What is the Best Weapon for Concealed Carry?

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TurnerJim

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I'm new to this site and I have a question for you all. I apologize in advance if this has been discussed before...appreciate if you would let me know of the thread, if so.

My question: What is the best pistol to carry that will meet concealed weapon requirements?

Thanks for any replies.

Jim T
 
Jim,

That question is so open ended there really isn't any answer for it.

If you want some constructive feedback, you need to define some parameters on what you personally have in mind regarding concealed carry - what circumstances you foresee carrying under.

You get my drift?

:)
 
Jim,

I'm afraid you've asked a pretty generic question, and everyone is going to have a different answer. It really depends on you, and your situation. Are you new to guns? Do you have any? How do you want to wear the gun? What kind of guns do you shoot well?
 
What is the best pistol to carry that will meet concealed weapon requirements?
Click to expand...

This question or variations of it may be one of the most frequently asked on THR.

My answer is a snub-nosed .38 with + P hollowpoint ammo in a Mika Pocket holster.

What's yours?
 
That's kind of like saying "what's the best car?" It depends on what type of carry, how concealed it needs to be, and most importantly what you shoot best with.
Generally people go with something in .380acp or larger (.38 special, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45acp are all common), a compact or subcompact for concealability for an auto, or a short barrel revolver, although some folks carry full size handguns.
Common ones are Glock 26 and 27 subcompact pistols (9mm and .40 respectively), J-frame revolvers (.38 special), compact 1911 variants (usually .45acp), and a plethora of others.
It's best to go to a range that rents guns (bring a knowledgable friend or take a class if you've never shot before to learn about safety and how to operate the gun) and try a bunch out, see what feels good in your hand and you shoot well with.
You'll also need a good holster and a gun-belt (belt that's thicker and stronger to take the weight). That will go a long way towards making the gun comfortable, secure, and concealed.
 
What fits you best. If you can comfortably conceal it as well as hit with it go for it. I'm a revolver guy but I have friends that carry so many different things. One carries a .380 Keltec, another a Glock compact 9mm, another a full size 1911, another a baby Desert Eagle in 40sw, and one a full size Beretta PX4 in .45ACP.
 
My question: What is the best pistol to carry that will meet concealed weapon requirements?
Click to expand...

Depends on what your requirements are. I like my Glock 23, but I seem to carry my Kahr MK40 more. Easier to just stick in a pocket and go.
 
The one you will actually carry, as opposed to leaving on top of the dresser or laying in the glove compartment of your car.
 
There's a basic answer that leads to other questions.

The one that fits your hand. Look at corneredcat.com's pistol fitting section. If you don't have much experience with handguns the thing to do is find what fits you. Once that is done, find out what caliber you're comfortable shooting. Again, once you know what fits and what caliber is comfortable to shoot you need to pick what you can carry all the time. If you don't have it on you it doesn't do you any good.

What you can carry all the time is heavily influenced by how you can carry and whether you can reasonably wear a concealment garment all the time.

Again, there's no pat answer. Too much depends upon what fits you, what caliber you're comfortable shooting and how you can carry for anyone on the internet to tell you anything meaningful.

Get to a shop with a range and try things out before deciding.
 
Yeah, I carry a few brains in my backpack. I throw those at the mexican gang bangers when they start acting up on the bad side of town. Freaks em out, they run away as fast as their saggy pants allow while screaming "chinga!" and some other unintelligibles in spanglish.

Honestly, a 9mm with 17 round mag beats a backpack full of brains as projectile weapons.

-T
 
My question: What is the best pistol to carry that will meet concealed weapon requirements?

Thanks for any replies.

Jim T
Click to expand...

Apologies for the moderately-flippant tone...

The best pistol is the one you're willing to carry and practice with. If it fires a large/heavy/fast projectile well-suited for stopping bad guys but the recoil is punishing, you won't practice with it. If it's too big/heavy/sharp-and-pointy-around-the-edges, you probably won't carry it (at least not as much as you would otherwise). If it doesn't fit your grip well and point in the right direction with a natural handhold, it'll be more difficult to shoot well. If it is small enough to conceal well, has reasonable recoil levels, is smooth and light enough to carry without discomfort, but has a projectile too small/light/slow, it won't be as effective a defensive weapon as it might otherwise be - but you'll be more likely to HAVE IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT. There's an old, old saying - better the .22 on your hip (or in your hand), than the .45 in your safe at home.

Now, having said all that, there have been some GREAT answers here already (which is par for the course). Try stuff out AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. There are plenty of ranges which will let you rent pistols for practice, usually at reasonable fees. Find out what's comfortable in your hand, what you can comfortably tolerate in the way of recoil, and examine your own current and potential defensive needs. Take a look at options for carry (holster type? Fanny pack? CCW vest?), and figure out what works for YOU. I like how a 1911-style pistol fits in my hand (and dislike the top-heavy feel of most Glocks, for example), and the recoil of the .45ACP is, to me, mild enough not to be an issue - but I'm a big guy. What works for me may not work for someone who's 5'6" and 140 pounds - maybe a shrouded-hammer .38 revolver is a better choice for that person. The "right" pistol for CCW is a HIGHLY individual choice, there is no single correct answer.

Once you've gotten that figured out - GET TRAINING!!! Yeah, you (probably) need a state-mandated course to carry concealed, but that's the START of your training, not the end of it. More training is ALWAYS the right answer, subject of course to time and funds being available.

Welcome aboard, Jim, and I hope you learn and enjoy the board as much as I have!
 
Stephen Colbert was able to conceal a rocket launcher so I'm going to have to go with that.
 
Posted by erictank:
There's an old, old saying - better the .22 on your hip (or in your hand), than the .45 in your safe at home.
Click to expand...

^Which is a worn out, disproven canard used by people who haven't figured out how to conceal a .45 subcompact properly.

Subcompact .45's are actually surprisingly easy to conceal even in the hottest weather. It's mid-90's and high humidity this week where I'm at. Yet I don't have ANY problem packing a .45 subcompact all day, every day.
 
You're new here

So you get a pass. This is a topic that has been, and will be discussed at length on the High Road. Please come back, and please search the archives on this topic. It such an open ended question.

My answer, sometimes I carry a Airweight S&W 642. Other times I carry a Springfield XD tactical length in .45 ACP. That a big difference. Your own answer to this question won't always be the same or stay the same.

But welcome to the forum, there's a lot of information if you look around, and some very experienced people here that I learn something new from every time I log in.

Semper Fidelis,
ASM826
 
"My question: What is the best pistol to carry that will meet concealed weapon requirements?"

No one can answer the question for you. Think about it. :scrutiny:
 
I like a Barrett 50 cal. I just pretend my leg is broke and stick it down my pant leg.
 
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