Things I've learned about holstering

[ZeSpectre]

Here in S&T we discuss the draw, presentation, and use of a firearm pretty frequently. I'm going to take us in a slightly different direction for a moment with "things I've learned about holstering". Hopefully this will have the dual purpose of passing along practical stuff I've learned, and also give others a chance to correct me if I'm wrong about something.

1) Holster slowly. Seriously, while it's a good idea to learn how to get your gun out and presented in a hurry, you really shouldn't be in a hurry to re-holster a gun. Rush this action and bad things can happen. What's worse is the bad things will happen very closely to your person!

2) Glance at your holster before you stick the gun in it. Holstering by feel might seem cool but you never know when something foreign might have fallen in the way (shirt, pen, stick, whatever).

3) When holstering a striker type gun (specifically an XD) use your thumb on the back of the slide to push the gun solidly into the holster. Nothing will try to shift out of battery and that little dimple you'll get on your thumb is a nice tactile reminder that your gun is cocked and ready to go.

4) Once the nose of your gun is in the holster pause for a second and THINK about where your fingers are. I've seen FAR too many "fast holsters" where the finger is still inside the trigger guard!

Okay, that's what I've got... anyone else?

 

[geekWithA.45]

For guns w/ external hammers, the hammer is an integral part of the holstering process.

Your thumb should be on the appropriate, hammer related place to ensure the hammer remains in whatever condition it's supposed to be in.

Feeling the hammer move gives you a chance to STOP and sort out the malfunction.

This saved my literal ass on one occassion, when my zipper entered my triggerguard during holstering.

But for the hammer on my da/sa, I'd have "glocked" myself.

 

[WYO]

I think that glancing at the holster before reholstering is a dangerous practice to get into. While it may be ok to do it for administrative reholstering, on the street we tend to do things the way we train, and I wouldn't want to look down at my holster before handcuffing someone. If it is necessary to look at the holster before reholstering, there is a system problem with the gun, holster and/or other apparel and equipment. It is for that reason that I carry external hammer guns (DAO, but SA would be OK as well) because, like geek, my thumb is on the hammer during the reholstering procedure, and I get a major indicator if something is amiss.

I also question thumbing the slide on striker gun. If the gun goes off, I'll bet that hurts. OTOH, if someone shoots himself in the leg reholstering, maybe he won't notice the thumb.

I haven't read a lot of threads on this issue lately, so maybe I'm out of touch with the modern world.

 

[Working Man]

Your thumb should be on the appropriate, hammer related place to ensure the hammer remains in whatever condition it's supposed to be in.

I can attest to this one.

I had my one and only (I hope) ND due to cocking back the hammer while holstering, feeling
that it was not seated right in the holster (IWB, back of jeans) pulling it to reholster and failing
to keep my nose hook off the trigger.

My dresser did not appreciate the outcome.

 

[pax]

I think that glancing at the holster before reholstering is a dangerous practice to get into. While it may be ok to do it for administrative reholstering, on the street we tend to do things the way we train, and I wouldn't want to look down at my holster before handcuffing someone.

Different rules for LEOs.

As an ordinary citizen carrying a concealed weapon, I will never get within arm's reach of a defeated assailant, unless and until there are badge-wearing people on the scene.

If the scene is safe enough to put my firearm away, it is safe enough to take my eyes off the assailant long enough to assure my safety in reholstering. If it is not safe enough to take my eyes off the assailant, it is not yet safe enough to put my gun away.

I also question thumbing the slide on striker gun. If the gun goes off, I'll bet that hurts. OTOH, if someone shoots himself in the leg reholstering, maybe he won't notice the thumb.

Thumb on the back of the slide holds it in battery during the holstering process. If you're going to put your fingers within the trigger guard, or are going to jam the gun into the holster without a glance to be sure the way is clear, keeping the gun in battery might be a bad idea. But otherwise, it's a good one.

pax

 

[BullfrogKen]

I've found holsters with reinforced mouths invaluable, and its almost exclusively what I now use. I know some here scoff at them, citing increased bulk or discomfort. Some holsters quite literally collapse once the pistol is removed, and require two hands to reholster.

I can think of several reasons one might need to reholster one handed. Restraining children . . . tending to a wound . . . being wounded oneself . . . simple range practice and formal classes . . . surreptitious draws that we conclude don't require a handgun to solve the problem.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I think that glancing at the holster before reholstering is a dangerous practice to get into. While it may be ok to do it for administrative reholstering, on the street we tend to do things the way we train, and I wouldn't want to look down at my holster before handcuffing someone.

WYO, you make a good point and having been involved in LE I understand what you mean. I think I should have made it clear that I was approaching this topic from a civilian CCW point of view. As an officer I reholstered any number of times without looking, but it was a big, re-enforced, retention holster sticking out in the clear from a duty belt and I had practiced a lot with it. My CCW holster is much smaller, much tighter to my body, and tucked in under a layer or two of clothing so attempting to re-holster without glancing at the holster is not a good idea.

As for thumbing the striker, I'm talking about one final push (again in a tight CCW holster) with the thumb alone on the gun as a final check that the gun is fully seated in the holster. At that point in the operation the entire gun is in the holster and no other part of your hand is touching. Should be impossible for the gun to go off (unless something else is in the holster and catches the trigger.

 

[Ryder]

Your list looks to be similar to my methods. It has been a neglected subject in training I've had. Always been extra careful and slow about it myself. I think mostly because muzzle burns are not a fun experience.

My current carry holster has a tab of leather between the body and the slide safety. I push that out of the way when reholstering so it doesn't knock my safety off when holstering. It is a possibility if I get sloppy.

 

[LAK]

Item 1. I am in wholehearted agreement. holstering or reholstering should be deliberate from start to finsih; controlled, fluid, and devoid of any haste.

Item 2. Eyeballing the holster is a mistake. Anyone wearing a holstered handgun ought to have it orientated, along with any ancilliary gear and clothing, as to avoid any intereference with each other. And that is a far as one can practically go aside from making use of the weak hand sweeping the area of the top of the holster to clear a concealing overhanging garment when applicable.

No arguement with item 3 as it applies.

I agree with item 4, in that it is among the higher causes of unintentional discharges. But Rule Three comes to mind as the only way to go in general. There are some exceptions to this IMO, but they are deliberate applications in certain circumstances.

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