I was at a competition pistol class last week in preparation for the FNH 3-Gun Championship (videos here) when something disturbing happened: the person next to me had a negligent discharge straight into the ground about three feet in front of him while drawing from the holster. He was lucky — Tex Grebner (IGOTD member and not helping the 2A crew) was less so. What caused this negligent discharge? A SERPA Holster.
Holsters with “active retention” use a mechanical device of some sort to restrain the gun and keep it from flopping out of the holster. The device can be as simple as a leather strap or as complex as a digital electromechanical device. No matter what it is, the point is that it needs to be removed (or “defeated”) before the gun can be drawn. This is especially appealing for people who need to carry a firearm and might do a lot of moving about, such as me and my fellow 3-gunners. I know at least four people were disqualified this weekend for pistols falling out of their holster and not using active retention. In our style of competition active retention isn’t politely suggested — it’s almost required equipment.
I figured out pretty quickly that the key to a good 3-gun holster is retention, and to me the SERPA holster made the most sense at the time. It used a retention device that locked the trigger guard in place when the gun was holstered and was easily defeated by pressing a button conveniently located where your finger would normally index along the side of the frame. It was a natural place for your finger to be, but not a natural movement. Putting pressure on the button and then quickly drawing the gun meant there was a possibility that your finger would slip into the trigger guard and accidentally pull the trigger, especially when the gun was a striker fired Glock like my classmate was using.
After the ND I immediately went to my trunk and swapped the SERPA holster I had been using for a Safariland ALS holster I purchased for the UOFA class I took a few months back (they didn’t allow SERPA holsters). ALS holsters have an active retention mechanism that slots into the ejection port of the pistol and uses a lever by your thumb to release the gun, requiring no trigger finger work. I had always assumed that SERPA NDs were caused by idiots not using the thing properly and that I would always be safe running full tilt down a course of fire, but the person next to me was no idiot. He was a former Secret Service agent and retired Special Forces soldier, a man with more experience than I could imagine. And he almost shot his foot using a SERPA.
After I swapped holsters not only did I feel more secure about my ability to keep my blood on the inside but the new holster also shaved about a second off my draw time. And after competing in the FNH 3-Gun Championship this weekend using the ALS holster instead of the SERPA I have no idea why anyone would use anything else. It’s faster, more secure, and doesn’t come with the increased possibility of a ND.
Guns, when handled improperly, are dangerous. But even more dangerous is safety gear that doesn’t live up to expectations or even encourages accidents. Like the SERPA holster. And like lawn darts before it, so should the SERPA holster go gentle into that good night.
He’s not a smart guy. Political pandering and voting booth circle me with the no.2 pencil. For example…
5 years ago State of California legislators decided that school busing was taking up to much of Federal attendance money and passed the “not our responsibility to get your kids to school” words. 90% buses cut. Combine mega schools (multiple schools at single location) and now 5000 parents in cars dumping off kids in residential streets. Now gov man wants a billion dollar boondoggle train to route through the desert and into NV and the justification it will reduce carbon emissions of cars.
Let’s do the math. 10,000 schools x 1500 cars (average per school) twice a day. How much carbon would you save by bringing back the bus fleet. How many jobs would he create?
He’s a silly rabbit.
Not to mention the fact that bureaucrats have no right to be dictating to citizens that they use guns with some kind of special sophisticated technology.
“Do Open Carry Marches Normalize Guns?”
Open carry of holstered handguns? Yes. Open carry of long arms? Not so much.
She knowingly and willfully violated corporate policy, and she lost her job…time for her to move on and get another job, either one that she can carry at, or one that she decides to comply with corporate policies…
And yes, it’s just that simple…
If you can’t keep your weapon pointed in a safe direction, with finger off the trigger until ready, you probably shouldn’t be relying on a safety anyway…
And if you can, the external safety is just one more thing to get in the way.
Did our forefathers put safeties on their handguns? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1851_Navy_Revolver
heh…who’s got the popcorn?
I have always felt comfortable with a thumb break holster. It is a time proven design.
This is ALL user error. I have a SERPA and every time, pushing the release properly (flat finger) and drawing the weapon results in my finger resting comfortably on the trigger guard, about 1/2 inch past the front edge. It never touches the trigger until I move it there.
