Mine too. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy forwarding the email to the personnel that had repeatedly argued with me on the range over their holster choice. Like you, I noticed they tend to only draw on qual days. Go figure.
Good news, but someone better tell the other branches of the military. The Serpa is the most common holster I’ve seen in AFG, and it’s sold in the BX in quite a few places.
I have used one for over three years and love mine and more importantly haven’t had one issue.
Guess I better study up on this.
My agency now issues the Serpa holster to new hires at the academy. I prefer and carry a Safariland ALS/SLS holster. I have been warning people about the unsafe nature of this holster and I hope this FLETC advisement helps provide impetus for change to a holster that is more safe, reliable, and secure.
Denial isn’t a river in Egypt, however it’s rampant amongst a lot of Serpa owners.
The first time I saw a SERPA holster, I thought the design was asking for trouble.
WELL CRAP! I just got Serpa holsters for both myself and my wife. I guess I will have to figure out something else.:sad:
I sincerely hope that the people who still use the SERPA never sustain any problems while operating in the field. While I know there are folks out there that will not change their mind on the issue, I would like to bring to light the fact that there is a number of documented incidents from other members here on the forum who have experienced failures with the holster. At the very least, this should make someone mindful of that possibility.
I had heard of a couple anecdotal experiences from some friends who had suffered failures while in the training environment but had never seen it personally. However, in one of the last carbine classes I attended, I witnessed a student position himself into the urban prone position and lock up his holster. A piece of gravel had lodged into the mechanism causing it to seize up. Needless to say, he was unable to draw his pistol.
IMHO, the ALS from Safariland offers so much more in terms of quality while keeping in roughly the same price range as the SERPA: the attachment points are stronger, the locking mechanism is less susceptible to dirt and debris, and the mechanism is actuated by a digit other than the trigger finger.
Drawing from the Serpa and having an ND isn’t as much of an potentiality as the potential of having your pistol locked in there from debris, especially given the environment that most BPAs work in.
The “evidence” is in the fact that new agents who are issued the Serpa don’t seem to have a problem drawing and shooting from it (at least to my knowledge), having spent their time at FLETC being trained on that holster.
To date, we haven’t had any Serpa related NDs at our station. Like you, I continue to carry my Safariland 6280 that I was issued.
I think many agents that were issued the 6280 switched to the Serpa when it became authorized because they thought it was cooler or “high speed” (no doubt from seeing photos of military wearing it). If nothing else, Serpa has great marketing.
I work in SE GA a little south of FLETC (not in LE). I forwarded this information to a friend of mine who works for the PD in the same city I work in. He didn’t think much of it. Then I sent him information on the holster being torn from the belt and about the locking mechanism being jammed by debris and included the video links below. Those got his attention and now they’re reconsidering the use of the Serpa for the non-uniformed guys. I hope something good comes of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOBEJvMZ_f4&feature=related
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid53246191001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxpXUN4bMb4&feature=player_embedded
Cgsteve I think you are spot on. I was surprised when I found out about the Serpa issues. Even more surprised there wernt more nd since all the new trainees are issued them. I not a huge fan of the safariland after having the holster dump my sidearm on a trail on two seperate incidents. But I can remember guys buyin serpas before they were even authorized because they were so much “better”. For me I will stick with the safariland.
My agency issues Serpa Holsters. We are currently in the T&E process for getting a new departmental Pistol and I think that this notice coming out will also really help me in getting rid of the Serpas as well…I hope. It’s just hard because the folks whose lives don’t depend on them love the price point.
I am interested to see if USBP drops the SERPA entirely within the next year or so, at least as a purchase item. Maybe they could replace it with the Safariland ALS holster.
In before the butt-hurt SERPA defenders.
My local PD is in love with the things.
Wish I would’ve read all this Serpa stuff 3 weeks ago. Or seen the video with the snow test. That was a horrible waste of $30 bucks. Just the snow video alone is enough to never carry it again. When you add the AD/ND’s around the country it’s a no brainier.
There aren’t that many of them on this forum as opposed to others.
There is a reason many folks use the term SERPA DEATH to describe what can happen to the end-user when the wrong holster is chosen…
In this day and age, anyone who chooses to purchase, use, or recommend the SERPA is clearly ignorant, asinine, or only cares about $$$ and not the lives of their personnel.
Horrible for concealing, safety issues, retention issues, durability issues, jam issues, its had more than its fair share of strikes and should be out given the competition.
Great in a perfect world but the reason you ever need it is because the world is imperfect.
Is it me though or does the article skirt the fact that its been in the hot seat by many users and experts for a long time? I suppose there is some face saving.
Sell 'em on barfcom? 
I had one when they first came out, given to me by a vendor at a show in Vegas. For for a 1911. I worked with holster for a few weeks and decided it was not for me and gave to someone who gad “SERPA fever” as it was the latest high tech thing at the time.
It didn’t give me any problems per se (but my eval time was short granted) but there was nothing I liked about it either. Didn’t feel well built, didn’t like how it sat/rode on my belt, and the gun was not secure; it rattled regardless of tweaking retention screws.
Was only the 1911 version I had, so perhaps a better fit to other frame types, but it was not for me.