Garrett Silent Thunder STX for M&P Shield

[Tommato]

Yahoo! Yesterday I received a Silent Thunder STX OWB holder and magazine carriers for the Shield from Sheryl and Ron at Garrett Industries (thanks guys!!!!)! Garrett Industries, LLC Designers/Manufacturers of Custom Kydex and Leather Holsters and Tactical Gearempty_pistol_holster1.jpgHolsters_and_magazines2.jpgHolsters_and_magazines1.jpgempty_pistol_holster2.jpgempty_pistol_holster3.jpgempty_pistol_holster4.jpg

I decided to go for a little more "fun" color this time - Coyote Brown. Attached are a bunch of holsters and accessories that I will describe. First the pistol holster, then the magazine carriers.

The Coolest part of the Silent Thunder STX is is it Kydex on the outside, but well-bonded leather on the inside, for a truly silent draw - one of the disadvantages of Kydex by itself. I went for the dark brown leather treatment as it goes well with the Coyote Brown Kydex color. I ordered the holster with a "Half FBI" 6 degree forward cant, and 1.5" belt loops. It fits the Shield like a glove, and provides good retention for any sort of jumping around. There are 2 retention screws that can individually be adjusted for retention strength. Also, the belt loops can be swapped with belt hooks or other clip types they offer (see the website for more info).

Another thing I like about the STX is it covers the slide release, trigger, manual safety, and slide serrations so they don't get hung up on the draw. The sight channel is generous; if I ever decided to replace the front sight with a Big Dot it should holster/unholster no problem. They even embossed a nice "Garrett USA" logo into the leather near the top!

The Garrett holsters are a system, where all of the adjustable parts and options can be added or removed with an allen wrench - which they supply. Now for the magazine carriers.

You will see in the photos the Shield magazine carriers attached to a double carrier backing plate, and two full size M&P magazine carriers by themselves. Although I don't have a full-size M&P just yet I want to use the same system for those, too. There is a belt clip in one pic for a single magazine carrier - which is probably what I will use for CC. The double magazine carrier is great for the range or classes. The Shield magazines fit perfectly, although you can adjust the retention and cant individually for each magazine. Like the STX holster, you can also purchase other types of belt clips for the magazine carriers.

The STX conceals well as it is small and rides close to the body. A standard T-shirt covers it well. I will be getting an IWB holster downstream, but will probably go with the STX wherever and whenever I can, beginning with a class next month.

I can only attach 6 files per post, so I'll provide another post with the rest of the pix.

Tommato

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Tommato]

The grips are the rubbery Talon grips, which I bought in April. RIP Derek, the Talon guy.Double_mag_Carrier1.jpgDouble_mag_Carrier2.jpgPistol_and_double1.jpgShield_in_holster1.jpgShield_in_holster2.jpgSingle_mag_Carrier.jpg

[Mattmann]

Looks awesome! Congrats!

Sent from my DROID RAZR

[pangloss9]

Looks great. I have the IWB version for my G26, but it rides a little too low for me to get a good grip on the pistol. Your OWB holster looks about perfect though.

[Thunder71]

I'm a huge fan, I've had 3 over the last year - hard to beat a Silent Thunder and Ron and Sheryl are great folks.

[linkscoach]

I ordered a standard IWB Silent Thunder for my Shield on Friday. Can't wait for it to get here.

[Tommato]

I'm a huge fan, I've had 3 over the last year - hard to beat a Silent Thunder and Ron and Sheryl are great folks.

+1 on that! Sheryl was very helpful and fantastic to work with. I absolutely love their products and service, and will be buying from them again.

[Bark'n]

Man those rigs look freaking awesome. Some cool design features with the belt loops I've never seen on Kydex before. I see them really giving Raven Concealment a run for their money! Please tell me there isn't an 18 - 20 week wait time on their holsters!!

Great write up bro! Congrats on getting yourself some outstanding rigs!

I'm definitely going to have to try them out soon!

[Chief1297]

I will add my glowing recommendation as well. I will absolutely order from them again. I think their new STX will pull the weapon even closer but I havent seen it released on their website yet. They will work with you to make sure you get what you want. You wont be disappointed.

[Ljutic]

I've loved GI Silent Thunders since getting a Champion as my first IDPA rig. If I carried OWB more frequently, I'd have more of them.

That is a nice looking rig.

[1boredguy]

nice looking holsters. thanks for sharing the info, haven't heard about them before.

[DoctorBob]

Congrats! I have a Silent Thunder STX Champion for my G36 and really love it. Garrett is a super company with which to deal. They are helpful and very responsive and their products are top grade.

silentthunderstxg36P1000160.jpgSilentthunderSTXP1000158.jpgsilentthunderstxP1000159.jpg

[pattywak]

Very nice review! I will have to keep this holster in mind when I search for an OWB holster. How do you like the rubber talon grips? Do they stick to your skin or the tshirt much? That's my only worry, that aftermarket grips would bother my bare side or make my shirt cling to the gun, fumbling up my draw.

[Rollo]

I've been eying a silent thunder fusion for a while now.

[MNgunner]

Great choice of holster OP. The Garret holsters are fantastic, although I still prefer well-made leather holster.

I've got several Garrett holsters, from Silent Thunder Champion to Silent Thunder IWB to Silent Thunder OWB to my last and only mistake: Silent Thunder Slim Appendix Carry (AIWB is my main carry style.)

The STSAC (for guns over 4 inch barrel) has a definite design flaw due to (too short) offset clip design facilitating instability (inserted very low) and, more important, the most of the weight of the gun is above the (Beltman) belt line, and thus the gun leans forward and prints.

In fact, when I wrote to Ron (who wasn't too happy to receive either my email or my phone call), he divulged that, "I personally use a S.T. IWB or a S.T. Solo when I carry AIWB. I am not now, nor have I ever been a fan of fan of the offset clip design as it lacks stability, but for some it seems to work very well."

The man manufacturers a $90 holster that he would not himself wear due to the design flaws, yet he is willing to sell it to the public.

The rest of the Garrett holsters are almost perfect, just avoid the AIWB holsters for the above reasons. I do recommend the other products from the bottom of my heart.

Also, the hassle made me change my opinion of the company, although Sheryl is a delight to deal with.