The holster market has never been better. Seriously, it’s massive. And, it is chock full of great and not-so-great options. Today we are looking at a bit of an odd option, but I want you to keep an open mind. Today we are looking at the Blackhawk T-Series L2C holster series. Specifically, the model Blackhawk was designed for the P365/P365XL and Glock 43/43X. I’ve been running and gunning with one for several months now and I have found it surprisingly robust. Let’s dig into it.
But Blackhawk?
Blackhawk gets a lot of crap due to the SERPA, and it’s well deserved. The SERPA was an interesting idea but proved to lack durability and the position of the button was not conducive to a safe draw. That button could also get gummed up, becoming something like a rock, preventing you from drawing altogether.
The SERPA might have been a black mark on Blackhawk, but they’ve made some big strides to improve. The Omnivore, for example, is surprisingly great for such an affordable holster, and the T-Series has shown that Blackhawk still has a trick or two up its sleeve. While today’s article is about the L2C, it’s worth mentioning that the T-Series covers a wide gamut of guns and situations.
The T-Series is broken up into a variety of different configurations. The L2D and L3D offer different retention levels and the ability to use red dots and white lights. These are quickly becoming very popular in the holster market.
The US Marshal Service adopted the T-Series for their SOG team’s Staccatos and seemed quite happy with the decision. These holsters have become quite popular with police forces, with several press releases from Blackhawk showing their acceptance. Heck, the investigators in my local police department carry P365s in Blackhawk L2C holsters.
While working with one of the investigators during a community project, we talked about guns and gear. He expressed a lot of appreciation for the L2C, which is how we arrived with an L2C in my hands for test and review.
The L2C and Where It Fits
The L2C series is the compact holster in the T-Series. I like to joke that L2C stands for License 2 Carry, but in reality, the 2 denotes the retention level, and the C stands for compact. Unlike the L2D and L3D, this holster is made for more compact firearms and trims some material here and there to make it a compact, lightweight option.
The level 2 retention comes from a trigger guard retention device. Defeating the device is easy and much safer than the SERPA of old. The retention release is positioned inside the holster and requires the user to press a panel inward as they grip their gun. This panel sits positioned perfectly for an easy and safe draw.
When you reach for the gun, your thumb naturally finds the retention release, and when you grip the gun, the lever pulls inward, releasing the retention. It’s very natural and easy to grip.
The L2C is a modular holster with two means to attach the rig out of the box. The first is the standard dual-loop belt loop setup. That’s my preferred option. The second is what Blackhawk calls the Quick Dual Release Belt Loop. It’s essentially a Blade-Tech Tek-Lok panel.
Both belt loop setups allow you to adjust the cant, and the Quick Dual Release Belt Loop also allows for a little height variation. The L2C features compatibility with T-Series and SERPA attachments, so it can ride low, mount to MOLLE, etc.
The L2C in Action
For me, the L2C represents another concealed carry option. As mentioned, it’s also a good option for plain-clothes police who typically carry a smaller firearm than their patrol counterparts. The active retention certainly serves police well, but does the average Joe need active retention on their concealed carry holster?
I guess it depends on your lifestyle. For grocery shopping, running errands, and the like, probably not. However, I like to hike, kayak, fish, hunt, ride bikes, and generally explore the great outdoors. In that situation, I find the L2C and its active retention handy. Lord knows what angle or craziness I’ll find myself in, and I certainly don’t want to watch my handgun fall to the ground or off the boat.
For me, the T-Series L2C offers just another option for a different type of day. Sure, it’s not the holster I carry with me every day, but when I need it, I need it. Swapping holsters is like swapping guns. You have to get used to something new, and the juice often doesn’t seem worth the squeeze.
With that in mind, you’d think the active retention device would make a big difference, but it doesn’t. The release placement is so subtle and ingenious that my draw remains the same, and I don’t really have to think about it. Grip the gun, draw it, and boom, I’m ready to go.
I carry in virtually the same position, so that doesn’t change. Swapping from one holster to the other doesn’t necessarily handicap me.
Smooth Draw, Bulky Presence
Getting a good smooth draw out of the L2C isn’t difficult. Grip the gun, in which you’ll naturally defeat retention, pull upward, rotate forward, and boom! You’re golden. The front of the holster features a pretty deep cut-out that won’t impede forward rotation. The holster also sticks out from the body a bit, which makes getting a good grip nice and easy.
When running a few failure drills against a timer, I was a little faster with the L2C than my standard IWB holster. Even with the active retention device, I was just fractions of a second faster.
The downside comes with concealment. It’s big and a little bulky. It makes a noticeable bulge, and your athletic fit shirt ain’t gonna cut it. For my uses, there is rarely an issue where I’m dealing with a ton of people, so it’s not a concern. For everyday carry, I’d likely prefer an overt cover garment like a button-down shirt, a tactical flannel, or a light jacket.
Ultimately the L2C won’t work for everyone, and it doesn’t need to. For me and my purpose, it is an excellent option. The active retention is quite handy, and the holster conceals well enough to pass the sniff test. I’m happy to see Blackhawk making good holsters, and having another option isn’t a bad thing.
