FOBUS holster issues...

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BoneDigger

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I got a gift certificate from Gander Mountain, so I decided to go ahead and buy a FOBUS holster for my Taurus 605 snub-nose. I will get a leather, higher dollar holster later, but wanted something for the short term. I am going to ask this question here, since the issue I am having would probably be the same with an auto and a revolver.

I like the holster in that it holds the gun secure, is form fitting, and is comfortable. However, I am finding that in order to remove the gun from the holster I almost have to have two hands on it. It fits so snug that it's very hard to get the gun out. In fact, I tried it on a M85 Taurus at the GM store, and even the salesperson had a really hard time getting the gun out (this is with holding the gun and holster in your hands and pulling hard...).

I don't know for sure, since I have never been in a defencive situation, but it seems to me that an inability to remove the gun from the hoslter would be a bad thing...

Do these holster get better with usage, or do I just need to take it back...

Todd
 
I bought a Fobus Kydex for my Glock 23 and had the same problems. I tried heating it, prying on it, working the gun in and out of it, even the dreaded Dremel technique. It's plastic. It didn't get any better. No retention problems, though.

Coyote3855
 
To my experience they do work in. Take your unloaded gun and just put it in and out of the holster a few hundred times.
 
Stretch out holster with your hands to loosen it up; I have a Galco Cop Slide for my Glock model 35 and I have to use my weak hand to affix the holster, while my right hand draws out the gun.
 
Keep in mind that Fobus holsters require a draw at a certain angle, usually parallel to how the barrel rests as it sits in the holster. Per them, it's to help prevent snatches.
 
Did they quit putting tension screws in Fobus holsters? The only time I use mine are in competetion. I set the tension on each gun. Kydex is hell on blued guns. It's very abrasive.

I use strickly Galco for everyday carry.
 
In the past I have bad mouthed Fobus, but the one that came with my Glock 26 has really impressed me.

Mine is the Compact Style and works great.

Steve
 
You may want to try...

...using a file on the rough edges to make it a little smoother or just wear it in by drawing a couple hundred times.
 
Two words

Sand Paper.
A 400 to 650 grit will work and use Armoral to clean the dust up.
I did this to my SG-21 and it worked grate. Just remember its plastic you can not go back if you mess up and I hope this helps you out.

Have a good blast-tin day
 
Bonedigger,
Is yours the paddle of belt model? I have the paddle model for my 605 and find it rides too low for ccw. I don't have any release issues. Sometimes I find it helps to push down on the holster with the thumb while pulling the gun out. This technique spreads the holster slightly.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the belt models ride higher than the paddle models?
 
Solution??

The ''inertial'' draw.

I used to use one way back with my P95 and indeed it was hard to get out just by pulling - but, the answer was a brisk and sudden action, which breaks the hold very easily. So - do not ''take gun out'' as from leather but - give it a sharp tug.

I found with practice this was dead on reliable and yet I still had the excellent retention. These days I confess custom leather has kept me away from Fobus except for range use.
 
I only had one fobus kydex holster. I put it on my belt once.. and promptly put it up for auction on ebay. I bought the belt model hoster for a bersa thunder 380, and it was simply awful for its intended purpose. It claimed to be specifically for concealed carry and yet it seemed to be intentionally designed to angle the gun away from the body, thereby making a huge bulge in the clothing that I can easily carry a much larger P345 in every day with no bulge. Ugh, just bad design .. or was it ? I only just thought right this moment that the angled design might actually be much better for someone .. shall we say on the heavy side, with uh... love handles as it were.

As an above poster mentioned..
Keep in mind that Fobus holsters require a draw at a certain angle, usually parallel to how the barrel rests as it sits in the holster. Per them, it's to help prevent snatches.
Click to expand...

This is true, and may be at the heart of the draw problem. It's possible you may have to modify your technique, rather than the holster. ( Note: But why would you, just scrap the fobus POS ) It's not intended to prevent scratches though, it's intended to make it more difficult for someone else to pull your gun from your holster.
 
