Eric Loden

Awesome training, fantastic atmosphere, always some challenge and improvement! Terrific! Do you want to own a gun? Well, be knowledgeable, aware and trained.

Eric, I appreciate all the information you provided in your article regarding the Blackhawk Serpa holster, consequently I purchased one for my S&W pistol from Amazon for $25. I received it yesterday, it is everything you said it would be I'm looking forward to begin practicing with it.
 
Thank You
Craig Smith

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.

http://connect.lawofficer.com/profile/EricLoden922

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".

Our videos are coming soon...stay tuned.

It's amazing to me that this summer has flown by so quickly, but the reality is, that it is nearly back to school time. This seems like a natural time for me to talk about kids and guns. The reality is, that if you want to keep your kids safe this school year you should be a huge proponent of firearms safety classes for your kids. For all kids.

I won't begin to discuss the fact that most massacres that happen in this country are all done in gun free zones, many of them being our schools. I won't even harp on the basic fact that criminals by definition just don't follow laws. I want to address the issue from a completely different standpoint. I am however, going to start by making some basic assumptions. I am going to assume that most people are like me, and love their kids and want to keep them safe.

For most people, it makes perfect sense that if you want to lower pregnancy rates you need to educate your kids about sex. If you want to keep them from being addicted to drugs you need to educate them about drugs. Got A problem with underage drinking; or drinking and driving? Education is always the answer. Extrapolate that out and try and have a gun safety class at your child’s school, see what happens. Guns are the one subject in our culture that is taboo in any company, but try and mix guns and kids and people lose their minds. Putting these two things together is the definition of taboo. Or is it?

Young people LOVE guns. Guns are in all the most popular video-games and movies. We tell our youth that our soldiers are the true heroes of this country, and we are right. But then we turn around and tell them that guns are bad. Talk about mixed messages. Their favorite movies stars, all carry guns in the movies they watch. The soldiers marching in the parade and even the local cop that we tell our really young people are their protectors, all carry a gun. But then we tell them guns are bad – end of discussion. Does this actually make sense to anyone but the idiots pushing gun control (the emphasis being on control) like the moms demand action folks. Those people don't actually have any experience with guns themselves outside of seeing one on a screen, and we are in danger of letting these people dictate to the general populace of how and what to teach our kids about guns.

I know plenty of people who claim to be scared of guns. Fear comes from ignorance. I know a lot of things that can hurt our kids. Sure, guns are up near the top of the list, right next to knives, fire, water, and right at the top, cars. How many kids will die this year, because they did something stupid in a car? Or maybe because they were inexperienced? It will happen...a lot. It is a tragedy. But every year we continue to teach our kids how to drive. I promise you this, that if we teach kids about guns and how to handle them responsibly that some will do stupid things with them, that they will act irresponsibly no matter how much we try to get them not to. I know this as sure as I know, that this next prom season there will be a group of kids that die in a car accident because they were drinking and doing stupid things in a car. Unfortunately there will most likely be many groups of kids that die in car accidents this year. I did the research because my daughter will be getting her license in a very short time. Am I scared of this? A little. What I know, is that I have done all I know to do to educate her, and prepare her for this dangerous and unforgiving task.

My daughters both shoot very well and are extremely safe with any gun they touch. My wife and I carry a gun every time we are legally able to do so. We reiterate over and over the four safety rules and have pounded into their heads, (and ours) how potentially dangerous a gun can be. Does this mean that they will never make a mistake or never do anything stupid? No. I can't guarantee any such thing. I consider myself a good driver, but I have made mistakes while driving, even caused an accident where I was injured. We all have done stupid things, and made mistakes. What I do know for sure, is that I will not allow Paul Walker and the fast and the furious movies to be my daughters primary source for drivers education any more than I would allow Tom Cruise and the mission impossible movies to be their primary source of education for their firearms training. I think even the idiot moms demanding action might think of that as irresponsible.

