Left handed holster for 1911 with enlarged mag release?

[Spark]

Someone please give me a hand with this, I'm about at wit's end here.

I've been carrying my 1911 more of late, and have run into a significant problem - since I'm a lefty, I've put on an enlarged mag release button to help facilitate reloads. Well, unfortunately it seems that nobody makes a good lefty kydex holster with this in mind - everyone's is designed for the standard sized mag button. As a result, when I sit back in my car, my mag is released from the kydex pressing into the button. My trusty G-Code isn't working well!

I called Sidearmor and Comptac and both said they couldn't help me. Who else should I look at? Does anyone know a good holster manufacturer that'd work for this specific problem? Or will I have to just go back to carrying my USP?

I prefer OWB strong side paddle holsters, just as an fyi.

 

[mete]

Holsters are not designed for extended mag release or extended safety !!! They there fore are a safety hazard and such modifications are banned in things like IPSC. Use another gun !!

 

[geekWithA.45]

I'm a lefty, and am OK w/ standard mag releases. Consider restoring old mag release?

 

[MICHAEL T]

Put the pistol back as it came and practice more on release. I a lefty and I don't have a problem with stock mag releases.

 

[Spark]

You know what, that's horse****. It is not a "safety" issue, it's just poor design on the part of holster makers. This isn't for IPSC or sporting events, this is a defensive carry gun, and all the kydex holsters index off the trigger guard and barrel, covering the mag release button should include extra space for an enlarged magazine release since it's not exactly an uncommon addition on 1911s.

Installing the original magazine release for me isn't an option - if slows down my magazine changing time dramatically and is much more difficult for me to use, which is unacceptable for my defensive carry piece. I'd sooner install an ambi mag release in my 1911 than go back to the original.

If there's no holster solution, I'll just switch back to my HK USP and have 4 more rounds of .45 & no worries. But please save the snarky comments.

 

[mete]

They were not meant to be snarky comments, just an explaination of why extended safeties are not good in general.. For special conditions you would have to send your gun to a custom maker to tailor the holster to your gun.

 

[Black Majik]

Why not have a Kydex maker like Comp-tac make you a customize one? I'm sure you can specify how you want your holster made before they make it.

Obviously you'll have to "customize" your holster since, really... not many people put on extended mag releases on their 1911s.

Good luck

 

[steelhead]

I don't think anyone was being "snarky".

I have a Fobus paddle and no material ever comes close to the magazine release for it to be a problem. Same goes for my Milt Sparks OWB but it is a leather holster. You could also cut out the portion that covers the mag release.....


Oversize mag releases are not common, on defensive pistols, for good and obvious reasons. Even if you solve the holster issue, you will continue to run a high risk of an inadvertent release. I fully agree, with the others (I'm also a 1911 lefty), that you should use the stock release or go back to the USP. Otherwise you are just asking for trouble.

 

[FireBreather01]

Not being a 'snark', but over-sized releases - slides, mags, whatever, were never intended for defensive guns - they were made for competitive events where 'race' guns are/were used to shave hundredths of a second off of event times. And FWIW, since I shoot primarily lefty I've experimented with reversing the mag releases on some guns but always went back to the standard configuration as I felt I was quicker and more efficient with the left side release using my trigger finger.

 

[Spark]

Ok, well is there a reliable ambi mag release on the market for a 1911?

 

[steelhead]

http://www.smithandalexander.com/guides.html#mag-release

Have no idea if it is reliable.

 

[lance22]

You can get it anyway you like ... BearClaw Holsters just set me up with a IWB and an OWB for my Kimber, which has the extra large ambi safety, the OWB is overlaid with Rattle Snake Hide and is quite a show ... doesn't have photos of that sort of thing on his site but will soon. BTW, BearClaw is a lefty, just like you and lives down in Missouri.

http://www.bearclawholsters.com

As for your giant mag release, he can do that for you and throw in any cant you want, offset you want, high ride low ride crossdraw ... just like any other custom make can. Plus, the kydex makers will ship your product within a week, instead of 3 - 4 months.

Shoot safe.