Blackhawk Serpa...Fact or Fiction

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Slavex said:
I've got a Serpa and never ND into my leg either. But I've made it happen with dry fire many times. I've also watched numerous people ND into their legs on FOF training. People can claim it's training all they want, but when the rep for Blackhawk can't reliably draw from the holster under the pressure of customers watching, without putting his finger on the trigger during the release, it's obvious where the problem lies. It's a piece of #### holster that is designed to help you fail.
Next time you try a search, set the time lines for more than 3 months or whatever the default is.
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Thank you....my bad, should have scrolled down.
 
I literally just bought a Serpa for my SR9 today, one of the few holsters available. I too think it's a training issue, but your finger will index a lot closer to the trigger than with something like a 5.11 Thumbdrive. I think it's important to use slight pressure from your whole straight finger, not the finger tip! I've done this naturally with all my holsters for indexing. I do feel safer knowing that I use the manual safety on my SR9. If I didn't have a manual safety, I'm not sure I would have made the purchase.
 
xdmer said:
I literally just bought a Serpa for my SR9 today, one of the few holsters available. I too think it's a training issue, but your finger will index a lot closer to the trigger than with something like a 5.11 Thumbdrive. I think it's important to use slight pressure from your whole straight finger, not the finger tip! I've done this naturally with all my holsters for indexing. I do feel safer knowing that I use the manual safety on my SR9. If I didn't have a manual safety, I'm not sure I would have made the purchase.
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Could have had a Raven.
 
It completely depends on what you use it for. I have used one for personal protection in live application, I use them for three of my personal guns.

If you are in a situation where you need a pistol in real life or death situation, you are already screwed... and a possible ND is really the last of your worries.
as a place to put your pistol on the range, it works very good, it releases your pistol comfortably with minimal resistance.
Train properly, and you should not have a problem.

I have seen many ND, and accidents on youtube and in real life with all types of holsters... mostly due to people trying to draw and fire faster than their skills allow.


Serpa holsters are not designed to be CCW holsters, they are best on a vest, or thigh.. in either of these places they perform well.
 
No it is not a training issue, it is a design issue. Further, even if it was a training issue, why would you use a holster that required a very specific set of procedures to NOT have an ND happen vs a holster that simply requires you to draw the gun? It's one thing to train to hit a thumb drive, worst case you can't draw, so you hit the thumb release again. With the Serpa if you #### up, you shoot yourself. Awesome. How they haven't been sued for their design I don't know. But when every single major firearms instructor in the USA and most of them in Canada, as well as most LEA's in the USA and Canada, won't even let them on the range, I'd say that should be pretty fukcing telling. These are places where the training is the best you can get, and they say "NO". This holster should have been pulled from the market years ago.

xdmer said:
I literally just bought a Serpa for my SR9 today, one of the few holsters available. I too think it's a training issue, but your finger will index a lot closer to the trigger than with something like a 5.11 Thumbdrive. I think it's important to use slight pressure from your whole straight finger, not the finger tip! I've done this naturally with all my holsters for indexing. I do feel safer knowing that I use the manual safety on my SR9. If I didn't have a manual safety, I'm not sure I would have made the purchase.
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Daver_II said:
Serpa holsters are not designed to be CCW holsters, they are best on a vest, or thigh.. in either of these places they perform well.
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Blah Blah Blah, they are best in the garbage.

I constantly point out to people that friends don't let friends run FOBUS holsters, -- I guess I should add the SLURPA

HINT Even FLETC banned them......

MASSIVE RED FLAG..
 
if you want a stage 2 retention holster buy a safariland. muuuuuuuch better.

also no one has mentioned in the flaws that if stuff gets jammed under the button and you cant get it out you literally have to cut your gun out of the holster
 
I have small hands (got them from my mother), and I can draw the pistol very fluidly from the Serpa without my index finger going into the trigger guard. I can see it happening with larger handed people who may have to fumble a bit, but for me it seems fine. Again, I don't compete, and may feel differently about the Serpa if I did, but for the type of shooting I do....I kinda like it.
 
obviously if the serpa is my only holster i need to try something else. I like it and have zero issues with it but would like to know what you all recommend. it will be for a Glock17
 
my thoughts:
run a serpa if you want. be aware of the pros and cons of it. know that if you run a serpa some instructors will not allow you to take their courses. some police forces do use serpa's and others choose not to.
 
