[TK-421]

I'm not one of those Made in the USA fanboys when it comes to firearms. I like diversity, and military firearms, and that means I have to get firearms from different countries. And it doesn't bother me that my Glock is made in Austria, it's where Glocks are made, it's extremely proven, and I like it a lot.

As for holsters, I'm more than happy to have a holster without a thumb break or a retention button. That's what I like about the Crossbreed holsters. You put the firearm in, you pull it out. No needing to worry about a button getting jammed and not functioning, or having to remember to undo the thumb break. It's like a Glock, it will work every time. If you want your firearm out, you don't have to worry about whether or not the holster will, because that firearm is coming out. Same thing with a Glock, I know that it will function properly every single time I pull that trigger.

I think I'll stick with non-retention kydex holsters. I like the sound that is made when a firearm moves in and out of a kydex holster, and I have no need for retention. As long as the firearm won't fall out if I bend over or am crawling around, that's what matters. You don't need retention when you're concealed carrying, because if you're doing it properly, nobody else will have any idea that you're carrying, so you don't have to worry about someone trying to take your firearm.

[dhunt91]

TK-421, on 21 October 2012 - 03:59 AM, said:

I'm not one of those Made in the USA fanboys when it comes to firearms. I like diversity, and military firearms, and that means I have to get firearms from different countries. And it doesn't bother me that my Glock is made in Austria, it's where Glocks are made, it's extremely proven, and I like it a lot.

As for holsters, I'm more than happy to have a holster without a thumb break or a retention button. That's what I like about the Crossbreed holsters. You put the firearm in, you pull it out. No needing to worry about a button getting jammed and not functioning, or having to remember to undo the thumb break. It's like a Glock, it will work every time. If you want your firearm out, you don't have to worry about whether or not the holster will, because that firearm is coming out. Same thing with a Glock, I know that it will function properly every single time I pull that trigger.

I think I'll stick with non-retention kydex holsters. I like the sound that is made when a firearm moves in and out of a kydex holster, and I have no need for retention. As long as the firearm won't fall out if I bend over or am crawling around, that's what matters. You don't need retention when you're concealed carrying, because if you're doing it properly, nobody else will have any idea that you're carrying, so you don't have to worry about someone trying to take your firearm.

For competition in most handgun or 3gun your pistol holster must have a retention dent at least because of movement

[TK-421]

Well of course I want enough retention for it to stay in there, I just don't want a loop going over the top or a button I have to push to release it. I just want to be able to grab it and go without worrying about anything else. But I do think three gun competitions would be fun, once I get a shotgun and an AR.

[OEFVeteran]

i wont use a holster that doesnt have some sort of locking retention device... i've seen too many times people in the military use holsters that they bought at the PX because they didnt like the drop leg the Army issued them (they make your outer thigh really hot when worn in the desert). the end result? their M9 ended up in the shit hole of a porta-john out in the field when they went to pull down their pants to take a dump... or they dropped it out of the holster at the chow hall sitting down and "lost" their weapon...

when i was in the field, i have the drop leg holster... when i was on post, i had a concealed nylon holster on a pistol belt and kept it in the small of my back... the nylon holster had a nice quick release strap, if i pulled hard enough on the gun the strap would release and my pistol would come free... yet, i never once lost my gun or dropped my gun with either holster...

is this a mindset a civilian going to the range should have? yes and no... if you dont want a retention device, then cool, dont get a holster with a retention device... but i highly advice against it... take your time, got o your local shop or shops and try out as many holsters as you can... as like most anything in th world, they are personal preference... just because a SERPA works for me doesnt mean it will work for you... but, regardless of what holster you get, train with it, know it, and get comfortable with it.... when i first got my SERPA in afghanistan i did dry runs with it in my room... take the mag out, clear the weapon... then draw the weapon repeatedly until comfortable... i must have done a few hundred dry runs with it before i was truely comfortable, not working with a SERPA holster is second nature to me...

[Watcher]

TK-421, on 21 October 2012 - 03:59 AM, said:

I'm not one of those Made in the USA fanboys when it comes to firearms. I like diversity, and military firearms, and that means I have to get firearms from different countries. And it doesn't bother me that my Glock is made in Austria, it's where Glocks are made, it's extremely proven, and I like it a lot.

I'm not necessarily either. I like diversity as well and I do like my Russian military rifles quite a bit. But when it comes to a firearm that will be used primarily for self defense I can't help but think domestic. Especially with our country in the state that it is in, I'll encourage everyone to support domestic business. Especially if it is highly competitive to a foreign product.

I have a Brazilian 1911, didn't think twice about it when I got it. Why? Because for the price the deal was amazing, noone else (especially domestic) could come near the value! Now that Ruger has their SR1911 out and it is going for around the same price as the current Taurus offerings, well lets just say that if it had been out 2 years ago I wouldn't have a Brazilian made firearm in my house.

