Blackhawk Serpa CQC

[NYtoVA]

Does anyone have any comments on the Serpa retention for Blackhawk CQC holsters?

I just bought a G23 and Serpa style holster. I liked the idea of the retention system because I am quite active at times and was concearned about the gun staying in the holster.

Any one use this and have comments about being able to push the retention button while drawing?

I searched on this and other forums and have not found any threads on this.

Thanks

 

[12-34hom]

I bought one - excellent holster - drawing weapon not a problem with practice.

12-34hom.

 

[fastbolt]

Actually, there have been some threads on this holster design on other forums, at least one of which you have to be a member to even view the forums ...

The original paddle attachment has apparently been modified and strengthened because of some breakage complaints. When I bought one of the standard holsters (without the locking device) for a range holster the L/E supply store clerk told me that they'd received complaints about breakage from their customers, but that they'd also been told the company was sending out modified paddle attachments upon request.

Personally, I don't care for holsters which require my index finger to do anything during a drawstroke & presentation, other than remain indexed outside the trigger guard. Main reason I never cared for clamshell holsters back when we carried revolvers. Hand confusion (and potential finger confusion) is something which would potentially concern me under certain stressful situations, especially if modifying a drawstroke to include the contraction of my trigger finger against a button.

At least one user has supposedly reported that the locking device lever may be jammed, remaining in the locked condition, by the introduction of very small debris such as sand/gravel, and this supposedly occurred during a range training session. You'd have to join WarriorTalk and Search for the thread.

As always, opinions will vary, as well as personal experiences and preferences.

 

[TN-popo]

+1
These issues have also been discussed at www.getoffthex.com
Apparently some ADs have occurred...press the button with trigger finger, draw, pressure from trigger finger hits trigger, weapon fires, now ass really hurts...

I do not own one of these, but I am interested in the design.
I have mixed feelings about Serpa and probably won't get one (for the reasons stated by fastbolt) and because I use/am issued a 6285(SLS) and 6004(SLS) at work and have been very pleased, so it would take alot to convert to a whole different system.


LOL...I'm all about being helpful

 

[Rob1035]

I have one and havent had any problems, and dont really think there's much merit to them. Sure, it *could* cause an ND, but not bloody likely.

I will say they suck for concealment, holds the gun way too far off the body

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Paul Gomez has posted in Strategies and Tactics here with a real good review of both the original Serpa CQC and the new, improved version of the Serpa.

 

[Grunt]

I looked at the CQC holsters in a thigh version but decided to pass on it. I can see where it has a serious design flaw with the locking mechanism. I'm not too concerned about finger location. I tend to think that drawing it out and having your finger on the trigger is a training issue rather than a design issue. However, stories about a shooter in Pheonix having his release jammed by a piece of sand or gravel during a training class that didn't allow him to be able to draw his weapon IS a concern I have about this design. I took a look at one today at my local police supply store and I can see how debris can be caught in the button jamming the lock. No thanks, I'll stick with my old HSGI holsters with their traditional thumb strap and/or optional flaps for field conditions.

 

[.45FMJoe]

I bought one for my G32 and love it. It's not the greatest for concealability because it holds the pistol so far away from your body. That being said if I'm walking my dog at night in my neighborhood I could give a rat's rear if my weapon is so secretly concealed a metal detector wouldn't notice it One night I watched a drug deal go down right in front of me 2 blocks from my house. I honestly thought about robbing the dealer of his cash to feed my WWII collection (weee CMP here I come) but decided against it in case he too was armed and I actually had to shoot the sorry POS.

The DAY after I bought the holster I had to pull my Glock on a Great Dane I swear was as tall as myself. I had zero time to practice drawing yet I worked that button flawlessly and had the pistol trained on the Dane who was attacking my Airedale. Luckily for him the owners yelled at it and he released my dog and backed away. He came within a second of eating a Speer Gold Dot. To those who are unsure of the button safety doohicky I had ZERO slowdown on the draw very literally the day after I bought the holster. The beauty of it is that when you push the button and remove the pistol your finger is indexed perfectly on the frame of the weapon directly above the trigger guard. At least that's how it worked for me.

Because I had never been in quite a fast paced, OMG this could be bad WTH and I going to do situation before, I was quite pleased with how I reacted. The dog came barreling around an old van and was on top of my dog before I could think to say "Sh__!" I did however, grip the glock so firmly and clumsily while I was removing it from the holster I somehow managed to hit the mag release so as the pistol came out and I was knocked over by the wrestling dogs, the mag was ejected. I wasn't too overly concearned because I figured the 1 in the chamber should stop the threat. If not, well, the other 13 rounds were within arms reach lol.

I do not know if this is part of the holster design but frankly I don't think it was that particular holster design that caused me to accidentally hit the mag release while unholstering. That was probably lack of training.

Anyway, my experience is that I like the holster and its SERPA retention thingy.