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The second purchase most gun owners make after they buy a new handgun like the M&P 45 is a holster to carry it in. But with so many makes and models of holsters out there, this can be a hard decision to make. Much of your decision depends on how you plan to use your gun, and whether you intend to conceal or open carry.
After doing some homework and testing several of the highest-rated holsters for the M&P 45, my choice as the best overall value is the CYA Supply Co. IWB Holster. This holster is lightweight, comfortable to wear and draw from, has good retention, and is made in the USA by a veteran-owned company.
As mentioned earlier, much of this depends on exactly how you plan to carry and use your firearm. If you just need a simple holster to wear around the neighborhood, then your decision will be different than someone who wants to carry a secondary firearm around their ankle.
Another important factor is whether or not you plan to open carry or conceal carry your M&P 45. You’ll also want to factor in your dominant hand. A good number of holsters are designed for right or left-hand-draw only, while others are ambidextrous. And some shooters prefer to cross-draw from their non-dominant side.
If you’d like some additional information about the various types and models of holsters, here’s a video you might find of interest:
While there are a host of holster makes and models available for the M&P 45, for this review I’ve narrowed it down to the following types: IWB, OWB, pocket, shoulder and pancake holsters
If all you need is a minimalist holster to wear around the house or the neighborhood, an inside-the-waistband, or IWB holster might be your best option. IWB clip or slide onto your belt or waistband, and they can be worn in every position from your appendix to the small of your back. These belts are usually made from a plastic polymer like Kydex, or nylon or leather.
Even though they’re not as easy to conceal, many times a belt holster worn outside the waistband will be your most versatile and best option. Belt holster either clip onto your belt, or the have a pair of slots to slide your belt through (or both).
OWB belt holsters are popular with the military and law enforcement officers, and people who open carry. Most gun owners wear OWB holsters slightly behind the hip and close to the body. If the gun and holster is thin enough, they can be concealed beneath suit, loose shirt or jacket.
Pancake holsters are another form of OWB or belt slide holster, but they’re designed to be flatter and smaller to facilitate concealed carry. These pancake holsters are usually made from two separate pieces of leather or polymer plastic, and the handgun is sandwiched in between.
The holster attached to the belt via a pair of slots, and is usually worn on the hip or toward the rear of the back. Since their thinner than other OWB holsters, they’re easier to conceal beneath your clothing.
Pocket holsters are another popular choice for concealed carry. As you might imagine, these holsters fit into your front or back pocket, and they’re made to keep your gun clean and in the proper position for drawing.
Drawing from these hostlers takes some getting used to (you don’t want your holster coming out of your pocket with the gun), usually you’ll get the hang of it with some practice. Do be aware that pocket holsters work best will smaller revolvers and automatics.
While not the most popular choice, shoulder holsters can be a good option, especially if you’re a driver or you spend a lot of time sitting down. Shoulder holsters typically consist of two straps that run over the shoulders and beneath the armpits.
The handgun is holstered on one side, and a pouch for spare is attached to the strap on the other side. Depending on the holster, the gun is positioned vertically or horizontally beneath the shooter armpit. Be aware that there are safety concerns when drawing from a shoulder holster. You’ll want to get in a lot of practice time if you choose this option.
Okay, now that we’ve gone through several of the holster types, let’s look at some holsters that were designed for the M&P 45. While this is an admittedly incomplete sample, all of the holsters below are made by reputable companies and have lots of positive reviews by satisfied owners.
This Concealment Express model is an inside-the-waistband holster that’s great for concealed carry. It has adjustable carry angle and retention, and it’s designed and manufactured in the USA.
This is another inside-the-waistband concealed carry holster. This holster is made from Boltaron, which CYA Supply Co. uses in their holsters to give them higher temperature and impact resistance. This is another holster designed and made in the USA, by a veteran-owned company.
This is an outside-the-waistband paddle holster made by Blade Tech Industries. The holster is injection molded from tough polymer plastic, is stable and impact resistant, and is designed for right-handed shooters only.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I found the CYA Supply Co. IWB Holster to be the best overall value among the three holsters tested. It concealed well, was comfortable even after hours of use, provide a smooth, positive draw, and was well made. And as a bonus, the company is veteran-owned and based in the USA.
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Hey everyone I’m Chris. Founder and editor at Gun News Daily. This site was originally started by my father who passed it on to me. Gun News Daily has been reporting on gun news and conservative politics since 2001. We are the original gun news source. Life-long Second Amendment Supporter.
According to a concealment express rep I spoke with through email, they do not make an iwb holster for the m&p45. They only have ones for the 9mm, 40sw, and 45 sheild….
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