When the shooting stops, your attention stays on. Returning the pistol to the holster deserves the same control and focus as every other part of your training.
In the video below, I demonstrate a habit I use at the range: keeping my index finger high and clear, checking the holster, and making every reholster deliberate.
Finger high. Trigger clear.
My index finger comes off the trigger and indexes high on the slide, well past the trigger guard. As I begin reholstering, I deliberately extend it outward, away from the pistol, to create more separation between my finger and the holster.
I started paying closer attention to that movement after seeing shooters catch a finger against the holster and push it into the trigger guard, resulting in a negligent discharge (ND). My goal is to keep my finger clear throughout the movement while maintaining control of the pistol and its muzzle.
Look it in. Every time.
At the range, I make it a habit to look down before and during reholstering. I check that clothing, drawstrings, and other objects are clear of the opening, then watch the pistol enter the holster.
If the pistol catches, feels misaligned, or meets unexpected resistance, stop. Do not force it. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and your support hand clear of its path while you address the obstruction.
Build the habit. Keep the focus.
After thousands of rounds and repeated trips to the range, these checks can feel routine. They still deserve my full attention. I am responsible for that firearm, where its muzzle points, and what happens while I handle it.
Keeping my finger high, extending it clear, and looking at the holster work together. I want those checks to be a consistent part of every repetition. Take your time. Keep your finger clear. Look the pistol into the holster.
Remember, no one wins a gunfight by holstering fast.
Watch the demonstration
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