Many people aren't worried about it because they may not own a gun. Not teaching your kids about firearms because you don't own one, is akin to not teaching your kid to swim, because you don't have a pool in your backyard. How many kids drown each year? Do you keep your kids away from water because water is dangerous? Or do you teach your kids to swim and teach them the importance of NOT acting irresponsibly around water. My greatest fear, when it comes to guns, is not the gun in the hand of my daughter, but a gun in the hand of the kid whose mom demanded some action. A kid who is taught that guns are bad, but plays Medal of Honor and watches Sons of Anarchy every week. A kid who thinks guns are some cool toy and makes him a bad-ass. A kid that has no idea about the four safety rules or how to handle a gun or to keep himself or those around him safe with a potentially dangerous item.

Fear is the evil that exists and what fuels the fire for the gun control crowd. Fear is a powerful motivator. But I think love can conquer fear. And if you love your kids the way I love mine, I am hoping you will fight to get them trained in how to safely handle a gun. I would hope that if you are truly afraid, that you will model the behavior that you want to see in your child and learn yourself. Learn, educate and become a force that dispels the fear. I get that it isn't going to be everyone’s cup of tea. But just like swimming, I truly believe it is a life skill that should be taught to everyone. Only through education and experience can we allow everyone the resources to draw upon to make the right decisions when they are around a firearm. Anything else is quite frankly totally irresponsible.

Great article Jeff, thank you for contributing to the community. we look forward to more of your knowledge, experience, and insights in the future. I am also personally looking forward to our long range rifle class. Stay safe out there brother.

There are various schools of thought and methods for tracking data on a particular rifle. This article will serve to address the methods as used by Military and Law Enforcement professionals as well as the “Tactical Long Range Rifle” Competitor. 
 
These methods and ideas are derived from the standard training protocols of SF Tactical and Logistics, LLC which provides accredited training courses to Militaries and Law Enforcement agencies around the world. 
 
 
Definition; The accurate and honest record keeping of each round fired from an INDIVIDUAL rifle, in order to understand the characteristics and abnormalities portrayed by the INDIVIDUAL rifle under all circumstances and conditions previously experienced, allowing the professional marksman to enter into a situation with as much possible data obtained from previous engagements to greatly increase the probability of first round impacts on target. 
 
 
WHY WE TRACK DATA
 
 
I often assimilate the relationship a marksman has with his rifle to a relationship one would have with his Wife, and Mother of his Children (or Husband and Father accordingly). If we use that idea than it stands to reason that, If within this relationship there is no communication, the relationship will be severely strained. Each party begrudging the other for their own inadequacies. The same holds true for the Marksman and his or her Rifle. If we don't provide a clear and open line of communication with our rifle we can not expect to get the most beneficial and successful results from the relationship. The only way to communicate with an inanimate object is through observation and record keeping. This is where the Data Tracking becomes paramount to your consistent success.  
 
 
Did you know? 
 
Just because your buddy is shooting lights out groups of .25 MOA out to a bazillion meters with Federal Gold Medal Match 175gr BTHP’s, that it doesn't mean YOUR Rifle will be able to hold sub MOA with the same ammo?  For every +/- 20 Degrees F your point of impact can shift as much as +/- 1 MOA in elevation?  Your point of impact can and most likely will shift when shooting off a bag as opposed to a bi-pod, or other form of hasty support? Your point of impact can and most likely will have a dramatic change from fouled cold bore to clean cold bore shots? Do you even know if your shooting a cold bore shot?  Is your rifle zeroed to cold bore point of impact, or not? should it be?  YOU ARE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOUR RIFLE HAS TO OVERCOME TO PUT ROUNDS ON TARGET!  
By tracking ALL of our interactions with our Rifle we can begin to see patterns emerge, consistencies, abnormalities, successes and failures. All the things that make a strong relationship work are spelled out clear as the written word on paper. And just like any relationship, once the fundamental ground work is laid and adhered to, you begin to realize the major problem is YOU! and you can fix that. 
 
 
HOW WE TRACK
 
 
The professional marksmen (MIL/LEO) do not load their own ammo for duty use. This would create a liability issue that no one wants to deal with. However, most competition shooters and a lot of hunters on this page will be creating their own super secret, special home recipe that is guaranteed to drop that Elk in its tracks at 7000 yards first time every time. And I get that, just remember to be safe, and stay within your SAAMI specs for chamber pressures. I will explain the tracking aspect for creating a custom load then move into more of the day to day data tracking. 
 
