Blackhawk SERPA users: Tactical Response safety concerns?
- Thread starter drvrage
- Start date
I have a new Para .45, and a Serpa Level II Duty holster. I have yet to try it on the range 
as I just got the .45 yesterday. 
But, I have heard mixed reviews on the Serpa, even though it seems to be decent for what I want. I will be sure to consider my finger placement till I get used to the action of the Serpa.
This is nice to know stuff though, for sure.
as I just got the .45 yesterday. But, I have heard mixed reviews on the Serpa, even though it seems to be decent for what I want. I will be sure to consider my finger placement till I get used to the action of the Serpa.
This is nice to know stuff though, for sure.
I have to agree, the potential is there during stress or a plain lapse in mental operation. Even if the ND claims are thin, the potential for the lock mech to fail or become inoperative due to debris is very real and enough of a concern to warrant a pass on the SERPA. I personally don't like Blackhawk industries either.
TDC
I use a Serpa for my 1911 and my Glock 22 using the supplied belt slide and paddle options as well as mounting both holsters on Blackhawk thigh platforms and I've never had issues I used the thigh rig on my last sub gun course and did transtions drills under simulated stress and never came close to having a ND.
I lost the screws for mounting the holster to the thigh rig and the people at Blckhawk had new screws sent to me in about two days and at no charge. They had paperwork from ATF, State, DFAIT and another two or three gov agencies to send holster parts out of the country and into Canada. Best customer service I've recieved in years.
I lost the screws for mounting the holster to the thigh rig and the people at Blckhawk had new screws sent to me in about two days and at no charge. They had paperwork from ATF, State, DFAIT and another two or three gov agencies to send holster parts out of the country and into Canada. Best customer service I've recieved in years.
Yesterday, for the first time, I saw this on the belt of a police officer. (It is interesting to see something other than the SS-III.)
i literally just put my payment through on that exact rig, serpa level 3, for my glock 22, in a week or so ill let you know how it feels and operates.
TheGamerXxX
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- North of the 49, Manitoba
I also own a Serpa for my 92F and USP in .45, and I love'em.
All I gotta say is that practice with your gear will avoid 'accidents' with your gear.
I use them in my Defensive Pistol and have yet to draw in an unsafe manner... mind you everytime I practice my pistols I practice with holsters as well.
Practice makes perfect.
Luke
All I gotta say is that practice with your gear will avoid 'accidents' with your gear.
I use them in my Defensive Pistol and have yet to draw in an unsafe manner... mind you everytime I practice my pistols I practice with holsters as well.
Practice makes perfect.
Luke
Sorry, I gotta wade in here.....
Don't buy ONE!
Buy TWO of them. Actually, I've got 3 of them all in different setups, my wife loves her rig for her 1911 9mm single stack, it's hanging on a Molle adapter plate and then Molle'd on a SDS (Specialty Defense System) extender.
I sent another 1911 Serpa holster with an identical SDS extender to Azzkrakistan on TF 01-08 this year. It ended up with 2VP's callsign 23B and carried a Browning.
Then of coure I use my Serpa for my 1911 Sproingfield .45 Milspec hanging down like a Safariland 6004 wannabe (tweaked the webbing myself, welfare methods , of course )
Not a single issue. If I was not too old, fat and ugly to deploy , I would still take one of these Serpa hoslters....
Don't buy ONE!
Buy TWO of them. Actually, I've got 3 of them all in different setups, my wife loves her rig for her 1911 9mm single stack, it's hanging on a Molle adapter plate and then Molle'd on a SDS (Specialty Defense System) extender.
I sent another 1911 Serpa holster with an identical SDS extender to Azzkrakistan on TF 01-08 this year. It ended up with 2VP's callsign 23B and carried a Browning.
Then of coure I use my Serpa for my 1911 Sproingfield .45 Milspec hanging down like a Safariland 6004 wannabe (tweaked the webbing myself, welfare methods , of course
)Not a single issue. If I was not too old, fat and ugly to deploy , I would still take one of these Serpa hoslters....
No, no it is not, drawing a gun, pulling the trigger, hitting the mag release button, using the slide release, grasping and yanking the slide, those are all fine motor skills. the very act of having to grasp and manipulate something makes it a fine motor skill.
the only possible issue is the dirt jamming issue, but then again I've seen level three Safariland holsters jam, any holster with a manual release locking mechanism has the potential to fail. The Serpas had one specific problem with the .45 M&P, which caused a recall and a new model to be made.
FWIW, I was practicing some dry firing and holstering/unholstering and I found that due to my really big hands I could not use the tip of my finger to release the retention mechanism. I would have to curl my finger back too far. It is uncomfortable and highly unlikely, doubly so under stress.
Every time I drew (both fresh and after tiring my forearms with some weights so simulate stress) My finger always laid flat along the release button and when drawn laid on the frame just above the trigger.
After my testing, I think Tactical Response's concerns might be possible, but not for people with big hands. They did say one of the victims was a lady. Maybe she could use the tip of her finger. I cannot.
I do love the look and feel of the holster. I suppose that I just won't be allowed to use it if I ever get the chance to take their course. Oh well.
Every time I drew (both fresh and after tiring my forearms with some weights so simulate stress) My finger always laid flat along the release button and when drawn laid on the frame just above the trigger.
After my testing, I think Tactical Response's concerns might be possible, but not for people with big hands. They did say one of the victims was a lady. Maybe she could use the tip of her finger. I cannot.
I do love the look and feel of the holster. I suppose that I just won't be allowed to use it if I ever get the chance to take their course. Oh well.
Rob It may be Fine motor skill when used in practice or competitive shooting but when one is under Stress and Pressure it really becomes a gross motor skill ,when bad habits are developed with fine motor skills they are magnified many times when they revert to Gross motor skills
If you read the web sites of some of the Tactical Training companies, in the US, they are now banning the use of the Serpa's on their courses.
A friend was using his at an IPSC match, and on the draw, he missed the latch and gave himself a wedgie that no man should endure - called a SUPER WEDGIE.
I use the plain CQC (no latch) and find it good.
A friend was using his at an IPSC match, and on the draw, he missed the latch and gave himself a wedgie that no man should endure - called a SUPER WEDGIE.
I use the plain CQC (no latch) and find it good.
Sorry Wayne, motor skills don't change based on a stress level. what's a fine motor skill will stay a fine motor skill. Gross motor skills do not include the use of manipulating something. the closest you can come to a gross motor skill with a pistol is beating someone with one. However the grasping of it and pulling it from the holster is still a fine motor skill.
This is from a SIGARMS Academy Tactical Instructor.
The act of racking the slide using the whole hand over the top of the slide is a gross motor movement but racking the slide by pinching the rear serrations is a fine motor movement.
