Banned!!!!!?????
Serpa Holster
If you have been watching and listening around the training industry you will have noticed there have been some holster bans and on body carry positions bans. Some of the upper level instructors (the famous guys) have banned certain holsters and on body carry methods in their classes. Now I understand if there have been unintended discharges due to, what they considered, the holster or method of carry and one is concerned about liabilities. None of us want a injury in our classes! There were two such bans that stood out to me. One was the Serpa Holster. The other ban was the appendix carry position. Both have been brought to light by unintended discharges during training classes. It’s not because of bad equipment or bad carry positions. It’s more of an issue on the training side. Instead of addressing these problems the upper level instructors opted to ban the holster and the carry position. Guys you are wrong! Instead of banning the thing of concern why are you not addressing the training issues? Making your students aware of what they are doing wrong an helping them to fix it. Maybe it’s a matter of the level of training provided and hey just don’t have the time. I can’t say for sure but I have heard no defining reason other than, “No! Not in my classes!”. This is disconcerting. I have been addressing the issues in my classes and making a point to hit the training failures and lack of knowledge from the students stand point and the failure to follow safety rules. I can find any number of reasons to ban any number of things from classes. Holsters, mag pouches, techniques, ammunition, guns, reloaded ammunition, and the list goes on. At some point though we have to address the problems and quit ignoring them. I see poor gun handling and unsafe acts routinely in classes and on the range. Making students aware they are committing safety violations is the only way to make them safer. Safer for everyone and better in crisis. That’s why they come to us. To learn!
The CQC Serpa Holster was one of the first. It is my understanding that students had had unintended discharges when using the Serpa Holster. When the unintended discharges appeared on the scene when using these holsters the first reaction was to ban the holster unless it was part of duty equipment and you were well practiced with it. It’s not bad equipment! It is poor training and a lack of knowledge with the equipment on the operator’s part. Students would by the holster and show up to class with it never having really used it or training with it. Failure on the students part right out of the gate. “RULES; 1. Keep your trigger finger straight and somewhere other than the trigger until ready to shoot. 2. Know your equipment and how it works.” When using the Serpa holster you must use the straight finger along the holster when drawing from the holster in order to release the retention on the holster. The finger is flat when releasing the retention. You wouldn’t think this to be a problem since the trigger finger should be straight to begin with regardless of the holster type. Here is what was happening as I understand it; Students had not practiced and understood the proper technique in operating the retention release on the Serpa. They would get the command to fire and fail to release the retention while attempting to draw from the holster. A couple of yanks on the gun in attempt to draw then suddenly they remember the retention on the holster. Now, instead of using the straight finger and flat along the holster they would use the finger tip, the bent finger applying pressure. When the gun clears the holster with the finger bent and applying pressure the finger goes directly to the trigger. Every Time! Thus causing the unintended discharge. I demonstrate this failure in my classes and emphasize that the user must be using the proper technique. When drawing from any holster the trigger finger must be straight and remain straight until you are ready to shoot. Not a holster problem but a user problem.
The more recent ban was on the appendix carry position. Un-intended discharges were occurring during training by those working from the appendix carry position. The problem here was not on the draw but upon re-holster. Too many students, and I run into it a lot, have the tenancy to return to the holster as fast as they come out of the holster. We should be reluctant to re-holster the weapon in training just as we would or should be in real life. Two things can be the cause of un-intended discharge when re-holstering. Both are on the operator. One is the trigger finger on the trigger during the re-holster process which is causing the un-intended discharge. Easy fix, “Keep your finger straight and somewhere other than the trigger.” The other is the cover garment getting caught on the trigger during the re-holster and causing the un-intended discharge when the cover garment pulls tight applying pressure to the trigger. This is another operator error due to not clearing the garment during re-holster. Another easy fix, “Slow down when going back to the holster and ensure all materials are cleared. “Quick out of the holster and slow to go back.” In defensive shooting it’s not all about speed. Take your time and be deliberate on the draw and engagement. Take even more time when returning to the holster. It’s not a race to get back into the holster. You may need to re-engage due to the bad guy’s ability to recover from injury. If the attacker is not incapacitated or on the run and out of the area you and other are still at risk of retaliation from the attacker. It’s not a bad position on the body to carry a gun. Actually there are a lot of advantages to appendix carry and some disadvantages. You must practice from this position just as any other. I have seen unintended discharges on the re-holster when the gun was in the “on the hip” carry as well.
As instructors we need to be addressing the problems, issues, safety concerns and fixing them. It’s easy to ignore the problem and ban the item of concern from the class. It’s more time consuming to address concerns but that’s what we are here for. Students should be given the knowledge, skills, and the ability to perform tasks safely, efficiently, and effectively. Every thing to do with firearms is inherently dangerous. Safety rules are in place for a reason. Safety protocols in the training environment are in place for a reason.
As private citizens, students, or professionals it’s on all of us to be safe on the range and off. Failure to follow the safety rules and safety protocols can get you removed from the training range. Worse yet it can cause serious injury or even worse a death. Folks please seek out training. And for Gods Sake! Follow the safety rules! Look at your equipment and follow the manufacture’s direction on it’s proper use. If you can’t figure it out get with someone whit the experience and knowledge to help you. Benefits of what we do in training must outweigh the risks and many risks just can not be outweighed!
T-M Firearms Training 