Our friend, and National Sales Manager, Jeff Spalding, unveiled Caracal’s new firearm offerings at SHOT Show this year after an evaluation of the company’s products and an important merger. The two main firearms that survived this evaluation and were deemed viable for the US market are the CP Series Pistol and the CS 308 Precision Rifle.
Last year, Jeff came out to the range and allowed ADAPT staff to try out the “OG” Caracal pistol – the C series. We had a blast shooting that smooth handgun with almost zero perceptible recoil. We’re hoping we can convince Jeff to come back and bring these two new kids on the Caracal block sometime soon.
Caracal CS 308 Precision Rifle
Caracal’s entry into the high end precision rifle market, the CS 308 is manufactured from aerospace grade aluminum, available in .308, 338 or 50 caliber and features very light recoil with almost zero muzzle rise due to the muzzle break manufactured specifically for this rifle. Some of the cooler features are the adjustable, spring-loaded comb on the butt stock and customizable rake adjustment, length of pull and weight of the second stage of the trigger. This is a very adaptable firearm for any shooter with guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy. (Sub-MOA means accuracy exceeding one “minute of angle” or 1/60th of 1 degree; i.e. a 10 inch grouping at 1,000 yards.)
Caracal CP Series Pistol
The second generation of the caracal pistol, the 9 mm CP series is available in a full size 18-round capacity, a compact 15-round capacity, or a subcompact 13-round capacity. The frame, ergonomics, light recoil and trigger were left pretty much the same but there are several new features built in to this pistol based on consumer feedback from the American market. Deeper serrations on the one-piece slide to allow better grip for manipulations and interchangeability options for the sights are a few of these new features.
Attending Shot Show 2014 is a great way to start off the new year thinking of how we can ADAPT our training techniques to better suit our students.
Being able to talk to so many great like minded individuals was an absolutely fantastic experience.
We were only able to see about 80% of the products we wanted to see and that is only 33% of the total show. We hope to have some media badges to do some more in depth coverage (videos and interviews) next year.
This year we will just have to add some photos we took and some from the net.
We got off to a slow start walking the floor (2nd level) immediately upon entering the hall we noticed that a lot of the same vendors were in the same spots as the years before (this is nice so you can easily find them the next time around)
Our first booth we stopped at was Daniel Defense
We checked out there video showcasing the torture test they did to one of the rifles on display and we wanted to check out their augmented reality demo but someone was hogging the IPAD. Some of the interesting things about Daniel Defense is that that feature a few rifles with integrated suppressors so you would only need one tax stamp and not two in order to own them. (One for a SBR Short Barrel Rifle)
Next we visited the guys at Elcan Optics
There we checked out the SpecterDR 1-4x 1.5-6x and the 1,3,9x 3FOV Weapon Sight
These are great optics, giving the operator the choice to switch between preset focal lengths very quickly with either a flip of a switch or the roll of a dial.
As I was walking by the ESS Eye Pro booth I was listening in as one of their representatives a Mr. Ryan Bumgardener was talking to some other attendees... as he noticed I was wearing my ESS Crossbow glasses on my hat he pointed me out saying "there we go, another happy customer" I exclaimed that I love them but they had seen better days in the last 5 years of use, when he questioned what was wrong I mentioned that I tore the nose piece off and the lens had seen better days. He immediately reached under the counter and gave me a new set of lens with attached nose piece and an additional nose piece for the lenses I was still wearing. Talk about great customer service!!! A big shout out to a great product and a great team.
Next we stopped in at VLTOR- and spoke with Mr. Jim Bateman about their new line of uppers that feature "keymod" accessory attachment points.
We really liked this idea because of the design, it has weight reduction and ergonomic advantages. Instead of having a full rail system, you can place rail segments at key points of your hand-guard for your rail specific accessory.
Moving on we visited Evan Salindo at KWA - As we are researching less-than-lethal training options we are weighing the benefits of training with Airsoft over what we have traditionally been using such as Simunitions and UTM.
