Holsters recalled because strap causes gun to fire

[JohnLocke]

Holsters recalled because strap causes gun to fire
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Associated Press
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A Pennsylvania company is recalling about 3,200 gun holsters because the strap can catch the trigger and cause the weapon to fire accidentally. Eight incidents of accidental firing have been reported, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.
The Fobus USA Holster Division of First Samco, of Southampton, Pa., is recalling its Fobus GLT holsters, designed for Series 17 and Series 19 Glock handguns fitted with a laser-sight light. There have been eight reports of guns discharging as they were inserted into the holster. One person injured a finger.
The recall, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, involves about 3,200 units with leather or plastic retention straps less than an inch wide. The holsters are inscribed with "GL 2*EMZ," "FOBUS" and "Made in Israel." They were sold at gun accessory retailers nationwide and on the Fobus Web site between March 2002 and March 2003 for about $40 to $45.
The holsters have since been redesigned with wider straps and a plastic tip that is too wide to be caught in the trigger guard.
(...)
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Read the rest here.

[mosin]

1. Helpful picture

[JohnLocke]

2. Wouldn't want to be in a faulty holster...

[GregW]

3. But, but, but, but but ...

Glocks are the bestest, most safest handgun in the world, right?

I'd like to see my Sig 226 squeeze one off through a holster fault.

:eyes:

[OpSomBlood]

4. The holster pulls the trigger...not the fault of the Glock design.

n/t

[NorthernSpy]

5. glocks

Do you consider Glocks overrated? I seem to remember a discussion here a while back about a rash of "exploding" Glocks. But I think the general feeling was that the choice of ammunition was to blame: people were using the wrong ammo, or reusing it but not doing it right -- or something like that.

Why do you think that your gun wouldn't discharge if it snagged on something?


Mary

[OpSomBlood]

6. I've had a Glock 21 for ten years...less than ten misfeeds.

It is the most reliable and accurate pistol I've ever shot. My Glock 23 is a workhorse, too.

In the case of these Fobus holsters, the holster design caused trigger pull. You know, just like a finger.

It is ridiculous to blame this on the Glock design.

[T Town Jake]

7. Glock

Most dependable firearm I ever owned was a Glock 30. That was one dependable weapon! But I caught the "1911A" bug a couple years back, and now own a Kimber instead. Like my Kimber, but I have nothing bad to say about Glock whatsoever.

[FatSlob]

17. I don't know if they are overrated, they are fine firearms.

The exploding Glock problem was largely due to individuals firing lead bullets out of their weapons. I am not sure of the science behind it, but the rifling glock uses tends to strip lead off the bullet, causing buildup. This buildup causes an increase in pressure when a round is fired. Eventually, the pressure becomes too great. I'm sure that somebody will correct me if I am wrong.

[Wcross]

8. Keep your Glocks.... make mine a 1911

I will stick with my Kimber's. I decided on the 1911 design because of the safety features built into the design.

[OpSomBlood]

9. Glocks only fire when you pull the trigger.

I can't think of a safer design than that.

[Wcross]

10. Or when your holster does........

Nothing beats the back-strap safety in the 1911.

[OpSomBlood]

11. To each his own.

I used to like my Dad's Combat Commander...1911's are good guns. But I've had such a great experience with my Glocks that I doubt I'll ever be converted.

[Wcross]

12. Who are you trying to fool?

Sorry, I always wanted to do that just once. You are right, you have to go with what makes you comfortable. I know plenty of people that own Glocks and wouldn't own any other type. I was introduced to pistols in the military back when the colt was the issue weapon. I guess I am a stick in the mud, I tend to stick with what I know.

[TX-RAT]

16. 220 Sig's

Our department went to the Sig's and never looked back. My personal favorites are Browning and FN Hi-powers pre 83. I have never liked single action autos for duty work.

[OpSomBlood]

32. I love the trigger pull on Sigs.

They are very fun to shoot.

[TX-RAT]

34. Best single action pull on a double action I've ever tried.

Mine was an older model with the 3 1/2 pound single and 8 pound double. Very accurate.

[MrBenchley]

13. Defective holsters can be recalled

by the CPSC, but defective guns can't...thanks to the GOP and the corrupt gun industry.

[mosin]

14. Glocks, Kahrs, 1911s

I love 1911s. They are generally fantastic guns.

I love Glocks. They are generally fantastic guns.

I love little Kahrs. They are generally fantastic guns.

They are all great, but I have never carried a 1911. The manual of arms is just too different from a Glock or a Kahr. I don't want to forget to thumb the safety under stress.

So I carry a Glock 23, a Glock 27, or an PM40, depending on my attire. All have exactly the same controls: trigger, slide lock lever, and magazine release. I expect that if the trigger is fully depressed they will fire. Period.

Whenever I look at holsters, I'm very conscious of anything that could stick inside the trigger guard. None of my holsters have anything that could depress the trigger if you tried.

