Side by Side Comparison of: BLACK HAWK INC. vs Fobus

I purchased this for my M&P 9mm. The gun stays securely attached to the Blackhawk Serpa while running, bending etc. I found it very comfortable to wear. Releasing the gun from the Serpa is easy and effortless. I'm very happy with the product. The Blackhawk Serpa delivered what it advertised. That's why I gave it five stars.

I really like the way these holsters work. The fit was perfect and I like the retention system. Makes me feel like my gun's very secure on my hip.

Was told by an instructor not to use the paddle so I didn't... years later I tried it and love it over the belt loop system. Distributes weight better and more comfortable and exact placement without belt loop placement. BlackHawk offers both options for you. Quality rig.

If you want the best holster available then this is what you want. comes with 2 different types of belt connectors to fit on your person and is also compatible with the Blackhawk leg drop system. the carbon fiber inlay gives it an amazing look and it fits my S&W M&P 9 full size well. will definely buy another for other pistols. the quality is superior and have had no problems since the 3 months I have had it so far.

I use this with a M&P 40 with a 5 inch barrel and raised sights. So their is some overhang that may not be there with smaller barrel lengths. Even so it fit great, however with the raised sights the draw was a problem as the sights were catching just a touch on the lip. A bit of sand paper rolled up to contour the edge and it fits like a dream. This also would fit the RMR for the optics ready.

I love this holster. It's totally secure, holds the gun just right, and easy to draw from for IDPA or any other reason. On advice from a seasoned competitor I got this great holster which will last a lifetime, PLUS the double mag pouch, both for less than the price of a leather holster by any other manufacturer. Can't beat Israeli-made products.

Used for my Gen4 G19 and it fits perfectly. It is very well made and shaped. The weapon it snug and secure enough to not have to worry about it falling off. I'm sure it would stay in holster if I was suspended upside down. But no worries it is also easy to draw the pistol.

I think I will never buy another style holster again. Fobus are super slim and very compact. Love it!

This is an excellent holster, especially based on price. To be specific the retension is very good. It is simple level 1 rock and draw. It does not feel loose at all. I carry a Glock23 and the barrel sits approximately 1/4" passed the holster. The holster holds the gun closed to the body. This makes this a big plus for off duty LEO, being able to comfortably conceal without using an IWB.The paddle is comfortable, but you will want to keep your belt snug. There are no cleats to hook to the belt. This is a minimal draw back.Pratice, practice, practice your draw and you will never have any issues.When I leave The house I grab my wallet, phone, keys and my firearm. This holster will be a part of my day to day essentials till The end of it's shift or mine.Be safe, be ready.

I have a S&W M&P Shield (.40) and recently purchased the Glock 22. I have purchased 4 holsters in the past few months, which have included the DeSantis Mini Scabbard (OWB), an AlienGear (IWB), a Remora (IWB) and two of these Fobus's (OWB). The Fobus is, by far, the better holster and is my choice when I have a jacket or large cover garment on where OWB carry is well concealed. This holster is also great for around the house and for holstered range shooting. I loved this holster so much for my Shield that I bought this one for my Glock 22 before I even received my Glock. I highly recommend this product and I have done a ton of research before buying. I made the right choice with this one.

The main purpose for the purchase was to meet the requirements of a CCW class my wife and I were taking, specifically the gun draw training and timed drills. With a little pre-adjustment of the pistol retention screw, the holster was fully functional, providing smooth gun draw and holster return. It gets the job done. As for Price; it didn't break the bank and delivery was prompt. I am very pleased with the holster and would highly recommend it.

Good quality holster. Fits nicely around my SigSauer SP2022.It definitely takes some getting used to when you switch from passive retention to active retention but everyone should do some training with new gear anyway. There are some people that have the holster misadjusted or didn't train enough and had accidental mischarges when drawing the gun. You can see several videos online. They call it the holster of death... If you are planning on training at a shooting range, call them before you purchase this holster as it is banned at a lot of locations due to this issue.The "Carbon Fiber" appliques are not real carbon fiber as most people already know but it is a nice vinyl sticker that takes the noise away that polymers usually produce when you hit it.(that cheap clicking or clapping noise) It sounds solid and sturdy.I use it with the paddle option and it is really comfortable to wear. you almost don't feel the weight of the gun on your hip as where most belt loops pull your pants down or have an uncomfortable feel.It leaves enough area of the slide exposed so it doesn't interfere with my slide mounted Vortex Venom 3MOA.My overall rating is 4 out of 5 stars due to restricted use on shooting ranges.