If the holster is too “dangerous” then the operator clearly needs more training.
I have trusted my life and the lives of my loved ones with a serpa holster for almost 10 years now (most of that being with a 1911a1 and now with a g17g4) and I will continue to do so for a long time comin. What needs to happen here is you need to look at the man and the method of use he was doing. My years in the military taught me to train with what you shoot and carry, the minute you start changing guns and holsters on yourself and expect to perform the same way with two drastically different guns there will be some adjusting. Judging by the video everything would suggest that he is not a safe gun owner despite what he says, of course the man is supposedly from IL and calls himself tex….enough said i think
Great article but tex grebner was using a 511 thumbdrive and flipped the safety off of his 1911. Then pulled the trigger like a bonehead. He clames he was practicing with his Glock just before that and if you’ve ever fired those 2 guns , you know the triggers are completely different. Always practice one gun at a time
Sorry OT again, but here’s MAIG Bloomy going off like a loon. He should be lots more fun once he doesn’t have to pretend to be worthy of public office. Batten down the hatches.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/mike_unleashes_hail_storm_HMHlgCTlmYYBlH7Cu9iG6M
In my opinion, Serpa holsters are not the problem here. Improper training, however, is.
It matters not whether the person utilizing a holster has a line of credentials arm length. CIA, FBI, SS, NSA, HLS or any other moniker does not a shooter make. Nor does being in any branch of the military.
Proper training and proper practice b e f o r e “running & gunning” is the only sure way to keep Negligent Discharges from occurring. The ultimate safety is always the brain.
As a range safety officer, LEO for 30+ years, competition shooter, US & International Firearms Instructor, yada-yada-yada, I have used many a holster from level 1 to level 3. The Level 3 Serpa I’m now carrying on duty containing a Glock 22 is my #1 choice for keeping my primary weapon secure. Rapid weapon acquisition is intuitive -for me- due to having trained many hours with this weapon system before utilization, ie, proper training.
Knee jerk reactions are never good and a proven design, poorly employed, isn’t to be blamed for poor skills.
Best Regards.
I’m glad I found this article. I was just about to click submit on an order for the Serpa holster – I’ve been looking for a good retention holster.
Granted, you can practice and keep safe but what about my wife or others who might use my gun/holster one day. The proper and safe use of a holster should not require specialized knowledge about that particular holster. The Safariland holster might be difficult to operate if you don’t know how it works but you won’t shoot yourself with it. That’s the difference.
The safariland holster is 3 times the price… My leg is worth it. The lives of my family are worth it. I’m quite stunned that Blackhawk still makes this holster.
Wow. Can’t believe I wrote this 4 years ago. I was wrong.
Kudos, Dale. I can’t ever recall someone coming back to a site 4 years later to post an update to correct themselves.
by looking at the slow motion very carefully, I don’t think it’s the holster. it looks to me like you pull the trigger while pulling out the gun. you place your finger at the wrong place..
Compromise. If someone I don’t know, is opposed to my way of life and wants to take away my means to self defense comes up to me and says ” My doctor says I need a new kidney, won’t you compromise yourself and donate your other kidney to me?” What do think would be my reaction? Exactly..
I look forward to getting a bunch of serpa stuff almost free because of this article.
Just came across this article. Great video of user error. Bad video if you are going to use it to try claim compensation from a company for manufacturing an alleged faulty product. Seems the product is still available. I guess not enough people jumped aboard the ‘blame the product’ band wagon.
I fire about 20k rounds a year as a full-time firearms instructor, most while drawing from a Serpa. The ND argument made against the Serpa is based on mass population statistics (that are largely based on urban legend) and have absolutely no relevance with regard to the individual. As with anything remotely dangerous, training equals mitigation.
If dealing with either a professional or a citizen that believes in the “obligation to carry” I wouldn’t consider them ready to be armed with a firearm if they didn’t trust themselves enough to carry in a Serpa without the fear of shooting themselves. I’m not saying that they should have to choose the Serpa, only they should trust that their own competency outweighed the risk of breaking the 2nd cardinal safety rule.
