M&P Full Size Conceal Carry?

[srings]

If and when I carry my M&P FS9, I use a Little FoxX IWB holster. Love the gun...love the holster. Fits my body great at 4 o'clock. Having said that, I don't like to carry that gun for very long. It's a tad big even thought I'm 6'4" and about 210 lbs. When I carry, it's only for a half a day or so in the fall and winter months. That's why most of the time I carry a 9mm Shield. But that's just me. Good luck finding what works for you.

 

[jlfirehawk]

I carry a FS 9 M&P in a CTAC Minotaur appendix carry and it works fine for me but I am also 6'2" 215 and wear jeans most days and a sweater so I have no issues with it at all.

 

[9cM&P]

I conceal a fullsize g17 gen 4 with a crossbreed supertuck. With 1 size larger shirt it can barely be seen, nor does it print as much as I thought that it would. I am 6 feet tall 135 lbs. With a regular size shirt it can only be seen it I bend over to tie my shoes or something like that.

 

[walkin' trails]

I carry a 45 FS in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II IWB supported with a Milt Sparks belt. I can wear this pistol comfortably for more hours that I care to have shoes on my feet. It is a very comfortable rig. It offers nothing special in terms of being able to tuck a shirt in around it, but it holds the pistol tight against the body just behind the hip. Concealing a full sized M&P 45 is not much harder than a full sized 1911. Just remember that when you pay the extra money for the better leather, you get better "performance." Buying a trouser belt designed to support a handgun also aids in the concealment of the pistol. I know people with the Crossbreed holsters, and they are something to pay attention to. Not to knock the cheaper, or generic or mass produced products, but the custom leather will work better longer for most people.

 

[picker77]

I carry a 45 FS in a Milt Sparks Summer Special II IWB supported with a Milt Sparks belt. I can wear this pistol comfortably for more hours that I care to have shoes on my feet.

Ditto, my 9 FS is so "forget-it" comfortable in a 15-year old Milt Sparks Executive Companion that if I didn't already carry a Shield daily, I wouldn't hesitate to carry the full size 9.

The common factor here might be Milt Sparks' GREAT gun leather--Gosh, do they make nice stuff. Speaking from experience, it makes a huge difference who made the holster for your large carry gun!

 

[DLeeHarley]

I Carry my S&W M&P .40FS

I carry my full size S&W M&P .40 everyday in a DeSantis Thumb Break Scabbard. I'm kind of large at 6'4" and a little (Little too much) over 300# so I could probably get away with cc'ing a Barrett 50 caliber Sniper rifle. LOL But I really enjoy the DeSantis as it's very comfortable and carries the weapon High & Tight. Right now I am looking for a really good belt to go with it but haven't found what I'm looking for as of yet. In my opinion with Holsters you really get what you pay for as lots of my friends have drawers full of holsters because they were trying to save a little $ and wound up with a cheap holster that doesn't work for them. Good Luck,

 

[supplier]

I drove 70 miles today to a store that had a FS M&P45 in stock (not the Pro version, which another ½" longer). I wanted something powerful for the times I'm taking pictures out in the wild at night, but I really did not like the trigger on M&P45 – what a shame on S&W! Given that M&P45 has only 10 round mag - these guns should not be affected by any changes in the gun law anyway.

I thought I'll do more research before I'll put down $580 before tax. I'm also afraid that adding a light/laser on this beast will make it only bag-carry concealable. LOL. Something to think about if I want the gun to carry outside in Florida....

Bigger gun will be harder to conceal but also slower drawing and with possibility of 10 rounds limit in the nearest future I think the future of FS M&P9 will be HD/range and not a CCW.

In any case I'm also asking for an advice here.

If I'll get the full size M&P45 I need/want a strobe light and possibly a laser, as with strobe I don't think night sights will work at all. So how to conceal that monster? Presumably I will not carry it in public, but I do not want to have any problems with the law. Any park ranger can create bunch of problems if the gun will be exposed or semi-exposed… any advices?

As a side note, As I had bunch of 9mm ammo with me, I rented similarly sized FS M&P9 and shoot through around 2+ mags. It is a pleasure to hold and shoot the gun, but the front sight did not have the white dot (rental gun) and I was not impresses with my results…

 

[walkin' trails]

I drove 70 miles today to a store that had a FS M&P45 in stock (not the Pro version, which another ½" longer). I wanted something powerful for the times I'm taking pictures out in the wild at night, but I really did not like the trigger on M&P45 – what a shame on S&W! Given that M&P45 has only 10 round mag - these guns should not be affected by any changes in the gun law anyway.

I thought I'll do more research before I'll put down $580 before tax. I'm also afraid that adding a light/laser on this beast will make it only bag-carry concealable. LOL. Something to think about if I want the gun to carry outside in Florida....

Bigger gun will be harder to conceal but also slower drawing and with possibility of 10 rounds limit in the nearest future I think the future of FS M&P9 will be HD/range and not a CCW.

In any case I'm also asking for an advice here.

If I'll get the full size M&P45 I need/want a strobe light and possibly a laser, as with strobe I don't think night sights will work at all. So how to conceal that monster? Presumably I will not carry it in public, but I do not want to have any problems with the law. Any park ranger can create bunch of problems if the gun will be exposed or semi-exposed… any advices?

