Need Help W/ Specific Conceal Carry Application

[Chrisbarberous]

Hey everyone. First post here. I just turned 21 on December 1st, and decided to educate myself, and proceed with getting a handgun. I decided on the M&P 9C WithOUT the thumb safety. Now, This is what I really need help with... I've already gotten my Conceal Carry license here in Alabama. I need something LEFT HANDED, comfortable with or without a belt, and concealable with blue jeans, or cargo shorts and a T-shirt. So far, I've come up with the Crossbreed supertuck, and the Bianchi Allusion left handed.

I've been pretty much obsessing over this subject since I bought my gun December 31st. I've already shot a little over 1,000 rounds (Wow) and I'm getting comfortable with it, starting to understand it more.

I talked to someone at a local dept. store and he has had the allusion for something like 2-3 years with nothing but positive experiences. So, do any of you own the Bianchi allusion to match your Smith and Wesson M&P 9 or .40 COMPACT with NO Thumb safety? Reason I ask so specifically is because the Rep. at the Dept store said it will fit. I called safariland and that rep said it should fit fine. Where as on their website, you can select exactly which make, model, caliber, and with or without the thumb safety and it will tell you if that specific holster you're viewing is compatible which it said My M&P 9C W/out Thumb safety is NOT compatible. I really want to know if this will work FIRST and FOREMOST. But, I'm also interested in anything else ya'll would recommend. I'll give you a full background of myself and the situation. Thank you very much in advance for your help.

I own the Smith&Wesson M&P 9 Compact with out the thumb safety. I also swapped the mag release to fit my left handedness for the record.

I'm 21, 6' 0". 200 lbs. I workout (Mon-Fri) so Im a little more muscular than the average joe. I'm left handed, and very important, I drive a Miata. Its a very tiny car, so if you have a recommendation, please keep in mind comfort is a high priority, as I don't plan to have to draw it in my car. I do want to be able to drive without knowing something is stabbing me in the back.

I plan to carry on the backside of my left hip. I guess it would be considered somewhere between 7 O' Clock and 9 O' Clock.

I've been on car forums for years so I know how it can irritate people by not searching on your own before looking for a handout of knowledge. But I've looked for days, including threads of this forum. but My application is a little more peculiar.

Again, thanks in advance.

-Chris

 

[speedyquad]

i'm going to warn you before i throw in my 2 cents. the warning...most of us have a drawer full of holsters that we thought might work, thought we wanted, didn't work, was great until we got a different gun, was great until the next thing came out, etc. so no one will be able to tell you what exactly you want, we can only lead you in the right direction to what you think you want.

now my 2 cents. i have an old faithful holster for my 40c. it it an owb(outside the waistband) kydex/leather hybrid. i loved this holster. my issue was that it did not conceal quite as well as i had hoped, but concealed well enough. the other issue is that the belt had to be removed to take the holster off. i realized that i wanted something that i could slide on and off without removing the belt. if i were to do it again, i would get one of their sister company's(alien gear holsters) iwb(inside the waistband) holsters.

i will also add that i ended up pocket carrying the compact and now my shield in a cheap uncle mikes holster and that seems to work well for me...

 

[AGoyette]

I think that the sticking point is the fact that the OP wants a holster that will work with or without a belt. There are lots of holsters that will work with a belt. I am sure that there will be lots of posts saying, "I like this one" or "you should get that one". For a holster that works without a belt, that limits your options a lot. I would think a "sticky" type of holster would be the only one that would work without a belt. I have a couple of Remora's for my 9c. Truthfully I am not all that enchanted with them. It is my understanding that there are other sticky type holster makers out there. I have not tried their products yet. If there is another solution for a holster that can be used without a belt, feel free to chime in, I would like to know the answer too.

 

[Chrisbarberous]

i'm going to warn you before i throw in my 2 cents. the warning...most of us have a drawer full of holsters that we thought might work, thought we wanted, didn't work, was great until we got a different gun, was great until the next thing came out, etc. so no one will be able to tell you what exactly you want, we can only lead you in the right direction to what you think you want.

now my 2 cents. i have an old faithful holster for my 40c. it it an owb(outside the waistband) kydex/leather hybrid. i loved this holster. my issue was that it did not conceal quite as well as i had hoped, but concealed well enough. the other issue is that the belt had to be removed to take the holster off. i realized that i wanted something that i could slide on and off without removing the belt. if i were to do it again, i would get one of their sister company's(alien gear holsters) iwb(inside the waistband) holsters.

i will also add that i ended up pocket carrying the compact and now my shield in a cheap uncle mikes holster and that seems to work well for me...

Thank you for that. Yeah, everyone I've talked to has so many holsters. but I'm trying to do the impossible. I'll look into alien gear. Haven't heard of them yet!

 

[AGoyette]

Thank you for that. Yeah, everyone I've talked to has so many holsters. but I'm trying to do the impossible. I'll look into alien gear. Haven't heard of them yet!