Here is the Serpa argument to end all Serpa arguments:
The training lesson that mitigates any issue with the Serpa (finger STRAIGHT and off the trigger) is so rudimentary that it should be mastered well before worrying about actually carrying a loaded weapon on your body. I would compare it to worrying about off-torque time during sloppy double clutching when you don’t even know how to drive a stick yet.
Fortunately and unfortunately, skill is rarely a requirement in exercising your 2nd Ammendment rights. Ergo, it’s on the individual to acquire and maintain competency.
If anyone could actually produce (I’m not holding my breath) real scientific evidence that Serpa holsters have resulted in more NGs than other styles of holsters when properly trained for, that edge would be due to individual complacency in tactic application and refresher training. Aka: a failure of those individuals to acquire and maintain rudimentary competency in the most basic rules governing the safe utilization of firearms.
I need to pick a level-3 duty holster, and someone lent me the Safariland ALS and the Serpa to compare. *Note I am talking level-3, not the normal one.* I had read all positive reviews of the Safariland, and mixed of the Serpa, and so expected to like the Safariland best.
First I tried the Safariland. To draw, you first use your thumb, and press down on the left side of the strap, then flip it forward. Then you also use your thumb and press the ALS back. Seems easy enough. I could memorize that proprietary muscle motion and hopefully remember it under stress if being shot at.
Then I tried the Serpa. You release it by just drawing normally, and the pistol comes out! How is this possible? Well, when you normally draw a pistol, you already have your thumb pressed into the left side of the pistol (and they have the hood-release button there), and you (should) happen to have your index finger pressed against the edge of the frame above the trigger guard so that when you are drawn your finger is not on the trigger. So the normal draw motion that I have always used with any holster unlocks both locks! Genius.
I conclude that people who say “The Safariland is clearly a superior product” don’t appreciate the Serpa because they are not properly drawing their pistols with correctly indexed fingers. Also same with people who have the ND – they must be trying to tilt their finger and press in on the release because they are not normally indexing their finger on the frame when they holster and unholster as they should. Those are the same dangerous people who stick their finger into the trigger guard of their pistol when they holster, have an ND, and say “The gun just went off when I holstered it.”
What can I say? I really have no patience for people who don’t index their finger properly when they are not purposely pulling the trigger. Now is it true that a lot of shooters don’t index their frame correctly? Sure. Probably most people don’t. Well I do, and if someone banned me from having a Serpa because other people don’t know how to index their finger, I would think they are sort of like gun banners – blaming the tool for operator error.
Also the Safariland looks too old-school with the fake leather strap on the top. The Serpa is a nicer looking design.
Quite honestly I see where an ND can be caused by the placement of the retention button on the SERPA but I don’t agree that it’s the entire cause of the issue. Like with any other holster or any weapon at all, to be able to use it safely and effectively you have to train and practice. It even states in the SERPA instruction manual to press the retention button with your finger straight out as if indexed along the frame, instead of pushing it like you would a regular push button.
And there in lies the problem it is from simple lack of following instructions. People are trying to fast draw and putting finger to trigger BEFORE they have their weapon on target–bad for for any holster, dangerous for for the Sherpa. Not a design flaw. People are not following the simple instructions. If you try to fast draw and be a weekend Clint Eastwood and curl your finger you will have issues, but that is NEVER a good way to draw WITH ANY HOLSTER. So not a design issue–simply and lack of following instructions. If you draw with your finger extend and clear your weapon with you finger where it should be based on the draw (outside and above the trigger guard along the slide) no ND will happen. I defy you to follow those instructions with an unloaded weapon and activate your trigger and show it with clear close up video of the incident. As fire arms owners do we call for a weapon to be discontinued because someone does not follow instructions and had an ND while cleaning it?—NO. They why would we do that here. Were there a design flaw I’d agree but I don’t see one. I have used a Sherpa II for years and my finger always ends up outside and right above the trigger guard—as it does on all my weapons because that us how I always draw–with ANY holster. If your finger is flat and not curled I can’t see how you can have an issue.
