Must be an outsourced sf product - SureFire MasterFire Rapid Deploy Holster

As this SF holster has such few reviews, I feel inclined to review it in as much of an unbiased way as possible. Personally I've always been impressed with Surefire, but this fell short in several areas. I purchased two of these holsters and both of them had the same issues. So here we go:

1. The button without the extensions works smoothly in most instances, but if you have a full sized gun you will probably need one of the included extensions. With the largest extension it is very particular (less so the smaller the extension). Without the extensions, the push for the button release is angled differently from how a thumb swipe naturally articulates when grasping a pistol. To clarify that, when you hold your pistol which way can you move your thumb? Towards the rear sight and towards the magwell, right? Well, unfortunately the release is a push with a small amount of swipe (if your thumb could extend it would be perfect). Without measuring it, I'd say the push is about 20 degrees in a perpendicular angle to your thumb. That said the extensions allow many other angles other than the 20 degrees. Unfortunately, if you use any other angle the plastic thrust rod that actually transfers the force from your thumb to the release pin will bind to the surrounding plastic. I've greased this area and it helps, but ultimately I had to grind off much of the plastic on the extension. In a critical situation, I would be pretty upset (and maybe a little dead) if I was pushing on the release and did it at a slightly off angle keeping my gun locked. Wil a lot of practice this becomes less of an issue, but God forbid it was cold or anything bad happened and the angle of your dangle was off a bit.

2. The trigger guard is a problem. No it doesn't come in contact with your hand as you draw the firearm, so no worries there. It does, however, not protect your trigger (depending on your gun size). For my full size carry, the trigger is well behind the edge of the guard. Anything the size of a magic marker or smaller can get in there and make that single toothed tiger roar. How many things can you think of that are the size of a magic marker or smaller, about a 1,000 right? Now like I said, my gun is full-sized though smaller than an HK mk23. I had to take a piece of kydex and mold it to the trigger guard, screw in on, and grind shape it to my gun. Had the stock guard been designed the same way (to be cut down) it would have been nice. Though I know not everyone would feel comfortable taking a grinder to a $100+ holster. Maybe another size option would be ideal.

3. There is no paddle option as of writing this 1/22/2019 that I could find on SF's website or on the internet. There is an adjustable belt loop which is high quality, but allows the holster to swing low, even in it's shorter setting. While this isn't a huge problem, you'll have to ask yourself which way you like to carry. Strapped through a belt and low hung, or with a paddle up high. Also, keep in mind when answering this question that the holster protrudes about 1 inch past the front of the gun depending on how long your rail is. Judging on my gun with its 5.5" barrel it's about an inch. While not a big deal in open carry states, if your somewhere like FL or another partially communist state without OC, every inch of potential exposure counts. Ultimately I had to build a paddle holster for both of the holsters out of Kydex. It's not a big deal, nor is it expensive material, but the fact that I had to build a major component is a little frustrating as there is no other option - not even to buy.

4. The ON/OFF light switch is genius. The only problem is that if you have it set to on, it snags as the gun is drawn. Not a big deal, but you'll have to train past it. The real issue is the screw which hold the light on the rail, is ever so slightly you twist your gun on the draw, it will bind to the inside edge of the holster adjacent to it. So, is it catching on the light functions, the screw, or both? Shave it down or get used to it.

5. The safety lock has a ball detent on it which keeps it open or closed. Good if your running through a field, bad if your anywhere else. The lever takes about an ounce or less of force to push into the detent or out of it. When locked the top of the lever (the fulcrum) is flush with the holster but the lever section is not. When unlocked, the entire lever is raised. While the spring is setup to keep it unlocked, God forbid a stick hits it or you lean on something and it becomes locked. Without taking mine off, I will come up with a Kydex solution which may save my life one day. Actually a small piece angled slightly in the path of the lever that must be pushed past to lock or unlock may be just the thing.

6. With all the issues, there is one great thing and why I would buy one again. It is a single holster MADE to accept a flashlight (and a good one at that) that can be used across all your sidearms via a simple flashlight swap.