Ever Ankle Carry an M&P Compact?

[ColdDeadHand]

Please, help me out. I know I should get a good holster if I'm going to ankle carry. I have an M&P compact in 40 that I really like and I'd rather not buy a new gun right now. Has anybody ever carried an M&P compact on their ankle?


As for the reasons why, I recently got a new job with a strict dress code, very professional, everything tucked in all the time. At my last job IWB was not a problem. Tuck in the T-shirt, leave the polo un-tucked. Not the case this time 'round. I am in technical support, so the goal of my job is to by seated at my desk, on the phone, helping customers as much as possible. Ankle carry seems very compatible with my job description.

I just don't want something that is too bulky to remain concealed. Getting "made" would be the end of my employment, no questions asked.

My other idea is to get one of those Ruger poly revolvers (LCR?) in .357 Mag. Any experience with ankle carry and one of those?

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[riseagainstforme]

Whew, that'd be a large buldge on the ankle. I couldn't pull it off. Then again my pants and jeans are kind of tight. Room to move of course, but they're not huge.

I would try a belly band instead, that'll pull it up from the waist line. Or there are tuckable holsters.

If your looking for a different gun check out a PF-9. Super slim, and more rounds than a LCR. I can ankle carry that. And when it's on my waist it's super hard to see. Not to mention I bought it used for $175.

 

[briantf]

I wear Levi's 505's and ankle carry a Glock 33 LOTS, pretty handy setup in San Francisco and other very gun unfriendly areas of CA. How much bigger is an M&P than a G26/G27/G33?

SPEND $$$$$ on a good ankle holster, seriously.

Also a J-Frame is a great choice (including LCR/Bodyguard blah blah Taurus/Rossi/etc) but they're wider than you think. Even a "big" Glock subcompact is pretty comfortable walking around all day on your ankle and if you buy your pants long, you won't print or expose and you'll never suffer the embarrassment of wearing high waters.

As an alternative, a PF9 or LC9 is a darned good pocket gun for Dockers or other bigger pocket Khakis, while I use a 380 for my Levi's pocket carry. What can you get away with?

Regards,
Brian in CA

PS My wife has an S&W Model 60 38 Spl in her Coronado purse, would that us manly men could carry such a contraption.

 

[redraidermgr]

Have you looked into the "tuck-able" holsters? The crossbreed super-tuck, galco king tuck, etc are highly regarded in situations similar to yours and may be a cheaper than buying a new gun and more comfortable than concealing a "brick" of a gun on your ankle.

I have looked into these holsters myself but have not bought one yet because the holsters that I have are doing their jobs fine at the moment. I thought this might be a good solution to your specific issue with carrying at work.

If this does not sound like something you are interested in looking into then I would go with a small framed revolver on the ankle or in the pocket if you can pull it off. (I know that most dress type pants are not conducive to pocket carry.) The revolver or similar small framed pistol would be much lighter and easier to carry on your ankle than the M&P. I have owned M&Ps before and i could not imagine that weight on my ankle for over 8 hours a day.

 

[lemaymiami]

Several thoughts here (and I did carry my Sig 40cal in an ankle holster for many years...). First off - are you willing to risk your job to be able to carry your weapon during work hours? Although I carried various weapons in ankle holsters (both on and off duty) for many, many years - they're not nearly as well concealed as you'd think if there's anyone that knows what to look for.... and all it would take is one co-worker and you're out on the street.

Now for the practical side of ankle carrying a small to medium frame auto pistol. In my police years I did what many cops do, trying this and that (everything from airweight five shot S & W's on up for off duty) while still carrying a larger piece on duty. I carried more than one weapon at times but found that a duty weapon plus backup was more trouble than it was worth (particularly if you're going to rolling around in some gutter with a younger, stronger opponent -thank heavens for dirty tactics.. they saved me on more than one occasion). I slowly came to the conclusion that I was far better off carrying the same weapon both on and off duty. Since I'd already been using ankle holsters for smaller weapons it wasn't a stretch to do the same with my first compact nine (one of the early Smiths). When my department made the transition to Sigs it wasn't much bigger so I continued with the ankle carry off duty (and did the same for on-duty if I was in plain clothes).

I've been in south Florida for many years, and I'm long out of police work. Down here the casual dress lends itself to either inside the waistband carry (wearing a guayabera or something similar) or ankle carry. There are some very real downsides to carrying a compact or medium sized nine or 40 on your ankle though. The one I will live with the rest of my life is what looks like light bruising inside my left ankle (an ankle holster with some weight on it needs to be tight...). You won't be doing any running with an ankle holster (without first removing the weapon and carrying it by hand - which can be a serious drawback if you have to climb fences or get down with someone that doesn't like you very much....). I'll leave the rest to your imagination. I haven't carried a sidearm in any fashion since I retired from police work in 1995 - I don't miss it at all.

