Open Carry. Holster Choices?

[Jose]

When I was looking for a cheap paddle holster for my Glock 21 I almost bought a SERPA but remembered the stories about ND. So I opted instead for a Comp-Tac paddle holster, it's a brand I'm familiar with and is of very good quality (if not expensive). Not sure if I will willingly open carry but I like the convenience of an OWB or paddle holster and with the new law, I won't have to worry about exposing myself.

So far I'm leaning towards the Safariland ALS as I'm really leaning towards something with retention. Anyone else have experience with a retention holster besides a SERPA?

[KBScobravert]

I still have a couple SERPA holsters for different guns. Nothing wrong, accidents happen with anything in life. Just remember where your bugger hook goes.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[Probie]

For your reading pleasure:

Incident #9 - Here are the facts:

Incident occurred on June 21, 2010 , the final day of a four-day defensive course at approximately 4:30 p.m.
18 students were on the firing line along with the Front Sight Range Master, Instructors and other Line Coaches.
The students were at 7 yards and shooting at turning, electronic targets.
The student was presenting his weapon from a concealed holster when the incident occurred.
The student was doing very well in the course with no indications of improper procedures or safety violations.
Weapon used was a Springfield Armory XD 45 ACP handgun with no obvious modifications.
Holster was an unmodified, Blackhawk Serpa CQC designed for the Springfield XD.
Bullet was 230 grain, full metal jacket.
The student was immediately cared for by Front Sight's staff.
The bullet entered the upper thigh just below the belt and forward of the holster. The bullet traveled just under the skin for approximately 18 inches, exited from under the skin at about knee level.
The bullet struck the ground near the student's feet and was recovered.
First aid in the form of a compression bandage and vital sign monitoring was administered by Front Sight's staff. The student remained remarkably calm with strong vital signs.
The student was transported by helicopter to a hospital emergency room in Las Vegas .
The student was cared for at the emergency room and discharged within two hours.


Opinions:

The only way a weapon can be fired is to place a finger on the trigger and then press the trigger. Using the physical evidence available and discussions with student, it appears the only explanation for this incident is the following:

On the presentation or "draw stroke" of his weapon, the student swept the concealment garment away, established the proper firing grip with finger along the outside of the holster. As he began to withdraw the weapon from the holster, he likely violated Safety Rule 3 and allowed his finger inside the trigger guard and subsequently pressed the trigger causing the weapon to fire.

Remember that the proper draw stroke involves keeping your finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger until the weapon is pointed downrange at the target. Again, the only way a weapon can be fired is to press the trigger.

Incident #10 - Here are the facts:

Incident occurred on February 7, 2011, the final day of a four-day defensive handgun course at approximately 2:00 p.m.
19 students were on the firing line along with the Front Sight Range Master, two other Instructors, plus all student Coaches for a 1-to-1 ratio of students to coaches.
The students were at 7 yards shooting head shots from a concealed holster.
Weapon used was a Springfield XD 40 caliber handgun with no obvious modifications.
Bullet was a 180 grain, full metal jacket "ball" round.
The holster was a Blackhawk Serpa designed for the XD and was equipped with a trigger guard retention device.
The bullet hit the top of the holster before passing through the pants and entering the upper thigh about five inches below the point of the hip. There was no exit wound.
The student was immediately cared for by two Front Sight staff members.
First aid in the form of a compression bandage, supplemental oxygen, and vital sign monitoring was administered by Front Sight staff. The student remained remarkably calm with strong vital signs.
The student was transported by helicopter to a hospital emergency room in Las Vegas.
The bullet had lodged near the knee and was left in place by the physicians. The student was released from the hospital in under two hours.

Opinions:

The student commented that when he presented the weapon, his finger slipped onto the trigger after disengaging the retention device of the holster. This is a clear violation of Safety Rule 3 which caused the weapon to fire.

Remember that the proper "draw" stroke involves keeping your finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger until the weapon is pointed downrange at the target. Again, the only way a weapon can be fired is to press the trigger.

Incident #11 - Here are the facts:

Incident occurred on April 12, 2011, the second day of a four-day defensive handgun course at approximately 3:20 p.m.
18 students were on the firing line along with the Front Sight Range Master, three other Instructors, plus the student coaches for a 1-to-1 ratio of students to coaches.
The students were at 7 yards and shooting controlled pairs from an exposed holster.
Weapon used was a Springfield 1911 45 ACP caliber handgun with no obvious modifications.
Bullet was a 230 grain, full metal jacket "ball" round.
The holster was a Blackhawk Serpa designed for the 1911 and was equipped with a trigger guard retention device.
The bullet passed through the pants and entered the upper thigh below the point of the hip. The bullet exited just below the knee.
The student was immediately cared for by two Front Sight staff members as well as a student who was a medical doctor.
First aid in the form of a compression bandage, supplemental oxygen, and vital sign monitoring was administered by Front Sight staff. The student remained very calm with strong vital signs.
The student was transported by helicopter to a hospital emergency room in Las Vegas where his wounds were treated and he was discharged.

