How the $%^&* does a Fobus holster work?!?

[Sir Galahad]

I just got a Fobus holster for my XD-40 and for the life of me, I can't get this thing to turn loose of the pistol with one hand. It's even hard with two hands!!! The instructions say to draw fast. Tried that. This thing holds that pistol entirely too tight in my opinion. I ordered it, so I never got to try it first. How do I make this thing work??? Sandpaper it inside??? File some material off the retaining nubs? You can pull your pants over your head before this thing will turn loose of the pistol! Should I return this thing, or is it just me?:confused:

[charleym3]

I have one for a 1911 that I no longer have, but that's a different story. I had the very same problem with the 1911. What I did was to drill out the rivet near the trigger guard, put a couple of washers in between the two holster halves and use a screw and nut to hold it all together. The pinch in the trigger guard is what keeps it so tightly in the holster.

[SDC]

You can also bend the outer shell out (it's pretty flexible) and wipe the inside down with Armor-All; they make them to hold the pistols TIGHT, and you need to break them in a bit.

[railroader]

I would think part of the problem is fobus lists the same holster for both the XD 9 and the XD 40. The slide on the 40 is larger. Other manufacturers carry two seperate holsters. Mark

[DeltaElite]

I had a Fobus, I had to make it an adjustable to get it to work.
I did so by drilling out the rivet adjacent to the trigger guard and putting in a screw with a self locking nut. The same remedy as was mentioned by charleym3.

I much prefer the Uncle Mikes holsters to the Fobus.

[bookman]

I bought one for my G19 and it is the best I ever had,.
Try straight up or away from your body and up...

[Sir Galahad]

Thanks Charley and Delta! I'll drill that rivet out and insert the washer. Boy o boy! Had I known what a pain these holsters are, I'd have bought an Uncle Mikes!!

[themic]

I use a FOBUS with my 1911 commander at the range... and boy are they tight. for a while i had to hold my belt or the holster to get it out, which is NOT good habit.

After loads of practice drawing, though, i either figured it out or it loosened up or slickened up or something.

It did help, though to draw very fast, and also at the exact right angle. they're designed to have great retention from all angles except one, a sword-in-the-stone type of thing.

i happen to draw at a fairly horixontal angle, which helps your belt hold the holster back while your hand pulls away. I kind of torque it to an angle then pull straight out.

course, i do something akin to an israeli-draw anyways, so i'm used to drawing at an angle.

[lostdog]

Rub down the inside with a silicon cloth and draw straight up, and draw like you need it. If you rock the gun foward it will lock in place, for retention purposes. You have to "pop" the gun out. If you draw gradully like leather then it will lock in.Draw in a line straight with the axis of the holster. I've had several of thease holsters and have carried both a glock and a kimber in them.....they are good gear, but take some getting used to. Look for a yaqui slide version....they are much faster.
PS: this is the fastest holster I own

[Navy joe]

Had one Fobus. They ain't tactical, they ain't elite. See 2nd sig line for further help, it's worth the money.

[Arub]

Fobus holsters have been responsible for more wedgies than any other cause. :cuss:

[Zenon]

I find if I draw with a twisting motion towards the hip as I pull, it works 100%. This discovery was made after many self-inflicted wedgies and draws with paddle-gun intact...

[Sir Galahad]

I driled out the rivet near the trigger and inserted a shim and then used a screw and nut to reattach it. Now it works like I like it!!! Thanks for the tip!!:D

[P95Carry]

Fobus always say in their info sheet ''DO NOT modify'' .... however i think the expedient of rivet removal and shimming could well help in some cases, without any adverse effects.

I am currently carrying my P95 in a Fobus and admit, that when I first tried it thought .... ''how the hell ..........''!! but to be sure ... the ''inertial'' draw solves any probs .. VERY smart and fast move .. and for me the angle is great ... small ''click'' on release and piece is out. Love it. I find the paddle well secure and haven't yet shifted the whole thing.

Just other day got one for my FEG .. that too is a real tight fit but ... once holster in place on wasteband . no probs . again a real sharp draw and ...... bingo ..... no sweat.