This is my first holder purchase so I am not an expert and I don't have anything to compare it to. I have a Glock 17 so it's a little large to carry but this holster works well. It has setting for different angles which was very helpful. This helps reduce the gun digging into your side when sitting down. If you had a Glock 19 or something a little smaller than a Glock 17 it would work even better.

I love it

Solid and simple holster. Easy to use and securely holds my S&W M&P 40c. I'm not a fan of all the extra hardware that comes with it, as I only use the clip on part.

It is hard to get back off your pants/belt line once you have it on.

You DO have to use a screw driver to assemble to holster.

My Glock 31 fits perfect into this holster. Hardly notice I have it on. Seems to be very durable. Shipped pretty quick even with standrd shipping.

Very satisfied with this holster. It fits the gun well and with the quick release button it secures the gun great.

It's OK to use for training, since they require a belt holster in most courses and I pocket carry. So I just needed something reasonably priced to hold the gun in place for training courses. It is very stiff and the gun is retained very tightly. If you want to get your gun, you better be serious, cause a gently pull won't get it done, even with the tension screw completely removed. I don't know if it would loosen some with use. Paddle portion has a soft rubber backing that is very comfortable against the skin. Plastic holster itself is Extremely rigid with no flexibility at all. This is not a IWB holster. It does keep the gun in close at the 4 o'clock position.

My holster is for a Glock 19 Gen 4. It's very sturdy. It feels fairy solid on my waistband. I think there would be very little chance for the weapon to accidently come out of the holster, which is a little bit of an issue. It's a little on the tight side. When I'm drawing I have gotten in the habit of putting my thumb on the holster to use some leverage to get the weapon out.Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. For the price I'm very happy with it.For concealed carry it is slightly large.

Ehh, its ok. Its built nice, looks nice, but I have had a near impossible time getting my G19 to un-holster without the adjustment screw being so loose it falls out. I think i'm going to add another o-ring spacer( it has one in place already) to make the grip a tad looser but keep the screw tight enough.

Love it..Its fast and adjustable enough to provide sufficient retention for competition engagements.I wish that it could accommodate optical sights though. I can't use this for my G34

I almost didn't buy based on negative reviews about it being too tight, but went ahead based on a friends personal recommendation. It was too tight but was easily remedied. Remove the adjustment screw and rubber grommet. Now force an empty double stack Glock magazine into the trigger opening so that it is spread a good bit apart (be careful...don't force a crack). Take a hair dryer to it on HIGH close for about 10-15 seconds (it might get a little shiny which means it's slightly melting...NOT too much). Now put the dryer on air only to cool it before removing the magazine. Replace the grommet and screw and tighten to your preference. Worked perfectly!

Not crazy about the distributor, My holster shipped to me in California from Israel, took about a month. I can't imagine they made any money after paying for postage. The holster itself holds my glock model 22 securely and is comfortable. I have a few Galco holsters for other pistols and they are great but EXPENSIVE. The Fobus holster doesn't keep the gun quite as close to my body so it doesn't work well for concealed carry but that's not what I bought it for.

Seems like an awesome purchase, but did not come with the three mounting screws required to secure holster to paddle or belt loop platforms. Will likely upgrade to five stars if I receive the mounting screws and can test properly.

This holster is solidly made. However, it is banned in all NRA certified firearms courses in my area due to the release button being located on top of the trigger. The instructors are correct in the fact that if you wind up in a high pressure situation where a fast draw is necessary, your finger could wind up on the trigger and cause an unintended discharge which could lead to big trouble. I returned holster and purchased one with a thumb release.

I've used Serpa before and loved it but I bought this one intending to use it with a Taurus PT92 and the trigger guard doesn't quite fit. The lock mechanism seems a bit weak anyway and I question if it could really thwart a full-on pistol grab by a sleazebag. I know it is losing approval on some police forces but I hope Blackhawk is still making a superior product and if so, manages to sell department heads on their system. Looks very sharp and otherwise fits the pistol well.

I bought this for my Ruger SR40 and while the holster fits okay its a little tight. I normally prefer Blackhawk holsters because they don't put holster wear marks guns. I used this holster to qualify for work and I removed my gun from the holster 10 times. That was enough for it to wear some of the finish off of the slide on my gun. I'm not sure its purely the holster fault or if the finish in the gun is that thin. It fits tighter than I think it should and much tighter than my other blackhawk holsters that I use fro my other guns.

