Concealed shoulder holster for M&P Compact .40

[shadowsbane]

Hey guys, first post here, though I've been lurking around for a while. I picked up my CHL back at the beginning of December and have carried pretty much every day since then. I've been carrying IWB with some off-brand leather holster and have found it extremely uncomfortable.

I've tried a few different holsters and all are more or less as uncomfortable to wear. I'm not a big guy (5'10" 160lbs). My problem is that if I wear a sturdy belt tight enough to hold the gun snug, the belt creates some pressure points around the waist, and if I wear it loose the gun tends to flop around which creates discomfort of its own.

I want a good shoulder holster that meets a couple criteria and have looked around a bit with not much luck. Leather/synthetic isn't that big of a deal to me honestly; my bigger wants are this: I'm right-handed so obviously right hand draw. I'd like one with a muzzle-up design, maybe 45 degrees. I think a horizontal holster will print too much on me, and a vertical with muzzle-down will be too difficult to consistently and quickly draw. Something with a removable strap to go around the chest might be nice in order to keep it from shifting around when bending over.

I looked at the Galco Miami Special I believe it's called, and didn't like the horizontal design. The Alessi Bodyguard seems to pose the same problem. The Fobus Roto system I've heard is fairly bulky and uncomfortable. Alessi had a couple that looked promising, such as the LeatherLite and the Agent X, although I'm not sure if the cant of the latter can be adjusted.

Sorry for the Wall O' Text but I'm running out of ideas.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, if you think a belt holster is uncomfortable, wait till you try a shoulder holster!

Seriously, a belt holster, if properly designed, should not need the belt cinched up all that tight, and it most certainly should not flop around when belt tension is comfortable.
Nor should the belt itself carry all the weight.

Look for a holster with a wide flat back & double belt loops that distributes the weight over a broader area of your body.

The old pancake design is perhaps as good as it gets.
http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-72-11-77-tortilla-holster.aspx

http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-73-11-88-street-combat-holster.aspx

http://www.epsaddlery.com/pc-148-11-sky-six.aspx

El Paso also has a complete line of shoulder holsters of different designs if you insist.

rc

 

[shadowsbane]

Found my holster by the way. It's similar to this, but obviously not the one for a revolver.

http://www.donhume.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_5&products_id=34

I also want a shoulder holster due to the fact that when I work I'm always in slacks and a button-up shirt. Forgot to mention that in the original post, but that's a big factor.

 

[shadowsbane]

Bump.

No suggestions for a good shoulder holster?

 

[LiquidTension]

I know you didn't ask for my opinion on shoulder holsters but I'm going to give it to you anyway

The only place I can think of that a shoulder holster is a good idea is in a vehicle where it's difficult to get to a belt holster. The problem is that when you draw from a shoulder holster, you sweep your own left arm and everything between the holster and the target. Unless you engage in a really funky draw, that is - which in the heat of the moment you will not remember to do. Back when I was running vehicle based surveillance a lot, I'd put on a shoulder holster just in case somebody snuck up on me. Now that I'm not in that line of work anymore, I've gotten rid of the holster.

You say you wear slacks and a button up shirt to work. I'm assuming that you also wear a jacket then? If that's the case, you could really go with any sort of belt holster - IWB or OWB. I prefer a holster with offset belt loops. By that I mean the loops are on either side of the gun, not on top of it. This reduces the profile of the gun and makes for a more stable platform. The Milt Sparks Watch Six is a good example of what I'm talking about. The Versa Max is the same type of design but allows you to tuck your shirt in over it. My personal holster is from HBE Leather but it is the same style.

If I were you, I'd try a decent gun belt and an offset loop style IWB holster before going with a shoulder holster. Heck, if you are always wearing slacks you could pick up a snubbie and just pocket carry as well.

 

[shadowsbane]

No, I do not wear a jacket. I really am quite committed to getting a shoulder holster. I spend the better part of my day seated at a desk or driving.

OWB is not an option and IWB is not viable unless I go tuckable which makes the gun very difficult to access. More so I think than a shoulder harness.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I didn't post so I could be dissuaded from getting a shoulder harness. I've thought about this long and hard and feel that it's the best option for me.

 

[LiquidTension]

OK I'm confused. You don't wear a jacket but you want a concealed shoulder holster? You mean like under your shirt or something? I'm not trying to be rude just trying to figure out exactly what you're trying to accomplish. I don't know if a button up shirt alone is going to be enough to keep the rig hidden.

