Long Barrel/short grip for CC?

[jpruitt]

Why do guns meant for concealed carry need short barrels as well as short grips?

In other words, given that:

a) The shorter the grip on a pistol, the easier it is to conceal, and;
b) A longer barrel helps with accuracy and doesn’t have as much of an impact as a) on concealability (especially when carried IWB);

wouldn’t a single stack 9mm or .40 with a short grip (long enough for 5 -7 rounds) and a longer barrel (closer to what you would find on a full-size auto) be a good carry gun? Better than all these subcompact semi-autos with 2” barrels, at least for some purposes? What's the harm in having a longer barrel? Just a weight issue? Admittedly, pocket carry would be difficult or impossible, but I can’t believe there isn’t a market for something like this.

Or is there? Does such a gun exist?

And if it’s a bad idea, tell me why?

 

[TNboy]

You gotta carry what you like. If that's what you like find such a gun and carry it. For me I've found that I best carry a gun that I forget is there so no long barrels or grips for me. I don't care for IWB carry. I like small dimension and light weight. Accuracy is not of major importance to me. I feel that I can hit a human sized target proficiently with any of the guns that I carry. I'm probably not up for shooting the heads off of matches or splitting playing cards in half with them, but I can use other guns for that.

 

[Remllez]

Depends on your definition of long I guess, I don't care to have gun barrels poking me when I carry IWB. Carry guns aren't the same as range guns to me. I dont need a "long barrel" at defensive ranges.

 

[MikeJackmin]

Beretta Cougar Mini:



I like the concept, but have not had enough experience with CCW to have an informed opinion.

 

[Ramone]

around 1990, I saw just such a thing in a pawnshop, and bought it- I had often thought along the same lines- that the grip was the hard part to hide, and the barrel was easy, so why shorten the barrel?

It was a Detonics "Street Master"- which doesn't really exist. Apparently a few employees had the same idea, and mated Combat Master frames with a Score Master slide, but it was never officially a model. It was SS on SS, and really, one of the nicest 1911s I have ever owned- oddly good in the hand.

I traded it to my cousin for a Bren Ten- I had planned to get it back in trade at a later date, but he still won't give it up.

Concealment wise, it did seem to work really well.

 

[smalls]

Colt CCO?
I'm the opposite, I've got no problem carrying a full size grip, but longer barrels are uncomfortable due to my J Lo sized rear end.

Ramone, I would have never given up that street master.

 

[Plan2Live]

I guess that's why you see guys cutting down the grip on an Austrian G19 to G26 length.

I'm with the longer grip brigade. I don't like shooting two finger pistols and I don't like angled pinky extensions on the bottom of mags. Although I haven't held one yet, it looks like M&P nailed it with the Shield using the 8 round mag.

I carry Outside the Waistband and can't always find shirts that I actual like to wear with tails long enough to cover the barrel on my XDm 3.8 Compact. And with that barrel in close proximity to my wallet, I have to be careful to not flip the shirt tail too high when accessing my wallet. And no I don't want to move my wallet location after 40 years in that spot. So a longer grip and shorter barrel are a good combonation for me and the way I carry. It's all personal preference and what works for you.

 

[Redlg155]

A lot has to do with the size/type of torso you have. Individuals with a shorter torso may find it harder to hide 4-5" barrel length handguns and actually sit down comfortably. I've been a victim of the loud "clunk!" of a handgun grip or slide banging against a chair while sitting down.

A longer slide can be a great benefit due to increased velocity and longer sight radius, but much of this advantage can be negated at near contact concealed carry engagement distances.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

These kinds of pistols look quite ugly IMO but form follows function. One thing I want to see invented is a grip extension that sits on the mag like any other extension but when the mag is inserted in the gun, the extension locks into the gun and actually makes it a full size gun and stays with the gun when the magazine is dropped. I can see it being useful for practical use and truly having two guns in one.

If only someone invented a gun with that feature

 

[Husker_Fan]

Personally, I think the CCO pattern 1911s are a great fit for the role. They have a commander slide on officer frame. I think they look good and are great for carry.

 

[NG VI]

The Glock 26 and 27 are about ideal to me.

They are a service pistol that's easy to conceal.

Most of the smallest 9mms have 3" to 3.5" barrels.

 

[HiCap1]

At one time I had the ideal. It was a Detonics with a full length slide and barrel (5") with the short grip of the small Detonics pocket model. Very concealable and very shootable.

HiCap

 

[ForumSurfer]

I happen to agree that the barrel length means nothing to me. I'd be happy with a glock 26 frame with a glock 19, 17 or even a 34 slide on it...or a 1911 sized like the kimber ultras but with a full length government slide. It is the grip I have to dress around, not the slide. I've been hoping than manufacturers would catch on one day.

Of course it all depends on body type, dress type and where you carry. I'm slim with no lovehandles or overhang and I carry IWB...so the slide length means very little to me.

 

[Jackal1]

I handled an XD 5" barrel w/compact grip. I'm not even sure if Springfield makes that model anymore. I thought I wanted the long sight radius and compact grip for concealed carry...

Then I realized it was rather "front heavy". Completely turned me off from it. The dealer said it was a very unpopular XD model because it was known to be front heavy. I ended up with the 4" XD compact and it balances much better.

YMMV

 

[LCPor9mm]

CCO???

4.25" barrel, small grip, .45 ACP. Does it get any better?

 

[bigfatdave]

as much as I like the CCO's profile, it is hardly a "long barrel"
In fact, it is about proportional for the officer's grip size, to my eye. (A plain Officer's size looks a little stubby and oddly proportioned)

Not that 4+ inches is a "short barrel", exactly, and I'm happy with something in the 3-5 range. jpruitt cites "all these subcompact semi-autos with 2” barrels" - and even the KelTec pf9 has a 3.1" barrel, what's out there with a smaller barrel than that? If this is all about little mouseguns like the p32/p3at, Ruger's ripped-off LCP design, the Colt Mustang/SigP238, etc etc ... I don't see how they would really benefit from another inch of barrel, but sure, why not?

 

[Zach S]

The problem is that they look goofy. I like dissipator AR15s. They have the long rifle sight radius with the short carbine bbl. Best of both worlds IMO, but they look goofy, so they dont sell...

Its the same with pistols. I could count the number of Street Masters and chopped glocks I've personally seen on one hand (one street master, two G17/22s cut down to the 19/23 grip, and one G19/23 cut down to the 26/27 grip). And while they appeal to me, they still look goofy, just like my 16" AR15s with rifle handguards...

 

[WardenWolf]

It depends entirely on how you carry. In some positions, the pistol can rotate to a position that is incompatible with your pants, and your comfort, when you sit down. If the barrel is too long, it can even wind up impacting the chair first and jam the gun into your side in a very uncomfortable fashion. This is particularly true on heavily padded couches and chairs. Then you wind up trying to hide your discomfort and discretely adjust it before someone asks what's wrong. Been there, done that. It's not pleasant.

I carry a compact pistol handle-forward on my side, and practice a cavalry draw. The barrel length prevents the aforementioned chair impact, and the handle length, while still long enough to comfortably accomodate my full hand, keeps it from printing. Carrying handle-forward has the huge advantage of not interfering while you're sitting.