Blackhawk CQC Serpa-the good and the bad - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

mst3kguy · 07-14-2005, 05:35 PM

Ordered the CQC Serpa a week or so ago from Botach. I think that was on a Friday. By Tuesday I hadn't heard anything, so called, got voice mail. Left message. No call back. Wednesday called, got voice mail, left message. No call back. Emailed them. Got what appeared to be automated reply later on, advising would ship in next 2-3 weeks. I don't think so. Replied, told them to cancel, I'll go elsewhere. Same day ordered it from another company, can't think of them offhand (would've gone with pistol-gear but they're out of stock), got it today. Coincidentally, got an email today from Botach asking why I cancelled my order. It started off "Dear customer, we've noticed you've cancelled your order...". "Dear Customer"? My first and last name was right in the "to" section of the email they sent, as well as obviously being in the order. I advised them I wasn't too thrilled with the experience I had. I'm sure others have had good experiences, but I unfortunately did not.

On to the holster. I originally planned on carrying it as a paddle holster to replace my Fobus Generation II (has the adjustment screw) kydex paddle holster (no locking retention, but very good "friction" snap-in retention). Forget about the paddle on the Blackhawk, it's a flimsy piece of crap. It'll pop off (up?) from my waist with the mildest of pulls, unlike the Fobus. It's really, really flimsy.

The belt attachment, however, is very nice. Has two sliders that don't slide when you don't want them to, to adjust to different belt widths. Once you get the holster on your belt, and cinch up the two sliders, the holster seems to stay very secure, both horizontally and vertically. As for the fit, I tried it with both my 40 4" and my 9 subcompact. It rattles a bit with both, more with the 9sc. It makes me a bit nervous, knowing the gun is moving around slightly, but I really yanked (quick pull) as well as muscled (slow pull) on the gun in the holster, it wasn't coming out without the retention button pressed.

So I'll recommend it, but not if you're getting it solely as a paddle holster. The locking retention device would be defeated by the fact the bad guy would have the whole package from yanking on it and it coming off your waist, no problem.

Oh, and for you Disney fans, because the entry portion of the holster is splayed out slightly, it does accept XD's with the mickey mouse ears aka thumb rest by Magloc. ( :

hth

bamaXD · 07-25-2005, 05:44 PM

I just received the Blackhawk carbon fiber serpa holster from patriot outfitters, and was impressed with it right out of the box. It comes with an adjustable belt and paddle holster. You can further adjust the cant of the pistol with easy to manipulate adjusting screwsl, and get a tight fit on wyour belt with adjustable slides. The serpa mechanism works flawlessly and with practice becomes second nature. You could jump out of a plane with one of these things and you know your weapon will be with you all the way down (unless you release the latch). It is a light weight unit and the carbon fiber insert really makes it visually appealing. I would not use it as a ccw holster but one could with a heavy jacket. I personally got it because it fits the tactical model and I wanted a quick secure holster to carry with me on atv rides. With the tactical model the barrel sticks out around an inch or less. I will post some pics when I get them loaded on the computer. I recommend this holster to anyone who wants a fast, and secure holster that will perform over and over again (hopefully)!

therooster · 07-26-2005, 11:33 AM

i have it. its ok.

you cant conceal worth a damn with it, and its injection molded (< = no good).

but it does teach you to keep your trigger finger indexed when you draw (thats the only good thing about the holster).

aiformula · 08-03-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mst3kguy

Ordered the CQC Serpa a week or so ago from Botach. I think that was on a Friday. By Tuesday I hadn't heard anything, so called, got voice mail. Left message. No call back. Wednesday called, got voice mail, left message. No call back. Emailed them. Got what appeared to be automated reply later on, advising would ship in next 2-3 weeks. I don't think so. Replied, told them to cancel, I'll go elsewhere. Same day ordered it from another company, can't think of them offhand (would've gone with pistol-gear but they're out of stock), got it today. Coincidentally, got an email today from Botach asking why I cancelled my order. It started off "Dear customer, we've noticed you've cancelled your order...". "Dear Customer"? My first and last name was right in the "to" section of the email they sent, as well as obviously being in the order. I advised them I wasn't too thrilled with the experience I had. I'm sure others have had good experiences, but I unfortunately did not.

Actually, I've heard far more people unhappy w/ Bowers (botac) than those that are happy with their service. On the HK boards, they are much maligned due to their lack of adequate let alone good service. The holster, I used one w/ my P2000 for a little bit. Not overly impressed. I'll have to agree it does teach you to draw w/ a proper finger index.

