Blackhawk serpa report - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

natehunts · 09-19-2007, 10:52 AM

I have had my blackhawk serpa for my XD45 for a few weeks now and because I live in Cali I have only been able to carry in my home. So I have carried openly a handful of times now and I really like the holster. So last night we had a group of friends over and I decided to test out the concealability of it. I was pleased that noone made a comment or noticed anything, and these are people that would have loved to rag on me about carrying. I wasn't sure how concealable it was going to be, but I'm happy knowing that if I need to I can conceal with it pretty decently.

Frisco Pete · 09-19-2007, 12:19 PM

I also have the Blackhawk SERPA CQC XD45 holster and it is a very good holster with a novel and positive retention system. However, I feel that it is a better service/range holster than CCW holster. This is because the design lets the holster and especially the butt hang out away from your body. This is very normal with service holsters including the Fobus jobs you get with the XD. If you have ever tried a good pancake-style holster, you will see that they have widely-spaced belt loops that pull the gun and the butt into and against the body more than the CQC. This type includes the Galco Concealable, the Kramer Belt Scabbard, and others of the type shown here (Galco):

Other good concealable types include IWB rigs like the Crossbreed, the Milt Sparks Executive and many more. The best have a positive way of fastening them to the belt that will not allow the holster to come off when you draw, and allow re-holstering because they do not let the mouth of the holster collapse after the pistol is drawn.

Archer1945 · 09-19-2007, 05:26 PM

Another advantage of a pancake style holster is that it puts a bit more of the gun above the belt than other hosters tend to. I have both the paddle XD holster for my XD45C and the comparable Fobus for my P220 and neither are anywhere nearly as comfortable or conceal either gun as well as the pancake holster I had for the Series 70 .45 I had years ago.

There is a very good reason those who have to carry concealed professionally DO NOT wear service type holsters, such as the Fobus/XD and similar. While they will conceal under heavier clothes they place the butt of the gun too far away from the body for most clothes, especially if you like to carry inline with the hip bone or, as it is called, at the 3/9 o'clock position. A good paddle holster and a number of IWB holsters will allow you to carry your weapon anywhere from the 3/9 o'clock position all the way back to to a 6 o'clock position

natehunts · 09-19-2007, 08:08 PM

I should have mentioned that I have other holsters that I conceal with such as the C.T.A.C. and the IWB crossbreed (when I go home to Utah). They are obviously much better to conceal with than the blackhawk, I was just pleasantly surprised that I could decently conceal with the serpa. But it would never be able to replace a good pancake or IWB. Thanks for the responses.

Bill in San Jose · 09-20-2007, 09:26 PM

I just spent a week elk hunting (archery) and carrying my XD45 in a Serpa cgc holster on my hip with the paddle for cougar self-defense. I wore a pack with a padded hip strap and was climbing over trees, doing lots of hiking and the holster was 100% comfortable. I was not trying to conceal anything, but it was comfortable.

09-19-2007, 10:52 AM	#1
natehunts XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 13	Blackhawk serpa report I have had my blackhawk serpa for my XD45 for a few weeks now and because I live in Cali I have only been able to carry in my home. So I have carried openly a handful of times now and I really like the holster. So last night we had a group of friends over and I decided to test out the concealability of it. I was pleased that noone made a comment or noticed anything, and these are people that would have loved to rag on me about carrying. I wasn't sure how concealable it was going to be, but I'm happy knowing that if I need to I can conceal with it pretty decently.

09-19-2007, 12:19 PM	#2
Frisco Pete XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 132	I also have the Blackhawk SERPA CQC XD45 holster and it is a very good holster with a novel and positive retention system. However, I feel that it is a better service/range holster than CCW holster. This is because the design lets the holster and especially the butt hang out away from your body. This is very normal with service holsters including the Fobus jobs you get with the XD. If you have ever tried a good pancake-style holster, you will see that they have widely-spaced belt loops that pull the gun and the butt into and against the body more than the CQC. This type includes the Galco Concealable, the Kramer Belt Scabbard, and others of the type shown here (Galco): Other good concealable types include IWB rigs like the Crossbreed, the Milt Sparks Executive and many more. The best have a positive way of fastening them to the belt that will not allow the holster to come off when you draw, and allow re-holstering because they do not let the mouth of the holster collapse after the pistol is drawn. Last edited by Frisco Pete : 09-19-2007 at 10:53 PM.

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09-19-2007, 05:26 PM	#3
Archer1945 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eastern MO Posts: 306	Another advantage of a pancake style holster is that it puts a bit more of the gun above the belt than other hosters tend to. I have both the paddle XD holster for my XD45C and the comparable Fobus for my P220 and neither are anywhere nearly as comfortable or conceal either gun as well as the pancake holster I had for the Series 70 .45 I had years ago. There is a very good reason those who have to carry concealed professionally DO NOT wear service type holsters, such as the Fobus/XD and similar. While they will conceal under heavier clothes they place the butt of the gun too far away from the body for most clothes, especially if you like to carry inline with the hip bone or, as it is called, at the 3/9 o'clock position. A good paddle holster and a number of IWB holsters will allow you to carry your weapon anywhere from the 3/9 o'clock position all the way back to to a 6 o'clock position

09-19-2007, 08:08 PM	#4
natehunts XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 13	I should have mentioned that I have other holsters that I conceal with such as the C.T.A.C. and the IWB crossbreed (when I go home to Utah). They are obviously much better to conceal with than the blackhawk, I was just pleasantly surprised that I could decently conceal with the serpa. But it would never be able to replace a good pancake or IWB. Thanks for the responses.

09-20-2007, 09:26 PM	#5
Bill in San Jose XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,298	I just spent a week elk hunting (archery) and carrying my XD45 in a Serpa cgc holster on my hip with the paddle for cougar self-defense. I wore a pack with a padded hip strap and was climbing over trees, doing lots of hiking and the holster was 100% comfortable. I was not trying to conceal anything, but it was comfortable.