PSA: check your Gear- including holsters

[68Charger]

http://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firearms/safety-warning-worn-leather-holsters-can-cause-accidental-discharges/

This could be used for all kinds of discussions (arguments?) about safeties and type of gear used... but at the very least, is something to be learned from...

[funkfool]

Great submission 68Charger...
WYP - I think this is worth a direct quote to the forum....


Editor-in-chief’s note: We’d like to thank the anonymous individual who came forward with this important information and allowed us to get it out to everyone here at ITS Tactical (http://www.itstactical.com/warcom/firearms/safety-warning-worn-leather-holsters-can-cause-accidental-discharges/).
http://www.itstactical.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Leather-Holster-AD-Main.jpg
“What the hell was that?!?” she said. It took me a half a second to realize that my gun had just gone off…on my hip…in its holster. My wife and I had just finished breakfast at our favorite café and got into the car.
Me being the passenger, I rotated my torso to the left to fasten my seatbelt like I always do. When I straightened again, my Glock 19 discharged, blowing a 9mm hole through my pants, underwear, the leather seat and bottom of the car’s door frame.
The bullet nicked my hip, but the wound is nothing a bandage couldn’t cover. So what went wrong? Guns never go “Bang” all by themselves.
After ensuring I wasn’t hemorrhaging profusely and didn’t have to make a dash for the hospital, I stayed seated in the car as my wife came around to my door and opened it. I undid my belt and slid the Galco JAK202 Slide Belt Holster (http://www.usgalco.com/HolsterPT3.asp?ProductID=643&CatalogID=4), with the gun still in it, off my belt. Why it went off was immediately apparent.
Accidental Discharge

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5547242760_c73a55d78a_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/itstactical/5547242760/)
The trusty, comfortable, leather holster I had been using for a year and two weeks had done what a baseball glove does after lots of use; It got soft. This particular holster carries the pistol outside the waistband, but inside the belt. The belt slides through slots in the outer side of the holster.
The problem stemmed from the leather on the inner side of the holster getting soft. A crease formed, which eventually was large enough to extend beyond the trigger. Manipulate the gun in just the wrong manner and this crease is no different than a finger on the trigger. Boom!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5547242668_a7fd36b895_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/itstactical/5547242668/)
I can’t say I didn’t know the crease had been formed in the holster. I trained myself to be sure that when holstering, to make sure the gun was fully in the holster, with the trigger protected. On this day, did I forget to do that when I holstered up? Did the leather finally get so soft that a combination of body movements and interference by the cushy leather seat move the Glock enough to create a situation where the trigger was engaged by the holster?
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5547242684_47c99bdae4_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/itstactical/5547242684/)
I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure, but I’ll humbly admit to the former as the likely culprit. However, if it was the latter, then those of you who use this type of holster need to be aware of its limitations and the possibility of experiencing what I did.
It might have been a very different story had the incident happened while we were dining. That bullet ricocheting off the concrete floor could have done untold damage and just as easily killed somebody. Fortunately nobody got hurt and damage to the car was minimal. It will be an interesting conversation with the insurance company to see if they’ll cover the repairs.
Lessons Learned

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5546662701_24a3c53f45_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/itstactical/5546662701/)
Holstering your gun can be just as important as drawing it. Make sure you pay attention when doing so. If your leather is getting soft and worn, be sure that it won’t interfere with your trigger or just replace it.
The back of the slide and/or grip was being pushed downward into the leather holster…or the holster was being pushed upward with some force. My guess is the firearm was being pushed and the fold in the holster acted as a finger and depressed the Glock trigger safety.
This truly brings home the importance of taking care of your equipment and ensuring it’s in proper working order. Hopefully you can learn from my situation and prevent an accident like this from happening to you.
Editor-in-chief’s note: We’d like to thank the anonymous individual who came forward with this important information and allowed us to get it out to everyone here at ITS Tactical.
Please share this with everyone you know that carries in a leather holster!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5547242668_a7fd36b895_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5547242668/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5547242684_47c99bdae4_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5547242684/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5546662595_958b0b45aa_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5546662595/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5546662613_c39522baef_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5546662613/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5547242760_c73a55d78a_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5547242760/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5546662663_4e7ce399c7_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5546662663/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5546662683_5cdf82318d_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5546662683/)http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5027/5546662701_24a3c53f45_s.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38062498@N04/5546662701/)

[Bailey Guns]

Great reminder.

[ChadAmberg]

Hmm... I don't like the fit of that holster anyway, since it looks like even new it wouldn't cover the trigger well enough. I'd like to see it just come up to the mag release.

[trlcavscout]

No leather here! I prefer Kydex. But random gear inspection is necesary to safe and proper operation!

[CrufflerSteve]

Hmm... I don't like the fit of that holster anyway, since it looks like even new it wouldn't cover the trigger well enough. I'd like to see it just come up to the mag release.

I agree. You shouldn't see any trigger if it fit properly. Maybe it was that way when new and slid down as it softened. I'm going to take a close look at my pocket holster tonight. Blowing a hole in my butt would not be fun.

Steve

[Byte Stryke]

I'm going to take a close look at my pocket holster tonight. Blowing a hole in my butt would not be fun.

Steve

if its a pocket holster, your butt is not the concern unless its a back-pocket holster.


I agree that regular inspections of your weapon AND the Holster are prudent.
Personally, I inspect Holster and weapon daily before "loadup"
Everything is taken down weekly for cleaning and thorough inspection, to include mags and ammo.

Oh, and a +1 for Kydex.
I Love my supertuck

[SideShow Bob]

Guess there is a lot to be said for a grip and thumb safety on a firearm, especially on a CCW weapon.
GLOCK = pierced buttocks. Ouch !

[argonstrom]

Thanks for the reminder.

Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn't, but has there been any mention of the trigger being stock? The way the holster was formed against the trigger was an accident waiting to happen in any event.

[mcantar18c]

Meh, more reason to carry a 1911.

[BPTactical]

Meh, more reason to carry a 1911.


+1[Coffee]