To line or to leave it be… a question that plagues many gun holster owners in the firearms community.

A case could be made for either with negative and positive points along the way. We’re here to shed light on both sides.

Lined – A lined holster will have some sort of fabric, suede or cowhide on the inside of the holster to create extra padding and protection for your firearm.

Pros

  • Minimize wear on gun to some degree depending on the quality of the holster.
  • Traps less dirt.
  • Can be cleaned with compressed air.

Cons

  • Can make the holster more expensive.
  • Might not hold up as long as unlined holsters.
  • Lining becomes meaningless when you have a stainless steel gun.
  • Gun can get caught in the lining while trying to draw.
  • Suede lining that is chrome-tanned can accelerate the wear on a gun’s finish.

Unlined – This means using the holster as is, whether its leather or nylon.

Pros

  • Sometimes manufacturers create holsters made so well they do not require a lining.
  • Can provide a quicker draw.
  • Great for a stainless steel gun.

Cons

  • Unlined holsters of poor quality cause wear and tear on gun finish—sometimes even decreasing a guns value by hundreds of dollars.
  • Can attract dirt.

Have more pros and cons? Disagree with one of ours? Speak your mind!

(Image via Flickr)