All posts tagged Serpa Holsters

Nylon holsters from Blackhawk

Nylon holsters are always a good starting point for people to understand what it’s like to carry a firearm.   I have several of the older Uncle Mike’s gun holsters that I picked up at gun shows and they are all holding up.   The only reason I don’t use them is because I don’t find them to lock onto my gun belts as well as they should, so I’ve moved on.   To this day that is still one of the major reason I pass or fail a gun holster.   The gun angle or how deep it sits is a personal preference, but clip on belt holsters better be secure or they get an F.

I’ve picked up several of the Kydex holsters from Galco and was not very happy with them for the same reason I did not like some of the Uncle Mike’s clip on holsters.  The Blackhawk holsters like the Hip holster are pretty much the same.  If it works for you then use it, but they aren’t going to be the most secure.   Some of the Elite Survival holsters are better thought out and made in the USA so give them a shout.

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Why you should still consider a locking system for open carry

Open carry discussions have been banned from several of the gun forums that I use to dwell on because they became so full of “what ifs” that people would always find a way to tear the other persons logic down and if you were a Moderator, it go annoying really fast.   While Open Carry is legal in many States, all you have to do is look at the statistics for the number of Police Officers that have been killed by their own firearms.   The snap button system works for it’s intended purpose, but it is an old way of doing something. When you are carrying a full size handgun, paddle holsters tend to be a more comfortable option.

You should always be aware that you may run across an expert criminal, but from my experience, many robberies ect. are not really the best tacticians.  If you are open carrying, remember that you firearm is a liability to you know if you are not aware of your surroundings.   There are several new locking systems but the best that I know of are the Blackhawk holsters.   The Blackhawk Serpa system is more reliable than a thumb snap and it’s easier to put your firearm away.   This system prevents you firearm from flying out in a ground scuffle and it also slows down someone that is trying to get your gun from you.

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Galco ankle holsters

The ankle holster is a very unique method.   It is not easy to draw from when in the standing position, but for those that do a lot of driving, this is an excellent position to draw from while in the seated position.  Shoulder holsters come as a close second, but a high level of practice can probable equalize them both.   If you are considering carrying a firearm in an ankle holster.  I strongly advise that you really think about carrying the lightest firearm you can.   The Kahr P9 and J-frame revolvers seem to be the most popular because you may feel like the holster is moving around on you even if it is not, depending on how heavy the gun is.

The holsters we sell are broken down into two groups, Concealed carry and tactical holsters.   Much of the clothing we sell also fits into this category.   While some undercover law enforcement may use concealed carry methods and Galco holsters has many options, most of the pocket and ankle holsters we sell are for white colar gun owners that need to be as discrete as possible.   A new market seems to have emerged in the last year with the flood of new .380 pistols.    Many of us may have started out carrying the biggest firearm we owned when we first started to CCW, but we found out very fast that certain climates and physical situations can be very uncomfortable if we have a firearm jabbing us in the side.   Galco holsters have a very good reputation of being consistantly made and in the 4yrs we’ve been selling them, have never had a fitting issue.

 

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Observations in training and gear

Blackhawk HolstersI was at yet another Carbine training course last week and while I was originally invited to watch the intstructor teach the class and give him feedback on his tactics and speaking skils, I was always keeping a eye open for how well his students were performing.   Like many of the previous classes I sat in on, students showed up with various qualities of keep and shooting skills.   To this day it kinda cracks me up to see some guy with an iron sight AK show up and shoot with guys shooting Match grade ARs, but sometimes I’m impressed with their abilities.

Like many things in this world, it’s not about the gear, it’s about the person, but there are situations where durability and design are going to give you that extra 10% in efficeincy that will give you an edge.    There seems to be a shift away from thumbbreak holsters ever since the Blackhawk Holsters came out.   I’ll admit first and formost, there is very little difference between using your thumb to  open a holster up and using your index finger to realease a handgun, but one way may work better for you over the other.   I’d recommend against using any kind of retention holster for conceal carry, but for duty holsters or training, get a holster that will hold your gun in place while you’re hanging upside down.

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Keeping sidearms clear of your Carbine

Blackhawk HolstersThere seems to be a big transition in the Law Enforcement community to leg holsters.   Its kind of funny how the old western look disappeared for a few decades but now it’s back again.  If we all road around on horses we’d probable agree that carrying a sidearm on a leg holster is appropriate and its not just for the cool Han Solo look.

Blackhawk Holsters are one of my favorite options, Primarily the Serpa holsters.  The Omega is a less expensive and more versatile when it comes to using different guns, but if you already have a favorite, you’ll want to stick with a holster that works for just that gun.   Whenever you are carrying a Carbine, and you are carrying a sidearm, carrying it in any position other than a leg holster can be a liability, especially when a sling is being used.   I’ve seen many novice operators show up on a training day and end up tangling their slings with a paddle holster or OWB holster.   The Blackhawk Tactical holsters will lock your gun in place and be below the waiste to give you more manueverability.

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Concealement or Duty Holsters Options, Options…

Pistol HolstersThe argument about which gun is better than the other is  like beating a dead horse to most gun enthusiasts, but when talking about gun holsters there seems to be very little argument.   Whenever I speak to my friends about the topic of gun holsters, there is a clear and obvious reality that no holster is good for everything.   Some holsters look nice and feel nice, but they won’t hold up to adverse weather.   Nylon and plastics are options for damp environments, but there can always be drawbacks.
Whenever your looking for a pistol holster, think about the number of climate changes or environments, concealement or open carry options, and then take your pick of the many brands like, Galco, Fobus, Don Hume, Uncle Mike’s, Blackhawk, Bianchi and see which needs can be fulfilled.   Some manufacturers are making holsters from leather to high density plastics and shoulder holsters to paddle holsters.

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