Safariland Holster Retention
Levels Explained
Safariland has defined retention
levels in three categories. Each level of retention provides the user a
specific amount of security in order to avoid having the weapon removed by an
unwarranted person.
Although many holster
manufacturers claim to have some form of retention, at the time of this article
Safariland is the only company that has defined their levels of retention and
also integrated it with their current lines of holsters.
Safariland defines retention
levels based on the amount of security or retention devices that are available
in order to release the gun from the holstered position.
A good example of this type of
retention is the
Safariland 070 holsters.
Safariland Retention Level
I
All current holster
manufacturers including Safariland sells a form of this retention which provides
a basic thumb break mechanism which must be unbuttoned or unclipped in order for
the weapon to be removed. This is considered the simplest form of retention and
should be considered as a minimal security device for the weapon carrier. This
form of retention during a confrontation can easily be compromised causing the
weapon owner to lose control of their gun.
Safariland Retention Level
II
A level two holster is where the
user must remove the thumb break and also rock the weapon forward or backwards
to unlock the internal mechanism. This type of rocking action provides the user
with the ability to remove the weapon easily however thwarts anyone not wearing
the holster to remove the weapon.
A Safariland level II retention
system is the retention most preferred by law enforcement throughout the world.
Allowing a quick draw and also a secure form of holstering. Keep in mind the
greater the retention level the more training is required in order to make sure
optimal weapon draw is achieved. In most user opinions the Level II retention
is considered the best medium of retention and also the most optimal draw.
A popular example of the
Safariland Level II retention holster is the
Safariland 6280 Mid Ride
Safariland Retention Level
III
Take for example the
Safariland Raptor 6070 Level III. This Level 3 retention holster allows a
rapid draw and an excellent retention, as long as the draw is frequently
practiced. This requires the officer to be dedicated to the holster and make
sure he is fully comfortable with the weapon and the way it is holstered.
However, since a majority of departments only require annual or bi-annual
qualifications of the handgun and holster, there is a good chance Level III
retention will result in miscued draws.
Safariland has recommended the
user of a Level III holster should practice drawing and holstering the weapon
approximately 200 times before actually using the holster on duty. However it
has been duly noted most police officers and users are unwilling to invest that
amount of time to make sure they are fully comfortable with retention methods of
a Level III holster. Safariland has also mentioned the learning curve from
Level II retention to Level III retention climbs a dramatic curve and requires
an enormous amount of time to be fully proficient.
We realize the decision you make
on a Safariland holster is one that may save your life one day and we are always
willing to make a recommendation. If you are uncomfortable with choosing the
correct holster for your needs or wish to speak to someone with knowledge about
Safariland please feel free to give us a call we will be happy to help you.
