What is a good concealed carry option?
- Thread starter Shamoan
- Start date
Something you will actually carry. The smaller the easier. Yes, larger bullets will have more knock down power, but the easier something is to carry, the more often you will carry it. I really like my glock 43 (I think). It’s the smallest frame they make, .380, holds 7 rounds. I used to carry a larger .40 cal Pistol. It was much heavier and harder to conceal, it got left in the truck more often. I personally like glock’s simplicity. In my experience, the more simple something is, the less likely it is to mess up, not just firearms. You may like other guns. Go to a range and rent several to try out. Several ranges in Memphis charge a rental fee for a certain amount of time, and you can try all the different guns during that time, usually about $20. Maybe there is something similar wherever you live.
I have a Walther CCP, 9mm, 8 round mag. It’s not the smallest CC gun, but it performs well. Very accurate.
Sig 9mm P365, have several different “conceal” pistols—hands down my favorite. Good combo of strength, size, reliability, accuracy, etc!
I’ve never been a pistol or gun guy in general other than shotguns. But like the OP I’m seriously now going to buy a pistol and we are both going to take a class. She inherited a .380 from her a dad a few year which I think is good for her. I’ve been wondering the same about a good gun to carry and that will kill.
Yeah, you need to go.
Hey dumbass this is real world.
You have people taking over parts of Seattle while all watch.
How this **** ends I don't know, but It's won't happen without a serious struggle.
Not gonna take much more for ALL to say let's get it on.
Hey dumbass this is real world.
You have people taking over parts of Seattle while all watch.
How this **** ends I don't know, but It's won't happen without a serious struggle.
Not gonna take much more for ALL to say let's get it on.
42, not 43. The 43 is the slightly larger 9mm and what I carry whenever the weather gets warmer. I also carry a S&W Bodyguard 380 as a BUG, but I do not recommend the BG unless you are willing to put some time, money and ammo into serious training with it.
The best answer you will get is to go to a range and rent several pistols. See what you shoot best. See what feels best. See what problems you have with certain models. Then make a decision based on that data. A few mags through a pistol will give you a decent idea of how you’ll feel about it long term.
That said, I’d recommend either a Glock 43 or Sig P365 as they give you the “shootability” and capacity of a larger framed pistol while still being easy to carry. As far as chambering, go
9mm. There is no such thing as “knock down power” and there certainly isn’t a pistol round available that is guaranteed to stop an attacker with one round. 9mm is the perfect balance of penetration, capacity, low recoil and ammo selection. That’s the only thing I would be fairly adamant about if you came to me in real life looking to buy your first pistol. Well, that and training. Get some professional training. This is a self defense purchase. Nothing about fighting with a firearm is easy. Give yourself the advantage of having an established base of skills. Good luck in your search.
That said, I’d recommend either a Glock 43 or Sig P365 as they give you the “shootability” and capacity of a larger framed pistol while still being easy to carry. As far as chambering, go
9mm. There is no such thing as “knock down power” and there certainly isn’t a pistol round available that is guaranteed to stop an attacker with one round. 9mm is the perfect balance of penetration, capacity, low recoil and ammo selection. That’s the only thing I would be fairly adamant about if you came to me in real life looking to buy your first pistol. Well, that and training. Get some professional training. This is a self defense purchase. Nothing about fighting with a firearm is easy. Give yourself the advantage of having an established base of skills. Good luck in your search.
I currently own a Ruger LCP and LCR. The LCP is a 380 but it is the lighter of the two (about 12oz) whereas the LCR is a 22 mag and weighs 18oz about the same as the Glock 43 & Sig 365.
Both are good but I find that the LCP will jam after rapid repetitive firing which a revolver generally doesn't do. But, like other posters mentioned the best thing to do is go to the gun range and shoot a couple of guns after you have narrowed down your leading choices.
Both are good but I find that the LCP will jam after rapid repetitive firing which a revolver generally doesn't do. But, like other posters mentioned the best thing to do is go to the gun range and shoot a couple of guns after you have narrowed down your leading choices.
S&W Shield in 9mm, the small single stack one. You really want a single stack for CC, as they are much thinner and lighter.
9mm is the easiest ammo to find nation wide and it has plenty of stopping power.
I have a holster I can wear with gym shorts and you can’t tell I am carrying.
9mm is the easiest ammo to find nation wide and it has plenty of stopping power.
I have a holster I can wear with gym shorts and you can’t tell I am carrying.
I’ve recommended it several times and still do... Sig P 238 in 380 for wife and Sig P 938 in 9 for self. The wife was extremely picky about feel, operation, and recoil. The P238 won her over at the range.
You do have to carry them hammer back with safety on as they are designed after the Colt 1911s, but you get used to it very fast. They are very easy to conceal being a single stack small pistol, but the 938 still carries 8 rounds total with the extended mag.
