I always considered holsters with retention and security devices as strictly for duty use. Who else needs a mechanism they have to actively defeat to draw their gun? As a Marine, I used a holster with retention, but would I, as an average Joe, really need one? The answer isn’t as black or white as you’d think. The simplest answer I can give is: It depends. But what does it depend on?
Your lifestyle is the biggest factor. Are there things you do in your life with a firearm that fall outside the norm? Activities that might require a helping hand to keep your firearm locked in your holster? In those cases, retention and security devices can offer real advantages, far beyond just duty applications.
The Safariland retention system, for example, depends on a duty belt and an approved Safariland attachment. That’s why I use the term retention and security device. With Safariland, part of the system ensures the holster can’t be ripped from the belt.
Retention and Duty
It’s easy to see why soldiers, police officers, and security guards require a high degree of retention and security. Their firearms are worn openly, they’re most often uniformed, and they are at a greater risk of a gun grab by a threat than the average person. Retention devices help stop guns from being taken by bad guys.
Cops, soldiers, and armed security face tons of different challenges. They need to be able to run, climb in and out of vehicles, carry wounded people, and operate in all kinds of situations that place serious demands on both them and their gear. Retention is essential for that kind of work.
Most average Joes don’t have to worry about a bad guy trying to take their gun. It’s possible but fairly unlikely. Most of us carry concealed. However, plenty of us might regularly deal with dynamic environments and unpredictable situations. That’s where I think retention and security devices can make sense for the average Joe.
Let’s break down some of those specific challenges and explain why you, as an average Joe, might want a little extra security.
Competition and Retention
Competition, specifically action shooting like USPSA, IPSC, PCL, and similar sports, is an excellent place to have some active retention. While it’s rare to have your gun holstered during a stage, it does happen. And in the competition world, if your gun falls out of your holster, you are going to have a bad time.
I’ve shot matches where I had to start inside a vehicle and escape, then draw and shoot. I’d hate to run into a retention issue climbing my XL frame out of a compact car. These events are dynamic—you’re running, crouching, climbing, and moving fast. You want your gear to keep up with you.
First and foremost, we’re always concerned about safety. Some guns popular in the competition world aren’t drop-safe. The Colt 1911 in a Series 70 configuration, for example, isn’t drop-safe. CZ produced the Shadow 2 explicitly for competition, and it’s not drop safe. The bottom line: we don’t want guns coming out of holsters unless we’re the ones drawing them.
If your gun pops out of the holster, it can also be a DQ or disqualification. In the best-case scenario, your pride takes a hit, but everyone is fine. Still, we don’t want our gun in the dirt. If it’s locked into the holster, we’re always good to go.
Hunting
I used to carry this really handy Gerber multi-tool in a little pouch in my belt. It was an open-top pouch, and I’d never lost it—most of the tool was enclosed by the case. Then one day I went hunting, and by the time I got up into my tree stand, it was gone. Somewhere between the 150 yards I walked from the road to my stand, it abandoned me. It was lost forever.
If you’re hunting with a handgun, or carrying a handgun while hunting, I’d recommend some form of retention or security device. I hunt with a shotgun, but I carry a TX22 in a 578 GLS holster as a tool. It’s mostly there in case I need to dispatch something I can’t scare off, and it doesn’t warrant a three-inch round of buckshot.
Hiking through the woods is like being grabbed at by all sorts of things. I live in the Southeast, and our woods are more like jungles. The vines, limbs, palmettos, and more claw at you, and if your gear isn’t secured, it’s at risk of being lost. And that’s before you factor in the fun of climbing a tree stand.
If you hunt with a handgun, there will be times when it’s holstered, especially if you get lucky and have to haul out your game. If your handgun is holstered without a retention or security mechanism, you could be up a creek without a paddle.
Adventure Carry
Adventure carry is the term I use for those who love the great outdoors. Do you hike? Kayak? Ride ATVs? Mountain bike? Fish? Anything that’s fun, done outdoors, and often subjects you to a fair bit of jostling? That’s an adventurous situation, and your average passive retention rig likely isn’t enough to keep your gun where you need it.
No one wants to get a mile down a trail and realize their Glock 19 has leapt from its holster to start a new life amongst the forest animals. We want our guns to stay where they are supposed to stay, and it’s easy to miss that you’ve lost a gun while doing something exciting and fast paced. These dynamic situations can quickly turn into a huge hassle.
Which Holsters?
As an average Joe, you need a holster that fits your activities. So which one should you choose? Safariland has an expansive catalog of holsters to fit a wide variety of guns. Different people face different situations, so here are a few recommendations based on my experience.
For competition, I’d go with a Safariland 6000 or 7000 series that fits your gun and has accessories with an ALS lever. This Level 1 retention is quick and easy to defeat and can be disengaged naturally as you draw. When paired correctly with a mount and belt, it offers solid retention without slowing you down.
That same holster could be used for hunting. It’s stout and well-made, and I think it would pair nicely with the new Safariland chest rig. The chest rig positions the firearm in a way that’s safe and keeps it from snagging,something belt rigs are more prone to do in the field.
For adventure carry and hunting, I personally use the GLS holsters. These holsters feature a security device known as the Grip Lock System. The Pro series can fit a wide variety of guns. I tend to use them because I need to conceal the weapon where I live. They’re slimmer and easier to carry for everyday or low-profile use.
