Blackhawk Serpa vs. Skinny guy - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

crat0837 · 07-11-2008, 12:44 AM

Hello,
I am brand new to the XD and to this forum! I have a Crossbreed supertuck on order for my new XD9 but want something else to use for OC and range use. I dont mind a leather belt holster (I use one for my 1911 already) but I like the idea of the serpa holster. The only problem is, I am about 6'0 and 145lbs...skinny. I have a VERY hard time getting any gun out of any holster using one hand. 99.99% of the time, the holster and shorts and everything just get pulled up with the gun, no matter what angle I pull. I am using a Wilderness Instructor's belt so it is plenty rigid and I keep it tight around my hips.
Anyone have any tips on how to have better success drawing from a holster with a skinny waist...meaning, no padding on or above the hips to retain anything.
Also, any recommendations on whether or not the SERPA holster would work very well or not in my situation?

Thanks!!!!

Spawnz · 07-11-2008, 01:00 AM

First........welcome to the forums.

Second.................You will love the Serpa Blackhawk. The holster is ridgid in the fact that it is a composite. It has a mechanism that locks the trigger guard into the holster. I have the Serpa Blackhawk Sportster that I use with a .45 tactical. The pistol slides in and out VERY easily. The lock is what keeps it in the holster. If I would turn my holster upside down and release the mechanism the pistol would slide out. If you have the holster on and are hanging by your feet (don't know why you would do that

) the pistol would not fall out unless you release the mechanism. Hope I am explaining it so you understand. Someone else may come along to explain it better. The release mechanism is very easy to use in the fact that when you reach for your pistol it will be right under your finger and all you do is press in on the mechanism. Anyways.............I think the Serpa would work very well in the situation you describe. Good luck and again, welcome to the forums.

Spawnz · 07-11-2008, 01:08 AM

Just wanted to add one more thing. You can change the cant of the Serpa holster so that it is tilted forward (called an FBI cant I believe) and you would be drawing the pistol out in a forward/upward motion. The fact that the pistol is coming out in a forward motion may allieviate the fact that your belt and shorts are riding up when you draw your weapon. But like I said, it really shouldn't matter because the pistol slides out easily. OK...............finished now. I hope.

**mhillsing23** · 07-11-2008, 05:36 AM

Welcome to XDTalk crat! You are getting some great advice from Spawnz, and I totally agree that the Serpa will work for you. I have one myself and it is a perfect holder for range use and OC. The holster will adjust to fit your belt, and it is very easy to draw out of once you get used to the retention release (which is very easy to master). I say go for it!

C-Bone · 07-11-2008, 06:36 AM

Good info here. I hadn't really thought about that issue but as a fellow skinny guy (5' 9" 138 here) this will be something I will pay attention to when picking out an OC holster.

Bill in San Jose · 07-11-2008, 10:39 AM

Not having the skinny problem myself

, I'd recommend the serpa and put the paddle on it from the get-go. I looked at the paddle and said it must be uncomfortable, and then wore the XD45 as my backup gun while elk hunting with a bow last season, so I climbed up, down and around a lot of 'stuff' with the XD on my hip, and a backpack with padded waist belt, and it carried well.

When you push the little 'button' on the serpa, the gun slides right out, and you can adjust the tilt forwards or backwards to your liking. You may notice that I put a piece of the camo grip tape (from a skateboard shop in the local mall) on the serpa, I find it helps me locate the spot to push-in to release, and I have a bunch of it left over from the grip.

Here's mine with the XD. I camo everything since I hunt all the time, I carried the XD while boar hunting yesterday for example (but I did not seal-the-deal with the black boogers).

daveIT · 07-11-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill in San Jose

Not having the skinny problem myself

, I'd recommend the serpa and put the paddle on it from the get-go.

Bill,

Is this the Level 2 holster with the optional paddle or the Sportster model they show on their site? I'm wondering if I can run the optional paddle with the L2 holster...I'd like to have the belt and pancake option.

Level 2 - BLACKHAWK ! *BlackHawk CQC SERPA Holster - Active Retention - Matte Finish

Sportster - BLACKHAWK ! *Sportster SERPA Holster

Optional paddle - BLACKHAWK ! *BlackHawk CQC Paddle w/Screws

JonnyBender · 07-11-2008, 01:22 PM

I have a blackhawk serpa pancake holster for my XD40 Tactical. I would'nt trade it for anything else. Its a very safe holster, once the gun is holstered it's locked in and does'nt take much effort to draw your firearm.

Before I put it on for the first time, I tought it would be uncomfortable but
it is not the case. Putting the holster on is not a problem but taking it off
can be a little tricky.

------------------

A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work.

Bill in San Jose · 07-11-2008, 01:52 PM

We agree, the paddle looks like it will be uncomfortable, and it's the complete opposite.

I can't figure out from your links which it is, but here is what a bought and where I bought it from pistolgear. It is not the + $8.50 carbon composite one. It comes with the paddle, just not shown in the picture.

Putting on and taking off I open my pants to make it easy. I also filed off the little hooks on the inside to make it easier to take off, I still have the hooks on the outside that are adjustable to fit under my belt.

PISTOLGEAR | YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL SPRINGFIELD XD

daveIT · 07-11-2008, 03:36 PM

Thanks, I didn't see where the Blackhawk site specified that it came with both, but after reading PistolGear and MidwayUSA sites I realized it came with both which was what I wanted.

I would have liked to support PistolGear, but I had to order a bunch of stuff and with the ridiculous shipping to AK I had to only order from one site.

Picked up the holster (on sale $32.99) and 3 10-rd mags (so I can start doing the 40 rd comps) and 2 16-rd mags. As soon as my slide gets back from SA I'm going to shoot that thing for a week straight!