 

[btg3]

seated at my desk,... Ankle carry seems very compatible with my job description.

When seated:
1. Does your pants leg rise up and expose your ankle?
2. Do you keep both feet on the floor, or cross legs?
Are you confident an ankle hoslter is compatible with being seated most of the time?

I haven't carried a sidearm in any fashion since I retired from police work in 1995 - I don't miss it at all.

Carrying takes effort and is not without side-effects. Life is undoubtedly simpler without it... until you need it. It is a quality-of-life decision that varies according to the individual.

 

[JustinJ]

I think a double stack auto is just going to be too big. I'd look at getting one of the smaller single stacks in 9 mm (or Khar .40) and do either a belly band or tuckable holster. Even if you do go with ankle carry these will be much easier to conceal. The other option for single stack carry is front pocket. I frequently carry my Ruger LC9 in such a manner. Sure, there is a bulge but it looks no different than a cell phone or wallet bulge.

On a side note, I don't know about your state laws but in TX concealed carry in a business is a criminal violation if they have the proper signs posted stating that it is not allowed. We have such a sign at my facility (ironically i had to hire the contractor to put it up) so i don't carry while at work as getting caught would cost me my job, carry permit and possibly more.

 

[Psa1m144]

I agree with the idea of using IWB instead of ankle carry. Crossbreed supertuck is an incredible holster, I carry a Glock 22 all day with mine. IMO ankle carry is reserved for subcompact backup pistols. It would certainly be possible to carry the M&P Compact this way but I predict that it wouldn't last long.

 

[scaatylobo]

Glock 27 on ankle

I was LEO and wore the G-27 [ about same size as your referenced gun ].

I wore it ankle carry for well over 10 years and was not made,I made SURE that my tailor cut the pants long enough that the gun did not show.

I had an Alessi rig,now I am going with a Ritchie rig [Skip Ritchie 716-691-6300 ] as he was Lou Alessi's partner and he alone makes rigs as did Lou [ rest in peace ].

I still do use that rig for when I want DEEP cover,just make sure your pant 'blouse' a good deal.

NO PRINTING !.

 

[Al Thompson]

Wow!

I'm with lemaymiami on this one. That's a heck of a risk. My choice for a NPE (which does not threaten my job) is a Kel-Tec P32 in a pocket holster. I do not wear jeans, usually cargo pants. The P32 disappears in certain brands as pocket sizes vary.

As for ankle carrry, I did that for several years with a J frame. I stood up most of the time and it was invisible. Sitting is where you gain better access, but lose concealability.

I know several folks who carry Glock 26/27s on their ankle, so it can be done.

 

[danfive555]

Try a hybrid holster.

M&P compact is a rather small gun. The crossbreed type holsters are great, you can definitely sit all day and not be uncomfortable with the gun and holster there.

Another option is pocket carry (in a holster) an LCP. That slim little gun disappears in any pocket.

 

[cl4de6]

You may want to consider the Kangeroo Carry and "Superman presentation."

http://www.kangaroocarry.com/

 

[Nushif]

I just don't want something that is too bulky to remain concealed. Getting "made" would be the end of my employment, no questions asked.

I've been "terminated" for reasons unrelated to guns, but have gotten removed from pretty much all local temp agencie's roster afterwards due to a backhanded review for breaking their "weapons rules" by carrying a knife in my pocket .... you do not want to mess around with a companies "be a victim" policy unless you are perfectly hireable in this economy. Remember. Right now is a time to put money on the table, so in the future you don't have to fight for your second amendment from a box in the street.
This is not an employees market. This is an employer's market. And to top that, it's usually not even the employer hiring, but an HR department outside of the company. You do not want to become a nuclear asset. It sucks.

So frankly, *if* you're going to carry I would *highly* (read: *very highly*) recommend you do not carry anything that is even remotely visible in the tiniest, ever .... in your undies, while working out, under an x-ray. Because as you put it, they won't ask you questions, you're probably an "at will" employee ... bad JuJu.

 

[rEVOLVEr VII]

I carry the 38 bodyguard with a fobus holster on my ankle, no bulge at all. If your interested in carrying the lcr heres some info for ya.

http://www.fobusholster.com/products/RUGER_LCR_38_357_ANKLE_HOLSTER-6511-46.html

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Not unless the "big bell" bottom pants of the early 1970s make a comeback. A gun the size of a Glock 26 is widely considered to be about the maximum practical, and this gun is even larger.

 

[JR133]

I think that m&p is a little to big for the ankle. If you are standing up all day you may be able to hide it but as soon as you sit down, it will show. I use the thunder wear holster and it works well for me. It takes a little to get use to but you can easy hide that m&p.

The belly band and the shirt holster they have out will work too.