Has occured to me tho that the way retention works ... my FEG will quickly lose its bluing on trigger guard area ... a potential downside.

Anyone else comment re wear to bluing??

[denfoote]

I have one for my G29. I boiled the holster for ten minutes. Meanwhile, I put the Glock into a plastic bag. At the end of the time, I jammed the pistol into the holster and let the whole thing cool. Works fine now!! :)

[firestar]

Fobus holsters are a death trap. They will grab the pistol and not let go if you don't draw it at the right angle. A man in home town died this way recently. I won't go into the particulars of the case because some people here may know him but as I understand it, this is what happened, he was trying to draw to shoot someone that already had a gun in his hand (bad idea) and his Fobus holster would not let loose of his Glock. He took a couple of rounds to the chest and died quickly.

I had a Fobus holster for my .38 snubbie and under controled conditions it would sometimes "grab" my gun and not let loose. I practiced speed draw a few times just to see if it would work and I was not confident that it would let me clear the gun under emergency circumstances.

The Fobus is designed to only allow the pistol to be removed from a certain angle, that is how it holds it tight under normal carry. I doubt you would even be able to draw your gun out of the Fobus with your weak hand, that might be important if your strong hand is busy fending off an attacker or doing something else.

Do what you like but try out different drawing methods to see if it is reliable. Remember Murphy's Law. I don't any advantage to the Fobus type holsters over leather, except maybe cost.

[Sir Galahad]

Mine works fine now that I modified it, but this thing is just to last until I find a better one.

[VaughnT]

Sir Galahad, if you want a good plastic holster for cheap, get an Uncle Mike's kydex rig. I have both Fobus and UM, and it's like night and day in terms of quality and design. For the same money, they UM holsters are about 100-fold better...and they don't hang on to your gun.

[P95Carry]

VaughnT ... I am one of those who is actually pretty happy with my Fobus .. as I said before, a sharp and positive draw gives me 100% release and no hang ups.

However, always after something better and until I check this out .... do the UM's offer paddle also? I do prefer paddle for several reasons.

[MoNsTeR]

I have one for a 1911 that works perfectly. I have another for a CZ-75/85 that is as you describe. I tried fixing it up, but eventually gave up on it, and Fobuses in general. I've heard of a great many people have this problem so I doubt it's just an "occasional lemon".

[stevelyn]

The UM Kydex holsters are paddle type. And they lock and hold on to your pants for dear life. You can also adjust the cant w/ the UM.

[Sir Galahad]

I'll have to check out the Uncle Mike.

[railroader]

I'm pretty sure Uncle Mike's doesn't make a kydex for XD's. Mark

[ajacobs]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5303

[Shake]

I have a Fobus paddle holster that I've never had problems with as described above.

Can't imagine one locking up a gun to the point you can't yank it out. . .

Shake

[Felonious Monk]

Bought the Fobus paddle recently for both my P11 and my wife's P32.

I LOVE that it holds securely--so does she!
A little Armor-All will make it faster, but most importantly, neither of us want it letting go at an inopportune time.

We're both pretty strong physically, but if you try it while holding in your hands, it's a BEAR!
Does NOT come out easily if it's not on your belt.
Comes out when I want it to, stays in when I don't.

I LIKE 'em!

[Correia]

I used to use Fobus, but I switched to G-Code and haven't looked back. Much better holster in just about every way except for price, and it is made by one of our own here on the High Road.

This thread belongs in the Gear forum so I'm going to move it over there.

[Shake]

Hey Correia,

Who makes them (if you can say)?

Shake

[COHIBA]

i'd try some push ups before i discounted the whole line of holsters.

[MoNsTeR]

i'd try some push ups before i discounted the whole line of holsters.
Nonsense. There's no excuse, NO EXCUSE for a holster that requires a grown man to use both hands to get the gun in or out.