Just to be clear, the "carbon fiber" portion of the holster is literally an adhesive with a carbon fiber look. I should have known better before I purchased the product. It functions as it is supposed to; the release button is conveniently placed near the trigger, which is great for speedy defense, but I can imagine it being a problem for some very clumsy people that keep their weapon loaded without having any justified reason to do so. The gun is snug and in place and does not seem like it will come out of the holster without pressing the release button.[PROS] The holster works as it's supposed to. It comes with 2 different attachments (belt connecter and a non). Looks aggressive, good overall appearance. [CONS] "Carbon fiber", really???? This one came with the "carbon fiber" sticker misaligned and made it completely obvious that the "carbon fiber" served absolutely no purpose. Also, the 3 screws used to attach the belt or other attachment does not screw in all the way. It definitely requires some muscle.All in all, spend a little more on a product made in the USA. I'm typically not picky about where a product is made, if the quality is there. With this item, it's very obvious that the manufacturer is the lowest bidder for a "huge, for-profit" corporation. 3 Star-worthy. Nothing more, nothing less.

I ordered this for my Glock 20 (10mm auto). The Gun fits fine, however, had I known that this holster would require assembly, I would not have ordered it. Also the assembly instructions are VERY poor. It is a big paddle, but it does NOT swivel. 3 stars. There are better holsters out there.

GREAT BUT LIKE ALL HARD GUN HOSTERS WILL SCRATCH YOUR GLOCKS LIKE BLACK HAWK GO WITH LEATHER

Supposed to be a new holster, but was obviously used. Had scratches on the holster and paddle. The retention screw was tightened to the point you could not fully insert the weapon. Price was cheap enough I decided to keep it, but not happy it wasn't a new item as expected.

Hard to draw if not in a perfectly straight line, even after adjusting tension. Sometimes have to use both hands. Does not feel like previous generations. Loaded chamber indicator cannot be felt while holstered, something I liked with previous versions.

This would be considered an ok holster, it's quality is ok, but I wouldn't plan on having it 10 years. It looks cool, kinda "MAD MAX" type looking, but I would not rely on not losing it in a chase maybe or having your weapon taken from you in a store while shopping as even if you adjust it as snug as you can, my son can still remove it off my pants at will. I am a police officer for a living.

Out of the bag this holster fits a Gen 4 Glock 19 perfectly and it's hard to beat the price.The paddle works great for retention in combination with a belt and I haven't had any issues drawing the gun.I bought this holster for a CCW class as the center doesn't allow Blackhawk Serpa holsters with the retention feature. I was a fan of my Blackhawk holster but this Fobus holster is probably as good if you can live without the retention feature.Update: Overall this is still a good holster however I have found it not really comfortable for all day, every day type wear. The holster tends to shift around getting in and out of the car, sitting/standing, etc. and requires reseating from time to time. If its in the wrong position it can actually get a hold of loose skin and pinch you which doesn't feel pleasant at all. If you are getting this for EDC carrying I would recommend something else more comfortable. Right now I am finding that my Pro Carry HD IWB from theholsterstore.com (also available on Amazon) is much more comfortable and easier to conceal.

Not a bad holster. Goes on belt quickly. Generally solid. The problem I had with a G23 is that the retention was really stiff even when the adjustment screw was opened a bunch. I think it's the deep indentation in the molded trigger guard. Since this holster is best used for training, ease of draw should be smoother/better.

Lately, the SERPA release on these has been snagging onto the trigger guard, making the weapon extremely difficult to draw. This is especially dangerous in high-stress situations. I have one of these for a Springfield XD Mod 2 and another for a Glock 26. This problem is much more prevalent with the Glock SERPA holster.

I have purchased two Blackhawk holsters in the past, one for a Beretta 92FS and another for a Glock 21 Gen 4. I was very happy with both of those. So, I was quite surprised how poorly my new Smith & Wesson S&P 9 Shield fit into this holster, which clearly states that it is designed for the S&P 9 & 40 Shield models. The latch fails to hold the pistol in place (no retention beyond gravity), thus making this holster unusable for me with this handgun.Update to my original review: Using some black electrical tape, I was able to build up a layer of tape, about 6-8 pieces deep, along two lines on the inside of this holster, opposite the side of the trigger guard catch ("SERPAS Auto Lock"), which position the S&P 9 Shield pistol firmly against the left side of the holster, thus securing it in place. This is, of course, far from ideal, but it does make the holster usable.

Disappointing. I've used many BlackHawk products over the years in and out of the military, including holsters of every kind, and this one for the Glock 30s is not what I expected. The more I've used it the more loose my gun has become in the holster (less than two months). It jiggles excessively when I walk which is totally unacceptable. I've not had this issue occur before with any other BlackHawk holster to include other Serpa holsters I have for for other Glock products. I'm disappointed.

I bought this holster for concealed carry. It doesn't work for me as it pushes the gun away from my belt and makes it visible.

