For Basic and Thumb Break Holsters Without Tension Screws:

1. Place your unloaded gun into the included plastic bag until the muzzle reaches the end.
2. Gently, but very firmly, push the gun all the way into the holster while your thumb prevents the slide from moving backward.
3. Leave the gun in the bag and holster overnight to allow the fibers to relax. If you pull it out immediately, not too much will have changed.
4. Remove the gun from the holster and bag, it may take some force. Try not to hold the holster at any point where you will put pressure on the gun frame, slide or trigger guard as this will make it harder to remove.
5. Re-insert the gun into the holster without the bag. Your holster should still firmly grip the gun. As you use the holster, it will continue to break in, however if you would like it a bit looser – jump down to the section further down the page for more instructions.

---

How to Break in a Thumb Break / Retention Strap:

The strap on a thumb break holster is made to just barely be able to fit over the back of your gun, or just slightly shorter. If yours is slightly short you can follow the directions below to get things working right. Also – this technique is shown in the video at the top of the page, at the 2 minutes 30 seconds mark.

1. Place your unloaded gun directly in the holster all the way until it is fully seated. Do not use the bag.
2. Push the gun into the holster while pulling on the strap, it may not appear to do much, but it is stretching.
3. Stretch until you are just barely able to secure the snap and leave it at that.
4. If you need to stretch it a little more, you can also work he strap and bend it with your hands side to side until it has lengthened enough to reach around the slide and snap into place.

---

---

For Holsters With Tension Screws:

1. Loosen the screw until it almost comes apart, then tighten two full turns.
2. Place your unloaded gun into the included plastic bag until the muzzle reaches the end.
3. Gently, but very firmly, push the gun all the way into the holster while your thumb prevents the slide from moving backward.
4. Leave the gun in the bag and holster overnight to allow the fibers to relax. If you pull it out immediately, not too much will have changed.
5. Remove the gun from the holster and bag, it may take some force. Try not to hold the holster at any point where you will put pressure on the gun frame, slide or trigger guard as this will make it harder to remove.
6. Re-insert the gun into the holster without the bag. Your holster should still firmly grip the gun. As you use the holster, it will continue to break in, however if you would like it a bit looser – jump down to the section further down the page for more instructions.

---

---

Further Break-in Instructions:

If you find that you would like to accelerate the break-in process for an easier draw, follow the instructions below to further widen the holster. Just note that a good form fit holster will fit better and better over time as you use the holster. It is preferable to let it break in naturally after using the bag method. Breaking in the holster the way described below will stretch it a few thousands of an inch larger than the previous steps and will provide a looser retention. You may find it necessary to use this step to get a good fit if the previous methods did not loosen things up enough however.

1. Place the unloaded gun back in the plastic bag and slide into the holster until just before the trigger guard enters the holster.
2. Twist the gun about 1/16″ in both directions around a dozen times.
3. Work the gun in and out of the holster a few dozen times while still in the bag.
4. Remove the bag and see if you like the fit.
5. If the fit still seems too tight, you can then repeat the process.