SERPA Level 3 Auto Lock Duty Holster - Matte Finish

I bought this solely for use in armed security. The included belt attachment is annoying in that it doesn't allow you to slide the rig forward or back once it's on there, making it a royal pain to find exactly where you want it to be on your belt before you cinch down the screws to permanently secure it. Also, the low-hanging position of the belt mount is uncomfortable as heck when you're sitting in a vehicle (especially one with a center console), because it makes the holster dig into your thigh. The mid- or high-position mounts available for the SERPA holsters are MUCH better and pretty much a must-get. The Level III retention device takes a little bit of extra practice, just enough that you need to get in the habit of keeping your thumb stiff so it can push the button that disengages the top retention piece, but I've compared my draw-and-shoot times with a shot timer and it comes out to be almost exactly the same with this holster as it does with my Level II SERPA duty holster. The top retention piece flips back far enough out of the way that it doesn't hang up on the rear sight and doesn't interfere with the draw stroke at all, so you don't have to really do anything different in that sense. However, you do have to draw upwards just an inch or so higher with this holster to clear it during the draw stroke versus the non-duty SERPA holsters, since these have that extra bit of protective shell going up the FULL length of the slide instead of just half or three-quarters of it. Also, re-engaging the top lock is an extra step, and a little awkward, but even if you just re-holster the pistol like any other SERPA holster, it still clicks securely into place and it's not like your gun is going to fall out or anything if you don't snap that top part closed. Otherwise, this is just like any other SERPA holster in that it's simple, rugged, functional, secure, and nice-looking. EXTRA BONUS: I bought this to fit a full-size Smith & Wesson M&P45, but it also perfectly fits my SD9VE, as well as my Glock 30 (it will also fit a Glock 21 or 20), so the extra versatility is kind of handy if you own more than one pistol of a similar size group.

Great level 3 holster. Fits the Sig Sauer perfectly! Not very suitable for concealed carry, but most definitely a duty rig holster. Being level 3, affords a very high retention level but still easy to draw with practice and all the releases fall readily to the fingertips. Best purchase I EVER MADE! Highly recommended!

This holster was purchased for a glock 23. It functions as expected. Like any holster, it will require practice time to develop reflex memory. Nothing about this holster is a hinderance and it is designed with attention to detail. It is not bulky, but does have a heft to it. It sits high on the waist, but does come with an adapter to lower the ride of the holster about 3/4 of an inch. As I understand it , this holster is recommended for incoming police academy cadets. The cheapest I found this holster was used on craigslist for 40 dollars from a cadet who did not complete the academy. The second lowest was here on Amazon for a tad under 60.00. I wanted a secure holster, but I also wanted a holster that would not damage the finish of the sidearm and would last a considerable amount of time under moderate desert stress. This holster suits these needs. It does not rise up when the weapon is drawn and it does not flop around when the bearer is mobile. It is meant to be attached to a heavy duty holster belt.

This holster is solidly built. It locks onto the trigger guard of the gun when the weapon is placed into the holster, with no other action required from the user. Resecuring the hood device requires depression of a release button and a simultaneous rotation of the hood. Releasing the gun on the draw is accomplished by depressing the trigger finger release button, and the hood release button that is located directly under the natural position of the thumb. Proficiency with any holster requires practice, but this one is particularly easy to learn. Even with its Level III retention features, it's easy to use and very fast. The backstrap of the holstered gun rides approximately level with the top of the duty belt, and the mounting system that joins the holster body to the mounting plate is somewhat bulky. The gun rides a bit farther out from the body than with many other designs. This places it too low to defend against a gun grab attempt with the elbow. For me, getting in and out of the front seat area in today's smaller patrol vehicles took a bit of adaptive technique, particularly on the passenger side, where the gun butt has a tendency to catch on the door frame without a conscious effort to avoid that. I would like to see options for mounting the holster closer to the body and for raising it to a higher ride position. All in all, it's a secure, stable, reliable, and easy to use holster system for police duty or hunting use. It is also substantially less complicated and much less expensive than some other well known Level III rigs.

Watched a YouTube video to use for my canik TP9SFX since there’s no level 3 holsters for that brand worked out great You will have to trim the hood but great holster

Absolutely worth five stars. I live in a state where open carry is not allowed but I travel and am licensed to open carry in several other states. I was looking for a quality holster. I have several level II black hawk holsters and decided to try out the level III and am very pleased. The holster is high quality with great functionality. The thumb release lever requires no additional thought. It naturally is hit by your thumb when your about to draw. The thumb lever is large enough to press without much concern of it depressing. Providing you training with serpa holsters, the rest is identical. I also wanted to see if the non duty belt paddle worked and it fits very well. Just be sure to use the spacer and the extended length screws that come with this holster.

The Blackhawk Serpa holsters have a bad rep for some unknown reason. Supposedly the position of the latch release has caused people to accidentally misfire their weapon when they draw. I just don't see how this can happen. First, the latch is well offset from the trigger position so if you press it with your trigger finger and draw the pistol, your finger should naturally end up laying along side the bottom edge of the slide. Second, regardless of where your finger ends up, there should be NO WAY that you fire the weapon, that would take a deliberate action in no way the fault of the holster. I am very pleased with this holster, solid, safe, excellent retention and great value.

I bought this holster years ago, when Safariland's quality control went down the tubes. This is a very fast, very reliable holster. Note: You MUST learn how to properly draw and present a firearm if you intend to carry it holstered. When the draw is complete and you are holding or aiming your gun, your trigger finger MUST REMAIN INDEXED along the side of the frame. These holsters got a bad rap because rookie shooters were pushing the release button, drawing their pistol, then allowing their trigger finger to snap off the holster and onto the trigger, causing a negligent discharge. I've been drawing with this holster, as well as the concealed model, for roughly 15 years with absolutely no problems. KEEP YOUR FINGER INDEXED when you draw, and don't put this holster to work until that is a well established habit. This is not difficult...in fact, this should be the way everybody is taught to draw. When properly used, this is an exceedingly fast holster. I promise indexing is not going to slow you down. The retention devices will not slow down a proper draw. It is easy to get a proper, high grip on the pistol. I recommend this holster to everybody who carries. Too many folks, including well trained, experienced law enforcement officers, have been killed after their guns got snatched. A retention holster is another layer between you and death, and probably the cheapest thing you can do to increase your and your partner's safety. Highly Recommend!