The phrase "magnetic gun holster" covers two very different things: a magnet you mount to a surface to stage a gun, and a magnet you wear on your belt to carry one. The first works and we sell it. The second is a bad idea and we do not. This guide explains the difference, what a mounted magnet can and cannot do, and how to use one safely.
Mounted magnets: yes
A 50-pound neodymium magnet in a leather cover, screwed or stuck to a car, desk, nightstand or safe, holds a pistol by the slide until you pull it off. It works with every steel-slide gun regardless of model, it does not scratch, and it gives you a fixed, repeatable spot to reach for. The SofHold magnetic mount is what we carry for this. Neodymium magnet rated at over 50 pounds of pull, wrapped in top-grain leather so it does not scratch a finish, and it mounts with screws or adhesive backing, so you can screw it down or stick it. Works with any steel-slide handgun, including Glock, Sig, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Ruger, Beretta and Taurus. Money-back guarantee. $45.
Belt magnets: no
A magnet worn on the belt holds a gun against your body with nothing covering the trigger and nothing indexing the grip. It can be knocked loose by a car door or a hug. It can let the gun rotate. And it puts a bare trigger against your shirt. Every holster we sell covers the trigger guard completely; a belt magnet cannot. For carrying on the body, use a molded kydex holster. For staging a gun somewhere you sit, use a magnet.
What a mounted magnet does well
- Any gun, no model-specific fit.
- One-hand placement and one-hand draw.
- Silent. No click, no velcro.
- Cheap, and no permanent modification.
What it does not do
- Cover the trigger. Mount it where nothing can contact the trigger.
- Lock. Anyone who can reach the gun can take it.
- Hold a gun with no steel. A revolver holds by the frame and cylinder; a polymer-slide .22 does not hold at all.
Frequently asked questions
Will a gun magnet damage my gun?
No. The magnet is covered in leather, and a magnetic field does not affect a firearm or ammunition.
Will it hold a polymer-frame pistol?
Yes. The magnet holds the steel slide, not the frame. Polymer-frame Glocks and Sigs hold fine.
Is a magnet a safe way to store a loaded gun?
Only where children and unauthorized people cannot reach it. A magnet is a quick-access mount, not a lock; the trigger is exposed, so mount it where nothing can contact the trigger.
Screws or adhesive?
Screws for anything that moves, meaning a vehicle. Adhesive for a desk, nightstand or safe wall, on a clean flat surface.
Will it hold on a bumpy road?
A 50-pound magnet holds a 2-pound pistol through potholes. Mount it so the gun's weight pulls along the magnet face, not straight away from it.
The bottom line
A mounted magnet works. A belt magnet is not a holster. Stage the gun on a SofHold mount; carry it in kydex.
Related reading
Best gun magnets
Best car gun holsters (no drilling)
What makes a good concealed carry holster
