Yet, there seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding regarding holster retention.
But what do those terms really mean?
If a gun is loose in the holster, it can hinder an efficient draw or even fall out.
Virtually any well-fitted rig will hold a gun securely.
For many concealed carry holsters, friction is the primary means of retention.
Typically, quality leather and Kydex holsters offer good retention through fit alone.
Without reinforcement, nylon weave and other soft materials can offer inferior retention when relying on a friction fit.
For holsters made of softer materials, a strap is frequently required to make the rig safe for use.
Understanding the concept of holster retention is easy.
However, there is a huge difference between holster retention and a retention holster.
What Is a Retention Holster?
A retention holster is frequently called a security holster and is often associated with police duty rigs.
That makes sense as an exposed pistol is at higher risk of being targeted than one which is concealed.
During an arrest or struggle, a criminal was within reach of the officers sidearm.
Not wanting to go to prison, more than a few criminals would try and disarm the cop.
Fortunately, defensive tactics trainers like Jim Lindell developed systems for law enforcement officers to defend against gun grabs.
During the same time, holster makers were attempting to develop duty rigs that offered increased firearm security.
One of the best designs came from the Rogers Holster Company.
Bill Rogers developed a truly revolutionary security holster.
That rig became known as the 070 SSIII after the company was acquired by Safariland in the 1980s.
Between it and handgun retention training, countless law enforcement lives have been saved.
How Does a Retention Holster Work?
However, those are just the starting points.
Many retention holsters use internal locks that latch onto the triggerguard of the pistol.
Each manufacturer develops its own rigs and there are no standard ways of unlocking a pistol from the holster.
But all security holsters use some combination of techniques to ensure only the owner can pull the gun free.
What Are Retention Levels?
In my opinion, Safariland offers the best standard for measuring retention.
In the Safarliand rating system, there are four defined levels from one to four.
Each level represents an ascending amount of security starting at one and increasing to a maximum of four.
Safariland provides detailed instructions on how to test a holster to determine the retention level it offers.
That may seem like a short amount of time.
However, in training classes, Ive seen low-quality rigs rip off of a belt in less time.
You canread more about the Safariland standard on their website.
Using the Safariland standard, many holsters dont even make the cut for Level 1 retention.
Any open-top rig relying on friction alone simply wont rate.
Neither would a rig that used a weak thumb strap.
Arent They Slow?
A common myth about retention holsters is that they are slow to draw from.
Ive found that to be flat-out false.
Ive carried multiple different security holsters with a Level 3 or better rating.
I was as quick with them as I was with any OWB holster.
In many cases, I was faster with the security holster because of its better ergonomics.
Truth be told, I have met a few people that were slow when drawing from a retention holster.
However, these were the same people that had difficulty in passing basic qualifications standards as well.
They never practiced, but they always blamed the gun (its sights are off!)
and the holster (its too slow!).
You do need to practice with a retention holster just like any other piece of equipment.
It is completely irresponsible to carry a pistol in a holster that cant keep it secure on your person.
When on display, that weapon is a potential target.
You have the responsibility to ensure it doesnt fall into the wrong hands.
When you are searching for a retention holster, investigate the listed security ratings.
Be sure to understand what they are saying and what they are not saying.
Your life may depend on it.
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