Post by stanimal on Jun 28, 2005 8:54:13 GMT -5
Hey everyone, I know there are several law enforcement types on here, and probably several others who carry a gun in the courseof their days. I just wanted to share some things I learned while out at the firing range on Friday. We started doing some weapons retention drills, and for the first time I got paired up with someone who (like me) does these things full speed and full strength.
A little bit of info, I carry a .40 caliber Glock 22. I was issued and carried a paddle back holster. I chose the paddle back for convenience since most often I am in my office, and it is easy to take off the holster and secure my weapon in my lock box in my office.
Anyway, as we were doind drills where a person standing in front of you grabbed your weapon and tried to remove it, I found out that the paddle back holster, because it doesn't use a belt to secure itself, pivots forward quite a bit. When it rotated forward, it allowed my partner to pull the weapon with enough force to open the thumb break on the holster. the first time it happened I thought it was a fluke, the second through fifth times I looked at the red man gun I realized there was a problem.
I now carry a belt loop holster with a thumb break that is not just a snap guard, but is a solid piece that actually rotates over the slide of the weapon. I am just waiting for approval from our firearms instructor to "officially" use it.
If you carry a paddleback holster, I STRONGLY recommend changing to a different one.
The bottom line is, because I had always been paired up with people going half speed, and because of my size (6'2", 245) I never knew the danger of the equipment I was carrying. Realistic training stikes again.
A little bit of info, I carry a .40 caliber Glock 22. I was issued and carried a paddle back holster. I chose the paddle back for convenience since most often I am in my office, and it is easy to take off the holster and secure my weapon in my lock box in my office.
Anyway, as we were doind drills where a person standing in front of you grabbed your weapon and tried to remove it, I found out that the paddle back holster, because it doesn't use a belt to secure itself, pivots forward quite a bit. When it rotated forward, it allowed my partner to pull the weapon with enough force to open the thumb break on the holster. the first time it happened I thought it was a fluke, the second through fifth times I looked at the red man gun I realized there was a problem.
I now carry a belt loop holster with a thumb break that is not just a snap guard, but is a solid piece that actually rotates over the slide of the weapon. I am just waiting for approval from our firearms instructor to "officially" use it.
If you carry a paddleback holster, I STRONGLY recommend changing to a different one.
The bottom line is, because I had always been paired up with people going half speed, and because of my size (6'2", 245) I never knew the danger of the equipment I was carrying. Realistic training stikes again.