 
TRACKING LOAD DEVELOPMENT (also comparable to selecting factory ammo your Rifle likes to shoot)
 
 
When creating a working load for a specific rifle it is important to realize that what worked on your last rifle may be slightly different than what this rifle likes. You must maintain a SEPARATE data book for EACH rifle. This data book should be maintained with the rifle for the life of the rifle, should the rifle be sold or transferred, the data book should go with it. 
 
 
When working up a load, the point of impact in relation to the point of aim is NOT important. what is important depends on your end use. Are you a hunter? if so velocity and accuracy will be paramount because barrel life and precision are of a much lesser concern. Competitive shooter? You will be focused on precision and velocities that provide a flat trajectory while providing an adequate barrel life, unless your sponsored, then SEND EM FAST AND FLAT! 
 
 
Track the data from each shot or shot group to include; Bullet weight, bullet type, primer type, powder charge, overall length, distance from lands (jump), Type of case used, velocity measured at muzzle and at target (100y increments if your using various distances will get you enough info) as well as all environmental conditions; amount of light, direction of light, temperature, barometric pressure, elevation, wind speed, wind direction and to a lesser extent humidity, time, and date. Continue to shoot, track and evaluate your data until you have completed your load development. 
 
 
TRACKING DATA 
 
 
It is imperative that a data book be assigned to a specific Rifle and only data from that Rifle be input into the data book. During the life of the rifle, if you change optics, or loads, or factory ammunition that change should be NOTED in the book with specific dates and changes made to keep the information clear and coordinated. The data book(s) should be kept with the Rifle at all times, should the Rifle be transferred or sold, the book(s) go with it. 
 
 
The first thing we want to track in the Data book is the specifics of the Rifle being tracked. 
 
Shooters Name Make, Model, Caliber of Rifle Current Optic and Mount Rifle Serial Number  
From here we will Zero the rifle, obviously this will depend on your needs, If your a hunter who usually addresses game between 100-300 yards, a 200 yard Zero would be suited to your needs and would allow for a center hold hit from 100-300 yards if you’re shooting 175g .308’s. 
 
For the competitive shooter, your zero will again be your choice factoring in your usual target distance, caliber of rifle, ect.. 
 
 
To establish a proper zero I recommend firing (2) shots from a cold bore, wait about 5 mins then proceed to fire a controlled (3) round shot group with a fixed and precise point of aim. Each of these (3) shots should be tracked on a ZERO target data sheet. It is important that you input the following data. 
 
 
Environmental conditions Date Time Location Temperature Altitude (density Altitude if you’re so inclined) Humidity Barometric Pressure Light / Light Direction Wind / Wind Direction Ammunition Specifics (Load# or Lot#) Distance to Target Shooting position used (most supportive possible for zero) Support type used (bi-pod, bag, bench, ect.)  elevation and windage readings on the Turrets (try to obtain mechanical zero) ALWAYS CHECK YOUR TURRETS!!!!  Magnification setting  Be sure to mark your point of aim (POA) Mark your “Call” (where you SAW the point of aim at the instant the shot broke…be honest! not every call is a dead center hold! if so, your a liar!) Using a spotting scope plot your impacts in your data book. (POI)  
At this point if you’re not using accurate MIL or MOA zero targets I recommend measuring the distance of your initial group from the POA and inputing the proper corrections into your turrets.
 
 
Once you have made the required adjustments to move your GROUP to the point of aim. record your new data on the same page
 
 
Changes in environmental conditions Elevation and windage readings (after correction) Mag Setting POA Call POI  
At this point you should carefully set your turrets to ZERO and note that you have set turrets to zero based on this data.
 
 
What this Data book page now tells us is; “On this day (DATE), at this distance (RANGE), in these conditions (ENVIRONMENTAL), this rifle using this load will now provide a POA / POI with ZERO corrections for windage and elevation. 
 
