Safariland 6TS RDSQ Review: Testing a Suppressor Holster

If you don’t yet own a suppressor or two, and they’re legal where you live, what’s stopping you? If you’re looking for a practical way to carry a suppressed handgun, Safariland is diving into that ecosystem with a new holster project code-named Quiet Riot. Meet the 6TS RDSQ.

Quiet Riot isn’t its trade name, but it’s the internal name used by Safariland’s engineers. I got an early look at Quiet Riot before its release. The new RDSQ is a 6000 series holster designed to accommodate suppressed handguns.

The first models are designed for the Glock 19 and 45 with a large light, which can help stabilize the gun in the holster.

The new Quiet Riot series 6000 holsters carry the RDSQ moniker. If you’re unfamiliar with the Safariland naming apparatus, fret not. I’ll give you a short rundown. RDS=Red Dot Sight. RDSO=Red Dot Sight Open. RSDQ?

If I gave you three guesses as to what the Q meant, you’d only need one. Q is for Quiet. The RDSQ in my hands accommodates most commonly designed suppressors, so long as they’re round and 1.5 inches or less in diameter. 

Breaking Down the RDSQ 

The 6000 series, aka the 6TS, is made from Boltaron, specifically molded to gun designs. The outside is 500D Cordura nylon on the Cordura versions; the others weare Safariland’s STX Tactical finish. 

It launches as the 6004RDSQ and the 6005RDSQ, which adds a quick release.Both are configured for the QLS 19 locking fork.

The 6000 series has been around forever and remains a favorite of law enforcement and military users. 6000 denotes the material and design, not a specific lineup of firearms. While my specific holster is designed for a Glock, there are plenty of 6000-series holsters that accommodate a ton of different guns. 

The RDSQ uses the SLS hood, which releases when you press down and forward in two distinct hand motions. You’ll notice it doesn’t have ALS. 

The ALS lock attaches to the ejection port of a firearm. That means you are dealing with extremely tight tolerances to make sure it works. When we add a suppressor into the mix, there simply isn’t the ability to meet those tolerances.

The SLS doesn’t require the lock to attach to the gun, so it’s the best option we have for reliable retention. This is how Safariland can build this for a G19 but fit many other guns in the same bucket.

If you are used to the tight lock-up provided by the minute tolerances of Safariland duty holsters, this one will feel a bit loose.

Is That a Suppressor in Your Holster? 

By now you’ve noticed the suppressor sticking out of the bottom of the holster. This is necessary to accommodate a long accessory attached to your firearm. This also requires the holster to remove the traditional Safariland plug. 

The current design accommodates a traditional round suppressor. I can say it fits my Spectre 9 perfectly. I imagine most 9mm suppressors aren’t all that different in overall diameter, so it’s likely to fit the vast majority of cans. 

Safariland holsters tend to have this just-perfect fit to them. When you drop a Glock into a Ballast, it feels like it was meant to fit, right? That’s not quite the case here. 

The extra room provided to accommodate a suppressor means the tolerances are a little looser upon entry. However, the little bit of wiggle room isn’t a problem. The suppressor more or less stabilizes the gun inside the holster, so it’s not like it’s going to start swinging back and forth. 

As with all of the 6000 series, you can mount this in a number of ways. It’s still compatible with Safariland’s three-hole attachments. Be cautious of it riding low, since the suppressor is hanging from the bottom. 

On a thigh rig, it might become an issue catching on things or even digging into the dirt due to how the suppressor sits below your knee. If you take that route, be cautious about which knee is going to touch the ground. 

Drawing From the RDSQ

As you’d imagine, your draw stroke changes a bit as you pull a holstered suppressed firearm. Your vertical upward stroke is a bit exaggerated and will vary based on the length of the suppressor. It took a few practice strokes to dial it in, but I was surprised how quickly I adjusted to the Spectre 9. 

I had more trouble overcoming the SLS hood without the ALS than I did drawing the handgun. I’m so used to sweeping the ALS lever after I push the hood down and forward that I felt weird without it. 

After a bit of dry fire, I loaded a magazine and grabbed my shot timer. My draws were around 1.5 seconds, and I dipped into the low 1.4 seconds. On average, my draw is around 1.2 to 1.3 seconds from a Level 3 holster. 

The slight increase in vertical pull makes a bit of a difference, but not all that much. It’s easy to get the gun up and on target with very little drama attached. 

Turn Up The Heat 

Suppressors get hot quickly, and this holster is not designed to withstand the highest possible temperatures of a suppressor. You’ll need to let it cool before reholstering. 

During a media shoot, Safariland measured temperatures north of 400 degrees during some purposeful and repetitive mag dumps. The suppressor reholstered fine, and the holster’s standoff kept the exposed can from touching pants, but there’s a lot of common sense needed here. Be safe. Let the can cool down if you have any doubt.

It would be more likely that you would damage nylon pants or exposed skin with the suppressor, as the muzzle end sits outside of the holster, exposed.

Carrying Suppressed 

With an ever-increasing rise of suppressors, the ecosystem that’s coming is only going to get better. Being able to effectively holster a suppressed gun inside a proven retention system is a big step forward. I look forward to seeing what Safariland continues to do with suppressed handguns. 

The RDSQ is only the start.