject I'd probably just pop the holster in the oven for a little, checking how pliable it becomes. Then use gloves and put the gun in the holster and press the pliable kydex into the ejection port area? Or should I go with the inside front of the trigger guard? I just don't want to mess with the kydex coming close to contacting the trigger.

Thanks for any help.

**Chazman321** · September 10th, 2012, 01:27 PM

Make a gun sandwich with two pieces of wood.
Get a milk jugs and cut a piece to cover the trigger INSIDE the guard. A few pieces should work. You don't want flush.
Put the gun in the holster and place a blood pressure cuff on the outside of the gun and holster.
Inflate the BP cuff.
Hit it all with a heat gun or a blow dryer turned up on high.
Keep checking the BP cuff to make sure the pressure is still up.

You don't need a lot of pressure, you're just trying to squish the kydex into the bits and pieces.

If that doesn't work, then it becomes a range only holster, or you can see about adding a retention strap...

-Chaz

**rwb1500** · September 10th, 2012, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Chazman321

Make a gun sandwich with two pieces of wood.
Get a milk jugs and cut a piece to cover the trigger INSIDE the guard. A few pieces should work. You don't want flush.
Put the gun in the holster and place a blood pressure cuff on the outside of the gun and holster.
Inflate the BP cuff.
Hit it all with a heat gun or a blow dryer turned up on high.
Keep checking the BP cuff to make sure the pressure is still up.

You don't need a lot of pressure, you're just trying to squish the kydex into the bits and pieces.

If that doesn't work, then it becomes a range only holster, or you can see about adding a retention strap...

-Chaz

Thanks. I'm fresh out of blood pressure monitors, hows about two pieces of foam on the insides of the wood, then applying pressure to the wood?

Heat gun = Good idea

Me putting holster in oven? = Not such a good idea

**Chazman321** · September 10th, 2012, 01:51 PM

Maybe. Or the pieces of foam and some expanding foam... You want to create pressure, and I just wouldn't be sure the foam alone would do it... But hey, try it. Kydex doesn't have a limit really on the times you can heat it... lol

Usually people say their holster is too tight. Much easier fix. Put your gun in a gym sock and set it on top of a lamp for a little bit... lol

-Chaz

**rwb1500** · September 10th, 2012, 02:06 PM

Cool beans, I'm all set. That took about 4 minutes. I may play around with it some more and see if I can get a better fit all around, but I'm good for now.
Holster only cost $20, so I got what I paid for. It's set up really nice, nice loops, good cant, nice curve to the body of the holster, but the retention need a little help.

**Chazman321** · September 10th, 2012, 02:09 PM

The best part about guns is the playtime you can have with them... lol

-Chaz

**rwb1500** · September 10th, 2012, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Chazman321

The best part about guns is the playtime you can have with them... lol

-Chaz

Indeed. If I would have known how easy that was I would have started making my own years ago. Looks like I need to order some kydex.

Edit; Upon closer examination it appears I have completely deformed one of the belt loops during my modification. D'oh! Maybe I'm not ready to build holsters for the masses yet.