I plan on picking up a M&P .40c or 9MMc in the next month or so for concealed carry. This will be the main purpose of the gun other then practice shooting to get better at shooting with it. I currently have a full size .40 and black hawk serpa holster with the paddle ( I dont have the belt attachment) Currently this set up prints really bad which I why I have not carried out of the house as of yet which brings me to my point of if I get the belt attachment with the Serpa holster and a compact M&P will this significantly cut down on the printing? I live in Maine so concealing a gun in the fall / winter months is not as hard as the spring / summer but even with a sweatshirt on the full size M&P prints bad.

If this is not the best choice of a holster for concealed carry what works well for a M&P compact with a significant reduction in printing?

Of all the outside the waistband systems out there, in my opinion, the serpa is perhaps the worst at printing. I have one and I only use it when at work for in-service training days when I don't need my full gun belt.

I would recommend a nice inside the waistband hybrid. If you are sold on the outside the waistband rig, look into something that mounts with belt loops and not a paddle. It will be more low profile that way. It's tricky to hide a full-size 40, so you'r going to have to do a little research to find the best one for your application. I use a Crossbreed Supertuck when I feel like carrying my Sig 226 off duty. It completely hides it and I'm not a big guy. 5'8, 175 lbs.

I'm not using the full size as a carry gun, I'm just mentioning it as a comparison between that gun and a compact with that holster. Meaning is the issue just the size difference between the two guns as far as the bad printing or is it just not a good conceal carry holster even with or w/ out the belt attachment?

I'm not set on an outside the waistband holster and I dont mind just using the Serpa for shooting at the range and practice but what IWB holsters are nice as far as comfort ( which is relative at best ) but what seems to work well for the majority of people as a general consensus.

I carry IWB 95% of the time. I use an all leather holster which I find to be much more comfortable than any kydex or hybrid holster. I have carried full size, compact and sub compact guns this way. Obviously the sub compact guns conceal better.

The pic below shows the holster that I use.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Ive been looking around this morning / afternoon and came across the supertuck Delux by crossbreed. From what Ive seen its gotten a lot of good reviews on it and the videos Ive watched showed very good concealment with wearing as little as T shirts. Seems to be more of what I am looking for.

rgrizzleleather.com is my favorite brand of holsters!

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Still just a kid at heart

I used to carry mostly single stacks, but as time went on I wanted a bit more capacity so now carry the 9c iwb in a hybrid from http://hiddenfx.com

Nice holsters but their current turn around time is 3 months

Try a belt slide from Lobo. Mine conceals well. Nice holster.

Lobo Gun Leather - BELT SLIDE STYLE

If you don't like the muzzle sticking out, try the pancake style.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I use a Comp-Tac Minotaur IWB for all my M&P's I had to buy one just for the Shield40 that I seldom carry. I carry fullsize guns daily mostly my 40 fullsize and as it is getting colder now days here is how I do it with fairly tight fitting clothing!









I am concealing a fullsize M&P45 auto and am not a large man using a Minotaur IWB holster at about 3:30 or 4 o'clock position, and yes it is comfortable, and to boot the same holster works on all my other M&Ps as well compact or fullsize!

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59,M&P9,40,40C,357,(2)45,G26

I use a Comp-Tac Minotaur IWB for all my M&P's I had to buy one just for the Shield40 that I seldom carry. I carry fullsize guns daily mostly my 40 fullsize and as it is getting colder now days here is how I do it with fairly tight fitting clothing!









I am concealing a fullsize M&P45 auto and am not a large man using a Minotaur IWB holster at about 3:30 or 4 o'clock position, and yes it is comfortable, and to boot the same holster works on all my other M&Ps as well compact or fullsize!

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59,M&P9,40,40C,357,(2)45,G26

very nice ill check those out to

OWB? Nothing. Even my J frame prints too much in a belt holster. I've got a Galco Combat Master belt holster and a Fobus paddle for my Compact 9. They're good holsters, but I need to wear layers of clothes to conceal. My Crossbreed Super Tuck IWB works best, but only with the short magazine.

Milt Sparks summer comfort for my M&P9 works very nicely. I just leave my shirt untucked.

My hands-down favorite IWB is the Milt Sparks VMII, you will pay for it and wait for it (my M&P Shield version should arrive in a few more months) but it is very comfortable (I have them for the FS M&P 45 and 9, compact M&P 9c).