Glock is good, no doubt about it. But when a similarly priced, highly competitive, and domestically produced firearm is available I think you're a fool to go otherwise without a very good reason.

I want it to compete because it's very ergonomic. Cool! I want it to mess around with in the backyard and pop squirrels. Nice! I want it because it's weird/cool. Sweet!
I want it to defend my life and liberty. Woah there! Now we are going toe to toe. Call me a hard patriot but I think the proper way to defend the homeland is with homeland product if possible. My Brazilian .45 worked for me because the cheapest domestic .45 available at the time was twice the price and I simply couldn't afford it.

Now I am severely considering selling it and buying that Ruger SR1911. It was my first handgun ever, my first firearm ever shot, and I bought it on my 21st birthday. Yet it means so much more to me to support domestic firearm production that I'd trade it for a Ruger in a heartbeat.

TK-421, on 21 October 2012 - 03:59 AM, said:

As for holsters, I'm more than happy to have a holster without a thumb break or a retention button. That's what I like about the Crossbreed holsters. You put the firearm in, you pull it out. No needing to worry about a button getting jammed and not functioning, or having to remember to undo the thumb break. It's like a Glock, it will work every time. If you want your firearm out, you don't have to worry about whether or not the holster will, because that firearm is coming out. Same thing with a Glock, I know that it will function properly every single time I pull that trigger.

I think I'll stick with non-retention kydex holsters. I like the sound that is made when a firearm moves in and out of a kydex holster, and I have no need for retention. As long as the firearm won't fall out if I bend over or am crawling around, that's what matters. You don't need retention when you're concealed carrying, because if you're doing it properly, nobody else will have any idea that you're carrying, so you don't have to worry about someone trying to take your firearm.

Retention is not so that someone else can't take your firearm from your holster, retention is made with the singular purpose of simply retaining the firearm until ready to present.

The seatbelt isn't there to prevent someone from carjacking you. It's to prevent you from leaving the vehicle by any means other than your own.


I 100% believe in an "active" retention system in a holster, and along with this is the idea that training is a requirement of proper operation. I don't know why training WOULDN'T be a requirement of proper operation in anything.

The lack of a security feature is not an excuse for lack of practice. If the reason for a Glock having no thumb safety is because too many people forget to disengage it, the solution is not to remove it but to promote proper training so people naturally use it.

No offense but I think people who think otherwise are naive.


The easiest active-retention holster to use/train/learn and the most natural one to use, in my opinion, is the SERPA. You don't think about push the button to release the gun, you think grab the gun and your hand position naturally touches the release.




Now I'm not trying to force my way or be condescending, I'm just trying to offer more information and a different point of view. Ultimately if you don't want an active retention system on your holster and you don't want to buy domestic then it's your decision. I'm just trying to prevent an uneducated mistake from thinking you will be fumbling around with a latch when you really won't be, and I'm trying to give you a guilt trip for not supporting local business

[OEFVeteran]

the best part of the retention system with the SERPA holster is that the release button is int he natural position... go to grab your sidearm and yoru finger naturally falls above where the trigger would be, which is where the release button is... its very easy and natural, even with big hands or small hands... given the amount of use i've given SERPA holsters over seas, i find it hard to believe that someone could shoot themselves int he leg using one unless they are pushing themselves beyond their skill level

[canscom]

OEFVeteran, on 21 October 2012 - 08:02 PM, said:

the best part of the retention system with the SERPA holster is that the release button is int he natural position... go to grab your sidearm and yoru finger naturally falls above where the trigger would be, which is where the release button is... its very easy and natural, even with big hands or small hands... given the amount of use i've given SERPA holsters over seas, i find it hard to believe that someone could shoot themselves int he leg using one unless they are pushing themselves beyond their skill level

Which they probable were

[OEFVeteran]

went to my privte shooting sport yesterday to take my buddy and his wife shooting.... she is former Air Guard... hasnt shot an AR in years... and yet, she was still a better shot then her hubby with my SCAR... at 125ft~ she shot a 20gram CO2 tank... we never found the tank....

[dhunt91]

canscom, on 23 October 2012 - 05:56 PM, said:

OEFVeteran, on 21 October 2012 - 08:02 PM, said:

the best part of the retention system with the SERPA holster is that the release button is int he natural position... go to grab your sidearm and yoru finger naturally falls above where the trigger would be, which is where the release button is... its very easy and natural, even with big hands or small hands... given the amount of use i've given SERPA holsters over seas, i find it hard to believe that someone could shoot themselves int he leg using one unless they are pushing themselves beyond their skill level

Which they probable were

Which is why its is a competition the whole point is to push yourself as far past your limits as possible. Hence things tend to happen.