 
At this point you can begin to create your confirmed external ballistics table for your Rifle using this Specific Load which you have just zeroed by routinely and meticulously following the data tracking plan in various weather conditions, ranges, locations, elevations, shooting positions and varying targets. 
 
 
COLD BORE TRACKING
 
 
Each rifle has a tendency to shift the POI during COLD BORE shots, these can also differ from COLD BORE (CB), to CLEAN COLD BORE(CCB). If you always run a CCB than you should always know where that first CCB is going in relation to your zero. if you always clean your rifle and foul the bore with a few shots before headed out to the field or the competition, you should always know where that CB shot is going in relation to your zero. We do this by tracking EACH and EVERY cold bore shot we can!! 
 
 
The COLD BORE tracking is done completely separate from the other tracking in your book and should be kept in a centralized location so it can be compared to all other CCB and CB shots in order to see the consistent pattern of your CB shot. When tracking CB shots it is important that the following information be recorded. 
 
 
Date Time Temp Altitude (Density Altitude if your so inclined) Humidity Barometric Pressure Distance (does NOT have to be your Zero distance) Correction on turrets  Position shot from (prone, sitting, bi pod, bag, ect.)  Light / Direction Wind / Direction Hold Call ( MUST BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF ) Point of impact  
Once you have completed a few CB shots you will notice a pattern, disregard the shots that you KNOW you shanked…and you will shank. Be honest, so you can trust your input. You know should have a pretty good understanding of where your FIRST and most important round will be going in relation to your ZERO. you can now choose to dial the CB correction in addition to the Environmental corrections, or hold off that correction with your reticle. Or, if your so inclined, ZERO your turrets to the CB POI. Just remember if you adjust your Zero to CB POI, your zero will be OFF after that CB shot and any future shots will require turret correction in addition to environmental or reticle hold off. Not recommended. 
 
 
BUT MY COMPUTER SPITS OUT A BALLISTICS CHART….I DONT NEED TO DO ALL THIS!!!
 
 
WRONG! your computer program is running mathematical equations related to constants and formulas. Sure it can tell you that your load is MOST likely going to drop 22.14 inches at 425 yards…however, until you have dialed that correction, and taken the shot…Can you be sure? 
 
 
I recommend using the Ballistics charts as guidelines and rough corrections to get you on target at distance and in the wind, but write that computer chart in PENCIL in your book. once you confirm with real world data then, and only then, use a pen and make it permanent. 
 
 
GENERAL DATA
 
 
After each session, practice, or hunt, you should record the round count. This will allow you to keep a running total on total rounds fired through the particular rifle…generally speaking a .308 which is running standard pressures and velocities should expect roughly 6000-8000 rounds of barrel life considering a decent barrel construction, material and contour. When you get to that window you should start to look for DATA that doesn't match….if you notice that you are now needing to add another .25 Mil of elevation to reach your POA with your impact….then next week your up to .50 Mil to reach the same POI…chances are your Barrel is washing out and your losing velocity. 
 
IN SUMMARY
 
 
We track data in order to understand the dynamics of our Rifle. What it is capable of, what it likes, what it doesn’t, how we interact with it and what will routinely provide the best results. 9 times out of 10, if you are being honest in tracking your data and you understand how to speak the language of the Rifle through your data book, you will find that the problem is NOT the gun. The problem is the nut behind the bolt. 
 
 
WHERE TO GET DATA BOOKS
 
 
The best books on the market in my opinion are STORM TACTICAL DATA BOOKS! 
 
They are available at many online retailers, brick and mortar stores and at www.AmericanSnipers.org 
 
 
http://www.americansnipers.org/catalogsearch/result/?q=data
 
 
Proceeds from your purchase will go directly to support our Snipers deployed and here at home. Providing them with the tools they need to continually and successfully reach out and touch the enemy. 
 
 
Train hard, Train Safe, Train to WIN! 
 
