Galco Concealable OWB Holster For M&P40 FS

[shlike]

I recently purchased a M&P40 Police trade-in (Detroit PD) and wanted a new holster for it. I didn't intend for this gun to be used much if at all for CCW as it is quite large, and I have several other guns that are more appropriate for CCW, but I wanted a holster that I could use for CCW if I chose to. Today I purchased this Galco Concealable OWB. It is a high-quality, well made leather holster and the gun fits perfectly. I wanted to see how well it would work for CCW, so I carried the M&P for most of the day today. I was pleasantly surprised that this holster works very well for CCW. I wore it under a long-sleeve shirt and the gun was barely noticeable. I attribute this mainly to the aggressive forward cant which serves to position the fairly long grip close and in line with the body. Also, the holster pulls the gun tight to the body. I would have preferred that the holster would ride a little higher like my High-Noon holsters that I use for my Glock and Sig, but I didn't want to spend $150.00 for a High Noon when I won't be carrying this gun on a regular basis. I paid $89.00 for the Galco at my LGS, which is comparable to the online prices at Midway, etc.

In summary, I am pleased with this holster as it is reasonably priced, high-quality, and does a good job of concealing a large frame pistol OWB.

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[1911 guy]

When I'm able to carry OWB, that same holster design is my go-to carrying a 1911. I'm on my second one, my first lasted about ten years of nearly every day carry. I consider Galco to be one of the best off-the-shelf manufacturers out there. You can get better stuff from custom makers, but for the convenience of mail order and short delivery time, they're a very good option. I bought a Concealable because it was available at a LGS and I figured I'd try it. I liked it, nearly wore one out, and replaced it with another.

For what it's worth, my new favorite IWB, for about a year now, is the Alien Gear. Still in the hunt for the "perfect" IWB, though.

I wear both holsters with a Wilderness 5-stitch belt.

 

[Shootshellz]

Nice holster but don't plan on doing any running or strenuous physical activity. That is why a holster needs a safety strap, IMHO. I have seen far too many 'whoopsies' with open top holsters.

 

[JTQ]

I'd be willing to bet shlike could hang upside down on the monkey bars, or run an obstacle course and his gun won't fall out of that holster. On the other hand, if it were a nylon holster, well then he'd probably need some kind thumb break.

 

[Shootshellz]

Remember Murphy's law? That means an open top holster will fail you long before you attempt to tackle the monkey bars or obstacle course. I have seen far less cause a handgun fall out of said holster style.

 

[JTQ]

Remember Murphy's law?

Is that the law that says you'll miss the thumb break when you need to quickly draw the gun? Or the one that says the thumb break will get tangled up inside the M&P's trigger guard as you're reholstering and cause the gun to fire?

I think the OP should be fine with his choice.

 

[1911 guy]

While it's not technically a retention holster, it does have good retention for two reasons. First, it is a molded holster, rather than a pouch generally shaped like the handgun it fits. Secondly, the belt pulls each end of the holster toward the wearer, forcing the handgun outward. This "pinches" the pistol in the two halves of leather. I've worn this same holster for a 1911 for a very long time and have never had an issue. That includes some physical activity where I wasn't always upright.

 

[shlike]

I concur with what 1911 guy said above. My mode of carry is OWB at 3:00. All my holsters are open-top pancake-style. Most are leather, some are custom-made kydex (pancake-style). All are high-quality custom gun/model-specific molded holsters. The passive retention of a holster molded for the specific gun is more than enough to keep it securely in place. Some, like my Galco above do not have retention adjustment screws and others, like my High-Noon holsters do. An adjustment screw is nice, but not really necessary if the holster is made properly. As 1911 guy said above, when you don a pancake-style OWB holster, the belt pulls the holster tight to the body which serves to further retain the gun securely in the holster. Further, with a well-made Kydex OWB pancake-style holster, you hear that distinctive "click" when you slide the gun into the holster. That sound tells me that the gun is well-retained.

All that being said, if you use a cheap multi-purpose holster not specifically molded for the gun or one of those cheap Uncle Mike style nylon holsters, all bets are off and the gun will not be well-retained without some kind of strap or other active retention device.

These are some of my other carry guns in open-top pancake holsters. I have complete confidence in the retention on all of them.

Glock 19 in High-Noon high-ride pancake holster

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Sig SP2022 in High-Noon high-ride pancake holster

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Kahr CW45 in Detroit Concealment custom Kydex holster

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[JTQ]

My bet is Shootshellz is either current or former LE, an ATV rider, or has only owned nylon holsters. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I lean toward LE background.

I'd even take my chances wrestling somebody for my gun if it's in my High Noon Slide Guard. That is a very secure holster.

 

[Spats McGee]

I have used something very similar to the OP's holster for years. It's a Galco & may be the same model for all I know. I've also used a CBST and a variety of open-top holsters in leather and Kydex. I'm not saying my gun absolutely, positively could never fall out of its holster, but it hasn't happened yet. Then again, I haven't been on the monkey bars in decades. OTOH, if I am doing something where I might realistically wind up with my hiney higher in the air than my head (like climbing into a tree stand), I'd prefer a little more retention even than my Kydex open-tops.