How To Not Shoot Yourself With A Blackhawk! Serpa

[Guest Paul Gomez]

I finally got this video shot & posted. I'm not a fan of the Serpa but I have had to teach its use when I was training a guard force at a NASA project. This is how I did that. For a bit of background, I wrote the article 'Blackhawk Serpa: A Damning Review' back in 2005. I wrote a follow-up article 'Blackhawk Serpa:How To' following my experiences with the guard force in 2006. I'm also one of the guys in the video on the Military Times site featured in the article on the Marine Corps adopting the Serpa.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Paul Gomez

[jtmaze]

Nice video. Actually use one of these on one of my carry weapons and that is good video.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[Caster]

I have yet to figure out how people are shooting themselves while using the Serpa. I've used one and didn't care for it, but I never could figure out how people could be stupid and absent of mind enough to NOT know where their index finger is. I mean, I can only see things from my point of view, I don't know what it feels like to be someone else, but as limited and laughable as my skills are, I know where my finger is. Are other people so confused that they don't have a conscious idea of what their motor functions are?

I know I'm going to step on toes when I say it, sorry, but, If you pull the trigger while removing a gun from the holster, you're a friggin' idiot.

As far as indexing your finger on a Serpa...try what I did: Cut a small appropriate size piece of skateboard grip tape and apply it to the release button. It will give you immediate feedback when you come into contact with it.

[jtmaze]

I have seen all the bad reviews and have not been able to figure out either. I got mine as a gift from father in law(hmmm) and don't like the way it ride compared to some other holsters I have used. I guess it is all about trigger finger control.

JTM🔫

Sent from my iPhone

[Dolomite_supafly]

It happens when the fine motor skills go south from stress.

I have tried over and over again to like the Serpa but I can't. For the average person who is carrying concealed there is no need for a retention holster. That is unless you like doing cartwheels while carrying. I carry using a leather pancake which isn't an option for most LE or MIL.

For LE and MIL the SERPA is a good option but like everything else training with it is key to being successful.

I have used Unkle Mike's, Fobus, Blade Tech and none of them jumped out as great option for me. One brand I REALLY like is G-Code holsters. It is by far the kydex holster I like the best and use most often when I want or need a kydex holster. It provides an amazing amount of retention but it is still easy to draw.

Even when I worked overseas I used a leather pancake the majority of the time but even that was not perfect. It provided plenty of retention to keep the weapon from falling out, even under rigorous activity it stayed in place. The ony kydex holster I used regularly over there was a Unkle Mike's. The Fobus and Blade Tech holsters just didn't fit me well.

Dolomite