I Just Shot Myself

I have seen this before, but watching it again I picked up something I didn't the first time. He says he thumbed the safety off instead of releasing the retention. Does that mean he usually counted on the safety and habitually went "early" to the trigger for speed? Something to think about, and it might be why his finger went to the trigger.
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IMHO, I don't trust safeties. In my years of shooting, I have had several parts fail (especially multi-person-use military weapons). God help you if the safety is one of them and you are counting on it to be there. Since getting my LCP a few years ago (no safety) I have discontinued using the safety on my LC9. As has been said the best safety is not having your finger on the trigger.
 
whodat2710 said:
I have seen this before, but watching it again I picked up something I didn't the first time. He says he thumbed the safety off instead of releasing the retention. Does that mean he usually counted on the safety and habitually went "early" to the trigger for speed? Something to think about, and it might be why his finger went to the trigger.
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IMHO, I don't trust safeties. In my years of shooting, I have had several parts fail (especially multi-person-use military weapons). God help you if the safety is one of them and you are counting on it to be there. Since getting my LCP a few years ago (no safety) I have discontinued using the safety on my LC9. As has been said the best safety is not having your finger on the trigger.
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My carry guns are either 1911s or S&W older products like the 59, 659, 645. Two types of guns that while different, are also similar in many ways. Safeties are never trusted even on guns that cannot fire unless a mag is in. Your last sentence is the correct answer for what is the final safety always.
 
SigShooter77 said:
As someone who has been around the Serpa holster used by the gentleman in this video, this is something that we are always stressing about the issue of a trigger finger retention release on this holster. Many shooters that are inexperienced with this model of holster actively press the trigger finger release when drawing their gun and this will usually result in the trigger finger falling onto the trigger when the weapon is being pulled from the holster. Mentally, the shooter cannot typically stop this process and these kinds of things can happen. ( I don't like serpas especially when used by new shooters)

To release this retention, nothing needs to be changed on the draw, the trigger finger doesn't need to actively press on the retention, just putting it in a normal position ready to be straight and along the slide when seating the grip will unlock the gun.

Also, if any upward tension is put on a pistol in this holster and then the button is depressed the gun will not typically unlock. (Primary reason I hate shooting time quals with this holster) The gun must be re-seated or pressed back into in the holster and then the retention can be released and the gun can be drawn. In the slow motion it did not look like the gun locked up in the holster (from the 0:52 mark through the rest of the draw was one upward motion without any attempt to re-seat). It seems that the shooter may have been unfamiliar with this holster and made a common error with it. Good on him for not blaming the equipment, I just think his assessment of what happened is not quite right.
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I have a Blackhawk Serpa holster. I've tried (using an unloaded firearm) to depress the release so hard that my finger would fall into the trigger guard and depress the trigger. Every single time my finger lines up at register outside the trigger guard. I have heard your reasoning for disliking the Serpa, yet I have found that reasoning to be grossly inaccurate with my experience. Is it possible that someone with very short fingers could miss being at register when drawing? Possibly, but I've had several of my friends try it too and they have different hand and finger sizes and none of them were able to do it either.

I also agree it is a good idea to slide the finger across the release rather then depress it. But even when depressing it, I've never been able to duplicate what you have said.

As far as this particular video, I did pause around 0:57 and kept hitting pause/play until the round went off. Notice he curls his finger. He didn't keep his finger straight when drawing. He curled it, put it inside the trigger guard at about a few inches out of the holster, and pulled. With that in mind, his holster is not what caused this either. He was negligent.
 
This guy is an idiot. Ive seen the video a hundred times, personally, I train on 2 holsters. 1 my CC holster, the other my duty holster. I use the same type holster for OC that I use for Duty, Safariland. That way there is no confusion or change in pattern when I draw my weapon.
That being said, when I train, I dont try and be some hot shot. I personally think he may have been showing off for youtube to make some "Amazingly fast draw and shoot" which, to me, it doesnt matter how fast you can draw and shoot, its not the wild west, when the time comes, they only thing that counts is putting rounds on target and making sure no innocents are hurt. Glad hes OK though.

On a personal note, INCASE something like this ever happens to me, or someone else at the range, I always carry some sort of personal trama kit. Just like the Army IFAK [Individual First Aid Kit] where I carry combat quick clot gauze, 2 tourniquets, Israeli Bandages [for those who served you know what these are, for those who dont know, theyre pressure bandages] and many other things. Incase youre way out in BFE, its not a bad idea to learn how to also do IVs, all of these things can help save your life, and WILL save your life in the event of a ND.