Andrew, like most folks who make assumptions based on some anti Serpa propaganda they’ve read or heard, and have never actually used, closely examined, or even laid hands on a Serpa hoster, you’re incorrectly assuming that the release button is situated directly over the trigger where a hooked or curled finger would move directly inside the trigger guard and onto the trigger as the pistol clears the holster. That is not true, the release button is located above and in line with the frame of the pistol above the trigger which is the correct location where a straight finger should be positioned when drawing a pistol from any holster. There are no Blackhawk Serpa firearm holsters made with the release button positioned directly over and in line with the trigger. The only Serpa made with the release button directly over the trigger is the holster made for the Taser X26 which is a less lethal non firearm. The only way a negligent discharge of a firearm can occur with a Serpa holster is when the Negligent Shooter negligently realigns the negligent finger from the frame above the trigger and moves that negligent finger downward from where it should be straight along the frame and into the trigger guard and then negligently pulls the trigger with their negligent finger. This whole line of BS about the unsafe design of the Blackhawk Serpa holster is ridiculous, if you’ve ever tried to get someone who is convinced they are unsafe to demonstrate with an unloaded and safe weapon how these mysterious ND’s actually occur, they can’t do it without moving the trigger finger from where it should be positioned when safely drawing a handgun from any holster Serpa or not.
His training kicked in.. He called his parents. Then he called 911…..
I was an FI for the U.S. Border Patrol and later ICE. Never saw an ND from a SERPA. I did see two NDs in my career. One with a thumb snap holster and one with a Safariland. I never saw a case where a SERPA failed due to blockage of the locking mechanism and failure to release the weapon. I did however see this occur with a Safariland.
For what it’s worth.
Best wishes to all
Try banning the Idiot that didn’t train with his equipment. When I bought my Blackhawk serpa, I heatd about all of thos curled trigger fonger ctap and negligent dischatges so I did countless hrs doing draw excercisrs. Racked the slide of my glock with an empty magazine to set the trigger. Not once did my finger curl inside the trigger guard
It all comes down to personal choice. Why impose more regulation, we aren’t in a communist nation. People have the choice. If you are an informed buyer and are worried about your life, and well being, then you will make an informed choice before you buy something. But it is the consumers choice. If you find it unsafe, don’t buy it or use it, you have options, not like the SERPA holster has a monopoly on the market at we need to ban it so we can have other choices… if yoy don’t like it or can’t oporate it then don’t buy it… this is like the smart car argument. About when accidents happen that people will die, ban smart cars… no just dont buy it if that is how your personally feel.
If holsters cause accidental discharges, then we can blame spelling errors on pencils, obesity on the silverware, and do everything else in our power to remove ourselves from responsibility.
In the interest of full disclosure, I do not own, nor have I ever owned, or attempted a draw from, a SERPA retention holster. I don’t have the long salad bar of decorations as military, law enforcement, and range officers that many of you here have, or at least claim to have. I’m just a casual shooter.
Looking at the SERPA, the action to draw seems fairly straightforward to me, and I think that I’d have to really work at it to manage to hook my finger into the guard and onto the trigger in that manner.
In the case of “Tex”, his explanation holds up to me. Assuming he is the rigorous practitioner of firearm safety that he claims to be, I could see how his situation came to be. Practicing with one pistol in one style of holster and then switching to another pistol in another style of holster has always struck me as a bad idea, and this serves as an excellent example of why. I personally believe in familiarity with equipment. I own ONE pistol and ONE holster for it. I have developed the muscle memory to draw that pistol from that holster 100% safely 100% of the time. That said, if I were to practice with it repeatedly, and then draw a different pistol with a different set of safety mechanisms from a holster with a different retention mechanism, I can definitely see the chances for an accidental discharge go up(although I can’t figure out why you’d try and hook your finger into the guard before you’d acquired a target).
Regarding the incident that Nick describes – once again assuming that he’s not feeding us a bunch of BS and we are actually dealing with a former military and law enforcement professional, presumably a paragon of shooting safety – I would call this an unfortunate accident. It’s a shame that he doesn’t offer a little bit more detail into the situation, although I imagine standing in the lineup twiddling his thumbs probably doesn’t account for the most exciting part of his day. Maybe the guy responsible was practicing his draws and hadn’t gotten enough sleep, or had bickered with his wife before he left that morning, or didn’t have enough hands-on time with the holster and/or pistol in it, or any of the dozens of other completely reasonable explanations that I’m sure I could come up with.
