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The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:34 pm
by Pawpaw
This is a subject that is near and dear to Andyc's heart.
Let me share with you a brutal truth that is going to hurt the feelings of a lot of people: the BlackHawk! SERPA holster is one of the worst holster designs currently manufactured.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Field Training Directorate (FTD) launched an investigation of the design after “four incidents.” The resulting research discovered that the user’s trigger finger ended up proximal to the trigger on 25-percent of the draw strokes, and that 13-percent of attempted draw strokes began out of sequence. They concluded (PDF) that the basic design of the holster was likely to greatly increase the likelihood of an “inadvertent discharge,” and concluded that it should not be used in any of their training.
https://bearingarms.com/bob-o/2017/04/0 ... -just-say/
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:48 pm
by TVGuy
I don't know why I keep seeing them around.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 4:56 pm
by TexasJohnBoy
The ads in magazines would sure make you think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Personally, I love my Safariland GLS holsters.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 7:33 pm
by Beiruty
Cut a small cardboard notch as large as the latch tab, place it above said tab and tape it with a black electric tape. No more SERPA phobia.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 7:49 pm
by Pawpaw
Beiruty wrote:Cut a small cardboard notch as large as the latch tab, place it above said tab and tape it with a black electric tape. No more SERPA phobia.
And exactly what would that fix?
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 8:05 pm
by Beiruty
Pawpaw wrote:Beiruty wrote:Cut a small cardboard notch as large as the latch tab, place it above said tab and tape it with a black electric tape. No more SERPA phobia.
And exactly what would that fix?
De-activate the trigger guard lock tab. Added a photo, see above
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 8:28 pm
by cmgee67
Serpas are dangerous and shouldn't be used by civilians and LE. Safariland makes great duty rigs. I love the ALS holsters of theirs.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 8:34 pm
by Pawpaw
Beiruty wrote:Pawpaw wrote:Beiruty wrote:Cut a small cardboard notch as large as the latch tab, place it above said tab and tape it with a black electric tape. No more SERPA phobia.
And exactly what would that fix?
De-activate the trigger guard lock tab. Added a photo, see above
I'm not betting my life on a electrical tape fix applied to a very poorly made holster. No thanks.
I have a Serpa. When I started reading about it's failings, I examined mine. They're right... it's junk.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:02 pm
by Beiruty
So many Glock legs happened with straight up holsters. No tab no nothing. It is the shooter finger after all. I am an RO at the DPC and my eyes are all the time on the trigger finger and no-powder reloaded ammo resulting in a squib.
I did the above fix as not to slow me while drawing up. My grip was pulling up faster than my finger touching the tab.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:20 pm
by carlson1
My son wears one of these on duty. I have showed him how you can actually jam the holster and the pistol will not come out. He is a knuckhead and still uses it. My brother also uses one on duty and he has 37 years in LE and want listen either.
They are flat out dangerous.
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:27 pm
by treadlightly
Seems like Glock leg happens most frequently on holstering. Serpa leg, on drawing, leading to confusion about when you're safe.
Obviously the best solution is to carry a Glock in a Serpa holster. That way you don't have to wonder which maneuver is safe.
Pretty good advice, huh?
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 9:51 pm
by Beiruty
Beiruty wrote:So many Glock legs happened with straight up holsters. No tab no nothing. It is the shooter finger after all. I am an RO at the DPC and my eyes are all the time on the trigger finger and no-powder reloaded ammo resulting in a squib.
I did the above fix as not to slow me while drawing up. My grip was pulling up faster than my finger touching the tab.
Now serpa was banned at DPC, so I ordered this one:
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:07 am
by AJSully421
For literally $2-3 more, you can buy a Safariland 7377 that uses the ALS thumb tab. By far the best holster and most intuitive locking system without slowing you down or jacking with your normal grip (GLS), or making it equally easily accessible to a gun grab (GLS).
Re: The SERPA Stinks, And That’s Just All There Is To Say About It
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 7:33 am
by MadMonkey
I've said it before and I'll say it again... Serpas are junk for multiple reasons and I'll never use one again if I have a choice.