XDfan · 10-01-2005, 01:04 PM

I have one of these that I used for my H & K USP compact .40, and had no problem with the paddle attachment. Yeah, it feels flimsy, but when attached to the belt, is quite secure. I had a coworker try to remove a dummy training gun from it and the holster and gun stayed secure while I applied retention techniques. I didn't worry about the gun coming out, or the holster coming out with the gun at all.

I'm currently using an H & K USP full-size .45, and a Galco Fletch for work, until I can find a holster I like for my XD .40. That USP is big and heavy, compared to the XD. I'm a desk jockey, and prefer the comfort of the lighter weight and smaller gun; I may just order the Serpa for my XD.

Plinkomatic · 11-14-2005, 01:36 AM

I had to return some stuff and they were great on the phone, in person and in subsequent communication. I'll be getting more stuff from them for sure, but I was dealing directly with the store in person (south central LA).

bucky5 · 12-27-2005, 05:01 PM

I have had this holster for my M-9 about 8 months in Iraq. I have had one for my XD-40 since they came out. It has not given me any problems. I have used all three types of the Serpa holsters (paddle, belt, and thigh holster). They are comfortable and easy to use. It does keep your off the trigger off the trigger. It has good retention. A couple other guys here have gotten them. No it does not conceal very well.

kevinpagano · 12-28-2005, 06:38 PM

I had a serpa for my glock 17 loved it. Used the paddle attachment. I just bought one for my Xd and it was loose on the XD 9. You can fix this very easily with a heat gun and some patience. Feel free to ask me if any of you have any questions on how to fix the loose fit for your XD9. The paddle attachment has been upgraded by the way and is much better than older design.

Kevin

chrome · 12-28-2005, 07:03 PM

I'll have to see if I can find the article, but there were two documented cases of where the cqc serpa holster 'accounted' or "assisted" in NDs. I'll see if I can dig it up.

From what I remember, it was that the holster with its serpa retention, caused some people to drag their fingers tighter along the holster since they had to push the button, causing their fingers to keep dragging from momentum into the trigger well causing the firearms to discharge earlier than they wanted them to.

I'll let you know if I can find it..

darkfire · 12-28-2005, 07:07 PM

If your fingers "keep dragging from momentum," stop shooting firearms. They're fingers. Not boulders.

07-14-2005, 05:35 PM	#1
mst3kguy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 375	Blackhawk CQC Serpa-the good and the bad Ordered the CQC Serpa a week or so ago from Botach. I think that was on a Friday. By Tuesday I hadn't heard anything, so called, got voice mail. Left message. No call back. Wednesday called, got voice mail, left message. No call back. Emailed them. Got what appeared to be automated reply later on, advising would ship in next 2-3 weeks. I don't think so. Replied, told them to cancel, I'll go elsewhere. Same day ordered it from another company, can't think of them offhand (would've gone with pistol-gear but they're out of stock), got it today. Coincidentally, got an email today from Botach asking why I cancelled my order. It started off "Dear customer, we've noticed you've cancelled your order...". "Dear Customer"? My first and last name was right in the "to" section of the email they sent, as well as obviously being in the order. I advised them I wasn't too thrilled with the experience I had. I'm sure others have had good experiences, but I unfortunately did not. On to the holster. I originally planned on carrying it as a paddle holster to replace my Fobus Generation II (has the adjustment screw) kydex paddle holster (no locking retention, but very good "friction" snap-in retention). Forget about the paddle on the Blackhawk, it's a flimsy piece of crap. It'll pop off (up?) from my waist with the mildest of pulls, unlike the Fobus. It's really, really flimsy. The belt attachment, however, is very nice. Has two sliders that don't slide when you don't want them to, to adjust to different belt widths. Once you get the holster on your belt, and cinch up the two sliders, the holster seems to stay very secure, both horizontally and vertically. As for the fit, I tried it with both my 40 4" and my 9 subcompact. It rattles a bit with both, more with the 9sc. It makes me a bit nervous, knowing the gun is moving around slightly, but I really yanked (quick pull) as well as muscled (slow pull) on the gun in the holster, it wasn't coming out without the retention button pressed. So I'll recommend it, but not if you're getting it solely as a paddle holster. The locking retention device would be defeated by the fact the bad guy would have the whole package from yanking on it and it coming off your waist, no problem. Oh, and for you Disney fans, because the entry portion of the holster is splayed out slightly, it does accept XD's with the mickey mouse ears aka thumb rest by Magloc. ( : hth

