What do you think is the best choice for concealed carry?
 

Other forums have this debate a lot. Want to see your ideas. I think the ruer LCP makes a nice liht un if you o for runs and need something that will conceal well in light cloths. For Normal use, I think sub compact 9mms, like the kahr p9 or a lihtweiht J frame such as a lcr or 642 are nice. I think you need a comfortable, light gun you will always carry. The .38+P in the pocket beats the 1911 custom tactical at home. What do you say? Smaller packages? Or are you one of those who carries an l-frame IWB?

Glock 26 would be a good carry conceal.

Not a lock fan, but i say if it fits you use it. The 26's rip is too short for me, and the edes around the magwell create a real uncomfortable pressure point on my hand. literally, another 1/2 of rip and it would be a real comfortable gun.

Well you could then get a mag extension to fit more for your hand, or get an XD in compact.

I'm not a Glock fan (much the opposite). But I must admit that when I was looking at conceal-carry pieces earlier this year, I decided Glock was probably the best choice, because there's almost no other pistol that (out of the box) is better shaped and weighted for conceal carry. For that, I can forgive some of my other problems with Glocks (particularly the shape of the grip circumference).

However, I prefer the G19 to the G26. Even with a mag extension, the G26 is less controllable. And the larger-caliber sub-compact Glocks (like the G27, G30, G33, G36, G39, etc.) are even moreso. If I were going to get a semi-auto pistol for conceal carry, the G19 is what I'd probably choose.

Of course, I haven't tried any of the compact XD variants.

Give the XDs a try. A friend of mine has a compact in 9mm with a magazine extension for grip so you can fit your entire hand around it.

Ive seen the glock extensions that just have a spot for an extra finger but dont do anything in the back. Does the xd extension fit the entire grip?

Yes it does. It's not just an extended grip. It's an extended magazine.

It's a personal choice. Ultimately a person will go with what they like.

I usually carry a S&W Model 49 Bodyguard. Especially in the summer when an ankle holster is the best way to go. It isn't an ideal carry method, but it's easy to conceal and at least I still have something.

In the winter when sweaters and coats are the norm I will go with either my GLOCK 26 or GLOCK 19 on my belt. Just depends on my mood. I always carry a reload as well.

I like a handgun that is compact and relatively light to carry. 9mm and 38 +P Special is good for me.

I dont expect to be stopping bank robebries, just muggers. So 380 would suit my needs, 9mm or 38 too.

I'd carry around a 9mm compact with me with a combat load and that should be more than enough. Even if I get ganged up on for some odd reason, me shooting my gun off would scare them off.

You should never fire warning shots. Warning shots are bullshit (hehe reference). Seriously, though, if it gets to the point where you feel your life or anyone's is truly threatened, you shoot your gun to physically neutralize the threat, not mentally neutralize it. Whenever you fire your gun, the bullet has to go somewhere, and firing it to warn someone WILL end up hurting someone or something else, and when you have to talk to the police and you tell them you fired random warning shots, you end up sounding like a paranoid gun nut (yes I said it) who shouldn't have a gun in the first place. A (key word) "defensive" firearm should be used to neutralize threats to the users or any civilian's life or safety that may be encountered, not scare these threats away. I know some guys who have gotten in trouble for just brandishing their guns (which is the next worst thing to shooting it willynilly). You can make up your mind beforehand and have a plan for action, or give a verbal warning, but the firearm is not a tool for warning.

umm aren't most muggings of CCW holders thwarted by just brandishing the weapon?

First and foremost, I am not an expert or a concealed carry holder, these are all hypothetical situations, and personal opinions I have gathered from my own reading. You should consult your local, state and/or federal law when deciding on tactics to use in the event you are accosted while carrying your weapon. You should also never provoke potential threatsor anyone for that matter, because you are asking for trouble, and that isn't really defense, now, is it?

Also, to me, "brandishing" is to reveal that you have a weapon by flashing it or holding it casually, and qualifies as a warning. Drawing and aiming counts as an action as you have crossed a line by establishing you are ready to use it. The latter is what I've heard most people do, but usually after a verbal warning. The former is a poor tactic and, while it may deter someone, it might just let them know "hey if I can get his gun.....".

I don't have a statistic to confirm that "brandishing" stops most muggings of CCW holders, but how one handles theirself in a situation that calls for their firearm depends on local law, the threat level as perceived by the victim in question and how that victim thinks they should handle the situation based on the first two. I'm not saying that everyone who harasses you should be shot, but you are responsible for your own actions.

For example, if you're being mugged by someone with no weapon, who is just grabbing you looking for your wallet, using your gun might not be necessary, physical force and a warning might be alright.