As for holsters, I gave Aliengear a try and have stuck with them. https://aliengearholsters.com/
You do have to carry them hammer back with safety on as they are designed after the Colt 1911s, but you get used to it very fast. They are very easy to conceal being a single stack small pistol, but the 938 still carries 8 rounds total with the extended mag.
As for holsters, I gave Aliengear a try and have stuck with them. https://aliengearholsters.com/
I have the LCP II, and luckily haven"t had any jamming problems. I have a leather pocket holster for it that has a square leather panel on the outside. When I put it in my normal summer cargo shorts you can't see the outline. True everyday carry, just like carrying keys and wallet.
Glocks and many other semi automatics have no safety (other than trigger or grip), they are intended to be carried hot by LE, Military and others who are well trained and experienced with handguns. These type hand guns are more prone to "accidental discharges." The Sig P365 (9 mil) is an EDC with an ambidextrous thumb safety and a great option, especially for those who don't shoot often. You want to look at .380s and 9 mils, we own the Glock 42 (.380) and Sig P 365 (9 mil) and I highly recommend both. I prefer the Glock 17, but it is not a concealed carry weapon.
I'm a gun nut, but don't conceal carry, I just don't go anywhere that i feel that I need to be armed....but you never know.
I'm a gun nut, but don't conceal carry, I just don't go anywhere that i feel that I need to be armed....but you never know.
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If all this nonsense lately results in more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens, I'll consider it all a win.
For concealed carry, you want something small and efficient. Something that doesn't require a lot of fiddling if you need it in an emergency. I highly recommend a charter arms .38 special revolver. Hammerless, no safety, easy to use. The preferred concealed carry choice for many in law enforcement.
This is what’s so scary abt what is going on in America right now.
You have 4 groups really. Really 3 but we’ll call it 4 to be fair and balanced.
Group 1 - rioting looting protesting taking over Seattle etc
Group 2 - the people not in group 1 but in many ways supporting them or justifying it
Group 3 - the ones who think Derek chauvin is guilty but also think George Floyd was treated like a hero when he clearly wasn’t. They think the protests/riots/etc are despicable and awful and not doing any good for our country. MANY OWN GUNS.
Group 4 - radical right wing. Much smaller it APPEARS than group 1. ALL OWN GUNS.
If this keeps up without some serious OPEN convo from both sides and LISTENING from both sides, it’s not going to end well.
You have 4 groups really. Really 3 but we’ll call it 4 to be fair and balanced.
Group 1 - rioting looting protesting taking over Seattle etc
Group 2 - the people not in group 1 but in many ways supporting them or justifying it
Group 3 - the ones who think Derek chauvin is guilty but also think George Floyd was treated like a hero when he clearly wasn’t. They think the protests/riots/etc are despicable and awful and not doing any good for our country. MANY OWN GUNS.
Group 4 - radical right wing. Much smaller it APPEARS than group 1. ALL OWN GUNS.
If this keeps up without some serious OPEN convo from both sides and LISTENING from both sides, it’s not going to end well.
Another vote for the Sig P938. I rotate the 938, Glock 27, Ruger LCR, and a Ruger LCP depending on my attire. By far my favorite is the 938 because I can shoot it better than any of my other carry pistols. The 938 has a stainless slide and an aluminum frame so it is a good bit heavier than most micro pistols and that helps a lot with recoil while shooting self defense rounds. Also you don't have to worry about rust as much like you do with a glock.
A lot of people down play the 938 because it has a safety. If you train with it enough taking the safety off will become second nature.
Far as holsters go I prefer leather. A leather holster will breakdown over time so I replace them every year or two. With that being said I wouldn't spend more than 50 bucks on a outside the waistband two loop leather holster. I have had good luck with wintrop holsters.
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A20YY51VYAWADP&rh=p_4:Winthrop+Holsters
A lot of people down play the 938 because it has a safety. If you train with it enough taking the safety off will become second nature.
Far as holsters go I prefer leather. A leather holster will breakdown over time so I replace them every year or two. With that being said I wouldn't spend more than 50 bucks on a outside the waistband two loop leather holster. I have had good luck with wintrop holsters.
https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A20YY51VYAWADP&rh=p_4:Winthrop+Holsters
This is the main reason I don't conceal carry, and I'm as pro-gun as anyone. It's just uncomfortable for me. The hassle outweighs the possible benefit. I'm not fat, but I'm not skinny, and there's no good place to put it.