Get a spray can of silicone. Spray the interior of the holster. It will free up. It might take several times of spraying the interior to get it to permanently loosen it up. Worked for me.
 
"Snappy" draw, straight up. The belt ones "wiggle" a little, and can ruin the angle. I have paddle ones for Sig, XD, 1911, all are favorites.
 
DO NOT try to modify your holster because you think it's too tight. The holster id made that way to prevent someone yanking your gun from you. You have to pull straight up on the gun briskly from the holster to remove it easily. That's the way it's made. It's almost impossible to remove your gun when the holster isn in your hand, it's very easy when it's on your side held by your belt. I have a Fobus paddle for my S&W 638 and once I read the instructions on the bag there was no problem with the holster!!

Read this: https://secure.fobusholster.com/updates/FAQs.pdf?osCsid=713552d72f659dd899bf809464671af5
 
I have no advise on your FOBUS holster but for a leather alternative might I suggest a Don Hume JIT.

I use the same holster for my Smith J and my Taurus 605....great holster. I also have one for a Makarov, KelTec P3AT and Bersa Thunder.

Cost $27 shipped from Gunners Alley.

Cant find a picture for a revolver model but here is a picture.

donhumejit.gif
 
The fobus holster I bought for my Mak took a while to loosen up. The one I bought for my KT on the other hand was SUPER tight. I really needed two hands to get it out. I ended up drilling out the upper rivet near the trigger guard and installing a spring loaded tension screw. It works great and I can tighten it later if the holster begins to loosen up a little.
 
I occasionally use one with a S&W J-frame 2", and have found it to be excellent. Also use one less frequently with a Hi-power and a P99, never any issues. Mine are the paddle version, without the roto feature.

If you opt for leather, look at some of the Don Hume models that have a thumb break strap. Very secure, and relatively inexpensive.

RBH
 
Just got a Fobus...

and I'm not liking it at all yet. Sometimes it draws, more often then not it comes off the belt or gives me a wedgie. :cuss:

I got it because I wanted something simple that wasn't an Uncle Mike's and this was all the local store had. If it doesn't start drawing better, I'm e-baying it. Right now though, if someone asked me I'd say it's a POS. Cops may want high retention, I want to be able to draw the dang thing.
 
FOBUS holsters are cheap junk. If you want a plastic holster get one from Comp-tac or Blade-Tech, they make quality stuff.

Just like motorcycle helmets, you don't want to go cheap with a holster. I read a funny story about a guy who was being attacked, went to draw a gun from his crappy holster, and pulled up only to have the holster stuck on his now useless weapon.

edited to add: this ended up being less than constructive. The reason to go with the nicer kydex holsters is because of the issues discussed here. My blade tech holsters have all been fantastic. The gun slides in easily and locks in with a "click", then the holster holds the weapon tight until you purposely draw it.

I didn't mean to end up knocking FOBUS in general, they just aren't good holsters for anything other than range use...
 
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The moment I got my Fobus for my m92 (today) I loosened it and poured boiling water over it, drew it a dozen times and it now works fine.
 
I had a Fobus for my Steyr M9; very poor fit with almost a vise-like grip on the slide, making it extremely difficult to draw. Also had a single mag holster, supposedly designed for 9mm. double column magazines. I don't know what they used as a model for this one, but I can tell you it wasn't a Beretta, a Steyr, or a Browning HP. After many hours of filing, scraping, and sanding, I kind of got it to where I could get two thirds of a HP mag into it. Very poor designs and even worse construction with this pair of Fobus products.
 
My G23 Fobus holster works fine, but it DOES take a good firm yank to clear it from the holster. I'd rather have to pull it hard than have it fall out if 1) in pursuit of my shooter, or 2) running away dodging bullets flying overhead. :)
 
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