Chris,
Alien Gear is an "inexpensive" hybrid type of holster. A lot of people seem to really like them. My daughter got me one for my 9c last Christmas. Truthfully, it was too tight for the 9c. I had to heat it up and "stretch" it out. It is tons better now. I thought I would really like it, but truthfully I did not. I found it hard to put on and take off and it was not at all comfortable when it was on. I had another brand hybrid holster, same basic design, that I really liked. But I sold the gun it was for and it did not fit the 9c. The good news is that the husband liked the Alien Gear holster so I gave it to him and he let me buy an N82 Pro holster which I love.

 

[Chrisbarberous]

Are there any blackhawk left handed conceal holsters that are worth a darn? I have A gift card to Gander and they seem to have an abundance of blackhawk.

 

[Chrisbarberous]

Any feedback/experiences on the crossbreed supertuck left handed version for the M&P 9C as far as comfort goes??

 

[macski222]

I have the crossbreed supertuck for my right handed 9c and it works great for me when I need to carry IWB. I would highly recommend the holster.

I will say this... when I first started carrying, I thought IWB carry would be mandatory for maximum concealment, but after years of carrying IWB I decided to purchase an OWB holster (Lobo gunleather enhanced pancake). It is worlds more comfortable than IWB carry, and very concealable. It's just a matter of convincing yourself that something doesn't need to be stuffed inside your waistband to be concealed. I haven't carried IWB for months now, but I do like having the option available.

As far as a holster that works with or without a belt... I have a sticky holster for the 9c but don't ever use it except for a gun holder in my nightstand. Do yourself a favor and don't bother with a belt-less holster for a gun as substantial as a 9c. With that kind of weight, I highly recommend a holster with 2 clips or belt channels in order to evenly distribute the weight of the gun.

Short answer... IMO, don't bother with beltless holsters for the 9c, and If you're looking for a great compromise between comfort and concealability, do not sell OWB short.

Best of luck and I hope this helps you

EDIT: Buy yourself a gun belt as well. Just as important as a quality holster.

 

[Arik]

Comfort is Not gonna happen without a belt.

 

[Arik]

Any feedback/experiences on the crossbreed supertuck left handed version for the M&P 9C as far as comfort goes??

I've been using one for a few years. Durable and comfortable but not without a belt.

Also I'm 6' 200#, lefty and drive a Corolla

 

[NCW Ray]

I have 2 Bianchi Allusion holsters

I have been using the Bianchi Model 135 Allusion right handed version holster for my 40c with NO THUMB SAFTEY for over 2 years and now have one for my Shield...nice holsters!

Your pistol doesn't have a thumb-safety but it will fit a holster made with a thumb-safety relief cut or formed into it...your pistol just won't use it.

Search Midwayusa.com or eodusa.com for "25747" both say it fits the 9c with no mention of thumb-safety. I've had good luck with midway, but have NO history with eodusa.com.

As for wanting to wear it without a belt, the Allusion is designed to be worn with a belt...whether it's advisable or possible to go beltless, you're on your own with that. Oh and I'm 6/2, 245 lbs and I have a Prius for a company car and there's days I drive for 8hrs with only about a 15 min break in the middle.

 

[Chrisbarberous]

I have the crossbreed supertuck for my right handed 9c and it works great for me when I need to carry IWB. I would highly recommend the holster.

I will say this... when I first started carrying, I thought IWB carry would be mandatory for maximum concealment, but after years of carrying IWB I decided to purchase an OWB holster (Lobo gunleather enhanced pancake). It is worlds more comfortable than IWB carry, and very concealable. It's just a matter of convincing yourself that something doesn't need to be stuffed inside your waistband to be concealed. I haven't carried IWB for months now, but I do like having the option available.

As far as a holster that works with or without a belt... I have a sticky holster for the 9c but don't ever use it except for a gun holder in my nightstand. Do yourself a favor and don't bother with a belt-less holster for a gun as substantial as a 9c. With that kind of weight, I highly recommend a holster with 2 clips or belt channels in order to evenly distribute the weight of the gun.

Short answer... IMO, don't bother with beltless holsters for the 9c, and If you're looking for a great compromise between comfort and concealability, do not sell OWB short.

Best of luck and I hope this helps you

EDIT: Buy yourself a gun belt as well. Just as important as a quality holster.

Dude this is gold. Thank you so much for all of that information. this is EXACTLY why I made an account here. Thank you.

 

[Chrisbarberous]

I have been using the Bianchi Model 135 Allusion right handed version holster for my 40c with NO THUMB SAFTEY for over 2 years and now have one for my Shield...nice holsters!

Your pistol doesn't have a thumb-safety but it will fit a holster made with a thumb-safety relief cut or formed into it...your pistol just won't use it.

Search Midwayusa.com or eodusa.com for "25747" both say it fits the 9c with no mention of thumb-safety. I've had good luck with midway, but have NO history with eodusa.com.

As for wanting to wear it without a belt, the Allusion is designed to be worn with a belt...whether it's advisable or possible to go beltless, you're on your own with that. Oh and I'm 6/2, 245 lbs and I have a Prius for a company car and there's days I drive for 8hrs with only about a 15 min break in the middle.