Either way, calling for a product ban is pretty damn harsh, and a member of the firearms community should know better. Every time the anti-gun community rears up after an incident to cry out for gun control, we always suggest that they look at the party responsible instead of the tool they selected. So rather than gather the torches and cry “ban” because of an accidental discharge, let’s let the consumer make their decision. If you aren’t comfortable with the retention mechanism of the SERPA, it turns out that there’s a whole market of other options. If you’ve already got a SERPA, and you’re perfectly happy and comfortable with it, then power to you. I have absolutely no doubt that if a user trains properly with it, they can safely utilize it. I can guarantee beyond any shadow of a doubt that I could run twenty miles, uphill, in the freezing rain, sick, naked and half-asleep with a gun-brandishing psycho screaming and chasing me, and still draw my pistol 100% safely from my holster at the end of it. I’m sure that there are guys that feel the same way about their SERPAs. That’s the beauty of the free market. If you don’t like it, buy something else.
Primarily, I’m disappointed in the author for calling for a ban, because it sounds hauntingly similar to a bunch of politicians calling for AR-15 bans because some psycho shoots up a school or a movie theatre or a hospital. If I paid for a TTAG subscription(in which case I probably wouldn’t have been commenting three and a half years after publication), I’d seriously consider cancelling that subscription based on such hypocritical commentary, just as I’d cancel my membership at any range that tried to dictate the brand of holster that I wore, or pistol that I owned, or ammunition that I fired.
Let’s dismiss the accidents as simply that, unfortunate accidents, and take some responsibility as individuals for the manner in which we handle our firearms.
I have been reserved for quite some time to comment on this post, but for some reason today it is time. First off let me state I have been using the Serpa CQC since about the first day it was introduced. Currently own 3 and none have mysteriously failed or locked up like a lot of Internet myth would leave one to believe. Oh by the way, I live in the country in the Midwest where dirt flies on a regular basis yet my Serpa will just not fail. Secondly, how does a person like Tex Grebner gain so much traction and single handedly do so much damage to a fine product. If Tex makes a YouTube about Nike tennis shoes and breaks his ankle, is everyone going to jump on the Tex Grebner band wagon and say Nike tennis shoes are dangerous? How about Tex makes a YouTube video and holds up a head of lettuce and says, “This stuff made me fat”. I wonder how many of the Internet sheep will flock to that cause? I’m not going to rant on proper firearm usage here for the fact real firearm owners know how to properly use their equipment. One thing with this Serpa bashing over the years is nearly every single answer to a Serpa holster is “buy a Safariland”. Why ????? Aren’t their any other retention holsters out there or is it Safariland just pays the most to bash the hell out of Blackhawk. Turning 54 years old next month, there is one thing I learned way before the Internet was invented. That is, firearms are to be treated with respect. With the society of today, I have seen that go away and Ole Tex just reinforced that in his totally hilarious video. How can I say that ? It is easy, the stupid idiot admitted that the holster was new and yet he practices quick draw with a new holster with a loaded firearm. After 35 years of carrying a pistol, I have practiced quick draw probably 10,000 times and have NEVER done it with a live round. Why? There is no reason to. I go through my routine, acquire my target and go click. I will be ready if the need ever arises but until then I will continue to just go click. Oh what about competition ? I have never believed in competition shooting. I let those that want to renact the Tex Grebner incident do all that stuff. All of this competition shooting to me is just the latest rage of disrespect for firearms. Yep call me old, but I have no holes in my legs and I even carry a Glock…..imagine that. The most dangerous pistol in the world, according to the experts here on the Internet.
Finally got one, had to try it. I love the holster. Don’t agree with any of the negative comments about the holster. Conceals the same as any other owb holster Ive ever used. Finger ends up right where it should be during draw. Anyone having an ND with this holster is a moron
Truth about guns? Bollocks. MILLIONS of SERPA holsters in use with Brit and German Armed Forces , the USMC and you know what? A distinct lack of self inflicted gunshot wounds. In my agency, we have almost 150 officers, 95% of whom use a SERPA at one time or another as do most of the other agencies around here. No self inflicted GSW’s either. Solely a user error issue.