A cheaper IWB option is the Milt Sparks Summer Special 2, also very comfortable (I ccw'd a FS 1911 in one for a few years).

OWB the Brommeland pancake model is awesome, conceals very well for a OWB (mine is for 1911).

I bought a used Kahr PM9 that came with a crossbreed, totally uncomfortable to me. I bought a few Comp-tac C-tac holsters (G17/22 and 1911) and also found them terminally uncomfortable.

I guess buying holsters is much like women buying shoes!!

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MA Gun Law & NRA Instructor

I would toss that Serpa. First Blackhawk stuff is a hair above airsoft quality gear. Second they've been banned from the Federal Law Enforcement Training. Too many NDs from that button.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Nope, women buying holsters is worse.

Check around like you're doing, but go ahead and clear out a drawer now because before you're done, you'll need the space. Men compete extremely well with women in the holster vs shoe game.
In fact we may do better since after you finally find a couple of holsters you use all the time, you will then go and buy another gun and start all over whereas a woman only has one pair of feet.

Look at the Galco Combat Master. Snugs up against your belt nicely to keep the printing to a minimum.

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"Sacramento" Bruce Conklin

I use a FIST #1 for my 3913/14 guns. IWB, good concealment, comfortable to wear. I recommend the body protector and full reinforcement of the top. Turn around time might be a problem as they are pretty busy, but you can always ask.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I'm keeping it just for the range. As far as it being banned Ive read mixed things about this as far as it being a faulty design or a knee jerk reaction to those who were putting their finger on the trigger. When I have drawn out of it Ive had no problems with it.


Thanks for all the replays. Still have not decided on what to get but the Milt Sparks is looking like a good option as well.

I have a Serpa and a Blue Gun for training purposes. I've NEVER had a problem drawing that gun and finding my finger in the trigger guard. It's all in shooter discipline!! If you learned gun safety properly, it's not a problem. I've had students tell me that I have my finger trigger across the frame when drawing/handling the blue guns in a class . . . it's an unconscious thing with me.

Regrettably, many in LE in particular don't have that discipline (and I've had more guns loaded and unloaded pointed at me in police stations while I was working than I've ever seen at a gun club)!

I do understand the issue and why many LE ranges banned them!

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MA Gun Law & NRA Instructor

As my gun collecting moves along slowly the holster collecting is breaking the speed limit. I now have holsters for summer, winter, IWB and OWB. Concealed, range work and woods carry.

My go to holster for CC is the Romora. No clips, stays put and about as thin as I have found. My favorite CC weapon is a Sig Sauer P290 with an extended mag. The material is soft enough to conform with the use of clips. I can wear cross draw or right hand, very comfortable and comforting.

I like the Milt Sparks VMII for IWB and the Rosen 5JR pancake for OWB.
I've carried handguns much larger and heavier than yours in these rigs with great success.

I have his pocket holster for my Shield. Great work.

For the OP -- get an all-leather IWB. Best comfort there is.

Go with RGRIZZLE or also take a look at Winthrop Holsters.

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M&P-9FS,Shield40,642,32ColtPPS

Shrugs. OWB is not a problem with reasonably decent holster , and vaguely dressing around the gun, even two at a time. A full size 1911 or 4in revolver doest require a bit of attention as to shirttail length. A belt slide will conceal slightly better than many pancakes , but could allow finish wear , take your pick and priority.

*If* a straight verticle carry works for you , a Hume JIT ( or one of the many copies ) is very highly regarded. Alas Straight verticle doesn't work well for me strong or cross.

IWB "comfort" is highly dependent slight differences in body contour and shaping around the belt area. Two people , same ht , same weight, same holster. One will find it comfortable , the other a mideviel torture device.

And yes , there is worse concealment than a SERPA paddle. A Fobous , with Roto-swivel. It takes an excellent Paddle holster to conceal as well as average belt (leather) holster. If you wish a paddle holster on purpose , the best I have used is the High Noon.

BladeTech Klipt. Fast, comfy, unobtrusive. It doesn't tuck, but so what. Tucked is slow. Pocket carry is fast when tucked in.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

I've had a 9c for several years. I've found the Crossbreed Super Tuck to be the best choice in terms of concealment and comfort.