Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Anybody using a retention holster for CCW

If you're interested in traveling for some good hands-on training, I could point you to the classes I've taken (one is coming up here in WA in October for example), but I couldn't point you to any helpful videos about it and frankly don't think it's something you can learn well from a video or online description. It's not so much about repetitive drills, as much as just some techniques that adapt to the situation. You could start by learning about the martial arts concept of the unbendable arm, and think about how to apply that to your hand on the gun in the holster. I'm not an instructor for this stuff, but that's one of the most basic techniques I've learned about retention, along with staying relaxed and calm while fighting the assailant(s) off.

I prefer kydex for this very reason. The tension can be adjusted to the level of “click” you want, and you can get it pretty tight if you need, but there’s no active retention to fiddle with.

I do say it’s silly to think that under stress you’ll not be able to defeat retention, it will be able to do weapon retention techniques.

And the thousand reps is hokey. If after 1000 reps you’ve ingrained the new holster into your “muscle memory”....What happens to your muscle memory for your old holster after 736 reps with the new one? Wouldn’t you be better off just switching after the 500 mark? Especially since everyone clamors over their inability to switch back and forth between pistols under stress...

Thanks for offering, but I can't travel for that. I was hoping there were some nationally recognized techniques in use that I could check out.

That video clip is part of my Concealed Carry class I teach.

No retention devices for me for CCW carry. Different story for my hunting rigs
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IMO it's a general concept best experienced first hand, not just a series of drills you can watch on youtube and attempt to copy. There may be some good videos out there explaining the concepts, but probably a lot of garbage too. Retention is pretty hard to practice alone too; you really need a good training partner (or better yet several).

How about a thousand rounds for any holster your going to use for a duty weapon or a self-defense concealed weapon? The thousand rounds ain't hokey.

That sure seems to go against the “you better not switch carry guns between a Glock and 1911 because you’ll forget the safety” that gets posted here so often.

Just get a thousand reps with any gun and you can carry whatever you want.

Muscle memory and the degradation of fine motor skills under stress is well documented. It’s the same with phenomena such as auditory exclusion and sympathetic squeeze. Ask any LEO trainer that has worked with those transitioning from a DA/SA platform such as a Sig, to a striker fired weapon. Ask any .fed LEO if he has memories of being a noob walking around mumbling “decock...decock...” during the academy. Some folks adapt quicker than others. A “thousand reps” really isnt all that much. Consinder that a typical 1-day transition course (minimal) for a new issued weapon most likey consists of a minimum of 250-500 rounds plus initial dryfire familiarity, plus the qual.

Not trying to start an argument here. Carry whatever you wish. Switch daily. Switch hourly. Carry in a shoulder holster, ankle holster, IWB, fanny pack, however and with whatever method you want. Rock on. Just remember that there is a whole lot of documentation out there that says once it turns into a two-way range you’re more than likely will default to your lowest level of training.

All the best.

The retention of fine motor skills under stress is also well documented. In fact, shooting is a fine motor skill endeavor. And the FMS mantra is a great litmus test when evaluating an instructor.

This^^^^^

I suggest all students watch John McPhee, on you tube discussing 'fine motor skills'


mike r

Never heard of him. Checked it out.
Everyone’s method is the best method. Until it’s not.
Party on.

I have to wear my duty weapon concealed at times and my department requires at least a level 1 holster. My department does not recognize static retention as being any retention at all. I use a Safariland 6378, which is very similar to my duty holster. Its bulkier than I’d like and Inhave to really dress around it. I use the same holster in IDPA and I’ve used it during force-on-force training. It will work fine if you’ve trained yourself.

I dont use one when I carry off duty.

My brother swears by one for his glock...has used if for 10 years...I recently got a klydex retention holster for full size 1911 ...it's not intended in any way for concealment rather around the farm riding 4 wheeler and such...I do like it....I can see it may be a good choice if you were to carry a lighter gun with a leather retention holster....they are hard to find tho...

Your gun hand is your first and best level of retention IF someone is trying to disarm you for whatever reason. You find out real quick what gear is properly secured when you start chasing someone on foot. All that gear is heavy enough to make you feel bogged down, and when things start coming loose...well, you need a way of securing them. On more than one occasion, while in a foot pursuit with another Deputy or Deputies, I've seen back-up guns that were secured (or so thought the Deputy) go spinning on the pavement PAST us, toward the bad guy(s) as the owner lost the gun when he kicked that leg forward for the stride. I never trusted a backup gun on my ankle.