{"id":924,"date":"2018-05-18T06:00:17","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T06:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goldenphipress.com\/WayOfTheConcealedCarrier\/?p=924"},"modified":"2018-08-16T19:38:45","modified_gmt":"2018-08-17T01:38:45","slug":"being-relieved-of-your-firearm-while-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/goldenphipress.com\/WayOfTheConcealedCarrier\/being-relieved-of-your-firearm-while-working\/","title":{"rendered":"Being Relieved of Your Firearm While Working"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Do you need to up your holster retention level?\u00a0 Does the work you do demand you to be extra physical?\u00a0 Has your sidearm popped out of your holster while working?<\/h4>\n

There’s going to be a time where your activities will interfere with your firearm.\u00a0 From backpacking in the great outdoors where you pack is in the way of your sidearm (hip carry in the 3-9 o’cock position), to a job you normally might be crawling in tight spaces or you’re working a project where objects around you are so close that they get in the way of your firearm.\u00a0 \u00a0Like your pistol grip hitting furniture for example.\u00a0 Some of these activities may have you crawling on the floor to getting into tight spots.\u00a0 I have been relived from my firearm when I was working in close quarters with objects around me and they have lifted my pistol out of its holster and it hits the ground.\u00a0 Now remember, if this happens to you, never grab your firearm if it pops out of your holster.\u00a0 You don’t want to risk one of your fingers hitting the trigger and you have an accidental discharge that could be deadly.\u00a0 Just let it hit the floor.\u00a0 Again…. Let it land on the floor.<\/p>\n

If this happens to you, you may have to change your holster’s retention.\u00a0 You’re going to have to find something that will keep your pistol in its holster while your in tight quarters.\u00a0 Since there are so many types of retention levels by different holster manufacturers, they may not line up with each other and this can be confusing.\u00a0 So I decided to create one that makes sense for those who carry concealed legally.\u00a0 This is straight out of the book “Way of the Concealed Carrier<\/a>” and it is a nice guide in determining what type of holster to get.\u00a0 Even though the retention numbers may not match with some of the holster manufacturers, just read through it, find the type of holster you’ll be needing and use the descriptions to get a better idea of what you’re looking for.\u00a0 Then you can go online and find what you need.<\/p>\n

Grandpa \u201cG\u2019s\u201d Concealed Carry Holster Retention Levels
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\nLevel 0:<\/strong> These holsters have no retention what so ever. You can slide the sidearm into them, but if you held it upside down, it would fall out. Nothing is holding the firearm in place. These would be your flimsy holsters.<\/p>\n

Level 1:<\/strong> These types are molded for specific firearms (most common for concealed carriers). When you slide your sidearm into them, the tension from the plastic or leather mold for that particular firearm holds it into place. If you turned it upside down, it will not<\/em> fall out.<\/p>\n

Level 2:<\/strong> These types of holsters use a release lever or a top strap that either your thumb or finger is used to release the firearm.<\/p>\n

Level 3:<\/strong> These holsters contain additional retention (top strap, rocking release, release lever, etc.) since the environment these people work in need extra security since they may be dealing with some bad people (common among law enforcement) and want to prevent their firearms from being taken away from them. Or what you\u2019re doing needs a high retention, like climbing or crawling on the ground, since you don’t want your sidearm to slip out while performing any of these. Level 3 holsters or higher are for more rigorous activities.<\/p>\n

Remember, you want to create a safe environment for yourself and others.\u00a0 If you do some sort of activities that will get in the way of you firearm, you’re going to change the type of holster you have.\u00a0 Don’t end up taking out your firearm, placing it somewhere and when you need it later, you forgot where you put it.\u00a0 This too can be dangerous.\u00a0 Sometimes when I am working a project at home that may get in the way of my firearm, I take the pistol out of my regular holster and insert it into\u00a0the floppy holster I am carrying.\u00a0 This will protect the trigger and I will find another carry position on my person and move it accordingly if needed.\u00a0 But if you’re going to be out in public and need to keep it concealed, then you’re going to need a higher level of retention.<\/p>\n

When you have a higher retention holster, you’re going to have to practice dry firing with it so you know how to draw out of this type of holster.\u00a0 Keep practicing all the time with it.\u00a0 You just may end up with a high retention holster for the rest of your concealed carry career.\u00a0 Or you might go back and forth.\u00a0 If you do, you truly need to practice with both types to get that muscle memory going.<\/p>\n

Here are some jobs that may require a higher level retention holster…<\/p>\n