[..]

i had a similiar experience with a G27. fobus mistakingly marked holsters and that's where the problem arose.

the best thing to do is get a quality holster. G-code is good for aorund $40. the best imo is www.comp-tac.com

[COHIBA]

i have sold hundreds of fobus holsters. the vast majority were sold in the store to persons who try the holster w/ the gun they will use. so i have seen multiple thousands of presentations w/ a wide variety of pistols. in fact w/ the exeption of the highpoint (HP1) and CZ i have personally tried every holster they make. the glock and ruger are by far the tightest of the group. i find that if the rig is binding up it is probably due to angle of draw or , as w/ the case of the KM3 in a standard paddle, the front portion of the drawer is letting the muzzle ride outward from the body as he/she draws thus effectivly binding the gun and holster up. i point out the KM# because there was originaly a KM4 and KM3. one being for the Kimber ultra carry and one for the Procarry. the use of the pro in the shorter KM3 will cause this , depending on your draw style. this does not happen w/ the roto as the rig is already positioned away from the body by 1/3".
you must practice w/ the fobus, no doubt. and if its not right for you they box that sucker up and send it back to fobus attn Craig Fisher w/ a not and a recipt of what you paid. chances are he'll make it right.
but, hell, dont trash the whole product line because you may have a problem w/ one design and one pistol. for glock owners i strongly recomend the SG2SH retention holster. it does not work on the friction aspect but rather incorparates a button release that is as smooth as any i have ever seen.
as lastly...
if you go out and buy a galco rig and find it doesnt jive w/ you then you are out what? $50-$70. if you try a fobus and dont like it you out $15. and if you love it then your in the black.
psequip@bellsouth.net

[Onslaught]

Fobus holsters are a death trap.
:rolleyes:

Please...

A deathtrap is a liquor store being robbed by 2 armed gunmen, and you dashing in BY YOURSELF trying to "save the day" with your holstered Glock 30. I'm sorry your friend got killed, but we've all agreed on this forum before... if you aren't a police officer, and you or your family are not in IMMEDIATE DANGER, keep your piece in your pants... Heros get killed.

Fobus holsters should not be THAT tight. Like Denfoote said... BOIL it and fit it to your pistol, and no more problems.
Drill, boil, whatever.... Just loosen them up...


But don't buy ANY holster, shove your gun down in it, then expect it to work like a charm without TESTING it and correcting anything that shows up at a time of stress!!!

That's like buying a brand new semi-auto pistol and carrying it without ever firing it...

Fobus are like Kel-Tecs... they cost less than any other brand of said product. They usually work great, sometimes they need tweaking.... By all means, TWEAK AWAY!

Is a G-Code better? probably. Is a USP Compact better than a P11? probably. Would I buy a G-code and a USP Compact and head out the door without much range time??? NOPE.

If your gun is in your holster SO TIGHT that you need 2 hands to pull it out, there is something wrong that needs addressing. It is NOT the way ALL Fobus holsters fit.

Personally, I like Comp-Tac holsters, and I just ordered my very first FIST Kydex holster. Cost me $70 though... But I'm not going to knock Fobus just because I got a better holster for 7X the price.

I carry my Walther P99 in a very well fitting Fobus that comes right out when I pull... No straining or two handed snatching neccessary.

But then again, I do work out ;)

[Daniel Flory]

I would only buy a Fobus to use as a range holster for the Glock. Anything else I'd rather spend more bucks and get something that fits properly.

[COHIBA]

sometimes you have to fight w/ a gun on. i have been in some bad situations were i was really glad i had a very tight rig. this whole idea of only shooting in a situation is one sided. sometimes things dont go the way the IDPA drills do. sometimes your on your back in the rain w/ a cracked up goblin 10 years your junior and 50 lbs heavier on your chest. i promise you you dont want your pistol catapaulting out of the holster. if fobus was that tight they would not still be in BIZ and i would not, WOULD NOT, feature them in my store.
i have been a cop and a civ. i respect both and would NEVER sell something that i didnt feel was a very good product to people who go into harms way.
now i am about sick of this FOBUS bashing. i like G-code. I like galco. heck there are alot of good rigs out there, no doubt. but a gun and holster is not a fire extinguisher that you "break glass in case of emergency". everything is a trade off somehow. retention for ease of draw, grip thickness for capacity, recoil for caliber. take your pick and PRACTICE w/ your choice.
you know what they say about opinions? well thats mine and i have a small amout of experience in the subject. for what its worth.

