[Peter Gun]

I'm not sure I made the right choice w/ this one, but I didnt get any instructions so I could be doing something wrong. I got this Safariland 0701 on Ebay so it didnt come w/ any instructions.
I like the way it holds my sig229, tight and comfortable w/ a really ingenious thumbbreak that is right at your thumb while you grip the stock. The problem is the thing is like a vise! I pull as hard as I can in every direction and it wont budge. It seems to have a contour that fits into the ejection port of the slide and some particular motion seperates the two halves of the holster, releasing the slide. So far the only way I can get the pistol out is to take it off, use both hands to pry it apart and yank the sig out. The holster is made of kydex w/ hex screws holding it together. Should I loosen the screw on the bottom side of the muzzle? I havent found the right size hex wrench in my tools yet to try that out. This holster is pretty new, but if anyone has some experience w/ it I 'd appreciate it. I'll try and post some pics tommorrow, I forgot to bring it to work tonite. Thanks.

[Old Fuff]

Don't force anything. You may damage the holster and possibly the gun. If you contact Safariland they'll send you the instructions. Also be sure the holster is for your *exact* make and model pistol.

[Kor]

Are ya SURE it's the 0701 model? If it is, the "thumb-break" snap should actually be positioned for your middle finger to pop open as you grasp the pistol.

Anyways, the secret is to rock the pistol BACKWARDS to clear the ejection-port lock before drawing - the "middle-finger break" is there to keep the gun from getting rocked out by an assailant who (usually) can't find the snap to unlock it. It helps, big-time, if you have the holster mounted onto a good, solid gunbelt around your waist - then the drawing motion becomes very natural.

Had the same holster for my Glock 23 for years, before I sold it to another THR member.

[Peter Gun]

Ok, I tried it out some more and I really dont see how this is a good holster.
The strap is nice, now that I'm using my finger, its very clever. The problem is that I cant seem to draw the holster foward. At the 4 or 5 o'clock position I can only get it to release backwards. If I jerk it back and then foward it just relatches and wont release. It releases fine if I reach around w/ my left hand and draw behind my back, but thats hardly practical. It would work well crossdraw except its canted the wrong way.
This aint working for me. If anybody wants it I'll send it for shipping cost. Otherwise, its another failed holster I got for cheap. Looks like I'll save for the Milt Sparks.
Back to the Fobus, the only cheap holster that works.

BTW, I'm using a wilderness tactical belt as tight as I can make it.

[Glack]

Peter,

The holster was designed around the idea of retention. THe reason you are not able to draw the pistol by rocking it forward is because the retention device is working. It is a great holster and in fact I own two. Just practice rocking the pistol back and up and it will come out.

If you decide to keep the holster make sure you practice and then practice some more. The holster will grow on you just practice.

If you decide you can't live with it email me and I will gladly send you the money to cover the postage.

Glack

[Kor]

I second what Glack said(and I really should have said it first) - rock the pistol BACKWARDS, and then draw STRAIGHT UP. That's the only way to clear the holster. If you rock back and then try to drag the gun forward and out, it'll lock back up again. Focus on keeping your wrist locked straight, and lifting the gun straight up to draw. DO NOT allow your wrist to break downwards/backwards.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of my 0701 drawing method:

1) Move your elbow STRAIGHT BACK, as if it were being pulled back by an imaginary string. Your hand should be positioned directly above the butt of your pistol(and if it isn't, move the holster forward so that it is).
2) The hand comes down onto the butt of the gun, and as you assume a firing grip your middle finger pops the security snap. Get the web of your hand seated firmly, high up under the grip tang, and allow your wrist to break UPWARD just a smidge - this motion will rock the gun backwards to clear the lock.
3) Lift the gun straight up to clear the holster. If you're on the short side like me, it helps if you lean forward from the waist a little bit - this gives you a little more leeway in lifting the gun straight up.

Also, you mentioned that you're wearing the holster at the 5:00 position on your waist - that far back, you're not gonna have enough range of motion to draw the pistol straight up, you're gonna be pushing the pistol back into lock-up again. The 0701 always worked best for me at 3:00 - 3:30, or with the slide positioned IMMEDIATELY behind the side seam on my pants. Keep in mind that the 0701 was designed as a concealable version of the Safariland SSIII duty retention holster, and as such it works best for a user who is trained on the SSIII, who wears the 0701 in the same position as the SSIII, and who uses the same motions as he would with the SSIII.

The 5:00 position may SEEM better for concealment, but I found that the butt of my Glock 23 tended to print against the back of my shirt if I positioned it that far back. Moving the holster a bit forward actually made the gun blend into my body's silhouette better. The 3:00 position also lets your right arm hang naturally over the gun to better obscure its outline. As a Kydex security holster, the 0701's gonna be on the bulky side anyway - if concealment is your primary objective, carry IWB and take some training in weapon retention from Lethal Force Institute, just one state over in New Hampshire.

Once you learn to work the system properly, the 0701 will give you very good service as a durable, secure holster that still allows you(with practice) to draw quickly. In addition, the holster practically forces you to get a solid, firm firing grip on the gun while in the holster - and therefore, you don't have to waste time fidgeting your hand into a firing grip before you start shooting.