Holster wear: Kydex v. Leather

[dlim]

I've been reading on several other websites about the comparison of leather vs. kydex in reference to holster wear on a gun's finish. I carry EVERYDAY, and understand that holster wear is inevitable. However, I would like to extend the life of the finish on my Kimber.

I've heard Kydex is better than leather in this regard. Can anyone please shed some light on this? Thank you.

[Moose63845]

I've been reading on several other websites about the comparison of leather vs. kydex in reference to holster wear on a gun's finish. I carry EVERYDAY, and understand that holster wear is inevitable. However, I would like to extend the life of the finish on my Kimber.

I've heard Kydex is better than leather in this regard. Can anyone please shed some light on this? Thank you.
WOOOAH hold up who told you that???? Kydex will destroy your finish faster. There was a post on this earlier, I forget what thread it was under but it talked about the difference in lined vs. unlined for holster wear.

[garrettwc]

I'm with Moose on this one. Both will wear, but Kydex is much faster.

Here's the reason. If dirt gets down in a leather holster, because the gun is harder than leather, the dirt particles get pushed into the leather. On kydex where they are equal hardness the only place for the dirt to go is into the finish on the gun. It sort of like having a holster lined with sandpaper :eek:

I would only use kydex on a stainless gun if I was concerned about finish wear at all.

[ccwnow]

Just as a sanity check, there are cheap leather holsters that will wear finishes faster than a well fitting lined kydex holster, and vica versa. Fit is most important (amazing how many cheap holsters are out there, and people buy them and use them!). Also, many Kydex holsters grip the gun with a tension screw which puts pressure on the trigger guard, you can get some pretty quick wear there if you have the tension set at anything reasonable. I use both. Kydex for competition, leather for concealed carry. Remember, these guns are meant to be used! :)

[WillyBoy]

Definitely go with a LINED LEATHER holster that is made for your gun. The seude lining in leather holsters is not actually there to actively protect the guns finish, it is there to allow grit and grime a place to go AWAY from the guns finish therefore passively protecting the finish. AS the seude lining wears flat, you need to replace the holster. I like the Ross Leather holsters. you get top quality, boned leather holsters at a really affordable price. They also have a very good lining seude in their holsters. Not saying they are better than any other holster, I just happen to like them better. Good luck finding a good carry holster. ;)

[garrettwc]

Just as a sanity check, there are cheap leather holsters that will wear finishes faster than a well fitting lined kydex holster, and vica versa.
True enough on the cheap holsters. The thing with lined kydex is there aren't that many of them. Off the top of my head the only one I can think of is the Wilson Tigershark rig.

[jdr american]

I use both and when I come home from being at the range or out on the ranch, I clean the in side of the holster I used that day.
This is over looked by most. As they say take care of it and it will take care of you.

[DHC]

There was some discussion in this thread:

http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=8798

[dlim]

You guys are great. Thank you for the information and clearing that up. By the way, I got that information from thehighroad.org.

[garrettwc]

By the way, I got that information from thehighroad.org.
I'm a plank owner over there under the same user name. It's a great forum, but like any public forum it has it's share of "experts in their own mind". ;)