Have you ever wondered what all of the Safariland acronyms mean? They make a lot of holsters, and so there are a lot of acronyms. We have covered some of their terms before, but today we are specifically looking at acronyms that have to do with red dot sights.
The longer I was in law enforcement, the more holsters I ended up using. In today’s world, there isn’t really one holster for everything. Safariland makes the Quick Locking System (QLS), which allows holsters to be placed on or removed from a belt in a matter of seconds. This was designed because people need to use different holsters on different platforms for different missions. (I promise I won’t use the word “different” anymore in this article!)
But as Safariland continues to make more options and features available, we are seeing more acronyms. If you don’t understand the “holster lingo,” it can sound just as confusing as someone outside of law enforcement listening to 10-codes on the radio.
As an example, the saleslady at my local police supply store asked what features I wanted on my duty holster. She then went on to say, “We can order it with ALS, SLS, in a nice STX finish that is RDS compatible with QLS already attached.”
I told her to speak English to me because I was not a holster whisperer.
But it turns out these abbreviations are simple and straightforward. Once you understand what they mean, it all makes sense.
So, here is a quick rundown of some common acronyms you see associated with Safariland holsters when they are compatible with red dot sights.
RDS: Red Dot Sight
Safariland uses the RDS abbreviation to identify a holster that is compatible with a red dot sight. There are multiple levels of retention available for RDS holsters. One example of an RDS holster is the 7360RDS duty holster. This is a Level 3 holster that uses the ALS (Automatic Locking System) and the SLS (Self Locking System). Because it is also an RDS holster, it works with a handgun-mounted optic.
Many of these holsters have a rotating hood that covers the optic. This hood protects the optic from elements such as rain, snow, ice, and dust. When you activate the SLS system, the optic hood rotates forward, clearing the way for the gun to be drawn.
Besides the general “RDS” designation for red dot compatible holsters, Safariland gets a little more specific with some of their holsters.
DO: Docter Optic
The DO Holster, most famously the 6354DO, was a groundbreaking design developed for U.S. Special Operations Forces. When this designation was first used, it was for the Docter Optic red dot sight that was being used by the military.
This holster was one of the first purpose-built holsters from Safariland to accommodate a firearm with a slide-mounted optic. Before that, soldiers would often modify existing holsters to fit their optics and lights. The only problem with this, however, was that it could compromise the holster’s retention and durability.
Safariland’s design provided a secure and reliable solution straight from the factory. It featured molded optic protection and was often wrapped in Cordura nylon to reduce infrared signature and noise, which is important for special operations.
The 6354DO used the Automatic Locking System (ALS) for retention, offering a fast and intuitive draw while maintaining weapon security. This design paved the way for modern, optic-compatible holsters.
RDSC: Red Dot Sight Cut
RDSC stands for Red Dot Sight Cut. This term describes a holster that is specifically designed to be as compact as possible while still accommodating a red dot sight.
Just because you have a mid or full-size gun doesn’t mean the holster should always be the same size. A holster with an overall shorter design allows the shooter to clear the holster faster when drawing the gun. This is often a feature that competition shooters like because they can get on target faster.
One example of this type of holster is the 6378RDSC-ALS Concealment holster (pictured above). This holster has a paddle attachment, which makes it easy and fast to put on and take off.
While RDSC holsters are available with the ALS locking system, they are not duty rated. This means even though the ALS will lock the gun into the holster, it is not designed for police or military use.
RDSO: Red Dot Sight Open
RDSO stands for Red Dot Sight Open. When you see one of these holsters, they are distinguishable by the lack of an optics hood. The holster has an open molded area for the optic to slide into when the gun is holstered, but nothing covers the optic from the top of the holster.
RDSO holsters are only available with a Level 1 retention. This is most often used with the ALS system.
One reason these holsters are becoming popular is that enclosed emitter handgun optics are being used more. When your optic is completely enclosed, it doesn’t need a hood to protect it from the elements.
One of my favorite RDSO holsters is the 6354RDSO. I probably use this holster with my Glock 49 MOS more than any other holster. I have the Steiner MPS red dot and Nightstick TWM 30 light mounted to the Glock.
The open-top design on the holster makes drawing the gun fast while still locking the gun in place when holstered.
Ready to be a holster whisperer?
Seeing a string of Safariland acronyms can be confusing at first, but it makes perfect sense once you are familiar with the terms. For more information about their holsters, you can also visit the Safariland Holster University. Here they explain holster retention levels, finish materials, and more.
So, the next time you’re browsing the web for a new holster that works with your red dot sight, check out the selection Safariland offers. No matter what you are looking for, there is a good chance they make it.
