SIG Sauer Published Safety Bulletin on Light Bearing Holsters
SIG Sauer has issued a safety bulletin regarding light-bearing holsters. Without naming any specific model of handgun, SIG is warning end users that holsters that accommodate weapon-mounted lights have larger openings and can cause unintentional discharges. This safety bulletin comes against a background of recurrent claims that the P320 fires without the trigger being pulled, including a recent video from a police station where a P320 fired while in a holster.
Sig Sauer @ TFB:
As a recap, SIG issued a voluntary upgrade program for early P320 pistols. This program reduced the mass of the trigger and added a disconnector. Reports of “uncommanded firings” have persisted, though. Many of those reporting issues are law enforcement officers, who generally carry weapon lights on their duty weapons. SIG’s bulletin notes that both Safariland and Blackhawk have warning statements in their user manuals about added risks with light-bearing holsters. Also, SIG links to several safety bulletins from Safariland about specific models of light-bearing holsters and unintentional discharge issues. Apart from the whole P320 issue, this is a good reminder to us all that carrying and using guns involves risks, and we all need to be aware of those risks and work to mitigate them, regardless of what we carry or what holster it is in.
From SIG Sauer:
NEWINGTON, N.H., (September 7, 2023) – SIG SAUER is reminding consumers about the risks associated with the use of light-bearing holsters, which have been involved in a number of alleged unintentional discharge incidents. Due to the large openings in these holster designs around the trigger (necessary for accommodating the bezels of attached weapon lights), fingers or foreign objects may be able to enter these holsters and contact the trigger. This vulnerability may be exacerbated by the use of a light-bearing holster without a compatible weapon light attached.
Placement of a firearm in a holster does not relieve the user from the requirements of proper trigger discipline, and safe firearms handling practices.
Selection of a proper holster is the responsibility of the user and special care must be taken to ensure a chosen holster complements safe handling practices (including adequate trigger protection) and other philosophy of use considerations. Holster manufacturers routinely publish warnings about the vulnerabilities of light-bearing holsters, including warnings printed directly in the manuals for these products, and stand-alone bulletins. Examples are reproduced below. If you choose to use a light-bearing holster with your firearm, you should review these warnings closely and ensure the additional risks are acceptable given your intended use.
AKA @fromtheguncounter on Instagram. Gun nerd, reloader, attorney, and mediocre hunter.
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OMG, people, the design problem is not with the pistol, it's with the Safariland holsters! This has been going on with Glocks for decades and I cover the problem thoroughly on my own blog. Things got into the Glocks such as other officers' key rings hanging from their belts, and children's fingers, and even adults' fingers. And that bit in the centre of the trigger is not a safety; it's there to prevent the pistol from firing when it's DROPPED on its head (back of the slide). Blame Safariland not Glock or SIG, for both (1) leaving the space there for the trigger to be accessed, and (2) shipping the holsters regardless because 'the customer demands holsters'.
Sig ........... never owned one. But 3 years ago I bought their "Romeo 5" optic. I don't know who really makes it and don't really care but I can tell you I beat that thing half to death and it never quits. The damn thing looks like I chaffed it with a chain saw and keeps on ticking. That's the extent of my Sig knowledge. I'll stick to my Hellcat OSP for EDC ............. and ignore the comments from the "beautiful folks' ....... :-)