Blackhawk-serpa paddle/owb..problems?

It's a lot more than one guy, there have been many incidents.

FLETC bans them


CT State Police ban them


LAPD bans them


Dallas PD bans them


Do I need to continue posting more links for you?

Serpa bad. Not wear Serpa.


But seriously. There is a staggering amount of readily-available information on this product in terms of lack of durability, issues with NDs due to the release design, and failure of the belt attachment since at least 2011.

I think the infamous Guns and Ammo video from 2016 is a good summary of why this is a bad design to use. Patrick Sweeny putting his finger in the trigger guard on the draw, "proving" the Serpa is a safe design. Almost a Tex Grebner redux.

vafish said:

Do I need to continue posting more links for you?

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I'll save you some time.

I use the same one in the Guns and Ammo vid, for years . Nary a problem. Of course it is a jframe revolver. Keeps the little guy secure, getting in and out of the truck.

I use a DeSantis Facilitator Holster. The release button is on the inside. When you place your hand on the grip of the gun your thumb comes in contact with the release button.

mrerick said:

The location of the pushbutton release adjacent to the trigger guard as you draw the pistol, and natural position of the finger after applying pressure to the release requires you to ensure that you don't allow that finger to wander into the trigger guard and onto the trigger after drawing the firearm. This takes conscious control, and development of muscle memory. If that rigorous discipline is not present 100% of the time, there is potential for a ND.

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I'm not sure I understand or agree with this. I took a picture below of my P229 halfway out. The button that is depressed is circled in red. Regardless of the holster I am wearing, my index finger always comes out on the frame of the weapon firearm, and it does drag a little on the outside of any holster I am wearing because I unholster with as close to my ready grip as possible. This is natural and ensures accurate "pointing" quickly. People who practice a clean, straight draw should never have their finger end up on the trigger.

Generally speaking, one thing I've observed in our FOF classes is that it's a bad idea to train the trigger finger to perform multiple tasks as this either creates unforced errors or hesitation under stress. Fortunately, these occurred using non lethal training ammunition.

Before I get to the SERPA, I'll give you one surprisingly common example.

As part of the administrative unloading process, many clubs and trainers require the user to press the trigger at the end of the unloading sequence while pointing the muzzle in a safe direction. The problem with the framework of this process is it unconsciously trains the brain that the act of using your index finger to press the finger can be EITHER to fire the gun OR to render it safe.

I have seen students arrive at our FOF and under duress their brain gets confused as to what the trigger finger should be doing when under the stress of a threat. I theorize the brain is saying "shoot the threat" but is also saying "pressing the trigger renders the gun safe."

This is why I advocate performing a deliberate aimed dry fire rep when a club RSO or trainer requires the user to press the trigger as part of their unloading sequence; this way, the dry fire rep is simulating pressing the trigger to fire the gun and we are training our brain and trigger finger that the ONLY thing pressing the trigger does is fire the gun. KISS

Now on to the SERPA. I ban these from our school due to reported and observed safety issues. Like with the aforementioned example, the problem with the SERPA design is the user has to train their brain and trigger finger to first apply side to side pressure while the finger is flat against the holster, and then once the gun is drawn press the trigger with an inward pressure to make the gun fire. IMHO this again is asking the brain and trigger finger to multi-task and make multiple associations with index finger movements. I have seen folks hesitate or perform unforced errors under FOF stress such as not being able to release the active retention or ND'ing during the draw.

You do you, but from what I've seen we need to keep the brain and trigger finger exclusively focused on ONE TASK so no matter what the situation we know that movement of the index finger results in a bang.