M&P PRO CORE 5" holster

sw1519 · May 29, 2013

Hello all,
First off, I am new to the forum but am excited to converse with other M&P fans and gun enthusiasts.
I picked up another M&P yesterday in search for an entry level competition weapon. I carry an M&P PRO 4.25" on duty and thought that something along the same lines would work well for entry level competition. I picked up an M&P9 PRO Series CORE 5". After purchasing it I began looking for a holster to compensate it. I have looked at Blade Tech, Comp Tac and 5.11. 5.11 said their thumb drive holster wont fit it, Comp Tac said their "International" model should fit it and I'm waiting to hear back from Blade Tech still. The issue at hand is the CORE has the taller sight posts to allow co-witness with optics.
Is anyone running the M&P PRO CORE 5" with a specific holster set up? Any input on holster options would be great. Thanks in advance and Stay Safe!

FF112173 · May 29, 2013

You could always try Safariland.com and see what they say. They have competition holsters.

sw1519 · May 29, 2013

Yes, I have checked out Safariland. I use quite a few of their holsters currently and like them quite a bit. I did not find that they are producing any that will fit the CORE model. I went ahead and ordered one from Comp-Tac; I guess we will see in a week or two if it works! I will let everyone know. Thanks

Riflemann · May 29, 2013

I have my M&P40L 5" CORE in a BlackHawk leather hip holster that is open on the bottom so it works good for both my FS 40, and my CORE. The second is my BlackHawk Serpa on my hip or the Serpa I have on my Shoulder rig, no problems with the front sight catching.

sw1519 · May 29, 2013

Thank you for the input. I will look into the Blackhawk series. I have used their SERPA's before and have had good luck with them.

sw1519 · Jun 4, 2013

I ordered a Comp-Tac International model holster for my M&P 5" CORE. Just in case others out there are wondering about holster fit for the CORE, the Comp-Tac International model fits perfectly. The top of the holster has a tall front sight groove that allows the taller front sight post to fit in with ease and room to spare. I have yet to get the holster on the range but so far I am pleased.
Blade Tech called me back after I had already purchased the Comp-Tac and said that their OWB holster will fit the CORE and that they would be posting that on their website.
Lastly, the 5" M&P CORE 9mm is a sweet shooter! I was consistently stacking rounds and 10 yards free hand. Now I just have to snag an optic to place on top...
Stay Safe!

AwfAxis · Jun 29, 2013

Just got a 9L CORE, and went holster shopping. Other than the Black Hawk, the other holsters mentioned above are not found locally.

I discovered that there are two Blackhawks made for the M&P, which "look" similar in the packaging, but one will NOT work.

The one I got has 513R as the last part of the model #, and cross fits a set of Glocks, starting with a model 20. As you can see, the tall sight is inside the holster. The other model allows the sight to extend beyond the holster, and snags on the way out.

cmputerbiz · Jun 29, 2013

I just picked one up from Foxxholster.com He's local in Michigan, puts them together by hand and had it finished along with one for another gun in 3 days. Nice Kydex work. I just got his full size M&P.40 holster so the barrel sticks out a bit (mines the 5") but didn't want to wait for him to customize it to fix, which I'm sure he would do. Take a look, good guy, has a professional shop and does a nice job.

Bkreutz · Jun 29, 2013

I have a Blade Tech (Blade Tech Holsters - Blade Tech holsters, knives and tactical gear for military, law enforcement, shooting competition and hunting) OWB. I carry a 9c every day and my holster is made for that one but I also use it in competition with my 5" CORE. You can see by the pics I've attached that I don't have any sight clearance problems and I haven't snagged the front sight on a draw (yet, if I do then I'll get a longer Blade Tech). Makes it kind of handy to carry my compact to the range and then swap the CORE into the same holster for practice or a match. The second picture shows the pistol partially drawn to show the sight clearance.

cmputerbiz · Jun 29, 2013

Picture, I hope!

Motorsporting · Jul 1, 2013

I tried the BladeTech Eclipse OWB yesterday, and it fits the CORE perfectly. Also, White Dog Holsters will make you a custom kydex to fit. I ordered mine on Friday and they're shipping tomorrow! That's amazing!

icelander · Jul 30, 2013

Blade-Tech Revolution

If you go to the Blade-Tech website and look at the "Revolution", it has the S&W, M&P stampings - it is the holster provided by S&W in their carry kits. It also happens to be $29.99, half the price of their OWB, Black Ice, etc. I borrowed one from the range officer at a recent concealed carry match to try my new 9L CORE, and it worked perfectly.

BTW, I almost ordered a Blackhawk SERPA based on this post. The RO said they will only allow the Blackhawk SERPA to be used at the range if the finger lock is disabled. Evidently there have been accidents from people unlocking the holster with their trigger finger, then maintaining pressure until the trigger clears the holster. This seems unlikely, but under match pressure I guess it is possible.