 
Spalding
 
 

Have you ever found yourself driving north in the valley, noticing that the green street signs are now blue and wondering what that means for your gun rights? I have. I work in Las Vegas and live in North Las Vegas. I have heard from many sources that I can't open carry in North Las Vegas, and they have different ordinances about carrying in your vehicle. And what about Boulder City? When I carry, which is most of the time, I am thinking about situational awareness, safety, and myriad other things. I don't want to have to think about municipal boundaries as well! I have taken ADAPT's CCW course so my knowledge of state and local gun laws is pretty good, but should it have to be? Should you need to carry flashcards on you everytime you leave your house? No. I don't think so, and niether does the Nevada Firearms Coalition (NVFAC).
 
NVFAC recently started a Political Action Committee (PAC) to ensure that Nevada gunowners have a voice and a presence in Carson City; especially moving into the 2015 legislative session. Until now, Nevadans have had to rely on the national NRA to fight the big fights. With this new political action arm of NVFAC, we have a much closer power house defending our rights at the capitol. NVFAC supports:
Elected officials who uphold our rights that are enumerated in the Nevada and US Constitutions Ownership and safe use of firearms for self-defense, competition, recreation and hunting One uniform gun law throughout Nevada Ending handgun registration in Clark County Eliminating “gun-free” zones that create targets for criminals Strengthening self-defense laws like the Castle Doctrine Expanding Nevada’s carry laws And opposes:
So-called “universal background checks” that lead to gun registration and ultimately confiscation Elected and appointed officials who put party or personal gain ahead of the rights of the citizens Tax increases on ammunition Laws that infringe upon the rights of our veterans or mentally ill seeking help Further, NVFAC has estabished a list of 4 criteria to determine if new awsa are to be proposed, supported, or opposed based on:
NVFAC-PAC supports legislation that will result in one gun law for all Nevada citizens applied equally throughout the state. NVFAC-PAC will support any firearms legislation where analysis shows an enhancement of personal liberty and significant public benefits. NVFAC-PAC will actively work to repeal existing firearms codes and ordinances that only apply to local jurisdictions. This includes the elimination of the Clark County Handgun Registration Ordinance and ordinances in Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Clark County that are in violation of state wide pre-emption laws.  NVFAC-PAC  will oppose any firearms legislation where analysis shows that the public safety benefits are an intrusion into personal liberty. NVFAC is requesting your help in contacting two Nevada legislators (Assemblyman Pat Hickey and Senator Michael Roberson) and asking for their support of our gun rights. I have contacted both and recieved a message from Assemblyman Hickey stating that he was with me on these issues. It is important for all gun owners to reach out to the public figures who serve us and make sure they are hearing our voices and representing us appropriately.  Thank you for your support of ADAPT, NVFAC (PAC) and the second amendment!
 

Are there different levels of safety when it comes to firearms handling and training?

Yes, we believe that there are and we are going to discuss some of the general safety rules used by most ranges and training institutions, then we are going to move into understanding how those rules may evolve as the individual’s training progresses.

The Universal Safety Rules

Many schools, agencies, organizations and firearms ranges have different rules for safety. Some of the rules sound very similar but are placed in a different order of importance.
For instance, one of the most popular firearms safety rules, due in part to its promotion by the NRA is, "Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction."

This is a great safety rule because in itself it states, in not so many words " be aware of your surroundings, exercise care, be conscious of where your muzzle is pointed and be courteous to others around you"
Most organized ranges state that when you are moving with an uncased firearm keep the muzzle pointed upwards as a safe direction.
 
This rule should always state “when moving with an unloaded firearm… “ because if a round were inadvertently fired it has to come back down somewhere. The chances of someone being injured exist both if the muzzle is pointed up or down. We encourage our students to be constantly in control of their weapons and conscious of their muzzle at all times either up or down.
 



We like to start our students off with understanding the proper mindset you should have when handling any firearm. So we start with our first rule, “Treat all weapons with respect and handle as if they were loaded.”

Col. Jeff Cooper was quoted as saying the first rule was “All guns are always loaded.” We understand what he was saying, that you should always assume that a gun is loaded. However even when we know that the weapon is unloaded we want you to still treat the weapon with the same level of respect as you would a loaded firearm.

The way we state the muzzle safety rule is “Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.”
There are many safe muzzle positions that are situationally dependent upon your environment.
 


