I just bought a level-3 holster. I now have every level from level-3 down covered. If you were to **open** carry what level holster would you use?
For reference the levels are as follow:
level 1: Friction retention only (this is most holsters)
level 2: Friction retention, plus one locking mechnism (A button to release)
level 3: Friction retention, plus two locking mechanisms (usually a guard for the hammer plus a button to release the gun)
@freemo you have to be careful it’s those button releases. A bunch of people have shot themselves because of button releases where if one uses the index finger and maintains pressure after the gun is drawn the finger slides into the trigger guard. For my revolvers I use thumb strap holsters, for autoloaders I use “level 1”
@mandlebro @freemo Yeah, button on the outside releases for retention holsters, ones that prevent simple grabbing of your gun, are such a no-no I’m surprised they even exist (can’t remember now the really infamous model of them).
As I understand it, the good holsters might include a button but that and the real action is inside the holster, such that the manipulations required to release it won’t cause a negligent discharge. These can be so good at their general job the Tsarnaev brothers of Boston Marathon bombing infamy couldn’t figure out how to release the gun from the holster of the police officer they ambushed and killed and left it behind.
@ThatWouldBeTelling @mandlebro
While i agree on the second half, that level-2+ is great to prevent people from snatching your gun, I disagree on your first statement about button on the outside.
2 out of the three level-2+ holsters I have are button on the outside. I have never accidentally hit the trigger hitting it and even if i did the safety would have protected me. So its hard to see a real issue there unless you dont have a safety, in which case I'd say the concern is very valid.
It has to be considered situationally. Im running a 1911, so it has 2 safeties, the palm safety and the switch itself. So a whole lot of mistakes would have to happen all at once to get a misfire.
With my HK VP9 I would not run a level-3 with front button unlock. The only safety it has is a trigger safety, and that is almost like no safety at all.