Magazine dropping on draw

[HistoryJunky]

I'll be getting my concealed carry license in a month or so. Or the class out of the way anyways.

Lately I have been practicing my draw, and I have noticed that my magazine release gets tripped while I draw.

My setup is a Smith and Wesson M&P .40 full size in an Alien gear Cloak tuck 2.0.

Is there a way to prevent the magazine release from being tripped without reducing the overall tension of the holster?

 

[44 AMP]

Use something with a heel clip mag release. Walther P.38 or the Sig P220 European comes to mind.

I don't know that holster, but if it is putting tension on the mag catch, and your draw is enough extra to pop the mag free, its not the right holster for that gun. Period.

Good Luck.

 

[HistoryJunky]

I used to have a p64 with that magazine release. Definitely different. I'm thinking of trying to switch my magazine release to the other side. I'm a lefty anyways. Then it would be resting on the soft part of the holster back instead of hard plastic.

 

[TunnelRat]

I have multiple Cloak Tuck 2.0 holsters and have used one with an M&P 9c. I never had that issue.

 

[RJay]

And of course, I don't have to tell you this, but perhaps others will read it and be more careful. When practicing your draw, Step one, check the chamber to make sure it is not loaded. Step two, Check your magazine to makes sure it is not loaded. Step three, preform step 1 and 2 twice more.

 

[HistoryJunky]

Thanks for the warning RJay. I always practice unloaded. Never know when a ND can happen and I don't want to be that guy.

I switched the magazine release to the left side and the issue stopped. I drew and reholstered about 20 more times and it didn't happen once.

In other news, even though I'm a lefty I am not used to the mag release being on the left side.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Lately I have been practicing my draw, and I have noticed that my magazine release gets tripped while I draw.

My setup is a Smith and Wesson M&P .40 full size in an Alien gear Cloak tuck 2.0.

Is there a way to prevent the magazine release from being tripped without reducing the overall tension of the holster?

I have an Alien Gear tuckable holster, and several others made in much the same way. (I've also got an M&P Pro, which is very similar.)

I wonder whether you've got the tension on the holster so heavy that you MUST work and twist the gun to get it out of the holster. If so, you might be:

1) pressing the gun against your body as you draw the holster (which MIGHT cause the mag release to be pressed), especially if your gun's release is easily pressed, or

2) nudging the release with your hand as you draw.

3) or, both of the above.​

I'd think 1-3 COULD happen if your holster was holding the gun VERY TIGHTLY... You want to be able to draw easily and quickly -- the gun should be secure, but not so secure to hinder the draw. If you're carrying the gun INSIDE the waistband under a shirt (whether it's tucked or not), there's no reason to have the holster holding the gun so tightly that it's difficult to draw -- it's not going anywhere. Your arms, your body, your shirt, etc., are going to hold the gun in place unless you're hanging from something by your feet...

If none of this seems to be the case, someone else will have to offer a suggestion, but I don't think increasing holster tension is the solution you're looking for.

 

[TunnelRat]

Thanks for the warning RJay. I always practice unloaded. Never know when a ND can happen and I don't want to be that guy.

I switched the magazine release to the left side and the issue stopped. I drew and reholstered about 20 more times and it didn't happen once.

In other news, even though I'm a lefty I am not used to the mag release being on the left side.

I almost asked if it was a lefty/righty issue. So you're saying if the magazine release is on the inside of your body it gets activated on the draw? As Walt said I'd check tension as well anything you might be rubbing against.

 

[HistoryJunky]

The tension is what I would consider low. I don't have to yank the gun out or anything.

 

[DaleA]

Well I'm glad you found a work around...I guess if I were you I wouldn't stop exploring other options too.

Your experience is more evidence to my belief that holsters are MORE frustrating than guns.

 

[OnTheFly]

I switched the magazine release to the left side and the issue stopped. I drew and reholstered about 20 more times and it didn't happen once.

I'm confused. You are left handed, with a left hand holster, and you have moved the magazine release from the right side where it was being manipulated with your left thumb, to the left side of the gun? Is that correct?

