Blackhawk SERPA users: Tactical Response safety concerns?

[drvrage]

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.

RePete: Is the self-administration of wedgies, super-wedgies, mega-wedgies and atomic wedgies the reasoning behind the SERPA bans, or is it all based on the same premise as Tactical response.


On another note: in anatomy (University)...

I was taught that anything that can be done by a hand with all fingers in unison (like griping a handle) is a gross motor skill and anything that requires any finger to move independently from the others is a fine.

However as a testament to the school I went to (sucks) most medical definitions of gross motor skills are defines as large muscle group (legs arms back) and fine are those involving eyes and fingers. While moving all fingers in unison is the most basic of gross motor skills, most web based medical texts say all finger movement is fine.


Either way, everyone agrees that the definition of fine and gross does not change with stress or fatigue.

 

[Slavex]

funny how a senior Sig Arms instuctor completely disagrees with quote Pete. or course now he's "the" guy at S&W for tactical stuff. Gross motor movements are things like swinging your arm, punching, kicking, running etc. Fine motor skills include anything that requires you to manipulate things with your fingers. these can be broken down yet again, whole hand manipulation vs individual finger manipulation, if you so choose, but the skill set, mental application and practical application are the same. swiping a stove pipe out of pistol would be considered a gross motor skill action, grasping the slide and yanking it back to clear the same would be considered a fine a motor skill function.

 

[Steve David]

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.

This is true, I have read it as well and spoke with a few people who have confirmed this.

The Serpa is great for LE/Military or CCW but I agree with Pete on the plain CQC. For what the average shooter does here, no need for the Serpa, save the money and buy the mag pouch to go with the CQC.

 

[RePete]

RePete: Is the self-administration of wedgies, super-wedgies, mega-wedgies and atomic wedgies the reasoning behind the SERPA bans, or is it all based on the same premise as Tactical response.

.

No, it has to do with the failure of the finger to engage the latch along with the few ND's.

funny how a senior Sig Arms instuctor completely disagrees with quote Pete. or course now he's "the" guy at S&W for tactical stuff. Gross motor movements are things like swinging your arm, punching, kicking, running etc. Fine motor skills include anything that requires you to manipulate things with your fingers. these can be broken down yet again, whole hand manipulation vs individual finger manipulation, if you so choose, but the skill set, mental application and practical application are the same. swiping a stove pipe out of pistol would be considered a gross motor skill action, grasping the slide and yanking it back to clear the same would be considered a fine a motor skill function.

I'm not argueing, just stating what was said to me and about 30 other Police Officers.

 

[Winz]

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.

Because it is......depending on your needs. Mission determines gear.

If one is doing action shooting or whatever, that level of retention may not be needed and a regular tension holster will be more than sufficient. Or those CCW lucky card holders in the US, perhaps a Bladetech because they are so thin....

Back to Serpas, training is needed for all draws and for different pistols and different holsters. I love the Safariland 6004(and all tacticool variants) but I have a Serpa and don't see a problem with it.

 

[Lfsabch]

i just received my serpa level 3 for my glock, love it, love how it operates, first holster ive tried mind you, but i love it.

 

[Shrapnel]

Used a Serpa CQC on both my glock and various 1911's without a problem. There is a wedgy risk however! If you do not properly depress the mechanism and pull the gun, it will not release unless you stop pulling the gun and then depress the finger lever! The holster is very quick if properly used. The gun is very well secured in the holster whatever you level of activity and reholstering is very easy (I like that quality).