Stay safe.
 
wolf_fire said:
I have a Blackhawk Serpa holster. I've tried (using an unloaded firearm) to depress the release so hard that my finger would fall into the trigger guard and depress the trigger. Every single time my finger lines up at register outside the trigger guard. I have heard your reasoning for disliking the Serpa, yet I have found that reasoning to be grossly inaccurate with my experience. Is it possible that someone with very short fingers could miss being at register when drawing? Possibly, but I've had several of my friends try it too and they have different hand and finger sizes and none of them were able to do it either.

I also agree it is a good idea to slide the finger across the release rather then depress it. But even when depressing it, I've never been able to duplicate what you have said.

As far as this particular video, I did pause around 0:57 and kept hitting pause/play until the round went off. Notice he curls his finger. He didn't keep his finger straight when drawing. He curled it, put it inside the trigger guard at about a few inches out of the holster, and pulled. With that in mind, his holster is not what caused this either. He was negligent.
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Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming the holster. I blame him and if somehow I gave any other impression let me be the first to apologize.

I've got multiple serpas issued to me and if you activate the release correctly you are using the flat pad of your finger (middle phalange) as a previous poster stated. The mistake many novice shooters or people unfamiliar with the holster make with serpas is to use the fingertip to press the release and when the gun clears the holster they continue the press and the fingertip can (I never said will) end up on the trigger. You likely have enough experience and training with the serpa holster and with your draw stroke that you are not as prone as less experienced people or people not as familiar with the holster to have your finger hit the trigger.

Also realize that when you are replicating this, under what conditions are you doing it? Are you putting all your focus onto the draw, paying attention to every detail of grip, hand position, trigger finger? If so, you would have to almost make the error on purpose. What type of stress are you putting yourself under when you are doing this? It's one thing to look at a technique in a non-stressful environment and say it will or won't work but to put it in a combat environment is a whole new world. Is what you did non-stress going to be replicated under stress?

Like I said in my earlier post, nothing should change with the draw stroke using this holster as compared to other holsters. I can use the same draw stroke with a serpa as I do for my concealed holster and also for my drop leg. Finger ends up straight and along the trigger. Nothing changes at the holster for any of them and the concealed has no retention, the drop leg has a thumb break bail and serpa has trigger finger release. The fundamentals are the same for each of them.

If you watch the slow motion you'll see that his finger is along the side of the holster and as soon as his finger tip clears the holster it starts traveling toward the trigger immediately.

Just so I am clear, this mistake can happen with any holster because it is the shooters negligence for not keeping finger off the trigger.
 
SigShooter77 said:
Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming the holster. I blame him and if somehow I gave any other impression let me be the first to apologize.

I've got multiple serpas issued to me and if you activate the release correctly you are using the flat pad of your finger (middle phalange) as a previous poster stated. The mistake many novice shooters or people unfamiliar with the holster make with serpas is to use the fingertip to press the release and when the gun clears the holster they continue the press and the fingertip can (I never said will) end up on the trigger. You likely have enough experience and training with the serpa holster and with your draw stroke that you are not as prone as less experienced people or people not as familiar with the holster to have your finger hit the trigger.

Also realize that when you are replicating this, under what conditions are you doing it? Are you putting all your focus onto the draw, paying attention to every detail of grip, hand position, trigger finger? If so, you would have to almost make the error on purpose. What type of stress are you putting yourself under when you are doing this? It's one thing to look at a technique in a non-stressful environment and say it will or won't work but to put it in a combat environment is a whole new world. Is what you did non-stress going to be replicated under stress?

Like I said in my earlier post, nothing should change with the draw stroke using this holster as compared to other holsters. I can use the same draw stroke with a serpa as I do for my concealed holster and also for my drop leg. Finger ends up straight and along the trigger. Nothing changes at the holster for any of them and the concealed has no retention, the drop leg has a thumb break bail and serpa has trigger finger release. The fundamentals are the same for each of them.

If you watch the slow motion you'll see that his finger is along the side of the holster and as soon as his finger tip clears the holster it starts traveling toward the trigger immediately.

