Video: Guy shoot himself on leg while drawing from holster

[kal0]

Just sharing this video I saw in the 1911 forum today...
Man! he is lucky that the damage wasn't worse.... glad he is ok.

MODERATOR NOTE: Video contains profanity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYvAxLX6 ... ture=feedu

Thanks.

[Pug]

I just don't believe that a safe place for a release-mechanism on a security-holster is right by the trigger.

[A-R]

This ND was obviously caused by the inherently unsafe design of the 1911 style pistol



But in all seriousness, listening to the shooter's own analysis of how/why this happened, this type of situation is why I've always been a bit leery of cross training with a 1911-type gun and a gun with no thumb safety (like a Glock or DA revolver) - two different types of muscle memory and battery of arms. Throw in two distinctly different types of retention release devices on what are otherwise similar holsters and you've got a lot of different movements to keep straight between the two set ups.

Edited to add: and kudos to the guy for posting this video on YouTube so we all can learn from his mistakes

[E.Marquez]

Apart from the fact that all their stuff seems to be made in China, I've always had a specific loathing for their Serpa holster.

I don't really care how many people say they love it, or that they've never had an accident.... I just don't believe that a safe place for a release-mechanism on a security-holster is right by the trigger.

The owner takes pains not to blame the holster but himself (which ultimately is true) - but I believe that poor design of the holster led directly to the discharge.

People can manage to have an ND any number of ways. Some of which fit the "Ya cant make this up" category...Were it not considered classified, I'd tell tales..
Anyway
The proof is in the pudding as they say. I see every ND report for a large division size unit two deployments running, and from an entire Task Force this time around (35,000 or so) and receive reports from units Army wide anytime a reportable death or serious injury happens . I Also see the ND reports from every contractor serving in this AO (if it's reported)..That's a lot of lightly to mostly to untrained M9 carrying folks, doing so for a year straight every day, holstering and un holstering several times a day.
The SERPA holster is VERY popular (I use a belt one myself) here. Not a single ND has been caused by drawing a loaded weapon from a SERPA holster that I can find, not one I have read of in two years running.

So while it might not look like a good layout to some, and one might think it's an unsafe design, the evidence shows, it's not been causative in any ND I can attest to.

Not an argument, or flame, just an observation from my exsperance and that of 30,000 of my closest friends

[E.Marquez]

The Serpa is popular in the sandbox because it's practically all one can get in the PXs (I've seen that for myself) - its "popularity" is irrelevant, and I do know of at least one well-known training outfit which has banned that holster from being used during their tactical courses.

While the holster itself doesn't cause NDs (nor did I imply as much), it's certainly a contributor in this and other shootings. Here's another example:

http://www.actshooters.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ ... 000279;p=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If they moved the button away from the trigger, the only issue I'd have with the Serpa is its propensity to lock the weapon in the holster when it gets stones under the button.

The popular reference was just to lend understanding that there are a lot in use, not a statement as to quality or design.
Again, still regardless of what some guess or think of the design, the evidence shows, it's not an issue.
People can not like the holster design for what ever reason they want
That does not change the very real observations of mine.
Simply, three years of observation many thousands observed using this holster design over hundreds of thousands of hours in use, hundreds of ND's witnessed and reported on and not one attributed to drawing from this style holster.

"Professionals" seem to regularly find a way to shoot them self's and others with all kinds of holsters. If someone is attributing that to the Serpa design, Id say, a large body of evidence shows otherwise.


Professionals skip safety-checks - shooting amateurs and them self's with astonishing regularity.

[E.Marquez]

Amateurs skip safety-checks - pros don't.

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http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18238202" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27963920/ns ... ty-lesson/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime ... 38030.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/sh ... s-soldier-(Shoots-himself-in-the-GROIN" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... mself.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... -self.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.policeone.com/legal/articles ... wins-4-5M/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1349256" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ND's not just for Amateurs

[E.Marquez]

Professional vs amateur in that context meaning professional gun-handling or attitude towards firearm; it has nothing to do with their job, but obviously that went over your head

Nope i got it, it's just your SIG line makes me giggle every time I read it, knowing many who call them selfs pros, arnt.

The ND's don't seem to occur during regular holstering or unholstering ie. loading and unloading- so your point is largely irrelevant as that's not where the issue lies. They always seem to occur during live-fire events.

well im not all that up on pretend live fire stuff some are, and I'm sure it's very realistic.

But again,, the data I'm looking at is ND's not just inside the wire, all of um, in contact and not. Been humping a ruck for 25 years now,, last 5 in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan.. Im sure you have seen the reports, and or been here..(you mentioned PX) there is some shooting going on.here.. bit more then your average "Pro" back home might see in a life time on the force, DEA, FBI, etc.
Enemy contact or not live fire training, base ops, Garrison, or at the range at home station... Your opinion that the position of the weapon lock on that holster is bad is one thing, the facts as I see them on the ground another.
Thats all Im saying.
Your opinion is as valid as mine,, your concern for the design valid as it apply s to your observations..
To each his own, do what works for you.

[McKnife]

I disagree with the notion that the holster had anything to do with the ND.

The shooter made a mistake by disengaging the safety too early and more importantly put his finger on the the trigger before he was ready to fire.

Negligence, yes. Complete shooter error. No fault to holster(s) or firearm.

[E.Marquez]

And totally ignoring the evidence of the OP's video - and other occurrences - right?

Not at all, I think that guy was capable of shooting him self no matter what holster he used. He put his finger on the trigger prior to being anywhere near on target. Happens all the time with unskilled shooters, no matter the holster.
Look at time :58 the weapon is well cleared of the holster, his finger then CURLS on to the trigger and he discharges the weapon. That will happen no matter what. He was (is) unskilled doing a drill not trained for.

[couzin]

I disagree with the notion that the holster had anything to do with the ND.

The shooter made a mistake by disengaging the safety too early and more importantly put his finger on the the trigger before he was ready to fire.

Negligence, yes. Complete shooter error. No fault to holster(s) or firearm.

Absolutely - he slips his finger onto the trigger just as the trigger guard of the weapon clears the holster. Just a DA move.