AwfAxis · Jul 30, 2013

Its a funny thing about the Serpa. If you do hold your finger down on the release, and then slide the weapon out, the finger ends up on the slide area. Not sure how someone actually hits the trigger without moving their finger down along the trigger guard.

The portion of the mechanism which releases the gun is right over the trigger guard, so there is no way to release the weapon if your finger is putting pressure there.

I guess the issue of actually needing finger pressure is the risk.

Go figure.

Rcfredere · Aug 30, 2013

My club has had two neglect discharges, one with injuries, when the shooter drew the pistol from the Serpa holster. One pistol was a glock, the other an xdm. Both were experienced shooters. The common factor was the Serpa, so we don't allow them to be used on the range. I have Serpa's and have drawn from them hundreds of times without issue. The second ND scared me and I don't use them in competion only for CC

viceroy · Sep 16, 2013

Blackhawk

Rcfredere said:
My club has had two neglect discharges, one with injuries, when the shooter drew the pistol from the Serpa holster. One pistol was a glock, the other an xdm. Both were experienced shooters. The common factor was the Serpa, so we don't allow them to be used on the range. I have Serpa's and have drawn from them hundreds of times without issue. The second ND scared me and I don't use them in competion only for CC

You will find that a number of shooting schools and ranges do not permit the use of the Blackhawk Serpa holsters. I have witnessed an ND with this holster. It is, in combination with certain thumb safety guns such as the 1911, a really dangerous holster. There is no substitute to the various Safariland holsters IMHO, as the index finger should be used for nothing but pulling the trigger and the level 1, 2 and 3 holsters guarantee just that. I am sure there are other companies that provide similar performance holsters (5.11 thumb drive comes to mind). It would appear that Safariland have now developed a holster for the M&P PRO series, though it is not clear if it is sight compatible: Home Page

Any feedback welcome.

AwfAxis · Sep 16, 2013

I have recently switched from the Serpa to the Safariland holster. My primary use is for gaming. USPSA/IPSC/Steel.

This one from Safariland is based on the "women's" version, but was modified by me to be USPSA legal. The last pic shows a spacer that pushes the grip away from the body.

Competition Holster System :: HOLSTERS.com

With a hair drier, I brought the outer tilt in to the legal 2" standard.

This makes the draw very fast, as I can get a full grip without fighting my love handles.

millisec · Sep 16, 2013

Been thinking about the merits of getting a core and I did a measured comparison of guns and holsters with my M&P Pro 9 and my Bladetech holster (one that comes in IDPA comp pack for Pro). I don't see any reason the Core 9 5" won't fit my existing holster even with optics mounted. First and foremost there is plenty of clearance for the taller sights. It also looks like there is plenty of clearance for optics.

A word of warning about buying a serpa holster. Personally I don't like them and consider them unsafe but there are those that will argue either side. Face to face never met anyone, including cops, that care for them. I will add to that seeing first hand a 45 in leg courtesy of a serpa holster. Here again others will argue "training" is required.

Regardless of what anyone thinks here is what is starting to transpire... I shot an IDPA match a couple weeks ago and the range has now formally banned serpa holsters (along with non-rigid IWB holsters). Serpa holsters can be used only if the retention mechanism is fully disabled. Based on what I have seen at various ranges I would bet serpa is well on its way to being banned at ranges and competitions for being unsafe. I have mixed feelings about ranges/clubs making their own rules contrary to published discipline rules but it is what it is.

P.S. I also have the S&W stamped Bladetech that comes in the range kits for fullsize. The M&P Pro does NOT fit it. Surprised someone said a 9L does.

shipwreck2 · Nov 23, 2013

Riflemann said:
I have my M&P40L 5" CORE in a BlackHawk leather hip holster that is open on the bottom so it works good for both my FS 40, and my CORE. The second is my BlackHawk Serpa on my hip or the Serpa I have on my Shoulder rig, no problems with the front sight catching.

Do you have a link to this holster? I have been looking for a leather holster that will fit my core.

BudMan5 · Nov 23, 2013

icelander said:
BTW, I almost ordered a Blackhawk SERPA based on this post. The RO said they will only allow the Blackhawk SERPA to be used at the range if the finger lock is disabled. Evidently there have been accidents from people unlocking the holster with their trigger finger, then maintaining pressure until the trigger clears the holster. This seems unlikely, but under match pressure I guess it is possible.

I guess you haven't seen the video where "Tex" Grebner(who actually lives in Metamora, IL) blasts a channel down his leg yet, eh?
Original Upload, I Just Shot Myself! - YouTube

I go to a lot of Tac schools and all have banned the Serpa

bxny10455 · Nov 24, 2013

I made this rig

M&P PRO CORE 5" holster

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