Fernando (my apologies on not getting his last name) at Bluewater Ropes/Yates gear Inc. – was incredibly knowledgeable with years of real world experience. We love talking to professionals that use, and train in the gear they are representing far more than just a salesperson that knows all the tech specs. We had a great conversation about the benefits of utilizing an ATC (Air Traffic Controller) over a traditional Figure 8. Now I am going to have to add one to my rigging!
RTS Target System We saw these target systems as a tremendous value for their cost, with the ability to absorb thousands of rounds before replacement, the ability to shoot them from point blank distances without the fear of ricochets, and the ability to take the smallest to largest calibers we think they are just awesome.
At Dummies Unlimited- We looked at all the innovative 3-D shooting and training targets, these are great if you have the location, ability to transport, and store them. Hopefully we will be able to utilize this technology in the very near future. Looking at the FIST Training Suit was also great, the ability to quickly get in and out of the suit allowing another trainer to switch roles is a benefit to a timely training environment.
At First Light we spoke with Mr. Greg Devries and learned about their new handheld yet hands-free flashlight. These lights loop over a finger and the body of the light is held on the outside of the operators hand, allowing the user to achieve a more normal grip on whatever they want (firearm, vertical fore-grip, doorknob, magazines, etc...) We are hoping to get one for further T&E (testing and evaluation)... once we do, be sure that we will do a full review and video discussing some of the training applications we saw as beneficial.
At Mile High Shooting Accessories- we spoke with Mr. John Fador we got to see the Battlehook Sights by Henning Group. These are great sights to assist with clearing malfunctions with your sidearm if you only have one functional or free hand.
Stress Vest- Thane
Shock Knife- Pierre
We absolutely had to stop by the Caracal booth to see our good friend Jeff Spalding. If you want to read more about what we he had to say about this line of products you can read our article specifically about Carcal here.
Another close friend of ours is Kim Klein who is the owner of Everyday Tactical. As a female firearms instructor she is the perfect person to design concealed carry purse and bag options for women who want to carry everyday.
Glen Stidham at Faxon Firearm- A CNC machining company that has created a new upper receiver design for the AR15. Marrying the concept of a long stroke AK style gas piston design, swappable calibers, and modern machining.
At Smart Fire Arms we spoke with The Director of Training: Jason Mew. These are a simulated firearm training safety aid. The simulator has a sensor located within the trigger guard that senses when the users finger lingers nearby or enters the trigger guard but is not actively pressing the trigger an alarm sounds until the user removes their finger and places it on the appropriate reference point. At a price point close to the cost of a real firearm we look at these as filing a limited niche in the market. We encourage departments to use whatever means it can to help encourage firearms safety however proper training techniques used by a professional instructor can also prevent negligence (not accidental discharges) So in shot this product is an equipment solution for a training deficiency.
At the Beretta Corp USA – booth we spoke with Mr. Eric Ashworth about their new ARX100 rifle platform. We found this to be a very Interesting rifle that may be a big seller for left hand shooters, as the charging handle and shell ejection direction can both be changed with a fairly simple flip of the switch.
We spent a lot of time at the Laser Shot booth, and we have to thank Mr. Brad Herm for taking so much time speaking with us about this amazing system. We will be doing a write up on this product as we look to our students and partners for support in acquiring this system for our teaching needs.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
We could go on and on but we are going to stop here for this article, and wait to go into more depth on some of the individual products in their own reviews.
If you have any more questions and want more detail about anything listed here please leave a comment below and we will try our very best to answer them.
