The first time this happened, I chalked it up to coincidence. The second time was worrisome, and the third event was a disturbing pattern. I am not quite sure if this is an issue with the holster or the gun, however, this does not seem to be a common issue with the M&P and I have had no trouble with holsters of other makes (Bianchi, Fobus, serpa-retention style, etc). Neither has Heather, who also carries an M&P. That leads me to suspect the holster.
The best theory I've come up with is that the mag release is getting pushed in by the holster when I sit or wear it. The kydex portion of the holster does not cover the mag release. Moreover the leather near the mag release is scuffed slightly.
I am not giving up on the supertuck. As an immediate measure I've started checking the mag to make sure it is securely seated. I've also thought about the whole "tap rack bang" malfunction clearance issue. I'm going to change where I carry the supertuck and see if changing the position from 5:00 to 3:00 or 4:00 mitigates the issue. I can also change the height at which the holster rides which may help.
Still, a trend of the mag release getting hit which pops a mag out, which would induce a malfunction if I had to fire the pistol, is very problematic.
This happens with Supertucks, and almost every holster that has a body panel / shield / sweatguard. Even happened on some of my early holster designs as well. The leather is VERY stiff when new...it needs to break in properly, ei: it needs to soften up and mold itself around your mag release.
ReplyDeleteYou can speed up the process by doing the following:
1) Using a small paintbrush (1" wide is all thats needed) wet the leather from behind in a 1" circle where the mag release sits. Gte it good and wet (the leather, where you wet it, should feel very soft and almost wet-noodle-ish...) Don't be afraid to get it wet...it'll dry soon enough.
2) unload your gun, put it in the holster.
3) From behind, take something hard and round with an empty middle (like a 1/2" socket from a ratchet wrench set, a plastic cap from a fat magic marker, etc...) and push that leather hard against the mag release. When you do thi, have your thumb against the mag release from the opposite side of the gun. In other words, as you're pushing against the leather, which will naturally want to activate the release, push against the release from the other side to keep it from moving. You want to hold it like this for about 10 minutes, so as to get a good solid impression of the mag catch into the leather body panel.
4) After about 10 minutes, get something with a bit more diameter (like a 3/4' socket) and repeat, but this time place a bit of thin cardboard (like from posterboard) between the mag release and the leather, and work the socket against the catch again as before for about another 5 minutes.
5) you have now successfully stretched the leather enough that when it dries and shrinks, it will be formed *around* the mag catch. Should cure the release of the mag when you sit, bend, or otherwise exert pressure on the panel of the holster, which is pressing against the mag catch, and releasing the mag.
And yes...with any of my holsters that have a body shield, I mold/form around the mag catch specifically to cure the premature mag release problem. But, thats the difference between mass-produced and hand-made.
Regards,
Dragon