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Reviews
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Date of last review
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1
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7031
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20/12/09
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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£29.00
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9.0
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Pissin' people off one post at a time
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Ranger_Captain
Pissin' people off one post at a time
Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York
Posts: 1,229
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Review Date: 20/12/09
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £29.00
| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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Strong construction, Many mounting options, Many weapon options, MORE OPTIONS, Easy to use, Secure, Right balance between retention and ease of draw
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Cons:
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Not advisable with certain gun makes, STRIKE plate won’t allow all mounting ideas with all three screws in place, A bit on the expensive side
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Blackhawk SERPA STRIKE Holster
Introduction
If you carry a pistol, and chances are if you’re an airsofter you do, you’re going to need a holster to carry it in. There are many directions one can go with this, leather, cloth, hard plastic, even Cordura, but which is best? Well I can’t say anything on that, but what I can comment on is that one platform, the SPERA STRIKE platform, is definitely both a carrying and mounting method one should consider when searching for a way to holster their sidearm.
First Impressions
I bought this setup for two reasons, one I needed a holster (primary reason for probably every holster purchase) and two, I hate droplegs. If you like droplegs don’t fret, the SERPA can be mounted on Blackhawks SERPA dropleg and the STRIKE platform can be mounted on any MOLLE platform including droplegs. If you’re like me however and want to find another place to mount your handgun, the STRIKE is definitely something to consider.
There are many options to with, designed for basically every major firearm frame, and colors including OD, Tan, and FG, and left and right. A few versions even have “US” and “USMC’ emblazoned on them for service members.
When you buy the package I did you get the SERPA holster and the STRIKE platform to attach it to MOLLE webbing, designed to fit the M9 Berretta. Now the package itself only comes in this setup but all the individual pieces can be bought on their own and compatible with other models, so if you have a SERPA for another gun, you can buy the STRIKE platform separately.
Feel/Aesthetic
As far as feel is concerned this describes more of how it feels to draw. Now for years I’ve used G-Code holsters for both my airsoft guns and real steel firearms and I love them but I’ve also found over the years that since the G-Code line I use has no other retention means than the squeeze of the plastic, it wasn’t suited for running, climbing, jumping around an airsoft match as it would end up sending my $200.00 custom pistol flying into the mud.
Thus when I got a new GBB to act as my sidearm I figured it was time to try out a new retention means to hold it down. The SERPA was one hell of an answer. With the extra retention snap it holds the pistol in place with both the squeeze of the plastic shell and a little grip that attaches on the inside of the trigger guard.
I found that this was just the needed level of retention as my chosen mounting location, upside down on my lower back, is going to cause whatever I place there to jump around and snap every now and again and if I don’t want to get hit in the back of the leg with a pistol, it needed to be tough.
Well, so far, the SERPA is holding up. I’m yet to have it unintentional release the gun or lock up and not let me draw. I don’t find the draw motion to be as natural as the G-Code but it’s a small sacrifice to make to have that extra level of retention.
The feel of the holster is nice as well and should be sturdy enough to take a half decent beating. There’s basically only one moving part, the nub that locks onto the trigger guard, and a small spring to keep it locked in place. That’s about it.
So if you end up taking a dunk or a mud bath you needn’t worry about having to dismantle the whole thing, a quick was under water should do it.
The STRIKE platform is attached to the back of the holster by three attachment screws and offers about a dozen different configurations. Unfortunately the one mounting style I chose cannot be achieved without only using two screws. This is a both a plus and a minus in my opinion towards the SERPA STRIKE as it’s a minus since it doesn’t have as much flexibility with mounting as they say, but a huge plus in that despite only using two points of attachment it still holds bout it’s positioning and connection tight.
The most obvious nicety achieved from the STRIKE platform is the near limitless mounting option. Considering nowadays you rarely see a player without some MOLLE on them somewhere, this platform can attach to any location 4x2. If you like it chest mounted, that’s easy, you like it reverse mount like me, that’s easy too. You want to wear it like a duty holster you can do that too if you don’t mind it high or with the addition of a blast belt, right where it belongs.
And a feature I haven’t yet had the need to use yet is that the holster itself is compatible with multiple other option from Blackhawk (much like other kydex-type holsters). They manufacture a paddle, belt loop, IWB paddle, and a few other mounting options that allow you to keep access to the same familiar holster but modify it to mount however your specific tastes of that day feel.