Some of the other booths we stopped by are listed below:
Lancer Firearms (Matt Nagle)
DAW Technologies
Thureon Firearms
SWAT Firearms
Viridian Laser
Glock-
5.11 Tactical-
Benelli USA-
FNH USA LLC-
Gerber-
KA-BAR Knives Inc-
Kershaw & Zero Tolerance Knives-
Blade-tech Industries Inc.–
DPMS Firearms LLC –
Remington Arms Company LLC –
Leatherman Tool Group –
Coast Products –
Law Officer Magazine –
Pelican Products Inc. –
MGM Targets/Mike Gibson Mfg –
EO Tech –
TOPS Knives –
SOG Armory Inc. –
Barrett Fiearms Mfg. Inc –
Trijicon Inc –
Galco Gunleather –
Nighthawk Custom & PSI –
O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc. –
Bianchi International –
LWRC
Hornady Mfg. Company
Springfield Armory
Petzl America
Simunition/General Dynamics OTS
Benchmade Knife Company Inc.
Emerson Knives
Eberlestock USA LLC –
Law Enforcement Targets Inc.
The topic of the Blackhawk Serpa style holsters continues to be brought up by students on the range when they see most of the ADAPT staff, and a high majority of the student body wearing the Serpa holsters.
People are reading posts, blogs, announcements, reviews, and hearing poor information passed along from other sources stating that the Serpa holster is unsafe, unreliable, and even "deadly" to carry.
We do not do many formal product reviews as we do not want to give the impression that we are sponsored, endorsed, or compensated by any manufactures for helping to promote their products as we are not.
When asked our opinions about guns, and gear, we like to be forthcoming and honest. If we don't know, we state that.
However we do ask questions, and encourage our students to ask questions to themselves.
Here are just some of the questions to ask yourself when considering any holster.
Accessibility vs. conceal-ability? Are you going to be open carrying or concealing the weapon? (The nature of your work, or your operational environment.)
Passive retention, basic retention, full retention? What is the likelihood that you will be engaged in a physical altercation where an attempt to remove your firearm will be made by another person? (The nature of your work, or your operational environment.)
What is your level of training in weapons retention techniques? (Have you received any formal training in close contact combative techniques, specific to retaining a weapon on your body and defending yourself from attempts by others trying to remove it?)
Weighing the pros and cons of the holster. (In no particular order although we put safety first, considering this topic is concerning the safety of this holster in question.)
Safety = (Is this product on the market because it is unsafe? Are people using it in an unsafe manner? Is additional training in the proper use of the product recommended, or required to operate it safely?)
Cost / Value = (Expense vs. longevity of use, and number of uses.)
Versatility (Can this one item be used for multiple situations (different operational environments, activities, or on other individuals besides myself?)
Functionality = (Will this product be able to perform the tasks that I need it to?
Reliability = (Is this product going to function when I need it to?)
Durability = (Is this product going to last me for as long as I want it to?)
Availability = (Do they make the product for my equipment, and is it readily available?)
In order to find out the information for yourself it may be very time consuming, requiring hours of research, (not just reading one blog, or thread on the internet... like this one.) Instead visiting many sites and reading the reviews and more importantly the way the reviews were conducted (how did the reviewer gather their data to form their conclusion.. or in some cases their opinions.)
Below we will list how we arrived at our decision:
We have decided to offer the Blackhawk Serpa holster as one of our recommended holsters for most individuals, and their specific situations. Is there a better holster for you? We are sure that there are many equal options, but better depends on you.
First let us begin by stating that you should:
ALWAYS TRAIN THE WAY YOU WANT TO FIGHT, AS YOU WILL FIGHT THE WAY YOU TRAIN!!!
Let's discuss Safety:
Very few items on the general market are inherently unsafe. The manufacturers spend time and money in the research and development phase even before the production and product testing phase begins. If an issue comes to their attention that is truly a safety concern stemming from the design or manufacturing of their product responsible manufactures should do a recall of their product, however if a incident occurs that causes injury or property damage during the use of their product they should exam the way their product is being used and how the incident occurred and make recommendations on how to use their product in a responsible and safe manner to possibly avoid future accidents or injuries.
