I just want my mags to stay in the gun

[MikeInOr]

I have never had the magazine on my LCP or Kahr CM9 accidentally release. I pocket carry the LCP most every day and IWB carry the CM9 some, but not a lot. Even with the thin flimsy pocket holster that came with my LCP I haven't ever had the magazine unintentionally released.

 

[DeepSouth]

Be very careful when you are doing anything with Kahr mag release spring. It fits down into the frame and the plastic where it sits is pretty thin. If you mess around and wallow that small hole out or actually break it, the frame is toast.

Thanks for that heads up, I’ve never had it out before.

 

[stonebuster]

Deleted

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Ok, seriously guys, stop buying crap holsters. No, expensive and crap aren't mutually exclusive. There are a lot of companies out there selling expensive crappy holsters and a lot selling affordable good holsters. Too many people have jumped on the holster making bandwagon who have absolutely no clue what they are doing.

I you are carrying in a style that presses the gun against your body, such as IWB, you must absolutely have a holster that covers the magazine release with rigid material. Holsters made with soft materials like nylon or neoprene absolutely are a no-go. Even old worn leather is a no-go. New rigid leather or kydex is the way to go.

If you are carrying on the belt, you must ensure that 1) the holster design keeps the magazine release from pressing against the body or belt -and- 2) doesn't allow the holster to flop around so the magazine release impacts something. #2 is a consideration of your belt as much as it is your holster. Get a good belt. I've seen way too many people who have trouble getting their gun out of their holster because their belt is a wobbly piece of crap that won't hold the holster steady. Take a good look at how the holster mounts to the belt. You can have the worlds greatest, no flex belt, but a holster with a single floppy belt loop is never going to stay in place.

And last, take a look at yourself. If your Budweiser habit has given you a significant swell that tends to roll over your belt, perhaps a bit of cardio will help prevent inadvertent, gut initiated, magazine release.

I've been wearing a pistol for near to twenty-five years now professionally and personally and have never had a magazine come unseated while being worn in a holster.

 

[jmorris]

My Beretta, with pocket carry was almost a certainty to release the mag, with the button protruding from the side of the grip.



I just sanded the button flush with the grip. Problem solved and still easy to eject it when I wanted to.



I carry my LCP with just a clip IWB and never had the mag pop out. It’s a lot stiffer spring and better protected than most.



I suppose it too could be modified though.

 

[chicharrones]

I had the same problem with my Remington RM380's ambi mag release in my Recluse pocket holster.

I did the same as others in this thread and ground the mag release down a bit on both sides until the high portions were lower than the grips.

 

[daniel craig]

Don’t get a revolver without trying a different semi first, like a shield.

 

[Charlie98]

When I pocket carry I use a desantis superfly for both guns, not the same holster obviously they each have their own. I also have a Mr. Softy by high noon for the PM45. Honestly the LCP seem to be worse about it but just barely.

I’ll probably get a new release for the PM45 as it is an older gun so the spring could be weak, I may also trim the button down. I’ll also start paying more attn to the holsters, I have others I can swap out and see if the problem gets better.

I carry my CM/CW9’s in a High Noon and never have problems; further, I also have used a Don Hume, a Galco, and a DeSantis, and never had problems with the mag releasing. The mag release spring on the Kahr 45 does not have as much tension as the 9’s, I believe the geometry (leverage) is different, or the spring itself does not have the same tension that the 9’s do. Just my .02 worth.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

What type of pocket holster are you using maybe it's not your pistol but the holster you are using

 

[unclenunzie]

Southpaw here as well. I have both a PM9 and a PM40, and the same make and model IWB clip holster for both. The PM9 holster covers the mag button and pressure on the holster would sometime pop the mag. The PM40 holster does not cover the mag button and is good to go. So I cut a relief into the PM9 holster so it wouldn't pop the mag anymore.

 

[C0untZer0]

Yep, that's one thing I like about the Rohrbaugh R9

 

[eyeshot]

What you wrote makes sense but, for us ignorant folk, could you list some good holster and belt companies that traditionally have the better offerings. Expensive or not.

After twenty-five years you have to have some brand opinions that have to be better than my two-year opinion.



Ok, seriously guys, stop buying crap holsters. No, expensive and crap aren't mutually exclusive. There are a lot of companies out there selling expensive crappy holsters and a lot selling affordable good holsters. Too many people have jumped on the holster making bandwagon who have absolutely no clue what they are doing.

I you are carrying in a style that presses the gun against your body, such as IWB, you must absolutely have a holster that covers the magazine release with rigid material. Holsters made with soft materials like nylon or neoprene absolutely are a no-go. Even old worn leather is a no-go. New rigid leather or kydex is the way to go.

If you are carrying on the belt, you must ensure that 1) the holster design keeps the magazine release from pressing against the body or belt -and- 2) doesn't allow the holster to flop around so the magazine release impacts something. #2 is a consideration of your belt as much as it is your holster. Get a good belt. I've seen way too many people who have trouble getting their gun out of their holster because their belt is a wobbly piece of crap that won't hold the holster steady. Take a good look at how the holster mounts to the belt. You can have the worlds greatest, no flex belt, but a holster with a single floppy belt loop is never going to stay in place.