Good quality holster. Says it fits 1911 with rails, but is very difficult to fit my Sig Sauer 1911 with rails in it and even harder to draw the gun out of it.

Compared to my other level two black hawk holster which is just the regular black this one has been a pain. I don't know if I got a dud of what but I've adjusted it 1000 times an my Glock 30 seems to to loose or to tight there is no just right along with the fact that you have to slam and jiggle it in to get it to lock in.

Difficult to draw the pistol from this holster. Gets stuck often.

Other Fobus stuff has been good, but this is not adjustable in any way so I had issues with drawing the gun from this holster. It was also very tight on the gun. It has an adjustment, but even at the loosest setting it was really tight. I would not recommend this holster.

Definitely not this holster for GLOCK 27, the measurement is very tight and can damage the weapon.

I did not like this holster at all. I am a bigger guy which is part of the problem but the bigger problem is that the holster didn't adjust it's "cant" at all. From what I can tell looking at holsters online doesn't work very at all. For a full size gun it's an awkward draw motion because the gun is more or less straight up and down. Even when I adjusted the retention it was still very much stuck in the holster and I almost had to pull my pants too far up. I'm sure if you're used to this it's fine but it wasn't good at all for me.

Even with the tension adjustment wide open, this holster is still too tight. The grommet is just too small and there's almost no adjustment. It takes about 10 lbs of force to clear the holster and it should be adjustable to half that. In particular since it's a paddle holster it will come off the belt after a couple of draws. I'll have to cut the holster and add an O-ring to spread it out a little. This isn't just idle opinion, I'm a firearms instructor and own literally dozens of holsters.

I guess I'll just use it as a backup. Lmfao. Adjustment screw is a gimmick. Out of the box it fit my glock 17 so tight I had to loosen the screw, to the point of it falling out, to get the firearm dislodged. Plus, on top of everything the paddle fit uncomfortably loose on the waistline, even with a thick belt. After a bit of stretching it is still just subpar. I know one thing for sure, I won't be recommending or purchasing Fobus products again. One time for me. There are so many superior holsters out there don't waste your money.

Sig sauer 1911 tx does not fit. I would like to have the correct size because I really like the quality. So if anybody knows the one I'm supposed to get please let me know

I really need to start reading reviews more closely. Just received mine and placed it in the holster and wouldn't lock unless it was twisted in the holster so the Auto-lock could catch. The product says: Fits Smith and Wesson MP 9/40 and Sigma R. I guess I assumed it meant Shield. Holster is way to wide for Shield use. Also it appears to have went on sale after receiving it with 2 day shipping. Hmmmm. I'll be returning it. SMH

Didn't come with the required hardware (screws) to put the pieces together. Recommend finding a different provider/product.

Product looks great, too bad I couldn't use the item. Received it with missing parts. Missing the screws to attach the holster to the belt loop, the belt loop adjustable tabs, and the tabs on the paddle attachment. Got all the major parts but no hardware for it. Totally unacceptable.

Does not fit properly. I would not purchase another one.

I can buy a Blackhawk CQC Serpa holster at any local gun shop for less than $50.00; if it's a Level 2 Sportster, it's under $30.00. I currently have one for my 9mm that I bought online for under $35.00. Unless this is some expensive variant (other than a CQC), I don't see any justification for the price being asked.

Firearm fits into Holster. Simply can not remove it once in, It took two hands to force it out, cut the heck out of my thumb doing so. Even after releasing all the tension from screw, then even removing said screw, way way too tight.Completely unacceptable for carry, for that matter - any use.

The paddle and the “holster-to-weapon” fit are the best parts of this holster. However, performing a quick, productive draw is very difficult. Even with the adjustment screw fully backed off the weapon still fits too tight in the holster, making it impossible to quickly draw the weapon and easily put it on target. I cannot recommend this holster for an everyday CCW holster.

Bought for Glock 17 gen 3. I backed the retention adjustment all the way out and still had to wrestle the pistol out of the holster. Used 1 time and shelved it, already purchased another brand holster to replace it.

little too tight for G17

In order to draw from this holster you must wear your belt unreasonably tight. It also has a sharp peice of metal on the inside that rests on your hip. Every time i drew my glock it would jab me in the side and broke the skin it is so sharp.If your fat and have a gut to hold your belt down, and have soft love handles to pad the sharpness this holster would be ok. I returned it and got a blackhawk serpa CQC, its immeasurably better.

I would recommend this product to anybody! It is terrific! However, not for the glock 26. I purchased this holster so that I could alternate between a glock 17 and 26, and I won't be able to properly do this. Although the add says it fits the 26, it does not fit properly. Bummer.