In the case of the Blackhawk Serpa holster all of this has been done already, but apparently needs to be reiterated, in further detail for some individuals. This will be covered in more detail later in this article.
Let's discuss operational environment:
Method of carry:
For individuals that are required to carry in an outside the waistband belt mounted holster such as Law enforcement, Military, or Security Officers. To these individuals we always recommend that their holsters have some element of positive retention built into it. (Meaning that an additional action or function is needed to remove the weapon) That level of retention is a personal choice based upon their operational environment, their skill level, and personal preferences.)(Level 2, Level 3)
For individuals who simply want a holster for "Range" work, even though they will never carry one in their daily walk, we believe it is good for starting safety and fundamentals but encourage people to eventually move into training from the holster that they will carry daily. For range exercises we recommend some form of passive retention (meaning that while moving the weapon will not simply fall out, but no additional devices need to be disengaged to remove it.)
Physical environment:
Based upon the terrain you will be operating in their may be limitations to your gear. (You should evaluate all of your gear, not just your holsters by this same process.) If it is too hot, cold, wet, muddy, dirty, etc... it may effect how your gear functions.
For many of the individuals that carry daily on the streets they will not face many of the extreme situations that our Military may face abroad.
We note an instance where an operator was unable to remove his weapon from his holster.
Location: Middle east
Environmental conditions: High heat. Sandy, rocky, gravel terrain.
Method of carry: Weapon mounted in a Blackhawk Serpa holster on a Molle chest rig, right hand position, lower left abdomen placement.
Circumstances of the failure: The operator had gone prone and while crawling on his stomach a pebble became lodged into the channel of the retention button and he was unable to release the weapon.
(Here we induced an obstruction using a paper clip, then highlighted it for the photo)
So in this instance a failure was discovered, we learn to modify the gear for the environment (different holster, different carry position, etc...)
Cost / Value:
The cost of various styles of the Blackhawk Serpa holster is comparable to other holsters on the market, and ranges from $40-$140. With so many styles and pricing options most people find one that suits their needs easily.
Versatility:
With so many methods of carry and mounting options and the ability to switch between platforms easily this holster also rates highly in the versatility category. Along with the ability to carry many similar weapons in the same holster such as Glock 19,17,22, etc.. (always check to ensure your holster is appropriate for the weapon you are carrying) the holster also lends it's self to being able to manipulate the weapon to a certain degree that would be prohibited with other holsters. (We will be posting a specific instructional section with techniques we have adapted to suit this gear in the future.)
Functionality:
As far as the holster holding the weapon in the position you would like, we have noted that there are many mounting options and methods of carry, as for the retention device retaining the weapon under normal conditions it performs perfectly, as for retaining the weapon against one who is determined to remove it from you.... it accomplishes the task of impeding their intentions. Every holster can be defeated, or else it would not be of any use to the wearer. If an adversary has the same level of familiarity with the holster as the wearer, or worse... even more, then they will in time release the weapon. With this reasoning we here at ADAPT also emphasize that weapons retention is a part of your training and not the device on your holster.
With the lack of more complex methods of retention the Blackhawk Serpa lends itself to be one of the fastest holsters to learn how to present from while still offering some protection from others. When speed out of the holster is a concern, and it could make the difference between life and death, training with any holster is the key, not the holster. You can see demonstrations of the speed of the individual while wearing the Blackhawk serpa all over the internet.
There was an individual that passed the Handgun Combat Masters test while wearing a Level 3 retention holster (make and model unknown).
Reliability:
With the above stated incident where the release button became obstructed, there is another incident that was made popular on the internet for a moment where in the user had inserted the weapon in a backwards configuration during single hand malfunction clearances and the weapon became lodged in the holster and was unable to be removed. After reading that post I asked all of our instructors to try to simulate that circumstance with their own weapons and holsters and they were unable to duplicate the effects. Even knowing the specific make/model of the holster and firearm, we were unable duplicate this in order to substantiate this claim.
