When it comes to duty rigs, a superior retention holster is a must for law enforcement officers.
Safariland is well-known for making gear for police officers, but does this one measure up?
Springfield Armory provided the holster to the author for this review.
The Safariland 6360RDS duty holster seems custom made for the Springfield Echelon. Both are modern products built on years of experience.
There is one company that has a stellar reputation for creating exceptional holsters that fit into this category Safariland.
This holster lives up to its legacy.
That holster offered only a thumb snap for security.
The Safariland 6360RDS has a number of features designed to improve weapon retention. This includes a rotating hood, a red dot sight protective cover and an automatic locking system.
It was definitely far from secure.
In my first fight with a felon, a back-up officer nearly lost his firearm in the ground-fighting melee.
The SSIII bolstered my faith in a well-built holster actually saving ones life.
The Safariland 6360RDS holster is available in a variety of finishes, including MultiCam camouflage.
[Read our article:What Is a Retention Holster?]
Moving Forward The Safariland 6360RDS
But that was then and this is now.
What does Safariland have to offer today for a modern handgun like the Echelon?
Safariland uses a proprietary thermal-molded construction that is tough enough for many years of service protecting against gun grabs. With the suede lining, the gun’s finish will also be protected.
We both agreed that while a holster is part of the equation, the operator bears the additional responsibility.
I am a recent graduate of this excellent training.
Tragically, our department had an officer murdered when he was disarmed and fired upon with his own gun.
While the 6360RDS offers exceptional protection against a disarming, drawing the Springfield Armory Echelon was easy and natural.
We reflect on this circumstance soberly.
These gunsdid notfall from Safariland holsters.
The officers and deputies on this call, including our departments personnel, are wearing Safariland security holsters.
The mid-ride 6360RDS carries the duty pistol at an optimal height for many officers. It anchors to the duty belt to provide a stable base from which to draw.
When it arrived, my Echelon was a flat top, having the superlative SA U-Dot irons for sights.
The Trijicon RMR showed up last week.
Springfield ArmorysVariable Interface Systemallowed for a straightforward mounting of the optic atop the slide.
The author’s Springfield Armory Echelon is fitted with a Trijicon RMR red dot sight and a Streamlight TLR-1 tactical flashlight.
Over 30 optical sights can be affixed to the Echelon, and only a few require an adapter.
A T-12 star drive bit is needed to complete the transition.
The RMR co-witnessed the U-Dots and I did not have to make any adjustments for this to occur.
I am very familiar with the mechanics of the Safariland Level III carriers.
The addition of the red dot sight hindered neither operation.
There are several steps to the draw and presentation of a weapon that becomes second nature with repetition.
So-called muscle memory with this platform can be consistently developed.
Conclusion
I admit to being a big fan of this holster for uniformed carry.
Its up to us to be the sole user of that gun.
The Safariland 6360RDS gives us an advantage to keep it that way.
Go to forum thread
Safariland6360RDS-ALS/SLS Mid Ride, Level III Retention Duty Holster for Echelon
EchelonTMSeries
