Blackhawk Serpa holster

[Lost Lake]

On one of my shopping sprees I picked up a #25 Blackhawk Serpa holster. I don't know why they don't include good directions with these holsters, but they don't. I looked on this forum and the net and found a lot of folks wishing the directions were better.

There is a black plastic plate included in the box that has a little tang on it that I couldn't for the life of me figure out where it goes. I guess it's just for shipping to stiffen the holster in the package, I don't know.

Also, does anyone know how the passive retention system is supposed to function? There's a flipper lever thing inside the holster that glides along the tactical rail on the gun, but it's just a smooth football shaped flipper that is loose in there and doesn't do a thing. There's one screw on the holster and tightening that doesn't change anything either.

I think I'll call Blackhawk and see what they say.

 

[corgiS&W]

My Serpa is for an XD45 and may have minor differences. The black plastic plate has the pistol model embossed on it, and I was told on another forum that it is for shipping. I believe the passive retention system is a combination the "flipper" and the external screw. Tighten the screw and you will find the flipper no longer flips, and the pistol is held passively when you release the active catch. HTH.

 

[Lost Lake]

Hmmm... My flipper doesn't flip when the screw is tightened, but it just lays there and doesn't do anything then. Maybe it needs to flip over 180 degrees or something....

 

[corgiS&W]

No, because it is being squeezed by the sides of the holster. Tighten the screw so the flipper is tight, put the gun in the holster, press the release and you will feel slight catch when you withdraw the pistol. That is the passive restrain grabbing the pistol. Hard to see, but I think the flipper is catching something on the rail, which is why you have to buy the right holster for your particular pistol.

 

[Lost Lake]

Well I have tightened and loosened for half an hour and don't notice a difference. And the 25 is supposed to be the right holster for the M&P.
I'll call Blackhawk....

 

[corgiS&W]

Probably the right thing to do. When I tighten the screw and release the active catch, I can turn the holster upside down and the pistol will not fall out. I have to pull it out. It may have something to do with your barrel length. Mine is listed for the 4" barrel but the 5" barrel calls for a different holster.

 

[boingboing]

If you're talking about the little plastic plate that was in the holster mouth then yes, that's for shipping. If you want a tighter draw, tighten the screw. If you turn the screw and the draw isn't tighter you'll have to put pressure on the backside of the holster on the metal screw thingy. Don't tighten the screw too much just enough to adjust the draw to your liking. Don't mess with anything else.

 

[Lost Lake]

Well, no luck calling Blackhawk. The nice lady I spoke to said if the manual lock is holding the gun then it won't fall out and she doesn't see what my problem is.

The instructions tell me to tighten the screw ahead of the trigger until the snugness of the holster is how I want it, yet no matter how tight I crank that screw, the gun falls out.

I even took that football shaped flipper thing out and turned it upside down. It has a little bump on the other side that looks like it will catch on my tac rail. Word of advice: Don't do this! The flipper caught on the rail and the gun wouldn't come out of the holster at all. Took a bit of work to get the thing out with some hand tools.....

 

[ab4ka]

I just got one for my 6906 and it works perfectly. Hard to say what's going on...I'd see if I could find another one and try it and see if you didn't get a bad holster.

 

[awowen]

I agree with ab4ka. I have one for my Austrian off-brand and it works perfectly in retention and draw. Sounds like you may have a defective holster.