We here at ADAPT also encourage our students to "know their gear" becoming more than familiar with it, letting it become an extension of ones body.
Another post about the reliability of these holsters specifically was already made and can be viewed here. Blackhawk Serpa Holsters
Durability:
This subject is also covered in the link to the other article.
Availability:
Due to the popularity of the holster and apparent success of its design the holster is carried in almost every single gun store in America, and even internationally. It can be ordered straight from the manufacture, and ships within a few day and arrives within a few weeks at most so it is considered readily available.
Techniques and training methods:
Now that we have discussed how we came to the decision that we made in detail, we would like to go a step further and illustrate the appropriate technique and recommended training methods to ensure the safe use of the Blackhawk Serpa holster.
There are many documented cases where an individual has shot themselves, while wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster, but there are also many documented cases where an individual has shot themselves while not wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster. In both cases you should note the sentence structure. "There are many documented cases where an individual has shot themselves,.................. while wearing a Blackhawk Serpa holster."
To clarify let's use logic to determine how this may have occurred:
Would you agree that it is impossible to pull the trigger of the weapon with the trigger finger, to the rear causing it to fire, while properly inserted and retained in the holster?
Would you also agree, that It requires the trigger to be pressed in order to make most weapons fire? (Rule 3)
Lastly, would you also agree that it takes the muzzle of the weapon to be pointed at the individual at the time the weapon is fired in order for the person to be struck by the bullet (not a ricochet)? (Rule 2)
So in an instance where an individual has obviously removed the weapon from the holster in order to have fired it at themselves the holster is no longer involved in the incident. (Rule 4)
This logic is too simple and arguments will be made that the holster cause the shooter to place their finger on the trigger after the weapon has left the holster.
This could be a result of one of the following factors:
Improper or lack of professional firearms education
Improper or lack of appropriate education in the use of a belt mounted holster
Improper or lack of sufficient training in the specific use of a Blackhawk Serpa holster
Excessive speed above the skills and abilities of the user resulting in an unsafe condition
Inability to perform the task safely under stress due to the lack of stress conditioning i.e. "insufficient training"
Let us also define a few terms. Education is taking a class or course of instruction. Training is what you do every day with the knowledge gained. Are the individuals who are misusing the holster educated or trained?
How to use the Blackhawk Serpa holster:
The appropriate use of the holster would begin with asking the questions above, it is the right holster for you. Once those questions are answered and you have decided that it is then the appropriate technique for safely using the holster is the same technique we use to teach all of our students in the use of any outside the waistband holster.
Step 1. Establish a proper firing grip on the weapon with the trigger finger straight down the side of the holster in line with the frame of the weapon. (Count 1) [Essentially with a proper hand placement, and a straight and not curled finger the retention is disengaged without having to even teach an additional step. i.e. making it one of the easiest holsters to teach to use, and thereby one of the easiest to use.]
Step 2.Disengage any retention devices that are on the holster such as thumb breaks, flip hoods, or cants or pivots that need to be made. (Count 1)
Step 3. Pull the weapon straight up from the holster allowing the trigger finger to rest along the side of the frame of the weapon pointing straight down at the ground. (Count 2)
Step 4. Keeping the trigger finger straight, pivot the weapon downrange towards your target. (Count 3)
Step 5. Allow the support hand to join the firing hand and begin to establish a two handed grip. (If that is the technique we are working on, this option becomes modified depending on the technique we are teaching.) (Count 4)
and remember........ Rule 3 "Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire." (This step becomes modified as skill levels increase.)
The negligence occurs when the retention button is pressed with a curled tip of the trigger finger and with that shape and tension once the weapon is removed the body is essentially already being told to press the trigger. It is a matter of training to properly condition the muscle memory to perform an action as a trained reaction and not a thought process or uncoordinated stumble.
