re-holstering - mental checks

[MTechnik]

It seems that the majority of negligent discharges happen during re-holstering. I have heard a couple of folks mention a "mode clear" or "mental reset" they do before holstering.

I'd love to learn more about the rituals folks do to make holstering safer so I can really incorporate it.

Previously I just straightened my trigger finger, and put my thumb on the hammer, then sweeping the top of the holster with my support hand, lifting my cover garment out of the way and holstered slowly.

But I realize that a pause before that, with a mental check, can help keep me safer.

[MattInFla]

For me:

Support hand goes to the chest and stays there.

De-cock firearm / apply safety as appropriate to the gun in question.

With finger firmly out of trigger guard, sweep cover back with elbow, lower gun from retention index position down until it contacts the holster and carefully insert. Finger goes from alongside frame to alongside holster as the gun goes in.

Matt

[VolGrad]

Do a search on the term "hard break" on this site for a couple of posts about it in another thread.

[fuse]

Todd and a few other teachers will ask you to leave a class if you repeatedly don't slow down while reholstering.

[MattInFla]

As I tell people when I SO for IDPA matches - holstering is a slow, deliberate, thoughtful process done off the clock. You will not impress anyone by holstering quickly. You will definitely not impress anyone by shooting yourself while trying to holster quickly.

[SecondsCount]

When finished shooting I look at the target to see where the holes are then look down at my holster to make sure it is clear while re-holstering the gun. If the gun has a safety then I engage it before putting the gun in the holster.

[socom308]

As I tell people when I SO for IDPA matches - holstering is a slow, deliberate, thoughtful process done off the clock. You will not impress anyone by holstering quickly. You will definitely not impress anyone by shooting yourself while trying to holster quickly.

So true. I too S.O. IDPA matches and one of the big things I see shooters do is tip the barrel of their gun in toward their body while re-holstering. (pointing it at themselves and they don't realize they're doing it.) This mostly happens with shooters that have "pancake" style holsters but sometimes I see it with kydex holsters too. Another thing to watch out for is, often seen with thumb break holsters, is people use the non-shooting hand to open the holster or thumb break device and sweep that hand with their muzzle while re-holstering. Stay safe.

[Rverdi]

As I tell people when I SO for IDPA matches - holstering is a slow, deliberate, thoughtful process done off the clock. You will not impress anyone by holstering quickly. You will definitely not impress anyone by shooting yourself while trying to holster quickly.

Very well said.

[Frank D.]

X-posted from another thread.


I always bring the gun in to a high-ready, check my ass, deal with safeties (if applicable), exhale and put my thumb on the hammer, then look down and get a visual confirmation that my finger is indeed off the trigger.

I like having a cue (exhaling), tactile and visual feedback with something so simple. It is very easy to get complacent.

It might be excessive, but I had a cousin who put a round into the ground about a half-inch away from his foot, in my 'formative' years of shooting. Pretty much scared me straight.

[Wheeler]

When I S.O. at IDPA matches, I will usually get at least one shooter every couple of months that will do the speed unload/show clear/dry fire/reholster. I will then politely ask them to unholster their pistol, and run through the process at about half speed.

Most will do so with little to no comment. Occasionaly I'll get one that wants to argue. I've only had to impress upon one that should he not do as I requested, he would be escorted off the range.

It's not a power trip on my part, sometimes they will run through the process so fast that I cannot visually confirm that there is not a magazine in the pistol or a round in the chamber. Some of those guys will decock rather than drop the hammer/striker. I want there to be absolutely no doubt that the weapon is unloaded before I release the shooter off the line and allow the other shooters forward of the firing line to score and paste.

While IDPA states that their particular little game is not training, if I can impart a few good firearms handling skills on some of the shooters that come through, it's good training to me.

[NickDrak]

I purposely stop and look at my holster prior to holstering the pistol for a quick second after conducting a 360 degree scan of my surroundings. In the police academy I was drilled with the idea that I needed to holster without looking at the holster/gun. Over the years I came to the realization that I wont be holstering my pistol if I still have a threat to address, and I was more concerned about shooting myself in the leg while holstering under a stressfull, leathal force situation than I was about being able to holster without looking.

I have never been in a gun fight and I hope I never am, but I can assure you that no one has ever won a gun battle because of their ability to conduct a blind speed re-holster.