If they have a knife, drawing and aiming might be a good idea if they are at a fair distance. If they are too close and you feel they might use the knife to harm you, you can try and get some distance and aim, or try and shoot them point blank, though discharging a weapon invites all kinds of potential legal problems if the laww doesn't consider a knife a big enough threat to ask for a bullet.

If you are accosted by several people, that alone may constitue drawing and aiming your firearm. Again, make sure you have distance between you and your assailants and make sure not to get surrounded or attacked from behind. You don't want them to get around you, beat your ass, take your gun cause you pulled it without checking and then end up dead.

If one or more people directly assaults you for no reason with weapons (knives, guns, something that could potentially harm or kill you), I don't think anyone will blame you for drawing down, or even shooting at them in an attempt to end the conflict with yourself intact.

All situations, and the way you react to them is really touch and go. I reiterate, I am not aCCW holder, a cop, a judge or a lawyer. They will decide your fate if you end up in one of these situations or any other ones that might call for use of deadly force. Know your laws and know yourself.

90% of the time a gun is used for self defense no shots are fired. Warning shots usually aren't a good idea. A mugging situation I would never do so. One of my friends had two drunk guys start kicking his door in so he fired a 12 guage round out his window and they ran off. Difference he lives in the country with no neighbors so his rounds will not hurt anyone

That little mistake I said, aside. I am planning on buying a gun for carry conceal. It's a Walther PPS. It has a very slim profile, single stack magazine with 8+1 rounds of 9mm. The magazine is a grip extension and it fits around for the hand to hold onto and feels great without making you feel like it'll fly off your hand when you pull the trigger. It's so small, you can snug it in your pants and it won't feel uncomfortable.

After handling it at my local Cabela's, I highly recommend this.

I remember GM45 saying he wants to use a para p-14 frame, colt slide to make a "cara" and add his compensator on the end. Full size 1911, 15 rounds of ammo in it and a compensator...........and he said he palns to carry it. I just hope his pants dont come down in public.

A little Smith and Wesson 9mm with 2 spare mags (If I'm wearing a coat) a little Smith and Wesson .38 with one reload or,if I can't comfortably fit either of those on my person, a tiny NAA .22 Magnum revolver (I got one for my Dad for his Birthday and it's suprisingly accurate)

If I am wearing a coat all the time, I'd keep a full size pistol on me. Depending on my mood like a USP in .45 or a Springfield XMD in 9mm.

In ideal circumstances, I'd have a Browning Hi-Power in a shoulder holster with no less than two reloads. The climate is good enough here to the point where you can get away with wearing a jacket all year round except for maybe the summer. If that isn't comfortable, I'd probably go with a Glock 19 as previously stated by numerous others in a shoulder or IWB holster. I'd really have to try everything out to see what I like th emost, and right now I can't do that. I feel that a .38, while small, is underpowered with both capacity and ballistics, but it's a lot better than nothing, and has done well for some people. IMHO, you should always try and get the maximum firepower with a little more than minimum concealability.

I think to CC you should have a rotation of guns, make sure you have a small gun for hot weather, jogs, any time a full size is not practical. Something light enough that it will be confortable, big heavy pistols tend to be left at home. People will say "hm, not going anywhere risky, ill be okay without it." Carry what you can at the time, rule one of a gunfight....have a gun.

Plus, if you live somewhere hot, like gulf coastal Texas (God, why is there no winter here?!?!?) you never really wear a jacket except for in December and some of January, so you can't carry a full size

k9870's got it right, it's not the same everywhere and seasons change, and so you should have a few guns for different weather conditions, but for my area, my ideal gun is a full size.

Theres also different activities, like you cant throw a p220 on the hip while jogging.

In my area, little autos and revolvers are king because it's hot all the time. It's not even cool enough for a long sleve shirt yet

One gun that I thought was a dumb idea but ended up really liking is the SIG p238. Its a modernized colt mustang, except made by sig. Will share all mags and holsters. Unlike the Mustang, the SIg eats hollowpoints all day based on the tests ive seen.

I like how its small and light for confortable carry, apparently it has much less recoil than any blowback gun, even the larger walther ppk. Its supposed to be softer shooting and much more ocnfortable than any lcp/p3at.

I hate the dao triggers on most of these little guns, and the SAO sig would let me shoot better. Just wish there was a good da/sa this size. The idea of a SAO pocket gun was bad to me, but i like it better. Its not how fast you get on target, its how well you hit it. Also, most pocket guns have crap sites. The sig has nice 3-dot night sights. Id like to get one some day.