If so, my next question is how are you now manipulating the magazine release? I'm not saying what you have done is wrong. In fact, my small hands have a hard time stretching my thumb far enough to manipulate the magazine release without drastically breaking my grip by shifting the pistol in my hand. Alternatively, I have switched all my magazine releases to the right side (I am right handed) and I have learned to use my middle finger of my right hand to manipulate the button. In fact, I have become pretty fast at it. With practice I can get my reloads down to 1.5 seconds. Since I am not having to shift the pistol to an awkward position which results in quicker and more accurate follow up shots.

Fly

 

[drobs]

What gun?

I'm also left handed and have never had the problem you describe.

Reverse mag releases are a nice idea & I briefly reversed the mag release on my Beretta 92 only to quickly change it back.

Just not a good idea to switch things up after 20+ years of using my index finger to operate the mag release.

 

[HistoryJunky]

M&P .40. And to clear things up, I just moved it to the normal side for a left handed shooter.

I need to practice mag changes. It's much more convenient to have it there, I just have to get out of the habit of hitting the release with my middle finger.

 

[OnTheFly]

I just moved it to the normal side for a left handed shooter.

Ahhhh...gotcha. Then that makes sense that the hard kydex of the holster was causing the release to be pushed on the draw. With that said though, I have my magazine release button of my G19 on the right (non-normal for a right handed shooter) side, and my Dale Frickes (Arch Angel I think?) holster does not ever cause a similar phenomena.

Fly

 

[TunnelRat]

M&P .40. And to clear things up, I just moved it to the normal side for a left handed shooter.

I need to practice mag changes. It's much more convenient to have it there, I just have to get out of the habit of hitting the release with my middle finger.

Wait. So it's not the holster at all then, it's you. And you knew it was you. Maybe should have started the thread with that.

 

[OnTheFly]

Wait. So it's not the holster at all then, it's you. And you knew it was you. Maybe should have started the thread with that.

That's not the way I took it. I thought he was saying that he did have the mag release on the left side and has been using his left middle finger to drop the magazine, but now that it is on the "normal" (right side), he has to relearn the magazine release.

Or...maybe I've got that completely wrong.

Fly

 

[TunnelRat]

I'm thinking of trying to switch my magazine release to the other side. I'm a lefty anyways. Then it would be resting on the soft part of the holster back instead of hard plastic.

I switched the magazine release to the left side and the issue stopped.

In other news, even though I'm a lefty I am not used to the mag release being on the left side.

And to clear things up, I just moved it to the normal side for a left handed shooter.

I need to practice mag changes. It's much more convenient to have it there, I just have to get out of the habit of hitting the release with my middle finger.

Wow I'm confused. The first statement would indicate that the mag release was on the left side. But then the OP states he switched the mag release to the left side and the issues stopped. Now it's back on the right hand side in the most recent update.

 

[OnTheFly]

Wow I'm confused. The first statement would indicate that the mag release was on the left side. But then the OP states he switched the mag release to the left side and the issues stopped. Now it's back on the right hand side.

I know...LOL. I think I might be confused too. Maybe he is actually right handed but had the gun set up for the "wrong" side mag release if he were actually left handed which would then mean that the magazine release was on the "correct" side for non-left handers.

See, when you say it like that, it makes perfect sense.

Or maaaaybeeee he is ambidextrous.

Fly

 

[HistoryJunky]

I am ambidextrous but I am left eye dominant so I shoot left handed. To clear things up a bit, the gun was having problems dropping mags when I had the magazine release set up for a right handed shooter.

Previous to this issue, I had always switched magazines with my left middle finger to hit the mag release. Not all pistols I have owned have had the ability to change the side of the magazine release.

Now, with the magazine release on the right side of the gun (set up for a left handed shooter) there are no issues with the magazine releasing on draw.

 

[TunnelRat]

Oh okay. I'm also left eye dominant but I shoot pistol right handed (I keep both eyes open and it works). Rifles I shoot left handed. Part of it is I had surgery on my left wrist and it's not up to a lot of abuse.