Ruger .380 LCP

[AggieDave 6]

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I've been playing with making my own Kydex holsters, it really isn't all that hard and Kydex is cheap.

How do you mold it? Heat gun and mold it with your hands?

That might be less comfortable for IWB, although I'm just guessing.
Only ever wore leather inside.

I have a Blade Tech IWB for my 1911 that I wear a lot, I love it and it's Kydex.

Now to shape the kydes I use a press with high density foam. Heat it in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes (on an old cookie sheet), put one piece down on the foam, then the (unloaded) gun then the next piece, then another piece of foam. Clamp it all together between some plywood for 10 minutes then I cool it with air from the compressor in the garage. Score with a razor knife and break to make cuts, drill holes and put in fasteners. All in all it isn't that hard, just takes a little time and a 12"x12" sheet of kydex is like $6. A raven holster is $90, so I have a lot of kydex to go through before I hit the $90 mark.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[RonD1120 62]

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Getting back to the .45, by looking in the mirror I have been impressed that the hole in the front is huge, and that, given the short barrel, one can see the Silvertip waiting to be touched off. It does not leave a lot of doubt on the part of an assailant as to what to expect if they fail to cease and desist.


BSBD,

Winsor

That gave me an amusing chuckle of nostalgic terror. In 1987 I was mugged by three thugs in Guatemala City. One maintained the getaway truck next to me in the street. One gave me the fastest most thorough frisking imaginable. The main bad guy held me at bay with a model 1911 aimed straight at my face from about four feet. I can assure you from personal testimony, the barrel of a .45 looks like a 155mm howitzer from that range.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[Skyrad 0]

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Getting back to the .45, by looking in the mirror I have been impressed that the hole in the front is huge, and that, given the short barrel, one can see the Silvertip waiting to be touched off. It does not leave a lot of doubt on the part of an assailant as to what to expect if they fail to cease and desist.


BSBD,

Winsor

That gave me an amusing chuckle of nostalgic terror. In 1987 I was mugged by three thugs in Guatemala City. One maintained the getaway truck next to me in the street. One gave me the fastest most thorough frisking imaginable. The main bad guy held me at bay with a model 1911 aimed straight at my face from about four feet. I can assure you from personal testimony, the barrel of a .45 looks like a 155mm howitzer from that range.

LOL...I thought Windsor was talking abut his willy!

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[ChrisL 2]

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Now to shape the kydes I use a press with high density foam. Heat it in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes (on an old cookie sheet), put one piece down on the foam, then the (unloaded) gun then the next piece, then another piece of foam. Clamp it all together between some plywood for 10 minutes then I cool it with air from the compressor in the garage. Score with a razor knife and break to make cuts, drill holes and put in fasteners. All in all it isn't that hard, just takes a little time and a 12"x12" sheet of kydex is like $6. A raven holster is $90, so I have a lot of kydex to go through before I hit the $90 mark.

Thats awesome. I may have to try it.
What thickness of foam do you use?

I imagine it makes for a fairly tight fit.
Does it leave a lot of wear marks?

__

My mighty steed

[AggieDave 6]

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Now to shape the kydes I use a press with high density foam. Heat it in the oven on 350 for about 10 minutes (on an old cookie sheet), put one piece down on the foam, then the (unloaded) gun then the next piece, then another piece of foam. Clamp it all together between some plywood for 10 minutes then I cool it with air from the compressor in the garage. Score with a razor knife and break to make cuts, drill holes and put in fasteners. All in all it isn't that hard, just takes a little time and a 12"x12" sheet of kydex is like $6. A raven holster is $90, so I have a lot of kydex to go through before I hit the $90 mark.

Thats awesome. I may have to try it.
What thickness of foam do you use?

I imagine it makes for a fairly tight fit.
Does it leave a lot of wear marks?

Foam is 12x12x3 or so, two pieces of it (one for each side). Kydex is 0.060 for the holster 0.093 for the hooks/belt loops. It is a tight fit, but I use a heat gun to clean up the fit and adjust the tension. Kydex does leave some holster rash, more so than leather, but I don't mind that kind of wear on my pistols. As much as I sweat in the Texas heat, leather just doesn't keep well with me. Kydex is easy to clean out.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[councilman24 37]

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In PA my concealed carry permit doesnt cover claymores.

But mine covers this now. Should have had the 30 round mag in it.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[steve1 5]

That would probably fit down one pant leg if you had really baggy pants. Think of the fire-power you could deliver with a weapon like that.

[steve1 5]

I went out shooting with my daughter over the weekend. My little .380 shot malfunction free. I really enjoy shooting that little gun.

My Glock shot malfunction free. My daughter had a couple of malfunctions with it. At first I thought it might be getting a little dirty. I've ran a couple hundred rounds through it, since buying it.

I think she may have had a couple stove pipe malfunctions. She cleared it before I could check. I'm wondering if she may be limp wristing the gun, and possibly that caused the stove pipes. It was cheap Winchester FMJ ammo. It works well when I shoot it. Any thoughts on this?

[DougH 270]

FTE are almost always limp wristing. I would put my money on the way she is holding the gun, and anticipating the recoil.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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My Glock shot malfunction free. My daughter had a couple of malfunctions with it. At first I thought it might be getting a little dirty. I've ran a couple hundred rounds through it, since buying it.

I think she may have had a couple stove pipe malfunctions. She cleared it before I could check. I'm wondering if she may be limp wristing the gun, and possibly that caused the stove pipes.

Definitely.

Polymer framed guns are more susceptible to this since there's less mass in the frame (it's that whole Newtonian force = mass * acceleration thing - more mass means the frame doesn't accelerate as quickly so the slide stays farther ahead of it and is more likely to make it far enough back relative to the frame to eject and feed the next round)

As tangents:

1. You need to buy a few cases of ammo and run them through that Glock to keep your confidence "Although my daughter made it malfunction, I've run two thousand trouble free rounds through it."

2. You might get some revolvers too which can't have this sort of problem.

[steve1 5]

I called my daughter last night. We discussed the malfunctions on my Glock. I told her about what can happen by limp wristing an automatic. She said that made perfect sense. She said she was trying different techniques to try and shoot more accurately. She said that she was not holding the pistol firmly at all. So, that had to be the reason for the stove-pipes.

Thanks for your help! I learn a lot from you guys.