07-11-2008, 12:44 AM	#1
crat0837 XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 26	Blackhawk Serpa vs. Skinny guy Hello, I am brand new to the XD and to this forum! I have a Crossbreed supertuck on order for my new XD9 but want something else to use for OC and range use. I dont mind a leather belt holster (I use one for my 1911 already) but I like the idea of the serpa holster. The only problem is, I am about 6'0 and 145lbs...skinny. I have a VERY hard time getting any gun out of any holster using one hand. 99.99% of the time, the holster and shorts and everything just get pulled up with the gun, no matter what angle I pull. I am using a Wilderness Instructor's belt so it is plenty rigid and I keep it tight around my hips. Anyone have any tips on how to have better success drawing from a holster with a skinny waist...meaning, no padding on or above the hips to retain anything. Also, any recommendations on whether or not the SERPA holster would work very well or not in my situation? Thanks!!!! __________________ --CRAT0837 Springfield XD9 4" Springfield 1911 .45 Loaded 5" Kimber .22 conversion kit for 1911 AR-15 build in progress

07-11-2008, 05:36 AM	#4
mhillsing23 XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,097	Welcome to XDTalk crat! You are getting some great advice from Spawnz, and I totally agree that the Serpa will work for you. I have one myself and it is a perfect holder for range use and OC. The holster will adjust to fit your belt, and it is very easy to draw out of once you get used to the retention release (which is very easy to master). I say go for it! __________________ Veritas vos liberabit...

07-11-2008, 10:39 AM	#6
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,276	Not having the skinny problem myself , I'd recommend the serpa and put the paddle on it from the get-go. I looked at the paddle and said it must be uncomfortable, and then wore the XD45 as my backup gun while elk hunting with a bow last season, so I climbed up, down and around a lot of 'stuff' with the XD on my hip, and a backpack with padded waist belt, and it carried well. When you push the little 'button' on the serpa, the gun slides right out, and you can adjust the tilt forwards or backwards to your liking. You may notice that I put a piece of the camo grip tape (from a skateboard shop in the local mall) on the serpa, I find it helps me locate the spot to push-in to release, and I have a bunch of it left over from the grip. Here's mine with the XD. I camo everything since I hunt all the time, I carried the XD while boar hunting yesterday for example (but I did not seal-the-deal with the black boogers). __________________ A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. - Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew

07-11-2008, 01:22 PM	#8
JonnyBender XDTalk Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: North Bay, Ontario Canada Posts: 45	Holsters I have a blackhawk serpa pancake holster for my XD40 Tactical. I would'nt trade it for anything else. Its a very safe holster, once the gun is holstered it's locked in and does'nt take much effort to draw your firearm. Before I put it on for the first time, I tought it would be uncomfortable but it is not the case. Putting the holster on is not a problem but taking it off can be a little tricky. ------------------ A bad day at the range is better than a good day at work.

07-11-2008, 01:52 PM	#9
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,276	We agree, the paddle looks like it will be uncomfortable, and it's the complete opposite. I can't figure out from your links which it is, but here is what a bought and where I bought it from pistolgear. It is not the + $8.50 carbon composite one. It comes with the paddle, just not shown in the picture. Putting on and taking off I open my pants to make it easy. I also filed off the little hooks on the inside to make it easier to take off, I still have the hooks on the outside that are adjustable to fit under my belt. PISTOLGEAR \| YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL SPRINGFIELD XD __________________ A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. - Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to his nephew Last edited by Bill in San Jose : 07-11-2008 at 01:58 PM.

07-11-2008, 01:00 AM	#2
Spawnz XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 322	First........welcome to the forums. Second.................You will love the Serpa Blackhawk. The holster is ridgid in the fact that it is a composite. It has a mechanism that locks the trigger guard into the holster. I have the Serpa Blackhawk Sportster that I use with a .45 tactical. The pistol slides in and out VERY easily. The lock is what keeps it in the holster. If I would turn my holster upside down and release the mechanism the pistol would slide out. If you have the holster on and are hanging by your feet (don't know why you would do that ) the pistol would not fall out unless you release the mechanism. Hope I am explaining it so you understand. Someone else may come along to explain it better. The release mechanism is very easy to use in the fact that when you reach for your pistol it will be right under your finger and all you do is press in on the mechanism. Anyways.............I think the Serpa would work very well in the situation you describe. Good luck and again, welcome to the forums.

07-11-2008, 01:08 AM	#3
Spawnz XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 322	Just wanted to add one more thing. You can change the cant of the Serpa holster so that it is tilted forward (called an FBI cant I believe) and you would be drawing the pistol out in a forward/upward motion. The fact that the pistol is coming out in a forward motion may allieviate the fact that your belt and shorts are riding up when you draw your weapon. But like I said, it really shouldn't matter because the pistol slides out easily. OK...............finished now. I hope.

07-11-2008, 06:36 AM	#5
C-Bone XDTalk Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: East TX Posts: 96	Good info here. I hadn't really thought about that issue but as a fellow skinny guy (5' 9" 138 here) this will be something I will pay attention to when picking out an OC holster.

07-11-2008, 03:36 PM	#10
daveIT XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 253	Thanks. Thanks, I didn't see where the Blackhawk site specified that it came with both, but after reading PistolGear and MidwayUSA sites I realized it came with both which was what I wanted. I would have liked to support PistolGear, but I had to order a bunch of stuff and with the ridiculous shipping to AK I had to only order from one site. Picked up the holster (on sale $32.99) and 3 10-rd mags (so I can start doing the 40 rd comps) and 2 16-rd mags. As soon as my slide gets back from SA I'm going to shoot that thing for a week straight! __________________ SAXD9SCNSWTFLOL

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode