Worn Leather Hoslter Causes "Accidental" Discharge

[C-dub]

I hadn't really thought about this reason for not liking leather holsters. I am more fond of the kydex holsters. I do like the leather of my Minotaur against my skin versus kydex, but at least it is kydex that secures it in place.

Does anyone think this could be a risk for all or many other types of leather holsters or is it just this type?

[smasraum]

I guess we get to add "Glock Butt" to "Glock Leg" now. Ouch.

I've got an SA XDM. My gun has a grip safety and a trigger safety. If both aren't depressed then the gun's not going off. A safe technique for holstering my weapon is to put the meaty part of the tip of your thumb against the back of the slide. By putting your thumb there, you've taken your hand off of the back of the grip which means that you've released the grip safety. I hope this sort of thing never happens to me or anyone reading this thread.

I think that there are plenty of leather holsters that are not really susceptible to this sort of issue.

[terryg]

Wow! And it pushed in far enough to depress the paddle and not just the edge of the trigger!

[rmr1923]

I hadn't really thought about this reason for not liking leather holsters. I am more fond of the kydex holsters. I do like the leather of my Minotaur against my skin versus kydex, but at least it is kydex that secures it in place.

Does anyone think this could be a risk for all or many other types of leather holsters or is it just this type?

i use a crossbreed/comp-tac style holster (leather backing with kydex) and found one potential safety issue. fortunately i decided to practice drawing and holstering the gun unloaded several times before doing it with a loaded gun, because one time when i holstered it, my shirt got bunched up inside the trigger guard and when i attempted to push the gun down into the holster it pulled the trigger. it took me a second to realize what had just happened and what the implications could have been had the gun been loaded. now when i holster it i hold my shirt up HIGH to make sure i minimize the chance of an AD/ND.

[UpTheIrons]

i use a crossbreed/comp-tac style holster (leather backing with kydex) and found one potential safety issue. fortunately i decided to practice drawing and holstering the gun unloaded several times before doing it with a loaded gun, because one time when i holstered it, my shirt got bunched up inside the trigger guard and when i attempted to push the gun down into the holster it pulled the trigger. it took me a second to realize what had just happened and what the implications could have been had the gun been loaded. now when i holster it i hold my shirt up HIGH to make sure i minimize the chance of an AD/ND.

That's good to know - I hadn't even thought of that, and I've got a Supertuck. Now I've gotta go do more practice...

[warhorse10_9]

i use a crossbreed/comp-tac style holster (leather backing with kydex) and found one potential safety issue. fortunately i decided to practice drawing and holstering the gun unloaded several times before doing it with a loaded gun, because one time when i holstered it, my shirt got bunched up inside the trigger guard and when i attempted to push the gun down into the holster it pulled the trigger. it took me a second to realize what had just happened and what the implications could have been had the gun been loaded. now when i holster it i hold my shirt up HIGH to make sure i minimize the chance of an AD/ND.

Yeah, I had noticed that could be a potential problem with any IWB holster really. When I started practicing my draw and re-holstering, I made sure to incorporate a good shirt lift into both operations. I have an XDm I might have to try the thumb thing mentioned above when re-holstering for increased safety I hadn't thought of that.

[jmra]

WARNING: One of the photos shows a bullet graze wound on the gun owner's hip.

I saw this linked through one of the gun blogs today. I don't use this type of holster, and probably never will - this episode notwithstanding. The gist of it is that the leather got soft enough to encroach on the trigger when the gun was holstered.
http://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firea ... ischarges/

That's one way to ruin your day - I'm glad it wasn't more serious.

I have had this same holster for several years and have never had an issue with the leather getting "soft". I tried a few things to see if I could simulate the problem. I believe I know exactly how this "equipment failure" occurred.

Whenever I arm or disarm (for extended periods) my glock remains holstered. In other words, I do not put on the holster and then slide in the glock nor do I unholster the glock and then remove the holster unless I am putting both up in the safe for the evening.

I believe our friend wore his empty holster for extended periods of time. Perhaps he could not carry at work and would simply unholster his glock and put it in the glove box. I would also suggest that when doing so he would then tighten his belt causing the crease in the holster. Overtime the leather would be "trained" to maintain the crease much the same way we would train our baseball gloves when getting them to properly fit our hand/ball.

I do not blame the gun or the holster for this malfunction. I believe the blame falls solely on the shoulders of the owner. Had he properly maintained and handled his equipment I do not believe this would have ever happened.

As for those who do not believe they have the ability to safely handle a glock .... the answer is simple, DON'T. I have seen many NDs with 1911s which were handled improperly. Don't blame the tool for the user’s incompetence.

[3dfxMM]

i use a crossbreed/comp-tac style holster (leather backing with kydex) and found one potential safety issue. fortunately i decided to practice drawing and holstering the gun unloaded several times before doing it with a loaded gun, because one time when i holstered it, my shirt got bunched up inside the trigger guard and when i attempted to push the gun down into the holster it pulled the trigger. it took me a second to realize what had just happened and what the implications could have been had the gun been loaded. now when i holster it i hold my shirt up HIGH to make sure i minimize the chance of an AD/ND.

Yeah, I had noticed that could be a potential problem with any IWB holster really. When I started practicing my draw and re-holstering, I made sure to incorporate a good shirt lift into both operations. I have an XDm I might have to try the thumb thing mentioned above when re-holstering for increased safety I hadn't thought of that.

A word of caution for all of my fellow XD owners. Yes, keeping your hand off of the grip safety will keep it from firing if you accidentally pull the trigger or your shirt gets caught in the trigger guard and pulls the trigger for you. However, you still need to be very careful to not let anything interfere with the trigger. If the trigger gets depressed without the grip safety, fine, it won't go off. At least until you grab it trying to draw it. If something is holding the trigger back, as soon as you depress the grip safety it will fire.

[RoyGBiv]

Here's the relevant image for those that want to avoid the minor gore..

[WildBill]

I do not blame the gun or the holster for this malfunction. I believe the blame falls solely on the shoulders of the owner. Had he properly maintained and handled his equipment I do not believe this would have ever happened.

From the looks of the holster, it was damaged so badly that it could no longer be used safely. He should have discarded it and got a new [and IMO different type of] holster.

[TexasGal]

I like my XDm because of the grip safety as well. I lift my palm off it when re-holstering as others have described. It's a good point though to realize it will still fire on the draw if something has been holding the trigger back. This guy suffered a wound that will forever after have him examining the design, condition, and quality of his holsters. You would think this would be a no brainer, but lots of people don't have a good eye for potential safety problems. It's why there are a jillion laws on the design of manufactured goods. Maybe this should be covered in classes more. I took the NRA introduction course on handguns and holster design was never mentioned. With more and more people buying guns who have never owned one before, courses for beginners should not leave equipment safety out--especially with some of the crappy holsters on every shelf in the stores. Just my two cents FWIW.

[glbedd53]

1911

[tacticool]

1911

If the 1911 was as worn out as that holster......

[witchdoctor575]

1911

If the 1911 was as worn out as that holster......

it would be just as dangerous as a brand new glock with a crappy holster.,

[danpaw]

I agree any handgun would be more dangerous in a screwed up holster like that but I can't see any way a 1911 would be as dangerous as a Glock in that holster.