As a side note, As I had bunch of 9mm ammo with me, I rented similarly sized FS M&P9 and shoot through around 2+ mags. It is a pleasure to hold and shoot the gun, but the front sight did not have the white dot (rental gun) and I was not impresses with my results…

I have been a big fan of the M&P 45 full sized pistol since I bought mine in 2009. Its probably the "pro" version you're talking about with a 4.5 inch barrel rather than the 4 inch. I originally wanted the FS with the 4 inch, but ended up with what I got cause I wouldn't wait, yet haven't been disappointed. Not sure what you're used to in terms of trigger, but mine hasn't been what I would call horrible - maybe it was better than others but I don't know cause I'm about the only one I know carrying one. My experience was with Glocks, and yes the M&P trigger is heavier than a Glock trigger, but not overly so.

I don't know about trying to conceal a pistol with the laser/light attached, other than it does add bulk, and that is the reason I still rely on a hand held white light for CCW. As far as draw speed, I'm pretty consistent going from the holster to a two handed hold to a "scoring" hit on a target at 7-yards in less than 1.5 seconds with that pistol. I can put one into a torso target in less than a second from the hip at 5 and in. All from a Milt Sparks SSII. Having to pull a concealment garmet away to clear the gun adds time in all cases. Add movement during the draw to disorient your attacker. In any case, the M&P 45 is a decent handling pistol, so speed, even from the longest slide verion is relative to the amount of practice you put into it.

 

[S&W.40]

I carry my M&P .40 full size in a Crossbreed SuperTuck in cowhide black with the combat cut that I did myself. Sometimes even in a cheap uncle mikes IWB holster I picked up at Academy (sporting goods store) but as stated earlier from others it does make it easier if you wear pants one size larger and if you really don't draw attention to that area you'll pretty much relax about printing. I'm thinking of testing out some OWB holsters next and getting a M&P .40 Compact as my CCW and leaving the full size as my service weapon.

 

[S&W.40]

I have carried a M&P full size for CCW for some time. I generally prefer OWB holsters with retention and have tried every holster available I think.

Finally, I have found one I believe I will stick with. It's the DeSantis Facilitator. It hugs tight to the body and has a very sturdy thumb latch system. It's a combination of Kydex and leather.

For me, it is a better alternative than the Blackhawk SERPA which I was using previously..

I have been interested in purchasing the DeSantis Facilitator and haven't really spoken to anyone who uses it. So my question is how do you like the Redi-Lok trigger locking system, is it better in your opinion or just the same as the Blackhawk Serpa auto lock release?

 

[CTPete]

I think the Redi-Lok systen is far superior to the blackhawk system. You can do a internet search on certain issues that the Blackhawk design has, such as the plainly visible release button and the possibility that gravel or dirt can block the finger button mechanism. I like the thumb control better than the trigger finger control in general. Another holster to consider is the Safariland ALS paddle or belt holster. It also uses a thumb control.

 

[jibbr71]

I've been carrying my full size 9mm for a couple of days in an inexpensive Remora knock off. I decided to try this route to explore the viability of IWB carry of this weapon without expensive trial-n-error of dedicated IWB holsters. It is very comfortable, and I will probably carry in this manner without much trouble until summer. I am happy with the carry situation, so will probably look into a Galco, Desantis or comparable rig for a more permanant solution soon. I, like several posters on this issue, am a big fella, so this probably makes it easier

 

[ceasare]

Just traded a colt defender for one. Can't wait to carry.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Don 73]

I used to carry a Beretta 92FS a S&W 645 and a G21 concealed, not perfectly, but well enough that only a trained eye would see them. I have a figure like Santa Clause, so I'm not really 'built' for CC, but if I can carry those cannons concealed, the a FS M&P shouldn't be a problem for you.

 

[ceasare]

I used to carry a Beretta 92FS a S&W 645 and a G21 concealed, not perfectly, but well enough that only a trained eye would see them. I have a figure like Santa Clause, so I'm not really 'built' for CC, but if I can carry those cannons concealed, the a FS M&P shouldn't be a problem for you.

What rigs?

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[joshberryhill91]

I carry the full size M&P 9mm every day, and I love it! Ive been carrying inside the waist band, and have had no problems what so ever. Ive carried smaller pistols, and even snubby revolvers before and I still enjoy carrying the full size the best.

 

[huskybiker]

I don't have a M&P FS, only an SD9. When I carry it, I use a Tauga OWB. I do carry my M&P 9C IWB in a Don Hume holster, sometimes. For all day, every day carry my hands down winner is a Shield 9 in a ETW Holsters IWB. I usually forget it's there.

 

[Don 73]

What rigs?

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Yaqui-slide-type holsters (see my avatar)

 

[MP9cBilly]

It isn't just a question of conceal ability, but weight, too. I was concealing my 92FS fine, but I got sick of 3 pounds of steal in my pants.

 

[Don 73]

It isn't just a question of conceal ability, but weight, too. I was concealing my 92FS fine, but I got sick of 3 pounds of steal in my pants.

I know the feeling of having your pants being weighted down by a hand cannon And even considering my G21 is mostly polymer, it's an awfully heavy, bulky gun. My 9c is just about perfect, the magazines are only 1 round short of a G21 and it's very light compared to most double stack guns I've owned.