[Watcher]

Yeah, but noone is supposed to be pushing themselves to where it puts safety at risk.

The way they claim people are shooting themselves with SERPA holsters is the shooter is so focused on the fast shot that their finger is hooked when pressing the release button and once the weapon comes out a bit their finger slips onto the trigger and fires it.
I've tried to replicate it and it is actually kind of difficult to make happen. But in reality this could happen on any holster. The button being there just leaves an excuse in my opinion.

[OEFVeteran]

someon high up in the comp world got all but hurt over something with the SERPA and has pushed for its banning... at least thats what this scrams to me... if the SERPA was so unsafe there would be more officers with holes in their legs, and we just dont see that... 90% of the soldiers i met/ran into in a combat zones that had am m9 also had a SERPA, because thats what the Army issues out... if people were shooting themselves becuase of the holster, then theunits would ban the use of said holster...

i jsut find it hard to believe that anyone with training and experience would be dumb enough to push their skills/abilities with a new piece of hardware without actually taking the time to train with and get used to said piece of hardware... a singel day at the range and you can be proficient enough to know that the holster lock wont disengage if you pull up on the pistol.... and that clawing the button isnt the best way to go about it

[canscom]

So looking for a new rifle it needs to be in .308 be left handed light and cheaper the better optional camo finish railed reciever and forend for a bipod

[OEFVeteran]

canscom, on 25 October 2012 - 07:56 PM, said:

So looking for a new rifle it needs to be in .308 be left handed light and cheaper the better optional camo finish railed receiver and forend for a bipod

i've heard alot of good about the FN AR, but its right hand eject semi auto... based off the BAR rifle...


i am in the process of updating my SCAR... i am going to ditch the grip pod in favor of a Magpul AFG, then putting a Versa Pod up front... eventually i will get the PWS rail extension for more rail space... if GG&G ever released their XDS 2 bi-pod with a QD mount i will drop the coin for that... also looking for a new optic mounting base, thinking about going with the ADM SCAR SSR mount... the issue i have right now is that even with the comb in the lowest position i still find my head is uncomfortable high for the optic... plus, i want to be able to pull the optic back over the rear BUIS to get a better position on the rifle.. i feel like i am having to lean too far into the rifle to get a good shot... i am also looking at new weapon mounted lights... i like my SureFire, and it was free, but i would like something smaller, lighter, with a higher lumen output, yet still has the pressure switch... i like the SureFire X300, but its kinda pricey with the pressure switch... will most likely end up getting it anyway... witht eh PWS fore end extender i can mount the light on the top rail ahead of the front sight and not have it be in the way of my optic, which i like

[canscom]

The FNAR is on the no go list for hunting

[OEFVeteran]

thats sucks... FN guarantees the rifles sub MOA accuracy form the factory.... its on my list of rifles to buy

[canscom]

I would like to buy one but I want to get back into hunting I think I'll either go with a Savage or Ruger bolt gun in .308

[Panda Man]

one of the best if not, thee best review of a Soviet Era rifle I have ever watched.

This post has been edited by Panda Man: 29 October 2012 - 04:59 PM

[WeAre138]

I could go on forever about the things Ive had and traded off or sold off. Ive become a value firearms kind of guy lately. A like alot of bang for the buck. (pardon the pun)

Heres what Ive gotten into this year.

Turn-in Remington 870 Police Magnum. Came with all the goodies you see except the buckshot.


Ruger p95. GREAT budget 9mm. Not the prettiest, but its a tank that has run flawlessly.


Tacticool Ruger 10/22. The zombie gun. Everyone needs a 10/22 build for giggles. I threw a Bushnell TRS25 red dot on it for optics. Great red dot for the price.

[WeAre138]

Corrupted355, on 19 October 2012 - 09:28 PM, said:

I'm gonna go ahead and be a bit of a troll. You shoulda bought a Springfield XDm. It comes with a decent OWB holster.

Really? I find the holsters that come with XD pistols to be quite crappy. Id rather they left out the holster and the mag pouch, and slimmed down the carry case. Then whack about 25 bucks off the price. Then Id be sold.

canscom, on 27 October 2012 - 11:37 PM, said:

I would like to buy one but I want to get back into hunting I think I'll either go with a Savage or Ruger bolt gun in .308

Im a Ruger fan boy, but I gotta say those savage accutriggers are NICE. Savage makes a damn good rifle for the price.

[Panda Man]

yet the new Ruger American rifle kicks the hell out of the Savage Axis.

Also, I'm looking into getting a Marlin 1895GBL in 45/70, that round is so great to shoot, only problem is finding ammo for it locally, internet has plenty but not where I shop.