Serpa, Holster of Death, Strikes Again

[Oh Shoot]

- OS

[Sheepdog]

Clearly a training problem.

[daddyo]

His finger was clearly on the trigger before he acquired the target. But he blames the holster?

Complete and total dumbassery.

[Defender]

I thought I heard him say it was his own fault...

[Erik88]

certainly not the holsters fault. I blame George Bush.....

[Caster]

Pppfffttt! Been using that holster for years, If you discharge your gun when using it and think it's holsters fault then you shouldn't be allowed to even own a gun. There's no such thing as an accident, everything happens because someone screwed up. The word accident is a feel good word made up by some hippy scum who didn't want to take responsibility for his actions. Every time a gun has went off with one of these holsters, it was because some dummy stuck his finger on the trigger before the weapon was pointing down range. People should suffer if they don't have anymore sense than that.

***After watching the video again, I say he's a lucky sonofagun to have not hit a femoral artery. There would have been no video had he done that, just a death notice in the paper. Someone upstairs was watching over the guy for sure.***

Edited July 5, 2011 by Caster

[East_TN_Patriot]

Some of you clearly didn't watch the entire video and are responding primarily on the OP's title, which is deceptive. The fellow specifically says that he doesn't blame the holster, but that it was his own fault with the holster design being a factor that contributed to the mistake he made. He was trying to show how even someone who knows what they are doing can make a mistake. I believe he knows what he is doing based on his actions after shooting himself. He engages the safety, places the pistol on the ground, and doesn't totally flip out. That shows he clearly has trained with that pistol and reverted to his training. Lucky for him it didn't look too serious and it takes a brave person to expose a mistake like that to the world for all to see, especially when many in the gun world are so very quick to throw stones.

[Defender]

Some of you clearly didn't watch the entire video and are responding primarily on the OP's title, which is deceptive. The fellow specifically says that he doesn't blame the holster, but that it was his own fault with the holster design being a factor that contributed to the mistake he made. He was trying to show how even someone who knows what they are doing can make a mistake. I believe he knows what he is doing based on his actions after shooting himself. He engages the safety, places the pistol on the ground, and doesn't totally flip out. That shows he clearly has trained with that pistol and reverted to his training. Lucky for him it didn't look too serious and it takes a brave person to expose a mistake like that to the world for all to see, especially when many in the gun world are so very quick to throw stones.

I agree. Although I consider myself a trained, responsible person, I also know that I have made stupid mistakes. Luckily for me, none that resulted in a ND, but still...complacency breeds a lack of attention to detail, which can result in the above. I LIKE seeing stuff like this, as it reminds me of that.

[McAllyn]

Well, we've had some discussions already about Ole Tex, and I still don't care for the guy, but I will give him some respect in that he definitely took reponsibility for the incident. He called it "negligent" not "accidental" which means, as he admits, it was his fault and not that of his gear, etc.

The only thing that I can comment on is, if you're going to train like this, make sure you know what gear you're using, and I don't suggest ever training with conflicting pieces of equipment during the same training period.

All that being said, I wonder what kind of ass-whuppin he got for taking his step-dad Craig's Kimber out of the safe again.

Mac

[wcsc12]

His finger was clearly on the trigger before he acquired the target. But he blames the holster?

Complete and total dumbassery.

No he doesn't blame the holster. He literally states that he only blames himself. He accidentally disengaged the safety and when he went to pull the gun out to the holster, it didn't release and his finger curled right inside the trigger guard and on the trigger and then boom.

Although, +1 to him for using target rounds instead of JHP.

[daddyo]

OK, I was unfair to the guy and I admit I didn't watch the entire video.

However, I still think he's an idiot.

[Tncobra]

The gun range should have had a Gun Buster sign posted. This wouldn't have happened.

[Oh Shoot]

OK, I was unfair to the guy and I admit I didn't watch the entire video.

However, I still think he's an idiot.

There are any number of folks who have shot themselves with help from the Serpa. In hasty draw, it can leave your finger right on the trigger. That's why several of the big training schools don't allow them.

- OS

[TGO David]

<-- Still not a fan of the SERPA holster, for carry purposes, for obvious reasons.

(Although they make reasonably good holsters when screwed to permanent / semi-permanent structures for house/office/vehicle firearms stowage)

[Caster]

If the SERPA is not a "good" holster than what is? Of that design, that is. I certainly wouldn't want the thumb release model he talked about. I always thought highly of the button release. I did, however, cut a small piece of grip tape in the shape of and install it on the button. It helps with locating and when you mash the button and draw the grip tape clings to your finger reminding you to extend instead of curl. At least it does for me.