[P95Carry]

Only posting again on this thread cos........ I'll reiterate that for me .. the Fobus is ideal! Like many things, what suits one person don't suit another. And different guns probably suit Fobus more - or less.

I'll say again tho .. for my P95 (and outa interest, my P97 when I get it) .. the Fobus is excellent .. for me. Retention is comfortingly reliable .. handstands included if i were to be so bold .... and one slightly sharp move gives me a draw I am more than satisfied with..... EVERY time.

So ...... they can't all be bad!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh and ... I'm an ole fart - - and I don't work out ... much!

[Onslaught]

the Fobus is excellent .. for me. Retention is comfortingly reliable .. handstands included if i were to be so bold .... and one slightly sharp move gives me a draw I am more than satisfied with..... EVERY time.

So ...... they can't all be bad!

That's how I test my kydex holsters (sort of ;) ) I turn them upside down and shake them... if the pistol falls out, it needs to be tighter. I've never had a Fobus fail the upside down test...

I'm left handed, so I currently only own 2 pistols that Fobus makes LH holsters for... But I've had 4 Fobus holsters in total, and would have one for every pistol I own, if they made more lefties.

Heck, I think I'll e-mail COHIBA with a list of my current pistols, and if/when a LH Fobus comes available for it, he can let me know and I'll order it! :)

[akanotken]

Here's my experience with Fobus.

I got the rookie wedgie too. I boiled it and that helped a lot. Afterwards I slicked up the inside with some CLP and that helped too. Recently I jammed a sliver of an ammo box to spread the plastic apart near the trigger guard and it's even faster.

Then I bought a Blade tech I'm much happier now. My draw times are better.

One DOWNSIDE that I wanted to share. This probably affects very few guns. For my high power, if I put the pistol in and rock it to the rear (firmly) it will engage the mag release. Happened a few times in competition before I realized what was causing it. I initially thought I hadn't seated the mag, then that the mag was faulty, then that the pistol was. Pistol had stock mag release on it. Holster is right handed.

It's a testament to rigorous testing before using something for real.

PS, we all know that Fobus holsters ARE NOT made of Kydex, right?

-K

[TechBrute]

Fobus = Waste of $$

If you're pinching pennies, buy the Uncle Mike's kydex, Galco Cop Series, or Blade-Tech Injection Molded kydex. But consider this:

A holster holds a $500 tool on your side. If it doesn't hold it well enough, your $500 tool goes sliding down the aisle at Albertson's. If it holds it too well, you can't present it fast enough to use well.

My first Fobus had 3 rivets along the top of the paddle that would scratch the slide on my Glock. Later, a rivet popped loose and sent my Glock sliding down the aisle of Albertson's. Junk junk junk!

I consider a holster an important investment that at the least can prevent or cause damage to an expensive item, and at worst can cause you your life.

I prefer Blade-Tech, Sidearmor, and Milt Sparks. Expensive, but worth it.

[Double Naught Spy]

My mom carries her Glock in a Fobus paddle holster and for quite a while should could not get the gun to draw from the holster. In order to make the holster viable to use and without making any modifications to the structure, I found a great solution to the problem. It is the same answer Felonius Monk mentioned. Use Armorall down where the holster traps the trigger guard. For lack of a better description, after the Armorall dries, it becomes one of the best forms of plastic dry lube you can find anywhere and the best part is that there is no nastiness such as oil or graphite to mess things up.

Also for the Glock, if you apply just a little to the sides of the trigger guard where it contacts the holster to trap the gun, that will help in addtion to just Armoralling the holster.

The results are fairly long lived and once you are able to start inserting and removing the gun from the holster, it will eventually loosen up a little as it breaks-in.