Nick Leghorn? More like Foghorn Leghorn………
You realize the holster you brag about is at the top of the page where someone shot them self right? Really hate to see you advertising plug on an usage product.
Watch the video and you will see the shooter place their finger on the trigger before aiming down range; failure of weapon safety 101. The purpose of the Serpa is to prevent combatants from drawing your own weapon from the holster. Train as you fight and fight as you train; that’s the key.
I have never seen the gun geek write a positive article….he is much more a typical liberal journalist than a gun geek. I think this is user error unless you can tell “why” the gun discharged…..basically you just said it discharged out of a Serpa holster. There are two geed active restraint holsters…..Searpa is one of the two. I like the draw on the other better….but keep your finger off the trigger and it doesn’t fire.
Sorry you were hurt, but I have the Serpa holster for my Ruger SR40C and I love it. The holster has a indentation the starts at the release button, that guides your finger up the holster and onto the frame of the gun, it takes very little pressure to operate the release button, just a tap, no digging, with a curled finger. After reading this I made sure my gun was unloaded and the safety on and tried to reenact what you say happened, I had to make an effort to get my finger into the trigger guard and on the trigger. In your account, if you had a holster with no release button you would have shot yourself also, you had to curl your finger down or back in relation to the vertical position of the pistol to get your finger in the trigger guard. I’m all for gun safety, but I don’t think this holster contributed to your accident. I’ve had my Serpa holster for over two tears and I have never had an issue where my finger didn’t line up right on the frame between the slide and above the trigger guard.
Great looking site. Assume you did a lot of your very own coding.|
Issues that would cause an ND using the Serpa (or any holster):
1. Drawing too fast (the danger of ND’s made worse using a holster like the Serpa), which may or may NOT have been preventable – see #2.
2. Using correct mechanics & muscle memory – Straight index finger pointed down using the middle section or towards the palm of the finger to manipulate the release mechanism (NEVER USE THE TIP OF THE FINGER), incrementally increasing speed, knowing you’re safe as you progress should all but eliminate risk of ND’s.
The Serpa should be drawn with your index finger stiff, pointed straight down to the ground & pressure applied with the whole finger or better yet, the pad of your finger just after your palm, NOT the tip of the finger when straight or (worse) bent. If following this method, the worst that should happen (depending on length of your finger & size of trigger guard opening) is that your finger firmly rest on the edge of the trigger (with short fingers & large trigger guard like on a SIG or FNX), but more likely rests on the guard or slide (with longer fingers or on a Glock, M&P or 1911). An ND with the Serpa & 1911 you would have to depress the release with a bent finger for it to be fired before getting on target.
It seems this last point may be as much to blame as the others. People rushing the sequence of the draw & fire by inserting their finger into the trigger guard before the gun clears their holster / body & is on target. That is the only way an ND can occur.
If drawn quickly under stress using the tip of the finger to release the retention mechanism the natural result would be that eventually the trigger finger would slip through the trigger guard & a have the tendency to follow the other fingers to close their grip squeezing the trigger resulting in an ND.
If you own a Serpa draw carefully with your index finger straight. If you’re not comfortable with its mechanism don’t use it, as it’s more likely to cause a problem if you’re not confident or nervous.
Common sense and muscle memory are the key, fast draw done wrong, or without many hours of normal holster pulls can go wrong. On any holster your muscle memory should cause you to to place your trigger finger on the frame above the trigger. I have tried fast draw with an unloaded gun many times in my Sherpa holster and have never had an instance where I ended up with my finger in the trigger guard. I think people are moving their finger down to be ready to take the shot, which is a terrible practice and could cause them to fire before being on target with any holster.
Find this article a little wanting on firearms analysis and safety. “Keep your finger straight alongside the receiver until ready to fire” – a core safety practice is the issue for this accidental discharge. It goes with the entire presentation until on a target. It’s remedial to remind an experienced shooter that control of the finger alongside the receiver means a straight finger and not inserting finger into the trigger guard by breaking the straight or nearly locked finger until you gain sight picture on a target. The SERPA release does not require breaking or bending the trigger finger for release and presentation, the SERPA holster release allows a proper grip and release with no adjustments of hand or finger other than normal target transition.
