WrongHanded
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If you had to defend your life with a handgun, is the one you're carrying the same one you'd want to be using?
Most soldiers in a firefight on the battlefield would prefer a battle rifle over an assault rifle; however most soldiers would rather hump 10 miles in extreme conditions with an M4 than a than an MK14. It's all about compromise.If you had to defend your life with a handgun, is the one you're carrying the same one you'd want to be using?
Most soldiers in a firefight on the battlefield would prefer a battle rifle over an assault rifle; however most soldiers would rather hump 10 miles in extreme conditions with an M4 than a than an MK14. It's all about compromise.
To answer your question, if someone had a gun on me or my family, and I had to make that split decision, I would much rather have a 6" GP100 with full house magnum HP ammo than a Ruger LCP, but since I wear business casual, and I'm technically not allowed to carry at work.................
Not a bad analogy, but not perfect. Setting aside terminal ballistics, the M4 has some other, possibly-offsetting advantages in the firefight, such as lower recoil and perhaps faster handling. There's really not any offsetting advantage to the smaller pistol.
But the gist of your point is correct. The hassle factor is a perfectly relevant consideration.
If you had to defend your life with a handgun, is the one you're carrying the same one you'd want to be using?
But, in the last decade and a half , I think there have been some real improvements in small pistol design that have greatly expanded the performance envelope of the compact and sub-compact pistol and revolver..
My wife carries a Glock 42, and it's actually pretty darn accurate for what it is. She has a flush fitting 7 round magazine which gives her 7+1, and being that it's far more stout than other polly 380's it can be loaded with high pressure ammo that get's it pretty close to 9mm range. We purchased some Underwood +p 380 Gold dots that are not far behind the critical deference 9mm I load in my Keltec pf9.There's been a couple of topics recently that covered small concealable handgun choices and the one thing that popped out to me were the number of choices out there that actually handle like full-size service pistols.
In the past, concealable compact autos and snub revolvers that fired full power service rounds ( ie; 9mm, .38Spl and up), were quite a bit more difficult to shoot accurately than a full-size handgun when loaded with serious defensive ammo, the recoil, combined with rather bad ergos and the traditional, poorly designed small sights further hampered one's ability to manipulate the weapon effectively.......
In the past, many noted Instructors have stated one should only carry a full-size handgun for defense and I have always thought the same.
But, in the last decade and a half , I think there have been some real improvements in small pistol design that have greatly expanded the performance envelope of the compact and sub-compact pistol and revolver.
I believe one of the best early examples of this new generation of "high performance compacts", was the Star M43 FireStar 9mm. The FireStar came along circa 1990 and was a small, all-steel, SAO locked -n-cocked 7 shot auto ( w/ a 3.4"bbl) that had reversed slide to frame fit much like Star's M28 & M30 and the CZ75. It was /is a wonder of engineering.
This was the first sub-compact auto that made me think, "This little gun really can punch above it's weight class!"
The next time I had the same thought was after firing my older brother's 2.25" 9mm Ruger SP101 revolver. That little BUG shot like a K-38 target revolver! Low recoil due to well designed grips, great sight picture, solid frame made for a small BUG that would give it's owner the same confidence of a 4" service revolver.
Since then, the excellent line of Khar products have come along and helped to define this new class of "go anywhere concealed, with full confidence" guns as have the "Baby Glocks G26-36", particularly my favorite of the Baby Gs, the G29 & 30.
In just the past few years, this class has really come into it's own, just look at the examples:
Springfield EMP
Walther PPS & CCP
S&W M&P compact series & Shield.
Ruger SR9C & LC9 (s)
SIG 239, 290 & the new 224
S&W Night Guard series of revolvers
Ruger SP101 series & LCR/LCM, and Wiley Clapp GP100
Berreta PX4 subcompact & new NANO.
Glock 42, 43
And a few others I know I've forgotten....
I've always been something of a throw-back traditionalist and when it comes to CCW, only full-sized service pistols would do, the smallest auto I would even consider carrying was the Browning Hi-power, CZP01 or Walther P5 and when it came to revolvers my size cut-off stopped at the 4" S&W K-frame......but then I had to go and mess it all up............
