I have several Fobus paddle holsters, mostly for Glocks and one for a 4" smith k-frame. The are good range holsters or "work on the farm holsters". In my experience they hold the weapon securely, are easy to access and are impervious to the elements. Here in Florida, after a day of working outside, I am drenched in sweat as is my leather holster, which is one reason that I switch to a kydeyx holster when I am working outside in the heat.

I do not use Fobus for concealment as there are many other better options for that duty. I also do not like the fobus line of paddle mag holders.

I view holsters like shoes, I have work boots, casual shoes, athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Similarly, I usually have multiple holsters for any weapon that is a potential ccw.

Back on topic.

Originally Posted by Old Padawan

Buy a quality holster.

I'll agree with that.

There are a BUNCH of them out there,

for the popular makes and models of guns. Hard to find what I want for my PT745. I don't see any on the Galco web site for it. I've got a High Noon IWB for it, and I'll continue to use a Fobus for an OWB until I can find something else.

and they don’t have to be expensive.

again I'll agree.

I picked one up for my PT92 (my 22 year old, cosmetically showing its age PT92). I can see where finish wear would be an issue on the front of the trigger guard, but since this gun isn't a looker, its not an issue for me. I will be using it exclusively for a weekly shooting league competition, and since it draws nicely and feels better the more I use it, and the price was right, I'm happy with it.

Not sure I want to jump into all this bantering, but I'm a glutton for punishment.

I've owned Don Hume, Bianchi, Galco and FIST-Inc, leather, and honestly, I have not found one yet to be comfortable, seems I always am aware I have it on. With Fobus, I honestly forget the gun is there. Only thing I don't like about the Fobus is the set cant, no adjustment. Well until the introduced the Roto. I have one on order for my new Sig P239 and fully expect to be happy with it.

Holsters is to guns as Chevy is to Ford. Everyone has their own preference. I say if it works them great!

I have a roto for my Sigma .40 and so far I like it. I use it mostly for backyard range shooting.

Fobus is alright. Ive had a few. One was real difficult to draw from. I sent em back because I realized that its silly to buy a decent gun and not put it in a decent holster. I hope that didnt come out wrong. I dont mean that the Fobus isnt a decent holster. I just decided I was going to spend the amount of money I thought appropriate and buy a nice leather holster for myself.

Folks will spend hundreds on several cheap holsters and then realize they have 10 holsters they paid 10-20 bucks for and then end up buying a holster for 50-150 thats just better.

Does that make sense? Heck I dont want to offend. If you dig the Fobus, use it. I just wanted a slide holster that was leather.

I havent even bought it yet LOL. Probably a Don Hume or Side Guard. Ive looked at both and am just on the fence. High Noon looks good too.

So to finally answer the question, no, I dont really love Fobus holsters. But... I may buy one for the KelTec for some variety. Hows that for diplomacy? LOL

Inexpensive and you can find them everywhere. . . but I don't use them. I have a couple as loaners when we go camping or shoot in the desert. If I lose it, no big loss in my opinion.

I like and use fobus as a range holster or for my side arm when hunting or camping. For me they are not much good at concealment but do represent a good value for certain appplications. I have used them for Glocks, 1911's and revolvers and never had a problem. I bought a new roto style for my SP101 and I like it's cant and tension versatility.

One gripe and caution to fellow LH's out there though. Despite the online ordering comments section were you can clearly specify LH or RH I have had them ignore it and send a RH anyway. If that model doesn't come in LH fine by me but take 2 minutes and call or e-mail the customer and let them know not just send what you want to send instead of what they need. Customer service not too thrilled about but the end product, if you get what you ordered, seems adequate for it's intended purpose.

And they come with a lifetime guarantee.

Originally Posted by Tuefelhunden

... I bought a new roto style for my SP101 and I like it's cant and tension versatility...

Do the screws ever come loose?
Have you ever experienced a rivet failure, or a tear in the plastic in the rivet areas?

Originally Posted by Steve M1911A1

Do the screws ever come loose?
Have you ever experienced a rivet failure, or a tear in the plastic in the rivet areas?

I own quite a few Fobus paddles that I use mostly for range use. I've been very happy and had no issues with all but one. I bought a Roto for a Kahr, and hate it. Yes the screw comes loose for the cant, so the gun will twist. Also, the Roto attachment causes the gun to stick out too far from the body.

Love the value and convenience of the Fobus paddle, hate the Roto.

Originally Posted by Todd

OK, so does anybody new have anything to add to this thread about the holster?

I do. I just wondered why James doesn't like the Roto holster. I kinda thought about getting one, but this thread has me rethinking a little.

Originally Posted by James NM

The only Fobus I don't like is the Roto.

It seems as though I missed the multiple pages in the thread. And to pour salt in my wound, my post ends up directly below a post that answers my question. Great.

Originally Posted by James NM

I own quite a few Fobus paddles that I use mostly for range use. I've been very happy and had no issues with all but one. I bought a Roto for a Kahr, and hate it. Yes the screw comes loose for the cant, so the gun will twist. Also, the Roto attachment causes the gun to stick out too far from the body.

Love the value and convenience of the Fobus paddle, hate the Roto.

I have only one Fobus. I bought it in 2001. To use for CCW range qualification with my Beretta 92. In place of my leather belt slide with a thumb break.

The Fobus was OK. EXCEPT I got the Roto paddle. It was OK on the range. But, "Roto" was mistake. I never used it afterwards. In my usage,
I felt the Roto feature makes it too wide and thus awkward. And, it's resided in the bottom of my gun safe ever since.

I have no experience with "regular" Fobus holsters. But, I expect they would "fit better".

