Worn Leather Hoslter Causes "Accidental" Discharge

[UpTheIrons]

WARNING: One of the photos shows a bullet graze wound on the gun owner's hip.

I saw this linked through one of the gun blogs today. I don't use this type of holster, and probably never will - this episode notwithstanding. The gist of it is that the leather got soft enough to encroach on the trigger when the gun was holstered.
http://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firea ... ischarges/

That's one way to ruin your day - I'm glad it wasn't more serious.

[WildBill]

That's one way to ruin your day - I'm glad it wasn't more serious.

Ouch. That's gotta hurt. Thanks for the post.

I noticed the black marks on the holster and wonder if they are powder burns from the discharge. The area around the trigger looks very crushed. I never did like those yaqui or bikini style holsters. I think that any holster should cover the entire trigger guard. I sure hope that he didn't use any oils or lubricants to soften up the leather on his holster.

[McKnife]

Just FYI:

This is the ONLY reason I prefer the XD over the Glock... After practicing with my XD, I have made it second nature to lift my palm off the grip safety when holstering, preventing the firing pin from releasing even if the trigger is pressed.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

From the article:

This truly brings home the importance of taking care of your equipment and ensuring it’s in proper working order. Hopefully you can learn from my situation and prevent an accident like this from happening to you.

"Point and press" firearms, such as the Glock carried by the subject of this article, are excellent choices for defense due to the simplicity in which they can be employed. However, when all that is required to discharge a firearm is a press of the trigger, a user must ensure that the trigger is protected at all times, whether the firearm is held in hand, or stored during carry. That's where this gentleman failed.

While design defects do result in "accidental" discharges, far more often, unintended discharges can be traced to negligence on the part of the user, and this example is no exception.

Be diligent, be safe.

[UpTheIrons]

Looking at the pictures, I don't think that's powder burns on the holster. I think that's just a year's worth of accumulated oils and grime. I sure hope he didn't oil it up to soften it.

I do have a Looper's belt slide holster for my 1911 that I rarely use anymore. It is still quite stiff, made of much thicker leather, and covers the whole trigger guard (but not as much as I'd like).

Also I put "accidental" in quotes in the title because I'm still not convinced there is ever an accidental discharge - only negligent ones. This one appears to be from casual negligence (as if there are varying kinds), but negligence just the same.

[fulano]

........I never did like those yaqui or bikini style holsters. I think that any holster should cover the entire trigger guard. I sure hope that he didn't use any oils or lubricants to soften up the leather on his holster.

I would tend to be uneasy with the Recluse pocket holster for the reason that the trigger is encased in a plastic mold within the guard. Getting that mold into and out of the guard would appear to make the user vulnerable. IMHO

[LongHairedRedneck]

That could have been really really bad, just think if it discharged in the cafe and ricocheted off the floor(assuming its tile covered concrete) or it caught more of the mans leg/foot.

[flechero]

I would tend to be uneasy with the Recluse pocket holster for the reason that the trigger is encased in a plastic mold within the guard. Getting that mold into and out of the guard would appear to make the user vulnerable. IMHO

Actually that's not the case at all... the recluse will not accept the trigger if it's not completely "out" for lack of the appropriate word. The trigger can't be moved when in the holster. I admit I was a skeptic before I tried it but have used it for several months and am quite pleased. Learning to draw quickly took a bit of practice, but that was just a good excuse to burn through a box of ammo every couple days until I got comfortable and proficient.

[fulano]

I would tend to be uneasy with the Recluse pocket holster for the reason that the trigger is encased in a plastic mold within the guard. Getting that mold into and out of the guard would appear to make the user vulnerable. IMHO

Actually that's not the case at all... the recluse will not accept the trigger if it's not completely "out" for lack of the appropriate word. The trigger can't be moved when in the holster. I admit I was a skeptic before I tried it but have used it for several months and am quite pleased. Learning to draw quickly took a bit of practice, but that was just a good excuse to burn through a box of ammo every couple days until I got comfortable and proficient.

What do you carry with it?

[pcgizzmo]

I'm surprised the guy sat there for the pictures to be taken. I can see it now. BANG!!!! Ouch! What the heck just happened? Hmmm.. Accidental discharge. Hey John, can you take your phone out and get a picture of this? It's a teachable moment.

[fulano]

I'm surprised the guy sat there for the pictures to be taken. I can see it now. BANG!!!! Ouch! What the heck just happened? Hmmm.. Accidental discharge. Hey John, can you take your phone out and get a picture of this? It's a teachable moment.

Really.

I don't own enough blood pressure medicine for an experience like that.

[gringop]

That is one cruddy holster. No re-enforcement of the holster mouth. Cheesy single layer leather and no kind of blocking that I can see. The inside-the-belt design causes it to collapse when the gun is withdrawn. And Galco charges $65 for it.
A Yaqui Slide would be an improvement.

I've got a $20 Don Hume that works better than that holster.

Pics from the article
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you want to go inside the belt, get a real inside the pants holster and get it from a good holster maker. If it won't stay open for reholstering, don't get it.

Gringop

[bpet]

Just FYI:

This is the ONLY reason I prefer the XD over the Glock... After practicing with my XD, I have made it second nature to lift my palm off the grip safety when holstering, preventing the firing pin from releasing even if the trigger is pressed.

This weighed heavily in my decision as well.

[gemini]

one thought comes to mind........ 1911

[witchdoctor575]

exactly. people press for guns with no secure safety and what do you expect. I use a 1911 because it has multiple safety mechanisms for this very reason. even my old little makarov had a secure safety.