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I, like many, have a drawer full of holsters! As I have whittled down my array of hand guns I have been giving away those tat are no longer of use, but, I still have about 5 per gun! IWB, OWB, Leather, Kydex, ????. So, I decided to do a sort of in depth study of what really works best for me.
Now to start, I'm not a little guy, 6' and 280#. I'm not a fancy guy, usually Jeans & T shirt and Un-tucked shirt or Photo Vest and cowboy hat so for the most part concealment is not a problem no matter the size of gun. Dress-up might be battening the shirt! LOL
Carry choices / handguns have been narrowed to Sig P320C W/Wilson Combat Grip, M&P9 4.25 and Shield Plus 9. I Have 2 M&P 9s, a 1.0 modified with 2.0 palm swells, Night Sights and Apex Trigger (wife has the same) and a 2.0 Pro Series with suppressor height fiber optic sights. (these pose a problem with some holsters)
Holster choices: Generally, I find Leather OWB the most comfortable except for the shield. Due to it's slim size it just disappears with a BlackRhino TCS. I also find the Pancake style works the best for weight distribution and concealment.
For my P320 I have a Safariland 577GLS that I really like for the retention system but their 534 or their Leather version would conceal much better. I also have the BR TCS bot it it bulky for IWB use. I have two OWB leather pancake style holsters for this gun, a 1791 BH2.4s which I love and also fits both M&P9s and a Simply Rugged Cuda which is nice but does not hug the body like previous SR holsters I have purchased. Choice for the P320C Is the 1791, heavy, stiff and reinforced, actually over built for this gun.
For the M&Ps I have a Chicago Kydex, good construction but needs a stiff belt and does not hug the body well. I have a DeSantis Speed Scabbard from S&W I bought for the 1.0 that is absolutely great, hard, light and molded like Kydex but actually leather, hugs the body great but giving it to wifie! I have two equally good options in the earlier mentioned 1791 and a Simply Rugged Cuda that was made for a P226 Sig that fits the M&P9 2.0 perfectly (well, with a 1/2" extra length) and for some reason hugs the body and seems so much more secure than the newer version. This one is 20 years old and well used and still like new. I might have to look into a new belt though, my SR belt is about 25 years old. LOL
I have to say, with a the mayhem that has been going on I have been carrying all waking hours and given these guys a workout and at the beginning the Shield was my go to choice, now it it the Sig unless a camping outing. But, to be honest with a good pancake style holster I do not notice the weight difference. Sig to S&W is +4 oz and 2 rounds so not muck added weight.
Oh, and my gun and setup choices, they all feel the same when I hold them so to me it is like I am shooting the same one.
Just my thoughts, FWIW!
Now to start, I'm not a little guy, 6' and 280#. I'm not a fancy guy, usually Jeans & T shirt and Un-tucked shirt or Photo Vest and cowboy hat so for the most part concealment is not a problem no matter the size of gun. Dress-up might be battening the shirt! LOL
Carry choices / handguns have been narrowed to Sig P320C W/Wilson Combat Grip, M&P9 4.25 and Shield Plus 9. I Have 2 M&P 9s, a 1.0 modified with 2.0 palm swells, Night Sights and Apex Trigger (wife has the same) and a 2.0 Pro Series with suppressor height fiber optic sights. (these pose a problem with some holsters)
Holster choices: Generally, I find Leather OWB the most comfortable except for the shield. Due to it's slim size it just disappears with a BlackRhino TCS. I also find the Pancake style works the best for weight distribution and concealment.
For my P320 I have a Safariland 577GLS that I really like for the retention system but their 534 or their Leather version would conceal much better. I also have the BR TCS bot it it bulky for IWB use. I have two OWB leather pancake style holsters for this gun, a 1791 BH2.4s which I love and also fits both M&P9s and a Simply Rugged Cuda which is nice but does not hug the body like previous SR holsters I have purchased. Choice for the P320C Is the 1791, heavy, stiff and reinforced, actually over built for this gun.
For the M&Ps I have a Chicago Kydex, good construction but needs a stiff belt and does not hug the body well. I have a DeSantis Speed Scabbard from S&W I bought for the 1.0 that is absolutely great, hard, light and molded like Kydex but actually leather, hugs the body great but giving it to wifie! I have two equally good options in the earlier mentioned 1791 and a Simply Rugged Cuda that was made for a P226 Sig that fits the M&P9 2.0 perfectly (well, with a 1/2" extra length) and for some reason hugs the body and seems so much more secure than the newer version. This one is 20 years old and well used and still like new. I might have to look into a new belt though, my SR belt is about 25 years old. LOL
I have to say, with a the mayhem that has been going on I have been carrying all waking hours and given these guys a workout and at the beginning the Shield was my go to choice, now it it the Sig unless a camping outing. But, to be honest with a good pancake style holster I do not notice the weight difference. Sig to S&W is +4 oz and 2 rounds so not muck added weight.
Oh, and my gun and setup choices, they all feel the same when I hold them so to me it is like I am shooting the same one.
Just my thoughts, FWIW!