 
The next few rules are usually in the same order:

Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Some schools state “Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target.” We like to go a step further and explain that sometimes you may be ready to shoot even when you are not looking at your sights. (Such as when shooting at “Close Contact”)
 

 
The next rule on our list is "Know your target and what is in line with it."
 
Others will say “Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.” Again taking another step we explain there is more to this rule.
Knowing your target for instance involves a few skill sets in and of itself. First to know your target begins with target identification, asking is this the correct  individual and threat assessment does this individual need to be shot? The legal ramifications both criminal and civil have to be considered during this phase, furthermore one should also have an understanding of the differences between legally justified and absolutely necessary. By using the words “in line with it” rather than simply “beyond” we also stress the consideration of the foreground and the ever changing environment of an engagement on the street.

So to summarize and restate these rules:
 
1. Treat all weapons with respect and always handle as if they were loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off of the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is in line with it.
 
More about firearms safety coming soon! Future topics will include: (Click on the text to read the associated article.)
Manipulations and handling as a point of firearms safety. Appropriate gear as a point of firearms safety. Range safety, and Range Etiquette. Marksmanship as a point of firearms safety. Considerations when choosing what type of instruction or instructor is right for your needs.

Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show
 
2014 Shot Show Gun and Gear Review
 
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.

http://connect.lawofficer.com/profile/EricLoden922

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".

Our videos are coming soon...stay tuned.

Are there different levels of safety when it comes to firearms handling and training?

Yes, we believe that there are and we are going to discuss some of the general safety rules used by most ranges and training institutions, then we are going to move into understanding how those rules may evolve as the individual’s training progresses.

The Universal Safety Rules

Many schools, agencies, organizations and firearms ranges have different rules for safety. Some of the rules sound very similar but are placed in a different order of importance.
For instance, one of the most popular firearms safety rules, due in part to its promotion by the NRA is, "Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction."

This is a great safety rule because in itself it states, in not so many words " be aware of your surroundings, exercise care, be conscious of where your muzzle is pointed and be courteous to others around you"
Most organized ranges state that when you are moving with an uncased firearm keep the muzzle pointed upwards as a safe direction.
 
This rule should always state “when moving with an unloaded firearm… “ because if a round were inadvertently fired it has to come back down somewhere. The chances of someone being injured exist both if the muzzle is pointed up or down. We encourage our students to be constantly in control of their weapons and conscious of their muzzle at all times either up or down.
 



We like to start our students off with understanding the proper mindset you should have when handling any firearm. So we start with our first rule, “Treat all weapons with respect and handle as if they were loaded.”

Col. Jeff Cooper was quoted as saying the first rule was “All guns are always loaded.” We understand what he was saying, that you should always assume that a gun is loaded. However even when we know that the weapon is unloaded we want you to still treat the weapon with the same level of respect as you would a loaded firearm.

The way we state the muzzle safety rule is “Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.”
There are many safe muzzle positions that are situationally dependent upon your environment.
 


 
The next few rules are usually in the same order:

Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Some schools state “Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target.” We like to go a step further and explain that sometimes you may be ready to shoot even when you are not looking at your sights. (Such as when shooting at “Close Contact”)
 

 
The next rule on our list is "Know your target and what is in line with it."
 
Others will say “Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.” Again taking another step we explain there is more to this rule.
Knowing your target for instance involves a few skill sets in and of itself. First to know your target begins with target identification, asking is this the correct  individual and threat assessment does this individual need to be shot? The legal ramifications both criminal and civil have to be considered during this phase, furthermore one should also have an understanding of the differences between legally justified and absolutely necessary. By using the words “in line with it” rather than simply “beyond” we also stress the consideration of the foreground and the ever changing environment of an engagement on the street.

So to summarize and restate these rules:
 
1. Treat all weapons with respect and always handle as if they were loaded.
2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off of the trigger and outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
4. Know your target and what is in line with it.
 
More about firearms safety coming soon! Future topics will include: (Click on the text to read the associated article.)
Manipulations and handling as a point of firearms safety. Appropriate gear as a point of firearms safety. Range safety, and Range Etiquette. Marksmanship as a point of firearms safety. Considerations when choosing what type of instruction or instructor is right for your needs.