All of my holsters for other guns I've bought since then have been leather for CCW, or for hiking "protection".
Or, cheap nylon for "wear protection" in the glovebox or console.

I just bought a S & W 642 snubby. And, a VERY nice leather belt slide with adjustable retention force for $60. And, a Desantis "Super Fly" pocket holster.
Love them both for the 642.
You can draw your own conclusions.

I have one for each of my carry guns and also leather. Use the Fobus more than half of the time.

I have a Fobus for my Glock 23, it's comfortable to wear, the thing i didn't care for is that the gun fits very snug in it. Which is good in that it won't easily fall out or become loos. But you really had to yank on the gun to draw it. In the heat of the moment i felt that this may hinder me. I ended up getting a Blackhawk serpa, instead.

I use a Fobus paddle for my Taurus Pt111 Millenium Pro. What it lacks in concealability it makes up for in comfort.

I guess I would agree i general to the original post. Excellent value, serves the purpose, and has its place. They are not what I would want to carry all the time, but a fobus paddle at the range is sure easy and inexpensive to use.

1: Fobus isn't Kydex. I don't know why some people insist that it is.

2: They ARE poorly made. My first holster was a Fobus roto-paddle. The screw let go and dumped my gun on the floor of the mall.

3: The "range holster" debate. Can someone explain this to me? If you are working FROM the holster, shouldn't you be using your carry holster? If you're using it just as a place to stick your gun when you're not shooting, OK I'll bite, but most formal ranges want guns kept on the firing line while going down range etc. Why do you need a "range" holster that you won't use for carry. Isn't buying something for use on the range only (apparently as just a convenient storage spot while not shooting) a waste of money that would negate the "value" of the holste? If you're not working from the draw of your carry gear, why do you need a holster? If you have your CCW, and you're carrying to the range, are you changing to the Fobus while on the range and then putting back on your carry holster? How is that easy?

So, what's the purpose of a "Range" holster? I'm lost on this. When I go to the range and NEED a holster, it's going to be what I use for carry.

Also,

Regarding the whole "Mossad, Israeli Military" issue.

I don't know if a lot of people using this as justification for a product are prior Military or not, but having been prior service allow me to make an observation.

Military issue does not equal or mean it's a superior product.

Does anyone have a source for some of this info other than Fobus? I'll even take a poorly photchopped picture of a member of the Israeli military using a Fobus holster.

A search of the Israel Military Forum for the word "Fobus" only brings back two threads, they have about half our number of members. A search for Fobus here brings back 126 threads. Are you telling me that we discuss Fobus holsters more than the people that are supposed to be carrying them????

If you haven't seen it, this might be a good time to check out my thread on Truth in Advertising

All I see is "Combat proven by the Israeli Military" well guess what, the Beretta M9 is combat proven, but that's doesn't mean I'm going to carry one. The Bianchi nylon flap holster is "combat proven" but I'm not going to buy one. The M4 is "Combat proven" but plenty of people think it needs to be replaced for a piston driven design.

If you want a Fobus, if you like your Fobus, that's fine, but don't rely on buzz words and tag lines to try and make it better than what it is....Suicuide bombers are combat proven, doesn't mean it's a good idea to sign up for that section. Some people even use the "Combat proven" as a defense, but then also admit that "it makes a good range holster, but I wouldn't use it for carry" HOW does that make any sense?

I had one, I gave it a fair shake, it let me down and could have gotten me in some deep doo-doo. I was attraceted to the low cost, but I stopped using it within about 36 hours of actual use and bought something else immediately following it's failure.

I purchased one for my Glock 26. Feels very secure when riding my motorcycle. The gun is definately not going to fall out of the holdster.

Problem is: I can't get the gun out of the holdster as quickly as I want. It feels like it's in there to stay. I don't feel comfortable relying on it.

I owned one for my glock 30sf. There was no way I could have concealed it even with a long jacket on. But for a cheap range holster. You couldnt have asked for better. Fit the gun tight. Made for a quick draw virtually impossible. But there was no denying that the gun wouldnt fall out. There are definitely better holster for CC. But if you could open carry or just to go shoot at a range then it would be fine.

When I bought my son's P22, the GS threw one if for $15 with the gun. It holds the gun secure, a little to secure. It is a real struggle to get the gun out. Not sure, if this the case with all Fobus, but for my P22, it is. I couldn't imagine, if I had to pull the gun for SD. It wouldn't work. On the other hand, i have a Blackhawk Serpa for my M&P, and hands downs a much better holster. I only use my for the range, but now the less. It's much better.

I own one and I like it. It isn;'t the prettiest or the fanciest but it is a good holster it is light it protects the trigger and it won't let the gun fall out. A good value no doubt!

RCG

Originally Posted by VAMarine

....
3: The "range holster" debate. Can someone explain this to me? If you are working FROM the holster, shouldn't you be using your carry holster? If you're using it just as a place to stick your gun when you're not shooting, OK I'll bite, but most formal ranges want guns kept on the firing line while going down range etc. Why do you need a "range" holster that you won't use for carry. Isn't buying something for use on the range only (apparently as just a convenient storage spot while not shooting) a waste of money that would negate the "value" of the holste? If you're not working from the draw of your carry gear, why do you need a holster? If you have your CCW, and you're carrying to the range, are you changing to the Fobus while on the range and then putting back on your carry holster? How is that easy?

So, what's the purpose of a "Range" holster? I'm lost on this. When I go to the range and NEED a holster, it's going to be what I use for carry.

People shooting $50 a box ammo is worried about some $22.95 for a plastic holster to "hold" their weapon while at the range? Seems rather odd to me???