Conceal Carry Weapon Selection: What Matters and What Doesn't

[gallo]

In selecting a conceal carry pistol for IWB, aside from choosing one that is reliable and manageable for the shooter, what characteristics of the pistol influence most the comfort of carrying it or lack thereof? I have observed that several of the compact models reduce the height and leave the length almost the same. While the subcompact models reduce both length and height. Other options reduce the width as in the case of a single stack.

I have tried several options at the store and haven't really found too much difference between the compact and standard models. A Glock 19 and a Glock 17 feel almost the same. The G26 feels a little better but I hate a dangling pinky and using an extended magazine makes it just as tall as a G19. Now, I only use the Glock example because it has the three sizes as a point of comparison, but I'm rather in different to Glocks. Weight is also a factor I've noticed is used a selling point for CC, but, again, trying a pistol for 30 seconds at the store is not really the same as wearing it 8 hours.

So in your experience what factors matters most for overall comfort for IWB carry.

Thank you.

 

[jeepguy]

for me the smaller you go the easier to carry, but you will sacrifice ease of comfort for accuracy. at the end of the day the faster i hit the target the sooner the target is no longer a thret. plus i am responsible for every round that leaves my firearm until it stops. not just criminally & civilly but also morally. so i went with the smallest firearm i could find, while still being accurate & something i would enjoy getting alot of range time on. a 1911 commander kimber ss pro carry with night sights. this may not be what you were looking for, i just wanted to give you something else to consider.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Size really does matter. Slimness matters most, with lack of sharp protuberences and weight also in the running. In fact, I maintain that except for the 32ACP caliber, the gun I'd most like to carry is my Colt 1903; fits my hand, thin, and perfect....I don't carry it because I cherish this old gun and don't want anymore wear on it.

 

[gallo]

Berettaprof,

I too feel like the width is more important than the length for comfort. The XD SC, for example seems the right length to height ratio but it's too fat.

 

[Strahley]

Height (grip) matters
Width matters
Weight matters
Protruding surfaces matter

Slide/barrel length does not matter (within reason..I wouldn't carry a BFR for example)

 

[EddieNFL]

- Reliable
- You shoot it well
- Concealable
- Adequate caliber
- Everything else

 

[gearhead]

Height (grip) matters
Width matters
Weight matters
Protruding surfaces matter

Slide/barrel length does not matter (within reason..I wouldn't carry a BFR for example)

I agree.

It also matters how you plan to carry. Because of the local laws regarding places where carry is prohibited I have to disarm fairly often. Pocket carry makes more sense for my situation and I find that anything much larger than a J-frame or that weighs more than 24-26 or so ounces loaded is hard to conceal and less comfortable to pocket carry, at least for me. A Radom P64 fits perfectly, a Makarov is just a tiny bit too long in barrel and grip length to be easily pocketed in all my pants. If you carry IWB or in a pancake rig you have more options for barrel length but width is still fairly important and depending on where you wear the rig and what cant you prefer the grip length can still make a huge difference.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

In terms of dimensions, for me it's 1) thickness; 2) grip length; 3) weight; and by far last 4) slide/barrel length. The Kahr PM9 has turned out to be the best I've found for both pocket and iwb carry.

 

[mokin]

Regarding comfort, thickness is probably the most relevant factor for ease of concealment. I found my Browning Hi Power was easy to carry concealed (IWB). The hammer did dig into my side a little but not so bad I was really uncomfortable. I have met a few guys that like the 1911 because it is (relatively) slim and they can cant it.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Reliability
Size
Ability to shoot it well
(I would include comfort in the above, along with accuracy)

Generally, you have to decide what YOU want in your carry piece
For example, now that it's summer, I carry a KT P32 in my pocket, for among the fact that I hang out with alot of young mothers, have 2 toddlers crawling over, and it easily fits in all my pockets.

I trade alot for convenience, I could carry a .380, but I feel more comfortable, and I am more accurate with the .32.

 

[Nasty]

Eddie almost had it right...

- Reliable
- You shoot it well
- Concealable
- Adequate caliber
- Everything else

- Comfort

*You* actually need to be comfortable carrying it every time you go out. Nothing else matters if it is left home the one time you need it.

 

[Lar1911]

A gun should be comforting not nessesarily comfortable.

IWB you dont have to worry about the length of the barrel, its in your pants, its the grip.