There is a shooter error here. The error could be anticipation leading to improper finger control, lack of practice with the holster, the shooter may have had a longer standing practice of inconsistent timing causing improper trigger finger positioning during presentation that finally caused a discharge.
When you shoot yourself you’ll likely look for an excuse beyond your own actions and look for anything that can be used to explain away an unfavorable practice or overlooked detail, or bad equipment.
I served as a USN Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor for nearly 25yrs, along the way completed the HLS Firearms Instructor COI (which does not allow the SERPA) and NRA-LE Pistol and Shotgun Instructor Cert. While doing USN instruction and as a carry for all our security forces we transitioned to the SERPA, most were level 2, some were Level 3. There’s nothing wrong with the SERPA design and it’s a superb speed holster with all of the retention needs. The SERPA may highlight those shooters who have for sometime not had the muscular conditioning to keep the finger locked or straight until ready to fire, or they may believe release requires them to break and bend the trigger finger to depress the release. SERPA holsters do allow an exact firing grip while in the holster with finger straight as it releases for the presentation to target or a even remains alongside the receiver in combat ready position. Opinion: Shooter hooked his finger to depress the release (error) and continued with an insertion of the finger onto trigger as weapon just cleared holster causing discharge and self-inflicted wound. We should be grateful to learn from this error.
If you get over excited while in a 3 gun comp and your finger “slips” into the trigger guard and manages to pull a 5.5# striker fired pistol trigger and shoot yourself in the leg or have a ND, its YOUR fault, not the holster. Its poor gun handling period. Use the holster correctly while drawing (by laying your trigger finger where it should naturally be rested against the gun frame until your ready to fire) and amazingly enough… thats right where the serpa release is…! Go figure? it takes a light pressure to deactive the lock and as the gun comes out, youll find your finger safely against the frame… Its not the holsters fault that Captain Hook finger got so amped up he gave his gun the rusty fish hook while drawing resulting in a ND… Slow is smooth, smooth is fast…. Idiots need to be banned, not serpa holsters
I agree with what Viking says (the above poster), ND’s are mostly caused by poor training, negligent/incompetent weapon handling. I’ve been using Serpa for as long as they’ve been out, never had an ND drawing from one but as usual, a few fools end up having an ND with such a design (a tiny percentage of users out of many) and ranges/training groups & talking heads want to ban them. IMNSHO, Ban incompetent users, not perfectly safe & functional gear!
I have never seen an ND personally in my 12 years as an NRA LE Instructor, Rangemaster and CCW Instructor with a Serpa holster. If you hit the gas pedal the car will accelerate no matter what shoes you are wearing. Training is key. Blaming a holster when you stuffed your booger hook in the bangswitch loop is like gun control antics.
Thanks I carried a XD 40 as a LE officer and trained with dry fires and safety caps for a week before I used it in duty. Carried it for a few years and never had an issue. Fast reliable, comfortable, as safe as any thing I own. Now , what firearm was he using, what was the trigger pull. Had the guns triggers group been modified? He was shooting in competition and a long service record so he knew his way around his arms. In thousands of draws my finger has never slipped on to the trigger. Your biggest safety is between your ears.!
I was wondering where the SERPA holsters were worn by all of the commenters. Also where were the holsters worn in the competitions listed. It occurs to me that the possible angle of draw may be a contributing factor in the AD/ND. If drawn from a belt-worn holster(3:00 or 4:00); it seems that without a lot of practice, the trigger finger could stray into the danger zone upon draw. Especially during the fast draw seemingly associated with a competition. On the other hand(pardon the pun), drawing from the “tactical” position(outer mid-thigh), the hand/trigger finger would be extending downward, and thus in a less awkward position. Still requiring practice, but obviously tactical is the most natural carry ergonomically. I have no personal experience with the SERPA holster, preferring the tried and true Galco Sihouette(high-ride, forward cant, thumb break retention). This may not be the optimal choice for every competition, but rest assured it is terrific for running and tumbling during the course of apprehending non-conformers. TIA for all thoughts on my postulation.