I have 2 that I carry depending on situation. When it is cooler and you can wear a jacket or at least a undershirt and opened overshirt I carry a Walther PPQ M2 9mm in a shoulder holster. I has a 15 round magazine double stack. I am also able to carry 2 magazines in this setup on the opposite side from the gun. When it is warmer I go to a Walther PPS M2 9mm with an inside the waistband (IWB) kydex fitted holster. It is only 1 inch width. It is a single stack and I use the 7 round magazine. It has a 6 rd which leaves your pinky under the handle and an 8 rd which can make the handle a little too long. I carry a second magazine in my pocket.
Both of these are striker fire polymer framed guns. No manual safety. I think it takes more training to learn to pull the pistol and then click off the safety than to pull the pistol and keep your finger outside the trigger guard and don't put it there until you are ready to fire.
Both of these are striker fire polymer framed guns. No manual safety. I think it takes more training to learn to pull the pistol and then click off the safety than to pull the pistol and keep your finger outside the trigger guard and don't put it there until you are ready to fire.
+1 on the P938. Plus, I also keep a Sig P229 9mm in the truck with an extra mag.
For anyone who only has the basic CC permit or anyone who is about to get one, I suggest also taking the 'enhanced' class which involves classroom and range time.
For anyone who only has the basic CC permit or anyone who is about to get one, I suggest also taking the 'enhanced' class which involves classroom and range time.
I carry a Glock 43 mostly in an MFT IWB holster that is more comfortable than I thought it would be. It conceals well enough for a t-shirt and shorts. Just get a good belt designed for carry. Ammo choice is Fed HST 124 +p. The wife carries a Ruger LCP with a crimson trace and I have an LCP for my bug. Sometimes in the winter I go with my G19 and HST 147 +p for heavy clothing.
If you don't shoot a lot or plan to do so then I suggest a revolver. Semi-automatics are fine but they can malfunction and you need to know how to clear a jam quickly. In addition they require the firearm and a magazine to function. A revolver is one piece, self contained. It's hard to beat a Smith and Wesson 642 but any good quality revolver is fine. Get the largest caliber which you are comfortable shooting and can fire accurately.
I have a handgun carry permit and do carry a semi-automatic but I practice quite a lot. It's always a good idea to rent several and try them out or try out a friend's firearms before you buy.
I have a handgun carry permit and do carry a semi-automatic but I practice quite a lot. It's always a good idea to rent several and try them out or try out a friend's firearms before you buy.
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Mr. 214 posts has decided it's time for a purge. Obviously he's been here long enough to make that call.
I give this advice all the time. For someone who doesn't shoot a lot, a revolver is the was to go. No working the slide, clearing jams, etc.
What is most comfortable to you. I wouldn’t get a 380 though unless you only want to defend yourself at point blank range. Go to a store and hold as many options as you can.
Whatever I have is better than anything else anybody on the inter webs has! Now that that’s out of the way. There is no single “best” carry gun. The best gun is the biggest gun you will routinely and comfortably carry. Sometimes all I carry is a NAA 22 revolver in my pocket, especially in summer while wearing elastic waist shorts. I have a three .380s with the Glock being my least favorite. I have a couple of compact 9’s that I rotate in and out. A Kimber Solo , which is no longer made, is my favorite. I have a Sig 935 that I regularly carry but I think it’s more suited to an experienced shooter due to the fact that it needs to be carried cocked and locked. During cooler months I’m likely carrying in compact 1911. Finding a carry gun is easy, finding a carry holster is hard. My favorite holster for the Solo is a custom OWB that I had made, it sits high and tight. My favorite holster for the 935 is the little plastic one that came with the gun. There is no telling how many holsters that I have tried constantly looking for a more comfortable carry. I’m not a fan of Inside the waistband holsters, my wife is constantly shrinking my pants as it is. I am a fan of ankle holsters and wear one often when wearing long pants. If I had to stick with one gun it would be a micro compact 9mm single stack. If I want more rounds then carry an extra mag in my pocket rather than having to deal with the extra thickness of a gun with a double stack grip.
My favorite is a Glock 30S. It's a .45ACP which means it has plenty of knock-down power. This is important to me because, even though I'm a decent shot, I don't practice as much as I should. I use hollow points so penetration is less likely to injure people or property behind the target. The 30S is small enough to carry every day which is what I do whenever I exit my house. The most useless gun in the world is the one you don't have with you when you need it. The Glock may not be the "sexiest" gun there is but it is really reliable. It's made with "loose" components which means that it is less likely to hang up or jam if in is not completely clean. That's why Glocks were the preferred gun of many police departments for a long time. I think that maybe something else is what's "in fashion" now but I don't know what it is. Glock may not be the "best" at any one thing but for utility (for me, at least) is is my "best concealed-carry gun" because it is easy to carry concealed, it is reliable, and has plenty of knock-down power. BTW, I use a CrossBreed IWB holster. You can even wear it with your shirt tucked in but I mostly don't tuck mine.
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