And last, take a look at yourself. If your Budweiser habit has given you a significant swell that tends to roll over your belt, perhaps a bit of cardio will help prevent inadvertent, gut initiated, magazine release.

I've been wearing a pistol for near to twenty-five years now professionally and personally and have never had a magazine come unseated while being worn in a holster.[/QUOTE]

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

What you wrote makes sense but, for us ignorant folk, could you list some good holster and belt companies that traditionally have the better offerings. Expensive or not.

After twenty-five years you have to have some brand opinions that have to be better than my two-year opinion.



Ok, seriously guys, stop buying crap holsters. No, expensive and crap aren't mutually exclusive. There are a lot of companies out there selling expensive crappy holsters and a lot selling affordable good holsters. Too many people have jumped on the holster making bandwagon who have absolutely no clue what they are doing.



I have used holsters made by Foxx Crossbreed Azula White Hat El Paso saddilry TT gunleather and a few others that i cant remember the name of but by far the Best for ME is https://www.miltsparks.com/store.php

 

[eyeshot]

Thank you, LuckyDawg. I am a firm believer that saving a buck sometimes isn't saving a buck. Nice site that Milt Sparks. The question section offers up a lot I didn't know about holsters.

As an aside . . your avatar brings back fond memories.

 

[herrwalther]

My first thought is to blame the holster. It has been a long time since I pocket carried anything but I would not trust a soft sided Desantis or similar pocket holster for the kind of work done outside you described. Maybe a kydex holster would be a better solution. Options for both LCP and Kahr.

https://www.alabamaholster.com/product/front-pocket-holster/

Second advice is one I don't like giving to anyone, recommending a different gun. You may not be able to afford something new or find what you look for with the way things are going. Or you are particularly attached to your LCP and Kahr for whatever reason. In any case, a handgun with a heel or European style magazine release may be another option. A Sig P230 or 232 immediately come to mind.

 

[SteadyD]

I have several kydex pocket holsters that make it impossible to release a mag. They cover the mag release and are so sturdy even all of my weight doesn’t allow the kydex to move enough to engage the release.

 

[1MoreFord]

I haven't had a problem with my LCP but I haven't carried it a lot and I have a Hogue Handall grip sleeve on it. The sleeve makes you work a little bit to hit the mag release. I carry mine in an Uncle George's wallet holster too so that may be a contributing factor too.

https://www.hogueinc.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=handall+lcp

 

[SeanSw]

I had this problem with the Taurus TCP and the Ruger LCP. I fixed it by replacing the guns with a Beretta Pico, which has a trigger guard release. I think they are underrated guns and have a true hammer fired double action. There are other models available with a heel release that may work better for you. Also consider a Ruger LCR. I prefer a pocket snub to a .380 subcompact but I make seasonal allowances.

 

[sparkyfender]

An HK product with paddle release, but HKs ain't tiny or economical, and I'm a fan.

 

[defjon]

Oh, yeah, ..

Get a 642 and load five hornady critical defense lites in there! Good to go.

Tongue in cheek, I saw folks already mentioned better pocket holsters and even heel release semi autos so I had to do it.

 

[Rodfac]

I've had the same problem as the original poster....inadvertent magazine button actuation....and most time it was the holster that did the 'actuation'. Since then, I've gone to an OWB holster that is cut away from the mag release button, isolating it while still positioning the gun for a full "firing grip" while still in the holster. Clothing can't push that button either. In our case, it was the belt loop that was touching/pushing the release button while carrying on the belt...we don't build 'em that way anymore.

The good news was that we lost only one magazine with that earlier design...a M41 S&W .22 mag that cost $40 twenty years ago....and expensive lesson! But we'd found that 1911s, & Sigs of any model were prone to the same problem, requiring a modified design. Rod

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I’ve been doing a lot more work the last year or so, I’ve built a new shop, ran a bunch of new fencing and just general around the farm type work....., up and down climbing and crawling type stuff. I’ve just had more time off my normal job for the last year-ish. And I’ll tell you one effect is at least twice a week I discover my mag release has been hit on my carry gun, a KAHR PM45 and/or a LCP. It happens with both guns. And yes, I only carry in a holster and if it’s pocket carry nothing else is in the pocket.

It’s happening enough to make me consider a revolver, if only they made something half way between a NAA and a J-frame.
Have any of you had this problem with this frequency, if so any solutions.

I haven't had this problem but I have large hands, and I've had problems with the push button mag releases impacting the tip of my trigger finger upon firing. It get's painful. Practice and refinement of my grip technique have helped mitigate the problem, but I started buying HKs several years ago with paddle mag releases as a fix. Turns out I really like them.

You may want to try some HKs and Walthers. It's not a steep learning curve, and I find I prefer them on polymer guns.

Or carry in a different position. Or get a stiffer mag release spring.

 

[obiwan1]

I had that prob with my Kahr K40. At NRA/Indy I discussed this with Justin Moon (owner of Kahr) and he said to get a replacement mag release under warranty. I talked to Cust Svc and they sent me one at no cost. Fixed the prob. By the way, I'm LH also.