 

[shadowsbane]

Yes, under the shirt. I have a "tactical" undershirt that I bought from 5.11 Tactical on a whim and wear it underneath occasionally and it conceals well enough. I can't really recommend the shirt too highly since it makes it fairly difficult to access the firearm, but the point is it holds it in the same place a shoulder harness would and conceals just fine.

 

[MisterMike]

I haven't used this, so I can't provide an informed opinion, but this looks like what you need:

http://www.kangarooind.com/

Another similar holster can be seen here:

http://www.gunnersecurity.com/holster-shoulder.html

 

[shadowsbane]

My big problem with those is that they hold it vertical with the muzzle down, which means I have to reach and pull the gun up to get it out. I'd like to see one with the muzzle canted upward so that when I draw it'd be a downward/forward sweeping motion, not trying to pull it up and out of the holster.

Am I just being too picky here?

 

[MisterMike]

My big problem with those is that they hold it vertical with the muzzle down, which means I have to reach and pull the gun up to get it out. I'd like to see one with the muzzle canted upward so that when I draw it'd be a downward/forward sweeping motion, not trying to pull it up and out of the holster.

Am I just being too picky here?

I haven't seen a configuration like you describe, but there are about a billion holsters out there, so it may exist. Here's a guess why these are designed this way, though: In order to be halfway comfortable, these deep concealment shoulder holsters have to be made of fabric and they are very flexible. As such, the primary mechanism of retention is gravity. In order to have reliable retention in a configuration such as you describe, I think you're going to be getting into the realm of leather, snaps and staps.

One thing I'd note is that the cloth models I identified only run about thirty bucks or so . . . if you were to try one and it didn't work out, you wouldn't be out a huge amount of money.

 

[MGD 45]

Take this with a grain of salt if you want, but as an LEO, I've been wearing a pistol every working day for 13 years.....5 of those have been as a Detective where I have to wear dress clothes and I wear the firearm as concealed, so the typical police officer duty belt thingy doesn't work for me. So I know how you feel & where your coming from.......

First, you will discover that making the decision to wear a gun daily will necessitate you making some changes in your clothing or how you dress, move, etc.....so just understand this & be prepared for it.....

Second, don't listen to people who tell you that wearing "holster A" sucks or is uncomfortable.....yada...yada.....you have to try it for yourself & if you like it, then wear it. I've been wearing the Galco Miami Classic Shoulder Holster on & off now as a Detective.....sometimes I wear it for weeks at a time......sometimes I switch to a hip holster......depends on my mood!

It took my body a few weeks to get used to wearing the SH, but suddenly one day it just felt completely natural & comfortable. I love wearing it & it takes a lot of weight off my belt & makes wearing a dress belt & slacks much more comfortable.......

There are tactical advantages & disadvantages to wearing a SH versus a Hip Holster. Each holster can have it's place, and only YOU can decide which one works best for YOU.....I can tell you that when I first got my SH, I was concerned that my draw would be slower than the hip holster......but I practed a lot & my draw is either just as fast now....or maybe a tenth of a second slower than with wearing my hip holster.....not a big deal. If you find yourself having to make a quick draw in real life.......your in deep doodoo....

When I draw my pistol from the SH, I simply raise up the left arm, (arm is bent with hand by my chest & elbow pointed out) and as the pistol comes out of the holster, it sweeps underneath my arm until it's pointed at my target......you don't have to sweep your left arm in order to draw......

Good luck on your quest..........I enjoy my SH & wear it constantly....

 

[shadowsbane]

Thanks for the input MGD. My biggest problem with the MC is there's no upward cant, however I found this while looking around. Anyone got any experience with the company, or this holster specifically? It seems that if I wanted I could give ti a good upward cant like I'd like to.

http://www.desantisholster.com/stor...action=prepare_detail&itm_id=8413&itm_index=0

 

[MGD 45]

If I was going to cant my SH, it would be with the muzzle pointed down instead of up. I think you'll have a better chance to get a better grip on your pistol with the muzzle downward, because of the angle it presents to your hand when trying to draw it. With the muzzle up, the pistol grip is angled down away from you & it might be harder to get a positive grip on it..........but I'm just theorizing here........I'd like to know the outcome!

 

[shadowsbane]

No, I'd have it canted with the muzzle up and back. The angle of the grip would naturally fit the angle of the hand as it comes up.

 

[MGD 45]

As long as it works.......that's all that matters.

 

[MGD 45]

Here ya go Shadowsbane.......