I own a SERPA CQC for my H&K P30, and with all the drawing I do my finger doesn’t wind up near the trigger unless I do a terrible draw. My questions are: why are you clenching on the trigger, why are you using a gun without a manual safety if your first instinct is to put your finger on the trigger when drawing, and why for the love of all that is holy are you blaming a holster for a discharge when we can clearly see you shoot yourself. The gun was completely clear of the holster when it went off from you pulling the trigger.
I have a few comments for this old thread, first I’m a retired LEO with 36 years on the streets. Most folks here have said the Glock has no safety, I beg to differ, it has three. Glocks have a trigger safety, a drop safety and a striker/firing pin safety. These are all disengaged as the trigger stroke is made, the trigger safety first, second the drop safety and last the striker/firing pin safety. Should the shooter relax pressure on the trigger the safeties will re-engage. How many safeties are needed to make a firearm ”safe?”
I agree with those who state good training AND practice make for safer shooters, why do the pros practice so much? I use a SERPA and am comfortable with it, but I practice with it, I now carry a 1911, just because I can and it is my favorite pistol. As for those who want to be fast, remember the old saying, ” slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” there is more truth than poetry in that saying.
Hi All. This is my first time writing to a opinion based forum, but after spending the past several hours reading the diverse comments regarding the Blackhawk Serpa Holster, I felt compelled to put in my two cents worth.
First off, I’m an old guy – spent 23 years in the Army, 7 years in law enforcement, & am presently retired. I don’t shoot competitively nor do I have any credentials that make me a subject matter expert on this topic. I’ve had a CCW permit since 1978, never been shot at or had to shoot at anyone, & have only had to draw once – at a pitbull mix that came at me & ultimately backed off.
The only area of handgun & holster selection that I am an expert on is knowing what works best – for me! After spending much time, effort, & money over the past 30+ decades, I have come up with the best urban combat combination available – for me!
My choice is the Springfield Armory SDX in .45ACP, Blackhawk Serpa CQC, & a 2A magazine pouch that holds 3 additional magazines – absolutely perfect – for me! I chose the XDS because it is very compact, rugged, reliable, accurate, ambidextrous (I am left handed), & has a very acceptable trigger pull. I chose the Serpa because it is small, rugged, reliable, contours very well on my hip, doesn’t print, draws & reholsters easily & safely, & is very comfortable – even when driving. These three components have everything I want & need & nothing that I don’t. Again, absolutely perfect – for me!
I believe that everyone who writes to this site knows all about training, maintenance, & safety. Accidents happen & most are preventable. Everything ever created requires maintenance to one degree or another. Safety is an individual & collective responsibility.
Enough said.
Regarding the Serpa – I believe it is one of the best & safest holsters on the market today – for me. Here’s why. When handling my XDS, I’ve taught myself to keep my trigger finger parallel with the slide, my thumb up & over the rear of the slide with the pad of my thumb resting over the rear sight, my pinky curled under under the magazine baseplate, & the remaining two fingers wrapped around the grip. This affords a safe & secure grip (for me!) without deactivating the trigger safety blade & grip safeties. Additionally, when my thumb is positioned in this manner, it is almost impossible for my trigger finger to move laterally to the inside of the trigger guard. I realize this method does not allow for the fastest draw but it certainly makes for a reasonably quick & safe draw & reholster – for me! When held in this manner, my trigger finger is positioned exactly where it needs to be to activate the release mechanism. And when drawing, when my thumb goes up & over the rear of the slide, it drags my trigger finger to exactly where it need to be – right over the release mechanism.
Unfortunately, this method doesn’t work with pistols that have beavertails, external hammers, tall rear sight, or optics, but is is very effective & practical for the SA XDS, S&W Shield, & similar.
So, when you see me at the range, you’ll notice my draw isn’t one of the fastest, but you can bet it is one of the safest. Thanks for listening to my two cents worth. Have & safe & productive day.
I think lo2 darts are good and I use that too much so I believe in it.
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yes, it should be discounted and holsters are not used by anyone.
So if it is discontinued so can we use it or not?