Do you wear it at the 4-5:30 position? If so, does it ever dig into you while your in your car? Thanks for your help!

 

[NCW Ray]

Do you wear it at the 4-5:30 position? If so, does it ever dig into you while your in your car? Thanks for your help!

No, I wear it in the 3:30ish position and no it doesn't dig into me.

 

[curlysir]

I carry a 9c and a 40c on a regular basis. As others have stated comfort without a belt is going to be difficult if not impossible. And you need a good quality gun belt. And you might as well be prepared to buy more then 1 holster to find the right one unless you are extremely lucky. My current holster is a Comp-Tac MTAC that is very comfortable.

 

[Rastoff]

I'm a lefty. I carry the M&P 45 full size in an OWB holster and have no trouble concealing it. I tried the IWB thing and just can't get used to it. So, I just wear my shirt untucked and it works fine.

I have one of those boxes full of holsters. I have Galco, Aker, R Grizzle, Crossbreed, Old Faithful, Blade Tech, Comp Tac, Blackhawk and one completely custom holster. So, I have a pretty good feel for the difference between quality and cheap holsters. Get the good one.

When I get ready for the day, I almost always choose the R Grizzle holster. Very high quality and super durable. Easy on and off. Here's a pic with my 1911 at step one of the presentation:

Here's one of the M&P 45 in an R Grizzle Georgia Snap holster:

When it comes to comfort, enough can't be said about the belt. A sturdy belt is the key and you'll always be uncomfortable without it. I recommend the Uncle Mike's Instructor belt:

Uncle Mikes Renforced Instructors Belt

It is reinforced with a polymer strip in the middle. With this feature it will never sag. Usually trying to save money on something for a gun is a bad idea, but this is one case where a little money goes a long way. At $25 this is a great deal.

 

[Torchmaster]

The most comfortable IWB holster I found is the little fox. I had one for a G26 which is the same size a the 9/40 compact. It has a single belt clip making it easy to put on and take off. I got the comfort pad and I carried in 95 degree temps for upwards of 16 hours and was very comfortable. they give you a 30 day trial like crossbreed so you can try it out to see if its for you or not.

Good luck!

 

[skays]

Ramora. IWB. Pocket. Left hand or right hand. Check them out...and god prices.

 

[spolct]

my tidbits:

i drove an NB miata (stock seats) for close to a year while carrying an LC9 IWB behind the hip (right handed). i drove that thing ~2500 miles/month while getting in and out of it 10-15 times daily which is exactly why i don't have it anymore. carrying wasn't super comfy, but it wasn't a major issue. i currently have a 9c and when carried behind the hip it tends to be more noticeable than the LC9 is - might not be the most comfortable in that tiny car. also being that tall and sitting that low means you will almost certainly be doing the super-duper discreet (ha!) shirt tug as you get out of your car to make sure your grip isn't exposed (assuming concealed carry is your preferred method).

just for fun, i'll repeat what has been said about a quality belt. get one. if you don't ever tuck your shirt in, then a WT 5-stitch is a good route to go. there are better options, but it works for me.

also just for fun, you may want to consider appendix carry. with the proper holster and some experimenting it can be very comfortable and will definitely be easier to deal with getting in and out of the miata. my transition from behind the hip (2+ years) to appendix (~4 months) has been great for me. i'm 5'10 195lbs and while there's a very specific spot at a specific height that works for me, it gets much easier to carry comfortably AND achieve a greater level of concealment with a flat belly. i started out with a cheap desantis sof-tuk, then went with a purpose-built kydex rig from Appalachian Concealment - this thing is comfortable! every now and then while driving i can't quite get it into a comfortable zone, but most of the time while standing/sitting i don't really notice it. the first time someone told me they carried a medium-sized sig in the appendix carry position, i thought he was crazy - not so much from a "you'll shoot your balls off standpoint", but a comfort standpoint. i tried my little LC9 in a remora holster up there and just couldn't stand it. it wasn't until around 6 months ago that i decided to try it. i'm glad i did. if you're concern is an ND to the groin, do some research on both sides of the argument. my 9c with no thumb safety doesn't ever get holstered. the whole holster-gun combo goes on and off. if i ever needed to reholster a loaded weapon, it's not too much to be cognizant of ensuring nothing grabs the trigger on its way into the holster.

not sure if these are sill available, but used holsters are a good way to try things out without taking the full retail hit.
LH holsters for Glock, HKusp/c, 1911, M&P9c, XDs

everyone needs one of these:
appendix carry greatness

 

[tcanthonyii]

I've been using a sticky holster. I REALLY like it. I'm carrying all of the the house in my basketball shorts and rarely even think about having a gun on.
Best Concealed Carry Holster| IWB | Sticky Holsters

It honestly stays put if I just tie my basketball shorts tight. My underwear elastic even keeps it fairly tight. Works even better with jeans and a belt. It's not perfect, I wish it had a belt clip option. I want to buy some of the material and add it to the back of my alien gear. The grippy material would help take some of the weight off of the belt for my XD.