[OpSomBlood]

15. I'm more confident in my G23 than my Kahr P9.

Both good guns, but the P9 has a few too many misfeeds for my taste. I've had to send the barrel back because rounds would get stuck on the feed ramp.

[mosin]

27. Kahrs

MY PM40 is relatively new, but I've put several hundred rounds through it, including a hundred rounds of hollow points, with no misfeeds. So I trust it now.

Each gun is unique. I have one friend with a finicky Glock, whereas I've had only 2 misfeeds, both with reloads, in my G27, in roughly 8500 rounds. I've had no misfeeds yet in my G23 in about 1200 rounds.

[OpSomBlood]

29. JHP's really give my P9 a hard time.

The feed ramp seems really vertically steep.

[Hrumph]

31. Try a couple boxes of

CorBon Pow'R Ball. The profile of FMJ but the benefits of hollow point.

[OpSomBlood]

33. I'll give it a shot.

I have Winchester Silvertips in it now. I would prefer to use Federal Hydra-Shoks for defense, but the Kahr really struggles with them.

[mosin]

35. "the feed ramp"

You're right. The Kahr feed ramps are pretty steep. I think it's a consequence of the ultra-compact design. The feed ramps are also offset a bit. In fact, I think the offset feed ramp is a big part of the patent.

I'm carrying Winchester 155gr Silvertips in all my .40's. I got a great deal on a case last year of it last year, so it's my carry round for a while. It'll take me quite a while to burn up a case of carry ammo. Except for function-testing new carry guns, I don't use it up very fast. Fortunately, it feeds very well in everything so far.

[Maurkov]

18. Could someone with handgun safety training answer

Isn't it a bad idea to holster a weapon in a ready-to-fire state? When I read the headline I was thinking, "that's some strap. It chambers a round, removes the safety, cocks the hammer...."

[FatSlob]

20. I'd be happy to help you.

Handguns have different designs. The Glock, for example is designed to feel somewhat like a revolver when firing. A long, heavy trigger pull. That long pull of the trigger is the safety, just as it is on a revolver. The particular arm involved is the one carried by almost every cop in the US. Basically, a firearm can be useless unless a round is carried chambered. Racking the slide is a fine motor skill that is largely lost under the stress of an attack. Additionally, it takes two hands, if one hand or arm is disabled, or busy fending off the attacker, then the gun becomes nothing more than a lightweight club. If you need any more clarification, please ask.

[Hrumph]

23. All true, except that

I would differ with you that racking the slide is a fine motor skill. Certainly, manipulating small controls like the slide release are, that's why we teach students to always pull the slide to the rear and release it when they want the slide to go down. Of course, if you're purposely unloading it for storage or cleaning the magazine should be removed first anyway so there's really no reason to ever touch the slide release.

[Hrumph]

22. Do you want it to work when you draw the weapon?

If so, then the gun must be ready to fire when it's in the holster. That's the way I teach my students. It's also the way they teach at Gunsite, Thunder Ranch, DTI, Frontsite, etc. The unpleasant facts are that the vast majority of violent confrontations start from close range and usually in poor light. In such a situation, you will be hard pressed to deploy the weapon in time, much less get it out and charge the weapon before bringing it to bear. Our society heavily penalizes one for displaying a weapon before a threat has actually manifested itself so you won't have time to chamber a round if you need to.

The weapon must have a round chambered if it's to serve any purpose at all.

[mosin]

28. Handgun safety training answers

It is standard practice for both police and licensed civilians to carry holstered firearms with a round chambered. Single-action firearms such as 1911s may be carried cocked-and-locked, with the safety engaged. Double-action or safe-action guns such as revolvers, Glocks, Kahrs, etc., have no manual safety, but are safe to carry loaded in a holster.

[OpSomBlood]

30. "Isn't it dangerous to carry that way?"

"Yes, that's why I do."

[Township75]

19. Glad to hear that...

they are not recalling the Fobus for the Walther P99. I do love my Fobus, and don't believe there is a better holster available for concealed carry.

[FatSlob]

21. Comp-Tac C-TAC is the best IMHO!

http://www.comp-tac.com/ct_ctac.html

I have yet to find anything better.

[Hrumph]

25. go forth and be blessed, my son. :o)

.

[Hrumph]

24. Ummmm....

That's really a matter of opinion. I've seen several problems with Fobus holsters brought to courses by students. The detent that captures the trigger guard is too deep and will sometimes not release the gun. On occasion, we've had to pull the student off the line, remove the entire rig and pry the thing open to get the gun out. We do not recomend them for serious purposes.

Fobus is the only manufacturer that I've heard of with this particular problem. I've never heard of this with Comp-tac, Side Armor, or any of the other manufacturers products. Personally, I like the Comp-tac designs - they've always worked flawlessly for me - but I guess it's a matter of personal preference.

[slackmaster]

26. I misread this earlier today

Due to lack of caffeine in my bloodstream my bleary-eyed brain read "Holsters recalled because strap causes gun to catch fire"

:crazy:

THAT would have been an interesting product recall.