Dan Wesson makes a 1911 with a commander barrel and compact grips., the SR9c wasnt cut down from the SR9 full size equally, instead of cutting the barrel the same proportion, they kept it a little longer.

I conceal carry a full size 1911 and an SR9. I do own a Micro compact 1911, little Bersa 380, 2 inch 357. But I am very comfortable with the full size guns.

I want to add the little 45 is a handfull compared to the full size. I would rather rely on the full size for accuracy.

There is a time for the small guns, but more often the full size (90% of time for me) is fine.

I think I would go with a commander 1911 instead of the full size, but it is only an inch shorter and the grips are the same size.

In the end, dress for carry, and carry what you can shoot

 

[gallo]

I can see how length is not too much of an issue while standing-up, but how does a 4" or 5" barrel ride IWB and at what position?

Thank you.

 

[armoredman]

I look for reliability, effective caliber, and ease of carry. Holster and belt selection matter more in the last catagory than the sidearm. I carried a full size Witness 40 for years in an OWB rig, worked well with appropriate covering garment. Now it's a P01 in a top quality IWB rig.

 

[speaksoftly]

Height (grip) matters
Width matters
Weight matters
Protruding surfaces matter

Slide/barrel length does not matter (within reason..I wouldn't carry a BFR for example)

That's dead on advise. Remember, if it's not comfortable you won't carry it. And there's nothing more useless than a gun you needed when you left it at home.

 

[easyg]

In selecting a conceal carry pistol for IWB, aside from choosing one that is reliable and manageable for the shooter, what characteristics of the pistol influence most the comfort of carrying it or lack thereof?

If you're carrying IWB then this is what matters most:

1) Is is slim enough to comfortable carry inside the waistband?

2) Is it light enough in weight for all day carry without becoming an undue burden?

3) Does it have an adequate grip size to safely and quickly draw from inside the waistband?

4) Does it shoot an adequate caliber for effective self defense while still being easily controlled?

5) Can you find a good IWB holster for the handgun?




What doesn't matter:

1) The guns appearance.
Ugly or beautiful....it really doesn't matter so long as it works and meets the other requirements.

2) Whether or not it has a manual safety.
Just make sure it's kept in a good holster that covers the trigger, and make sure that you practice with it often and learn the gun.

3) How easy it is or isn't to field-strip or detail-strip.

4) Whether or not it is the preferred handgun of Navy SEALS, Army Special Forces, Delta Force, Marine Force Recon, FBI, Secret Service, MOSSAD, CIA, DEA, etc.....

5) What "Easyg" thinks of it on The High Road forum.






Personally, I hate IWB carry with just about any handgun.
I prefer OWB with a cover shirt.

 

[Mudinyeri]

Height (grip) matters
Width matters
Weight matters
Protruding surfaces matter

Slide/barrel length does not matter (within reason..I wouldn't carry a BFR for example)

I'll jump on this band wagon.

I'll disagree that a CC gun should be comforting and not comfortable. If it's not comfortable, you're more likely to leave it behind. If you leave it behind, it's worthless.

So ... here's what I look for in rank order (assuming reliability & manageability):

1. Caliber - 9mm or bigger
2. Slim
3. Lightweight
4. A grip that can easily be concealed

 

[Shadowdancer]

I know that my 'first shot' accuracy is better with my Sig P238 than it is with my Walther P88. In general, I'm better with SA than DA. I think your ability to make the 1st shot count should figure into these deliberations.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have carried a full-size M1911 for more years than I care to remember.

I carry in a holster of my own design. Basically, this is a "pancake" holster with high leather, to go between gun and body. I attach two strips of Kydex or stiff leather to the toe of the holster with Chicago (post) screws. To the other ends of these strips are two belt loops, also attached by Chicago screws.

Start fully dressed, shirt tucked in, with your belt unbuckled. Insert the holster between shirt and trousers and fasten the belt loops over the belt. Insert the pistol.

Now pull your shirt out from behind the holster and drape it over the holster. Stuff it down between holster and Kydex strips. Position the holster comfortably and tighten your belt.

Finally, "blouse" your shirt -- pull out a couple of inches all around and let it hang naturally over your belt -- and that M1911 disappears!