Opinions:

Upon “drawing” the weapon from the holster, the student disengaged the thumb safety on his 1911 way too soon (at Count 1 or 2 instead of Count 4). Additionally, the student’s finger slipped onto the trigger after disengaging the retention device of the Serpa holster. This was a clear violation of Safety Rule 3 and caused the weapon to fire.

Remember that the proper "draw" stroke involves keeping your finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger until the weapon is pointed downrange at the target. Again, the only way a weapon can be fired is to press the trigger.

I think the clear moral of the story is don't use a Springfield

[GhostTX]

i think the clear moral of the story is don't use a springfield

lol

[Gtracer]

I think the clear moral of the story is don't use a Springfield

Ha, I was thinking "ban Springfield?"

[Chili]

I have a Serpa, and like it well enough, though if I start to open carry here in town I will probably buy a leather pancake holster to keep it tighter to my body.

As to the ND issue, I watched a pretty good (independent) video on the root cause a while back, and it looks to be an issue with how you use your finger to release it. The potential is definitely there if you curl your finger to hit the release, as when you then slide the weapon out, your finger naturally falls onto the trigger. If you keep your finger straight, it will fall onto the trigger guard, in the normal 'resting' position.

That said, I have never attempted to quick-draw nor daily carry with the Serpa, and likely wouldn't knowing about that issue, and the issue with it not releasing when you pull up before pressing the release. But it is comfortable to wear and easier to access the firearm when out camping or at my BIL's deer lease, so I won't throw it out.

[bybotie]

Raven Concealment
http://raven-concealment-systems1.my...tible-holster/

[Probie]

Raven Concealment
http://raven-concealment-systems1.my...tible-holster/

Nailed it.

If you don't want retention go Raven, every holster I have for my 19 is made by them.

No retention- Raven
Retention- Safariland.

[SS Junk]

Nailed it.

If you don't want retention go Raven, every holster I have for my 19 is made by them.

No retention- Raven
Retention- Safariland.

i bet theyre all drop leg too

[John -- '02 HAWK]

I used a safariland for work, as it uses a thumb release. I dont like that the index finger operated the release for serpa, I figured in a situation where muscle memory and adrenaline might be involved that the odds of a bad shot/misfire would be increased

[Jose]

So I've still been thinking about an Open Carry Holster and although I have a couple of Paddle Holsters for my 1911 and Glock 21 (and I own a couple of Bravo Concealment Holsters that easily convert to a belt holster), I really wanted to try a Retention Holster of some kind. I did some limited research on a Retention Holster and although Bravo Concealment offers one, I came across a couple of Safariland ALS Holsters for my Glock 21, both belt hostlers with one for just the Glock 20/21 and the other for the same but with my Streamlight TLR1 attached.

I've gotta admit, I've never had a retention holster of any kind but these things are a little confidence inspiring. They fall somewhere in between a Level 2 an 3 holster but feel really secure. I haven't used the light bearing Safariland Light Bearing Holster much because it's huge (I really can't sit down comfortably with it) but the non light bearing ALS is nice.

I got such a good deal on both of them ($100 for both) that I'm not sure if I'm willing to try something else. Anybody else picked up anything new since I posted this?

[Probie]

i bet theyre all drop leg too

Drop legs are only useful when wearing a PC. But they are always stupid. Go carry your taurus in a fobus and sit back down at the kiddie table

[Probie]

So I've still been thinking about an Open Carry Holster and although I have a couple of Paddle Holsters for my 1911 and Glock 21 (and I own a couple of Bravo Concealment Holsters that easily convert to a belt holster), I really wanted to try a Retention Holster of some kind. I did some limited research on a Retention Holster and although Bravo Concealment offers one, I came across a couple of Safariland ALS Holsters for my Glock 21, both belt hostlers with one for just the Glock 20/21 and the other for the same but with my Streamlight TLR1 attached.

I've gotta admit, I've never had a retention holster of any kind but these things are a little confidence inspiring. They fall somewhere in between a Level 2 an 3 holster but feel really secure. I haven't used the light bearing Safariland Light Bearing Holster much because it's huge (I really can't sit down comfortably with it) but the non light bearing ALS is nice.

I got such a good deal on both of them ($100 for both) that I'm not sure if I'm willing to try something else. Anybody else picked up anything new since I posted this?

Thinking about picking up a VG3. I just don't see myself open carrying.

[Silverback]

[Moose242]

What silverback posted.

If you're going to open carry, at least go full-tilt Liberace with it.