Plain old tap water is all you need. Alcohol may discolor the leather as most dye is alcohol based. Oil your gun and wrap it is plastic wrap ,then place the gun in the (WET) holster,make sure the fibers of the leather are (WET) and take a BONING tool, this is a rounded tool and rub with lite pressure around the area that needs to strech. Then allow it to dry ,It may take a day or two. Slow dry it, no heat .This is how I form all my leather holsters . 26-t