 

[ForumSurfer]

Dan Wesson makes a 1911 with a commander barrel and compact grips

For me that is the best option, period. Why I haven't bought one, I'll never know. One day I will, with a blued finish and some non-fancy grips so that I won't care about dinging it around as much. I carry a commander sized 1911 IWB. I don't mind dinging it, but when I do ding it part of me cringes a bit. On days that I know I'll be exposed to salt water heavily or crawling on the ground, I carry a glock 19. The glock is lighter, but just a tad more uncomfortable. I also won't be in as much of a hurry to get back home, strip it, clean it and oil it if I get soaked in salt water spray. I like the glock mainly because I am confident with it, accurate with it and I can abuse the crap out of it without feeling bad.

I've discovered that the difference in weight between a glock 19 or 26 and a full sized or commander 1911 means absolutely didlly-poop with a decent belt. If you put it in a chart in oz's it looks like such a terrific savings. But load em both up and stick them on a good belt and I can't tell much difference after carrying either weapon plus my 170lbs all day. Thickness is what does it for me, which is why I prefer a 1911 but a glock will do also.

 

[searcher451]

What matters to you might not matter to me at all, and vice versa. What's comfortable for me might not be comfortable for you at all. To me, it comes down to a variety of issues that go far beyond mere comfort: what I'm familiar with, what I can shoot well time after time, what is reliable, what is accurate for my hand and eye, what I can easily get ammo for, what I can take apart and put back together in the dark -- just in case -- and what I can shoot, easily and effectively, with either hand. I've used a Walther PPK/S for years for all of those reasons. True, it's easy to carry and conceal, but more important is that I hit what I'm aiming at. I've started to carrying the Walther P99C for the same reasons.

Find the one that works best for you, that conceals the best for you, that is the most comfortable for you. Then practice with it until it becomes a part of you.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I consider five crieria when selecting a defensive handgun:

1. Reliability. It has to go bang! every time you pull the trigger. Quality M1911s are highly reliable, and mine have had literally tens of thousands of rounds through them.

2. Shootability, which I define as how well I can shoot the gun in question. Given that the gun went bang! when you pulled the trigger, that still doesn't do you any good unless you get a hit.

3. Power. Given that you got a hit, you want it to be as effective as possible.

4. Concealability. The law in Arkansas requires you carry concealed "from common observation" -- which is a pretty loose standard. Be that as it may, my holster design and mode of carry make the flat M1911 an easy gun to carry and conceal.

Beyond that, you should dress for concealed carry. After all, you wouldn't go swimming in a tuxedo, or go to church in grubby jeans. You dress for the activity in which you are engaged, and it only makes sense if you carry concealed to dress accordingly.

To me, that means two things -- first of all, wear loose clothing. Any gun will print if you wear skin-tight clothing. When I buy a pair of pants, I try them on wearing a double magazine carrier and a .45, both IWB. A bonus to this is my pants are comfortable.

Second, get a good belt. You don't have to spend a mint on a gun belt -- Tandy (www.tandyleathefactory.com) sells belt blanks for about $10. You have to cut and punch them, add your own buckle and die them to the color you want, but they still cost less than a quarter of what the fancy holster makers charge. And you can get a volume discount, so it pays to get some friends together and buy several belts.

 

[army-grunt-80-85]

SPRINGFIELD CHAMPION .45ACP - REM 185gr hollow point.Case closed

 

[Lar1911]

I've discovered that the difference in weight between a glock 19 or 26 and a full sized or commander 1911 means absolutely didlly-poop with a decent belt. If you put it in a chart in oz's it looks like such a terrific savings. But load em both up and stick them on a good belt and I can't tell much difference after carrying either weapon plus my 170lbs all day. Thickness is what does it for me, which is why I prefer a 1911 but a glock will do also.

I own a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) and full size 1911. When that double stack mag is full it weighs alot

What I like about the 1911 is its thin and doesnt print as much, but I would conceal carry a Glock.

I can see how length is not too much of an issue while standing-up, but how does a 4" or 5" barrel ride IWB and at what position?

I have no problem sitting anywhere with the full size.

A common theme is starting here, get a good gun belt.

 

[Welding Rod]

Firepower.

If a times comes when you believe you are about to have to shoot men who may be about to try and kill you, the last thing you want going through your head is the confidence sapping sick feeling that arises when you become accutely aware of how you allowed yourself to be caught so undergunned.