Carry Guns, A New Theory?

[Thefabulousfink]

Some time ago a friend of mine voiced a compliant while we were shopping for a gun to carry inside the waistband. My friend wondered why almost all "concealed carry" guns have both small grip and barrel? He thought that if a gun was carried vertical inside the waistband the lenght of barrel shouldn't matter as long as you could clear the holster. What was more important for concealability was width and the size of the grips.

So, does barrel size factor into you decision, do you feel that barrel length is important for IWB carry, what are your thoughts?

 

[Jim Watson]

I have found that too long a barrel is uncomfortable in IWB or close belt holster because it bumps the seat cushion when you sit.

 

[waterhouse]

One of my carry guns is the Kimber compact for this very reason. It's a commander size slide (at least almost, it's 4") on an officer's frame.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

And when you compare your kimber to another popular carry gun like the Glock 26, you have almost twice the barrel length and a lot less thickness. However, most of the "experts" that I talk to about carry guns all claim the G26 is the way to go??? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

[MCgunner]

I agree with your friend, but then, I don't spend a lot of time in cars. I'm usually on a motorcycle if I'm going somewhere. I've never understood commanders, though. I'd rather have the longer barrel and truncate the grip to reduce printing through a T shirt. I can stuff the barrel IWB easily enough. A proper IWB rides high on the belt, too, getting it up off a car seat. My sparks summer special doesn't seem to bother me in the car with my full size P series Rugers in it.

If I was, and I'm not, a 1911 guy, I'd see about putting an officer's grip frame on a government slide/barrel, not the other way around.

 

[Chupacabra]

Barrel length is a minor concern for me. I have no trouble sitting down with a fullsize 1911 in my pants!

Slide/Frame and grip thickness is a major concern though. My 1911 is a lot slimmer than my USP40c and makes it easier to conceal. The only real advantage the USP has is it's weight.

 

[Standing Wolf]

If you're carrying inside the waist band, all the dimensions and weight make significant differences.

Comfort is one of the reasons I've been carrying openly more and more.

 

[IndianaDean]

And when you compare your kimber to another popular carry gun like the Glock 26, you have almost twice the barrel length and a lot less thickness. However, most of the "experts" that I talk to about carry guns all claim the G26 is the way to go??? It doesn't make sense to me.

I had a 26. It does not conceal as well as a Kimber Ultra Carry or Colt Officer. It's wider and the grip really shows more than the grip on the .45s.

 

[pax]

Because I am very short-waisted and have an hourglass figure, I wouldn't be able to routinely conceal a long-barrelled gun (my G26 is just right in overall length). The longer the barrel, the more curves matter.

A larger grip wouldn't matter as much, but when I tried using the grip extensions I did find it harder to conceal and thus not worth the effort.

YMMV, of course. People come in different shapes and that's one reason they make different guns.

pax

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Of couse! I didn't think of that, having lost my girlish figure to College food and booze. Good point though, body style would make difference in choosing a gun.

 

[Old Fuff]

When using IWB carry I learned long ago that it was no harder to carry a J or K frame S&W or Colt D-frame (Detective Special/Police Positive Special) with a 3 or 4 inch barrel then a short 2 inch one. And on occasion I have carried a Police Positive Special with a 5 inch barrel using an IWB rig. I also have no problems with a Colt LW Commander, standing or sitting.

The pay-off comes though when you shoot any of the above against the same or a similar model with a 2 or 2 1/2" barrel. In my case I always did better with the longer lengths, and that can be an important factor if you have to use the gun.

I consider snubbies to be pocket or ankle-holster guns, and nothing else.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I always like to consider the time it takes to deploy (effectively) a weapon of any length since I carry IWB.
Wheelies with longish barrels (over 3") can take me some time to deploy since I don't have the range of motion of someone with less arm mass. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more you lose range of motion in the arms and can find yourself rocking your upper torso to get a long weapon free. Body type is very important.
I prefer a faster acting short barrel bird's head SA, SP101, or snub for personal carry in IWB.
excellent thread topic.

 

[MCgunner]

I always like to consider the time it takes to deploy (effectively) a weapon of any length since I carry IWB.
Wheelies with longish barrels (over 3") can take me some time to deploy since I don't have the range of motion of someone with less arm mass. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more you lose range of motion in the arms and can find yourself rocking your upper torso to get a long weapon free. Body type is very important.
I prefer a faster acting short barrel bird's head SA, SP101, or snub for personal carry in IWB.
excellent thread topic.

Yeah, I never thought of it that way, but you gotta point.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Thanks for the input all!

I knew that there were a few sides to this issue, but I had no idea how many legitimate fators are invovled. I'm still kind of new to carrying a CCW, and I alternate between a fullsize auto and a snubie S&W depending on the clothes I'm wearing.

There definately is a lot to consider when choosing a good carry gun.

 

[MCgunner]

Thanks for the input all!



There definately is a lot to consider when choosing a good carry gun.

Yep, and everyone has a different answer. But, it's whatever you figure out works for you. No real set pat answer to the carry thing. Some won't carry anything but a Remington Rand vintage GI .45, some love revolvers, some won't carry anything with less than 16 rounds in it. It's all good, though, so long as you can safely and effectively use what you carry. And, heck, nobody knows how effective they're gonna be until it actually happens and everyone is praying it never happens. Hopefully, for everyone here, it'll remain theory.

 

[Dienekes]

With a revolver it's the stocks and the cylinder that determine bulk. I don't IWB--it would drive me nuts--but if you can carry a 2" K frame revolver you can carry a 4" one in the proper leather.

1911s aren't that big, properly holstered. My daughter has a G26 which sort of requires a holster which then makes the lashup fairly close to what works for her G19. It's too big and heavy for a for a pocket and if carried with a round in the chamber had better be holstered. I suspect that my BHP is no harder to carry and--at least for me--is a far superior gun. And, if it matters, slimmer than a 1911. If I ever did IWB carry that would be the one.

Then there are the true pocket guns--J frame airweights, Kel-Tecs, etc., that really do disappear into pockets and can ride there all day and not be noticed.

BTW none of the above was derived from reading gun magazine articles.

 

[1911 guy]

I like tiny guns to conceal.

That's why I carry a 5" 1911, not a longslide.

 

[obiwan1]

There have been a few guns designed with that thought in mind. A 3" J frame (and now a 5" J frame) is an example. Kahr had a short butt/standard barrel length model. I believe Colt also had some with the 3" DS (I have actually seen one and kick myself for not buying it) and an Officers Model frame/Commander slide combo. With the J frame, the reason for a 2" is for pocket carry. Within limits any barrel length is OK for IWB. I have heard of 6" K frames being carried that way as long as you don't sit down. With ballistics in mind, IF you don't pocket carry you can squeeze a little better bullet performance with the longer barrel.

 

[dairycreek]

I have been carrying concealed for nearly 40 years and have come to the conclusion that, within reason nearly any size handgun can be sucessfully carried concealed. However, my practical experience has shown me that the biggest auto I want to carry is a full-size 1911 (5"barrel) and the biggest revo is a 4" barrel.

Given that the carrier is wiling to make the right decisions these are fairly easy to carry concealed. By "right decisions" I refer to choice of holster, belt, and clothing. If the carrier is not willing to make the so-called "right decisions" sucessfully carrying any gun concealed is going to be a real chore. FWIW