QOR said:
For what it's worth, my two cents. The SERPA....oh boy

Fact-The springs cannot be serviced/replaced when worn/broken;
Fact-The moulding/material is of an inferior quality and has been known to crack when hit or exposed to extreme temperatures;
Fact-The retention device is easily released when the shooter is on the ground or hits other pieces of equipment;
Fact-Said retention device becomes clogged with mud dirt and more than a few folks have had gravel rocks become embedded in the latch;
Fact-Numerous LEO/Mil have shot themselves during the drawstroke using this holster. While it's easy to blame this on user error or training, why would you carry a holster that sets you up for this error?;
Fact-The vast majority of private trainers in the US and Canada won't allow them at classes. I don't allow them either, there is a wide variety of high quality AND WELL THOUGHT out holsters on the market. The majority of those who who purchase the SERPA do so with little to no knowledge or guidance.

At first glance it seems like a super-neato design but after several years of accidents and QC issues most people who run a gun for a living have written it off as mall ninja gear. Yeah I know the USMC loves it but that's a big agency making decisions in a bubble and bogged down by dated ideas with respect to employing a handgun. Buy yourself a Safariland SLS/ALS.
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The answer is above in QOR's post. All the facts and none of the "I've never had a problem BS".

Leviathan024 said:
the serpa was my first holster and i love it. i managed to go from total holster noob and never once had an AD.
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Good for you, that doesn't mean the holster is of sound design or that you're of sound mechanics when using it.

celtic1123 said:
Used a a Serpa while on a course, work up training, and while overseas. Never had a ND because of it, put thousands of rounds through the gun while running it from a Serpa. Dealt with sand and dirt constantly and it never caused any issues because of it. Like has been pointed out, it's a training issue and if you train properly and learn to use it properly you'll be fine.

I will say though that I did experience one issue using a Serpa. Using the paddle attachment I failed to realize that the nubs were worn down slightly and during a draw ended up bringing up the whole holster with gun (it slipped over my belt). Switched to a new paddle and never had that problem again.
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Why is it that those who use this POS and have limited or zero experience with anything else, feel compelled to support it? The design is sh*t, the materials are sh*t, buy a better rig and move along.

xdmer said:
I literally just bought a Serpa for my SR9 today, one of the few holsters available. I too think it's a training issue, but your finger will index a lot closer to the trigger than with something like a 5.11 Thumbdrive. I think it's important to use slight pressure from your whole straight finger, not the finger tip! I've done this naturally with all my holsters for indexing. I do feel safer knowing that I use the manual safety on my SR9. If I didn't have a manual safety, I'm not sure I would have made the purchase.
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Throw the serpa in the garbage or return it if possible. Secondly, if you're relying on your mechanical safety to prevent an ND, you need professional training and many many more rounds down range.

Newfoundlandrover said:
I have small hands (got them from my mother), and I can draw the pistol very fluidly from the Serpa without my index finger going into the trigger guard. I can see it happening with larger handed people who may have to fumble a bit, but for me it seems fine. Again, I don't compete, and may feel differently about the Serpa if I did, but for the type of shooting I do....I kinda like it.
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So you're saying the Serpa is a "hand size dependent" design? WTF kind of garbage is that?! If you don't compete and aren't carrying for a living, why do you need a level two retention holster? A level one or "friction fit" holster would serve you far better than the POS Serpa.


Leviathan024 said:
obviously if the serpa is my only holster i need to try something else. I like it and have zero issues with it but would like to know what you all recommend. it will be for a Glock17
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Have a look at any of the major brands. Galco, Raven Concealment, our own Solely Canadian holsters, Bladetech, Bravo Concealment, Atomic dog, Comp Tac, Crossbread, Bianchi, Safariland, Mitch Rosen, Grizzly outdoors, to name a few.

TDC
 
TDC said:
The answer is above in QOR's post. All the facts and none of the "I've never had a problem BS".



Good for you, that doesn't mean the holster is of sound design or that you're of sound mechanics when using it.



Why is it that those who use this POS and have limited or zero experience with anything else, feel compelled to support it? The design is sh*t, the materials are sh*t, buy a better rig and move along.



Throw the serpa in the garbage or return it if possible. Secondly, if you're relying on your mechanical safety to prevent an ND, you need professional training and many many more rounds down range.



So you're saying the Serpa is a "hand size dependent" design? WTF kind of garbage is that?! If you don't compete and aren't carrying for a living, why do you need a level two retention holster? A level one or "friction fit" holster would serve you far better than the POS Serpa.




Have a look at any of the major brands. Galco, Raven Concealment, our own Solely Canadian holsters, Bladetech, Bravo Concealment, Atomic dog, Comp Tac, Crossbread, Bianchi, Safariland, Mitch Rosen, Grizzly outdoors, to name a few.

TDC
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Boy!.........bet you have all sorts of friends!
 
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just because it comes out of your mouth, it doesn't make it accurate...You are obviously a self proclaimed expert on everything... have zero social skill, and likely spend way too much time playing Call Of Duty in your mothers basement. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and thoughts, and who the hell are you to slam anyone? Not here to make friends?...then get lost or keep your trap shut.....
 
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