[TGO David]

If the SERPA is not a "good" holster than what is? Of that design, that is. Iw certainly wouldn't want the thumb release model he talked about. I always thought highly of the button release. I did, however, cut a small piece of grip tape in the shape of and install it on the button. It helps with locating and when you mash the button and draw the grip tape clings to your finger reminding you to extend instead of curl. At least it does for me.

The SERPA lock design encourages bad finger discipline when drawing your weapon. If I am going to use an active locking mechanism I would much prefer something that uses the thumb instead, because your thumb isn't going to be covering (and slapping at) the trigger once the trigger guard clears the holster.

[Oh Shoot]

The SERPA lock design encourages bad finger discipline when drawing your weapon. If I am going to use an active locking mechanism I would much prefer something that uses the thumb instead, because your thumb isn't going to be covering (and slapping at) the trigger once the trigger guard clears the holster.

There is also the issue of grit/pebble/whatever jamming the lock so that the gun can't be removed. And breakage under hard use seems pretty prevalent.

- OS

Edited July 5, 2011 by OhShoot

[Caster]

I'm trying to understand that. I suppose never having been in a high stress situation where I have a gun I'm not capable of understanding. I don't understand how a person could have such limited control over their digits.

I read about the woes of the SERPA not long after getting mine. I have put transfer fluid (prussian blue) on my trigger and drawn and holstered my XD until my shoulder got tired, and not once did I have a spot of dye on my index finger, nor was the dye disturbed on the trigger. Draw, present and return over and over and I guess I'm a retard cause I don't get how someone could screw up so bad, but then I am reminded that the world's full of different types of people. Not to be a nerd but there's a few pieces of wisdom I remember that REALLY apply here. First, "Never his mind on where he was..hmm, What he was doing...hmmm" and then "Your focus determines your reality" & "Don't center on anxieties, keep your mind on the here and now where it belongs."

Even trained people don't always pay enough attention. NO amount of skill or talent can EVER replace muzzle discipline and muzzle discipline can NEVER be over emphasized. I don't care if the gun in your hand has been cut in half with a torch, DO NOT cross a muzzle to flesh. It's un-excusable in any way shape form or fashion. And to beat it all...It's not a hard practice to keep!

Write me off as a dummy cuz I just don't get why this should ever happen. Why is it so hard to remember what a gun is and to handle them accordingly? I am probably the worst marksman on TGO. My father in law makes jokes that I couldn't hit a bull in the a22 with a bass fiddle. Maybe. But safety consciousness means more than a one hole group.

[Caster]

There is also the issue of grit/pebble/whatever jamming the lock so that the gun can't be removed. And breakage under hard use seems pretty prevalent.

- OS

How could this apply to anyone other than military and LEO? Seems lazy to not inspect and clean your things regularly.

[Oh Shoot]

How could this apply to anyone other than military and LEO? Seems lazy to not inspect and clean your things regularly.

I guess Blackhawk should advertise the SERPA for "amateur use only" ?

- OS

[Caster]

I guess Blackhawk should advertise the SERPA for "amateur use only" ?

- OS

Seriously though, unless you're crawling through some third world crap hole like Afghanistan or Detroit, how does the mud, crud and debris get in there? Kinda like the AR fouling argument. If you're too lazy to clean and maintain your stuff then you deserve to have a failure.

I dunno, maybe I should toss mine in the trash and buy what everyone else is using.

[Guest DELETED]

This situation is unfortunate, but at least he shared it so we could all learn from it as I'm sure he has. I carried a Glock 22 in a serpa holster for quite some time and never had any problem with it. Upon draw, my finger lined up perfectly with the slide instead of the trigger.

[Erik88]

If the SERPA is not a "good" holster than what is? Of that design, that is. I certainly wouldn't want the thumb release model he talked about. I always thought highly of the button release. I did, however, cut a small piece of grip tape in the shape of and install it on the button. It helps with locating and when you mash the button and draw the grip tape clings to your finger reminding you to extend instead of curl. At least it does for me.

I have the 5.11 Thumbdrive holster and it is a great retention holster. I like it much more than the serpa I had.

[walton6467]

Love my Serpa.

[mav]

I never use my SERPA owb paddle holster for my Five Seven, but I don't see anything wrong with it. Just out of curiousity I pulled it out of the closet in the hope to see what everyone else is seeing.

I guess I must be doing something wrong because I can't find anything wrong with it. Whenever I am drawing my handgun, even at fast speed, my trigger finger ends up perfectly with where it should be (right on top of the safety). Although I prefer a different non-retention holster, I would be totally comfortable carrying the SERPA holster.