Back in 2009, I saw the S&W Night Guard series and just had to have a 386 light-weight scandium framed 7 shot snub .This gun, once and for all, made me a believer in little guns that can consistently punch way above their weight class.
This "high performance compact" revolver has been my steady off-duty (now retired) companion for 8 yrs now and I really don't think I'll ever go back to carrying a full-sized handgun off-duty on a regular basis, only on occasion do I carry a full-size sidearm.
You owe it to yourself to take a serious look at a "high performance compact" auto or revolver. I believe it really does give the best of both worlds.
The element of surprise. Not only does nobody know if you're carrying, but a lot of people will suspect you're not carrying. If someone is threatening you of others with a firearm they're probably going to be far more likely to see a guy wearing a big Hawaiian shirt or a fanny pack as someone that is possibly armed than some guy wearing a pair of shorts and a form fitting T-shirt.
To each his own, but that just looks super uncomfortable.This , assuming pistol selection not limited by work attire.
If work / work clothes only allows a pocket 380 then that is the best one can do.
However, when one can dress as they please it becomes what they are willing to do.
I disdain having to tuck in my shirt, so when not at work dressing to conceal a full size pistol is not a problem.
All summer, even with 100+ heat index, I carried (concealed) a 1911 very easily wearing a untucked polo and shorts.
Running errands, shopping, church, ect... I even wore the "big" pistol on casual 9 mile bicycle rides.
For summer, change the t-shirt in pic to "wife beater" (A frame undershirt) + loose fitting untucked cover shirt (polo / floral print, ect...) 1911 disappears.
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That's a double edged knife IMOI think the vast majority of people are oblivious to anything other than open carry. Among those who are trying to pay attention for predation purposes, far better for them to suspect that you are carrying.
The question vague and general in nature asking...again...in general if there was an advantage to having a full size vs a more compact size. The answer is subjectively yes.
I can get behind that. I try to be partial to those who have off the wall situations I suppose. Part of the game with Internet crowds if you will.Actually, the answer to that question is objectively yes, as a little time with a shot timer would reveal.
The much more individualized and somewhat subjective question is whether that advantage is worth the "cost" of obtaining it.
A police officer may lawfully use or threaten deadly force (1) to defend himself or herself, when it is immediately necessary to do so, against the imminent use of deadly force by someone else, or (2) under some circumstances to prevent the exam of a "dangerous person whan there is no other way.Let me start of by saying that I absolutely believe there is a HUGE advantaged to carrying a full sized service pistol if you work in LE or basically any field that requires one to carry a gun for a living.
With that being said, is there really that much of an advantage to carrying a full size 1911 or Glock 17 over something like a S&W shield or a little snubby 38 for 99% of the scenarios that a regular private citizen might encounter.
Do you have any basis at all for that assertion?While anything is possible, the odds that one would ever need anything more than 5 rounds in a capable caliber are literally less than dying from getting hit in the head with a coconut or being struck by lightning.
Often repeated, never substantiated, and completely incredible unless the target is always stationary.When looking at most gun confrontations that take place the average is right around 3 yards, 3 rounds, and 3 seconds according to the so called experts.
P.S. I had a dentist appointment this morning. I had my exam and teeth cleaning performed with my LCP in my front pocket. Do people really have a full sized 1911 on them when they are tilted back in a dentist chair having their teeth worked on or cleaned?
The key question is, how well will it "work" when it actually has to be used?Otherwise its just easier to be able to make a smaller pistol work in a concealed situation and work *comfortabley*.
No. I had on a SIG-P229 Legion during my dental appointment last Friday ...
Not a bad analogy, but not perfect. Setting aside terminal ballistics, the M4 has some other, possibly-offsetting advantages in the firefight, such as lower recoil and perhaps faster handling. There's really not any offsetting advantage to the smaller pistol.
But the gist of your point is correct. The hassle factor is a perfectly relevant consideration.