It looks like they will get over 8,000 holsters. I’d say that someone dropped the ball given the safety issues with this holster and its propensity to lock-up weapons in dirty environments.
Yea somebody is getting a kickback. No other way would Serpa ever get a hard look. They are junk.
At least they acquired G-Code holsters as well: http://soldiersystems.net/2014/02/07/u-s-army-awards-military-hardware-llc-g-code-49-million-new-holster-system/
I thought Blackhawk made their junk in Vietnam. Doesn’t that violate the Berry Amendment? Even though that article say it is compliant…
I had to check my calendar to make sure this wasn’t 01 APR.
A program manager, a contracting officer and whoever wrote the SOW need a swift kick in the balls and a pink slip.
This.
A common theme with the SERPA crowd is wearing the holster on the front of a plate carrier / IBA. I even see local LEOs doing this with their service weapons. From a weapon retention perspective, I can’t imagine a worse place to holster your primary weapon system - between you and your adversary. Although I don’t have a SERPA to test my hypothesis, I propose that it is MUCH easier to disarm someone carrying their weapon in this manner as opposed to their strong side. I’d also love to put someone who utilizes this method under the timer and compare it to traditional methods of carry. Something tells me that it will be about as fast as a shoulder rig.
The chest mounted pistol is/was used for guys primarily in a vehicle e.g. driver, gunner etc. The idea is that he can’t reach his pistol while seated so move it to the chest. In my experience it works in that role but can create other problem like sweeping everyone when you draw and getting your sling caught up in transitions. When I see people carrying their pistol chest-mounted that aren’t basically vehicle crew I have to wonder what they’re thinking.
Things like this, spending money on useless garbage, is one of the reasons I am OK with the military having their budgets slashed.
Problem is they never cut where they should. The crap programs and money pits will continue to be funded while the people needed for readiness, their training, and the value minded equipment that gives us the best bang for our buck will be slashed so we can get more f35s , LCS’s or general officers supposium in key west.
I prefer is a chest mounted pistol. Most of my experience was vehicle ops but even for dismounts I prefer it. Drop legs blow, are impossible to run in and are uncomfortable. Since normal hip holders don’t work with most armor, a chest mounted is a good option. It also allows you to keep most of your gear on one piece when u need to don your gear as the Russians are invading your front lawn.
The SERPA is produced in the Montana facility.
Oh boy, another useluess purchase.
Pistol training in the Big Army is non-existant. One or two ranges a year does not a competent shooter make. The vast majority of M9s are issued to staff personnel who don’t want to be inconvenienced to carry a rifle around a FOB. And what sucks is that now those who actually carry an M9 as a secondary weapon are being issued an unreliable, unsafe item of equipment. The problem is the SERPA is deeply rooted in the Army culture because you can buy one at every PX and pawn shop around every base. People don’t know any better, buy it, and suddenly it’s the new norm.
They weren’t formally issued, but I’ve always seen the SERPA used. It’s been the accepted norm since 2008 and I doubt the majority of people issued them give a shit because they’ll never run it hard enough to see it fail.
$24M on holsters, when we still have barely working CompM2s, PEQ-2s, and PVS-7s in line company arms rooms. Hell, I have a deadlined PRC-152 on my cot right now and we don’t have the money to fix it.
Our priorities are so ****ed up, it’s not even funny.
It’s important to remember that Blackhawk! is owned by ATK.
The same ATK that runs the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and owns Eagle. The same ATK that developed and manufactures the Mk318 and Mk317 SOST rounds. And owns Federal Premium Ammunition, Speer, CCI, RCBS, &c., &c., &c.
I would guess that this deal is directly related to ATK and that it was either given to ATK to placate them because they lost a contract somewhere else or it’s part of the ongoing palm-greasing with ATK (whether it’s deserved or not). But that’s spitballin’ mighty hard.
Well sh*t. At least they spent more on g - codes than the serpas.
Wonder if this was why I saw two bins full of the old m9 dropleg holsters (Safariland?) at the surplus store the last time I was there? Could just be coincidental though.
Anyway, my personal experience and opinion with the serpa is that they suck great big sweaty donkey balls. And if you are using their drop leg platform and do any amount of walking or running it will eventually smack you in the balls. Ran a pair of serpas for a few months, tried to get it to work, the one for my 1911, the button would occasionally stick, though I never gave much mind to it then. I worked with them for a while and then handled an ALS from Safariland which a friend bought. Ordered one for my Glock along with a TLR1 as soon as I could get to a computer, have had three or four ALS holsters now. Still have that first holster, though I had to pop out the insert so I could shove my x300U in it. Need to find a new one that is the same basic set up but for the X300U. But, that said, there isn’t a damn thing that the serpa does that other holsters can’t do better in my opinion or experience.
$3,000 per for a holster that has a high failure rate in dirty environments for soldiers in an arid climate? Seems like a bargain for government spending based on past purchases to me.
Honestly the ONLY holster I’ve ever had completely lock up on me was a Safariland ALS for my SIG. I actually had to disassemble the thing to get my gun back. Never had a problem with any Serpa in over 10 years of daily carry.
Certainly not without their faults and I’ve seen stronger holsters. But all things considered it’s the best retention holster for CCW that I’ve ever tried. And by retention I mean the thing won’t come unsnapped and spill your sidearm, not that nobody can take it from you. If something worked better, I’d be using that. I have a whole box of holsters that I’ve tried.
The military should have gotten a better price however. Is that like Obamanomics?
The boots on the ground are not CCW’ing. They are living/training/operating in dirt, sand, mud, brush, etc…and serpas are known to fail in those conditions. Not to mention they emphasize poor finger placement with their locking mechanism. To each their own though, just being the devils advocate. Definitely a ridiculous price.
The contract is Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity. If I’m understanding that correctly, the Army awarded the funds and can order any amount within the 5 years of the contract terms. (Please correct me if I’m off on the purchasing terms). The 8400 holster order has already been delivered under the contract but is not the extent of it. So, the assumption that the holster cost $3K a piece does not appear valid.