"Amateurs train until they get it right....Professionals train until they cannot get it wrong" What do you want to be?
How to train with the Blackhawk Serpa holster:
Daily! Slow and smooth and perfect. Speed comes as a natural result of perfection. Speed is nothing without control. There are no shortcuts, there is no magic trick, there is simply the willingness to do what is necessary in order to achieve your goals. What are you training for? You decide how good you want to be.
"We want to make you a perfect as you want to be in the time we are allowed here."
On a personal note:
As a Senior Rangemaster, prior to leaving the largest firearms training institute in America, (that has since banned the Serpa holster) I would often give this tidbit of friendly advice.
"If you go to a school to seek education and instruction and they cannot justify why they won't teach a certain technique, utilize a certain piece of gear, or do what they do.... you may need to seek further education elsewhere."
This was obviously a fairly positive post about the Blackhawk Serpa holster. I wanted to recommend some of the other forums where the holster was discussed but could not find one without unnecessary use of profanity, degrading others based upon their skill level, or previous Military, Law Enforcement, or Professional backgrounds so I hesitated to list any links.
If you are going to comment on this article understand as a community which promotes family training no vulgar language, or rude comments will be tolerated and your post will not be approved or it will be removed.
Keep it clean, keep it relevant, be polite, be professional, be prepared.
Permalink Reply by Eric Loden on May 19, 2009 at 8:22pm Blackhawk Serpa Holsters
Brian HoeyFirearms Instructors
Back to Firearms Instructors Discussions
http://connect.lawof...serpa-holsters?
Does anybody have information about the reliability of the Blackhawk Serpa holsters? Several detectives in our agency want to use them but one of our senior firearms instructors is worried about a report of some mechanical failures.
(Original post Reply by Eric Loden on May 19, 2009 at 8:22pm)
I carry and use a Blackhawk Serpa every day and can bet that I use it more than any Patrol officers in the field. I will come in and out of the holster between 40 - 100 times a day, multiply that by five days a week for the last year. So I know they can handle the wear and tear. I know that they can break if they are mishandled. Many range instructors do not use retention holsters because they want a faster presentation. I use it, because I carry that way when I am not at work. TRAIN HOW YOU WANT TO FIGHT!!!!
Further, presentation and shot from a concealed holster to target at 21 meters in 0.9 seconds is fast enough in my book to say that the Serpa doesn't slow you down if you practice smoothly and perfectly.
I love the holster and recommend it to many of my students, law enforcement, military, and civilian alike.
I finally had my Blackhawk Serpa holster break on me. (Sigh - sad day.) As I was entering the passenger side of a vehicle the butt of my weapon got stuck in the door frame and I literally snapped the belt loop attachment. Now, let me state that the holster is about 4 years old and I weigh over 300 lbs. I have done years of training with it and now finally it paid the price. When I say training... I mean training. As a professional firearms instructor I am on the range almost every single day. Practicing single hand malfunction clearance drills (running my sights and action on the holster), doing weapons retention drills (other large gentlemen hanging from my hip off the ground on the holster), and rolling around on the ground (over and on top of repeatedly). Needless to say, I put the gear through its paces far more than the average user.
Upon calling to ask Blackhawk about the warranty or replacement program the representative told me that it is a One Year warranty only, however she stated that she would send a replacement part out to me as soon as possible at no cost. (Once again outstanding customer service for an outstanding product.)
I have a few other retention holsters to demonstrate for my students but I will continue to carry the Serpa because of its reliability, ease of use, and the fact that I have consistently trained with it for several years.
Whatever you decide to carry, train with it as hard as you can safely. Know your gear, train the way you want to fight because you fight the way you train. Stay safe and train hard.
If you want a demonstration of the speed of this holster all you have to do is perform a you tube search for "Todd Jarrett" and the "Blackhawk Serpa holster".
Michael Lin reacted to Lauren Boitel in The New & Improved Caracal