Feel Grade: 9/10
Aesthetics: 8/10
I give it a nine out of ten for feel only because there’s always room for improvement (and it just doesn’t feel like a ten) and the eight out of ten for aesthetics because of the fact that I had to deal with only two screw attachments to hold it down for my mounting style.
Use
Using this holster is very user specific I believe, so I can only go on my style. Pending on where you mount it this could be a very natural, easy draw (dropleg, reverse) or unnatural and forcing your arm to kink and bend as you draw (chest/side).
On the reverse mount I find that I can naturally just swing my arm around my body and the pistol comes right up to meet my support hand in the firing position. I had tried a side mount (like a shoulder holster style) and that worked okay as well but, and this has little to do with the holster and more to do with me, I dislike that as well as it forces me to snap my wrist at the final position to get it on target, something that will delay your opening salvo.
Either way the pistol is very easy to draw. I’ve read various reviewers claiming that the design of the SERPA can lead to accidental discharges. I can see why they would say that for two reason but it’s not the holster’s fault in my opinion.
The way you draw the pistol form the SERPA is you place your finger as if you were having “trigger discipline and about to prepare for fire. You press the toggle and it releases the gun and allows you to draw. Users have claimed that in this position their finger can fall into the trigger guard and pull the trigger, causing an AD. I believe this is less of a design flaw and more intentional on Blackhawks part.
For one, all these so called complaints state that they caused AD’s right as they pulled the weapon out of their holster. That means one of two things, either a ) they took the safety off too quickly or, most likely, b ) the weapon wasn’t safetied in the first place. If you’re dumb enough to holster a gun with no safety on, well then you need to accept the consequences and to be honest, you get what you deserve. It’s not Blackhawks, G-Code’s, or Kydex’s fault; it’s yours for being lazy.
How I draw my pistol and what I believe was the intention is that the weapon is safetied, you draw it, and yes, you’re finger is on the trigger the whole time, so you’re relying on the fact that the user will have to choose to unsafety the weapon once it’s cleared the body or in the firing position.
Also as a side note on this, it seems that many of these complaints involve Glocks. Glocks are great handguns, both in the airsoft world and realsteels, but they are absolutely NOTORIOUS for AD’s due to the fact they have only one safety, on the trigger itself (and I own a real steel G22 40S&W) which can be disengaged VERY easily by accident. The drawing action of the SERPA or most Kydex-like holsters is inherently dangerous with a Glock and I personally would advise both real and airsofters worried about AD’s to either not use this style of holster (rather use a thumb brake) or practice until you’re proficient enough to have perfect finger control.
I know many Glock users hate having the lack of safety mentioned and wherever you stand on that argument it doesn’t really matter. The Glock is what it is and not every gun can function in the plastic holster design. You don’t see Colt Python or MP7 Kydex holsters. Why? Because the designs of the gun really don’t lend themselves to the design. Neither does the Glock.
That said for guns such as the M92FS, M1911, P226, and those with on frame safeties you should have no issues and as long as YOU practice good gun safety you should never have an AD while using the SERPA.
Use Grade: 9/10
It loses only one point for the fact that there are some models of gun that just don’t lend itself to the SERPA design but don’t let that deter you, for most pistol designs this is already one of my favorite holsters. The STRIKE design also gives us the modability that airsofters so cherish.
Conclusion
Pros:
Strong construction
Many mounting options
Many weapon options
MORE OPTIONS
Easy to use
Secure
Right balance between retention and ease of draw
Cons:
Not advisable with certain gun makes
STRIKE plate won’t allow all mounting ideas with all three screws in place
A bit on the expensive side
Overall I’d give this holster a nine out of ten. It performs beautifully in your chosen mounting style and draw. Giving the user to securely but easily draw their pistol from a mounted location nearly anywhere conceivable (or at least wherever PALS strips are :P ).
Blackhawk catches a lot of heat at times for more than one reason, but credit is due to those who earn it, and despite anything else about Blackhawk, their SERPA holster is a definite winner and if you’re looking for a new way to mount your pistol, look no further.
Credits:
http://www.blackhawk.com/
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/STRIKE-SERPA-Holster-for-Beretta,782,1416.htm
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Never argue with a gun, it may argue back...
United States Corps of Cadets, USMA
Cadet, United States Army
2012 "For More Than Ourselves"
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Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York