Just so I am clear, this mistake can happen with any holster because it is the shooters negligence for not keeping finger off the trigger.
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I have to admit, we did not try to push straight into the release with the tip of our finger. We did try to depress with a lot of pressure to see if our finger could accidentally follow through into the trigger guard. Not one person could replicate that. I can see if you try to push with the tip of your finger in an already curled position, one could get their finger stuck in the trigger guard. However, you are correct, one would have to little to no experience with a handgun to try to do that though. Thanks for the clarification.
 
This guy seemed responsible and conscientious to the max and I appreciate his candidness on the accident. But it makes me wonder, have we sophisticated gun carry and sport too much? specialized holsters and accessories, etc?? After all, free economies excel in innovation but perhaps simplicity should reign at times.

Rich M said:
Ouch, I guess that's one reason not to use to many guns and holsters, that are functionally that much different, for you carry gun.
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I only have 1 pistol that I carry and I'm looking to get a new gun on the next month or so. I'll definitely keep this vid in mind when I get the holster that goes with it.

Thanks for posting
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If that poster was real the fact that he shot himself would be irrelevant compared to the multiple shots he would have taken from the perp.
 
wolf_fire said:
I have to admit, we did not try to push straight into the release with the tip of our finger. We did try to depress with a lot of pressure to see if our finger could accidentally follow through into the trigger guard. Not one person could replicate that. I can see if you try to push with the tip of your finger in an already curled position, one could get their finger stuck in the trigger guard. However, you are correct, one would have to little to no experience with a handgun to try to do that though. Thanks for the clarification.
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No problem. I know sometimes it's hard to communicate detail effectively using only written word and not being able to interact, demonstrate etc.
 
I have a Serpa, really like it. Never had the finger on the trigger problem, my finger always comes our on the slide. The only problem I have with this holster is it isn't very concealable. Sticks out and shouts "howdy".
 
subvet69 said:
I have a Serpa, really like it. Never had the finger on the trigger problem, my finger always comes our on the slide. The only problem I have with this holster is it isn't very concealable. Sticks out and shouts "howdy".
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It does stick out way to far to be an effective concealed holster. this is the main reason I don't care for it as a concealed holster.

I've also seen guys on get rocks/debris caught underneath the retention release that they had to use screwdrivers to pry out. That's one of a few reasons I don't like it from a tactical use standpoint. (the rocks/debris get caught up when shooting from the ground and lying on your holster side)
 
I can't remember if I subscribed to Tex Grebner's channel (I have over 100 subs, can't remember them all, and don't care enough to go looking right now), but I've watched a bunch of his videos. Tex is the guy who shot himself in the OP vid. He does a lot of gear reviews kind of like The Late Boy Scout, nutnfancy, Sootch, hickok45 etc. I can't remember what he was reviewing when he shot himself, probably either the weapon or the holster, but he was "working" when it happened.

As others have noted, he was very open about the events. Since I haven't seen anyone post it though, I'll assume that no one is aware that he did a follow-up video "almost exactly one year to the minute" after the negligent discharge. I knew it was out there as I've seen it before, but just happened to find it in the "recommended videos" while I was surfing YouTube a few minutes ago, so I figured I'd post it up for your viewing pleasure. Here ya go....

 
I've seen this video before, but personally, I just think the guy's an idiot. I've been using Serpas for years and am an ardent believer in them. They're the only Lvl 2 and Lvl 3 retention holsters that have felt natural to me. Keeping your finger straight and off the trigger (or where the trigger is going to he when the gun is removed) is about as common sense as it gets. It only takes 2 seconds of fiddling with the holster to finger out that's how it's designed to work.

A newbie to guns is one thing, and the holster may not be right for them, but somebody confident enough in their abilities to make a self-professed YouTube instructional video, should be smart enough to figure out how to use a holster correctly without shooting himself. Just my opinion.
 
At least he 'fessed-up and told the world he made a mistake. He'll always have a reminder what happened. I agree with jcreek. Caution and safe handling were out the window on this ND.
 
I have a Serpa for my Glock 23 and I consider it to be a very good holster with the exception that it doesn't hold the weapon as tightly as I would like. I don't carry a round in the chamber when I use it because I have always had a little apprehension about the trigger safety. I don't go in for the "Quickdraw McGraw" because I am afraid I might pull the same stunt as Tex. I found a good leather holster that I now use and which I don't mind carrying with one in the chamber. I guess if one were to use the Israeli draw technique with the Glock, there shouldn't be as much worry about shooting one's self but that would require time. That subject has been beaten to death on other forums and I have found it is better to use what is comfortable and practical for me.
 
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