07-26-2005, 11:33 AM	#3
therooster XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: houston TX Posts: 1,669	i have it. its ok. you cant conceal worth a damn with it, and its injection molded (< = no good). but it does teach you to keep your trigger finger indexed when you draw (thats the only good thing about the holster). __________________ live with honor, and let not your death be born by the pallbearers of disgrace, cruelty, weakness, and fear. - Justin Smith in a letter to Lt. Col. Dave Grossman TXDPSA

10-01-2005, 01:04 PM	#5
XDfan XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 91	I have one of these that I used for my H & K USP compact .40, and had no problem with the paddle attachment. Yeah, it feels flimsy, but when attached to the belt, is quite secure. I had a coworker try to remove a dummy training gun from it and the holster and gun stayed secure while I applied retention techniques. I didn't worry about the gun coming out, or the holster coming out with the gun at all. I'm currently using an H & K USP full-size .45, and a Galco Fletch for work, until I can find a holster I like for my XD .40. That USP is big and heavy, compared to the XD. I'm a desk jockey, and prefer the comfort of the lighter weight and smaller gun; I may just order the Serpa for my XD. __________________ Gary "Guns don't make you a killer. Killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game." -Unknown

11-14-2005, 01:36 AM	#6
Plinkomatic XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,284	botach I had to return some stuff and they were great on the phone, in person and in subsequent communication. I'll be getting more stuff from them for sure, but I was dealing directly with the store in person (south central LA).

12-27-2005, 05:01 PM	#7
bucky5 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Iraq Posts: 1	I have had this holster for my M-9 about 8 months in Iraq. I have had one for my XD-40 since they came out. It has not given me any problems. I have used all three types of the Serpa holsters (paddle, belt, and thigh holster). They are comfortable and easy to use. It does keep your off the trigger off the trigger. It has good retention. A couple other guys here have gotten them. No it does not conceal very well. __________________ XD-40 Berreta 9mm Springfield 1911 Bushmaster M-4

07-25-2005, 05:44 PM	#2
bamaXD XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gadsden/Tuscaloosa AL Posts: 9	I just received the Blackhawk carbon fiber serpa holster from patriot outfitters, and was impressed with it right out of the box. It comes with an adjustable belt and paddle holster. You can further adjust the cant of the pistol with easy to manipulate adjusting screwsl, and get a tight fit on wyour belt with adjustable slides. The serpa mechanism works flawlessly and with practice becomes second nature. You could jump out of a plane with one of these things and you know your weapon will be with you all the way down (unless you release the latch). It is a light weight unit and the carbon fiber insert really makes it visually appealing. I would not use it as a ccw holster but one could with a heavy jacket. I personally got it because it fits the tactical model and I wanted a quick secure holster to carry with me on atv rides. With the tactical model the barrel sticks out around an inch or less. I will post some pics when I get them loaded on the computer. I recommend this holster to anyone who wants a fast, and secure holster that will perform over and over again (hopefully)!

12-28-2005, 06:38 PM	#8
kevinpagano XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 24	I had a serpa for my glock 17 loved it. Used the paddle attachment. I just bought one for my Xd and it was loose on the XD 9. You can fix this very easily with a heat gun and some patience. Feel free to ask me if any of you have any questions on how to fix the loose fit for your XD9. The paddle attachment has been upgraded by the way and is much better than older design. Kevin

12-28-2005, 07:03 PM	#9
chrome XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 806	I'll have to see if I can find the article, but there were two documented cases of where the cqc serpa holster 'accounted' or "assisted" in NDs. I'll see if I can dig it up. From what I remember, it was that the holster with its serpa retention, caused some people to drag their fingers tighter along the holster since they had to push the button, causing their fingers to keep dragging from momentum into the trigger well causing the firearms to discharge earlier than they wanted them to. I'll let you know if I can find it.. __________________ XD40 Service Custom J&T AR-15 M4rgery Custom \'recondoc\' Ruger 22/45 Remington Vang Comp 870police Ed Brown Kobra Carry AR15 SPR YoBo 1*/Tripp Red Dragon SP101 Ray Harms Colt OACP Bulgarian AK47 Ted Yost High Power

12-28-2005, 07:07 PM	#10
darkfire XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 142	If your fingers "keep dragging from momentum," stop shooting firearms. They're fingers. Not boulders.

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