Most people who toss a red dot on their firearm likely utilize a weapon-mounted light as well, right? Sure, most of the time, but there are plenty of reasons why one might not want a weapon-mounted light. If that’s the case, Safariland has a variety of holster options to accommodate you, like the 6360RDS.
The 6360RDS offers a slimmer, trimmer holster for those who do not require a weapon-mounted light. Weapon-mounted lights are extremely useful tools, but they do add bulk and weight to both your gun and holster. If you prefer a handheld option, or maybe your agency doesn’t allow WMLs, the 6360RDS has you covered.
Made from Safarilaminate with suede lining and Level 3 retention, the 6360RDS is produced for most major firearms brands, and some not-so-major. This includes Glock, S&W, Walther, OA Defense, and quite a few more.
Holster Capabilities and Features
The 6360RDS is a dedicated-duty holster that offers all the features you’d expect from most Safariland holsters. It’s molded specifically for your firearm—in this case, the Glock 17. The holster incorporates both the ALS and SLS systems, which deliver Level 3 retention.
The SLS hood requires two movements to defeat: first down, and then forward. The ALS requires one movement to defeat: a simple pull rearward. Three movements mean a Level 3 retention rig.
Like most Safariland holsters, the system operates on the same three-hole pattern. This makes the rig endlessly customizable. Pair that with a QLS fork, and you can move your gun to nearly any position and carry style.
Mine is just black, but there is a Multicam option if you need to match it with a specific uniform, or simply increase “tactical drip.”
Drawing From the 6360RDS
Combining three movements to free your gun may sound excessive, but there is a purpose. These three movements make an attempted gun grab by a bad guy impossible, or close to impossible. The system is intuitive for the angle the user draws from, but from any other angle, it’s difficult to nearly impossible to access.
Even the slightest resistance from the person carrying the gun will make it nearly impossible for someone to take it. Add in the durability of Safariland holsters, and they don’t break or “give up the ghost” when tugged on, torn at, and twisted.
For the end user, the ALS and SLS systems would seem to slow down their draw. It might never be as fast as an Incog X from an appendix position, but with training, the 6360RDS can deliver a rapid draw with the retention devices in place.
The holster itself allows for a good Master Grip on the gun. My hand can get high on the gun while my thumb deals with the retention devices. With practice, you develop a rhythm: down, forward, back.
The Timer Doesn’t Lie
My New Year’s resolution is to work a lot more on dry fire. The 6360RDS and I have been best friends when it comes to dry fire use in the last week. I started with a draw-to-first-shot in the 1.7-second range.
With a week’s worth of practice, I was able to hit below one second at times on man-sized targets. My average draw with the 6360RDS was around 1.14 seconds on an index card. This was measured using a Mantis TitanX dry fire pistol with the Mantis app.
When I went live with a Gen 6 Glock 17, I had an average time of 1.2 seconds into an IPSC-sized A-Zone. Going live institutes a little more caution, and knowing the “bang” is coming is something I need to overcome when switching from dry to live.
I’ve fired over 1,500 shots from my TitanX with at least 30 draws per practice session, but often more. It’s enough that a callous has begun to form between my pointer finger and thumb. It takes training and practice, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you can make it fast.
Running and Gunning
As I’ve been shooting the Glock Gen 6, I’ve been using the 6360RDS exclusively. Outside of shooting the Gen6, it’s been along for the ride as I shoot rifles and shotguns in various elements, including rain and dirt.
Getting into a prone position with a rifle gives your gun and holster a little dirt exposure. In my case, beach-like sand. In fact, way back when I was a machine gunner, I carried my M9 on my chest to avoid getting it covered in dirt every time I employed my gun.
I’m not doing that now, so the Glock Gen 6 and the holster went dirt diving. The 6360RDS does a fantastic job of keeping dirt off the gun. With the optics hood in place, it acts as a great buffer between dirt and debris.
That said, the holster did get dirty. The ALS and SLS got a little “crunchy,” but beyond the noise, the dirt and sand never prevented me from opening the retention devices. Dirt and sand didn’t even slow me down. Cleaning it out is no problem, and “crunchy” becomes smooth with a little water and effort.
The slimmer, trimmer, non-WML option makes the holster feel much less like a bucket. Inside vehicles, or when seated, the holsters are surprisingly more agile and easy to use. It’s not much of a change in overall holster size, but it feels radically different.
The Non-Light Holster Option
Not everyone wants or needs a WML. For those shooters, you aren’t stuck with an overly large holster when you don’t need a light. Rigs like the 6360RDS provide a lightweight, lower-bulk option with the same quality and retention options you expect from Safariland.
