Dumb question I should know about leather

[Donger]

Should get my CHL in a week or so and I bought a "Miami rig" shoulder holster. It has a magazine holder for two mags. I just need to know what to loosen up the leather with so it won't be so tight. Love this Forum and all of its info!

[Donger]

also I did the thing with a thick plastic bag over the mags, but all I had to use was mink oil.

[RiverRat]

The mink oil will take out the stiffness and shape, the reason they were molded in the first place. I would put the mag holder in warm water for a minute, then put some plastic over the mags to furnish the clearance you want, and let it dry with them in it for 24 hours. That way it will hold the new shape and size. Then reseal with Satin Sheen or other sealant to water proof it a little from sweat. good luck. If you don't like the results, re-dampen it and do it again.

[Mike1951]

I've been buying holsters long enough to know that some makers, mostly high end, get downright uppity when it comes to which leather products, if any, they want used on their creations.

Unless you want to get disowned by your leather maker, it's always best to check with them before using anything.

[jayg0351]

I would think any kind of oil would make the leather to supple to hold the pistol or mags. I have a desatis holster and had to put a sock over my pistol and leave it in the the holster like this a few days to get it broke in. Other holsters I have used never needed any breaking in.

[WildBill]

Mike1951

I do not recommend using any kind of oil. IMO, supple is not a good characterisic of leather for holsters or mag carriers. I suggest wrapping the magazine or gun in thin plastic to stretch the leather ever so slightly. This will provide proper retention of the gun or magazine in the holster. Putting oil on the leather may the leather supple but the fit will be sloppy.

[Skiprr]

I'm with WildBill and Mike.

Galco's "Miami Classic" holds the spare mags vertically, butt-plate down. You definitely want some tension against the mags; when you unsnap the retainer, you don't want the mag to be able to slip out on its own. It should take some "pull" to get the magazine out.

Unless the mag holder is simply unmanageably tight, I'd pretty much leave it alone and let the mags stretch the leather of their own accord over a period of several days. Just MHO.

[duallydondon]

I had a Bianchi rig and just used pure neatsfoot oil on the sharp edges of the mag pouch,,took a Q tip and applied sparingly,,worked for me