[Cosmoline]

From the sources I've seen, current conventional wisdom in gun circles is that your CCW piece should be the most powerful one you can conceal and fire.

In my own selection process of a concealed handgun, though, I found myself buying into CW less and less. I shot an array of snub nose .357revolvers and compact 9x19's, .40's and the like. With virtually no exceptions I hated them. They let out a nasty shock wave and caused me to flinch too much. I also found that their odd designs forced me to adjust and re-adjust to get them to aim properly. Their price tags also tended to be rather high.

Eventually I opted to go with the sidearms I'm most comfortable with. In my case that happens to be old duty sidearms such as the Walther PP and Colt Police Pos. Special. I find I'm much more accurate and comfortable with these firearms. They pass the three AM test, as well. The down side is they're in cartridges such as .32 and .38 Special rather than 9x19 and .357 Mag. But how much does this really matter? I figure if I can draw and shoot bulls eyes with no adjustments and virtually no flinch to overcome, I've found my piece.

So to quote the other Cosmo--Kramer, "Am I crazy, or am I so sane that you blew your mind?"

[Skunkabilly]

It's killin' me, for the life of me, I can't figure out what you mean by 'CW'? :confused:

As far as caliber, small calibers probably suck but it's better than missing with a big one :)

[Zeke Menuar]

I carry a LW Commander almost everywhere.
It is a retired IDPA pistol and was a back-up IPSC pistol for a time. I didn't buy the gun for carry. It just worked out that it was the best gun I had for the job. I even use the same rig for carry that I used in IDPA/IPSC. The Commander replaced a 357 snubbie and a full size 1911. It is the fastest and most accurate handgun I have. I have had it for seven years and will probably have it for another seven years. If I could find a smaller gun and do just as well I would get a smaller gun. I just haven't found one yet.


ZM

[Standing Wolf]

...your CCW piece should be the most powerful one you can conceal and fire.

That's mostly right, but it leaves out accurately, consistently, and safely.

[Cosmoline]

It's killin' me, for the life of me, I can't figure out what you mean by 'CW'?

conventional wisdom. CW on CCW, in other words :D

[ChuckB]

If a handgun is flat out uncomfortable to shoot, you won't practice much with it, so you'll be less likely to accurately smoke a BG if TSHTF. A .38 special snubby make mucho sense for you. My humble suggestion would be to get a .38 snubby, and practice a whole lot with standard loads. During each session, also run some +p ammo through it. Then you will have a compact, carryable piece in a class that has saved countless innocent lives over the years.

Chuck:)

[Ala Dan]

YES-YES-YES

what I'm best with?

a .45 caliber West German SIG-SAUER P220A

but, I'm good with other handguns as well.


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Kcustom45]

I carry a Kimber Custom in 45ACP, because I can shoot it well and shooting it doesn't bother me. I don't know if I could carry a gun that I was afraid to shoot, because I doubt I would be able to shoot very accurately.

[Stevie-Ray]

I carry mostly a Kimber Ultra CDP in .45 ACP, because I hit what I aim at with it, comfortably, without flinch, safely and reliably. I also carry a Glock 26, and can't for the life of me figure out what you find disheartening about 9x19. The 26 is a total pussycat even with HydraShoks. I would recommend either, but it appears as though you are thinking smaller, caliber-wise.

[Cosmoline]

I also carry a Glock 26, and can't for the life of me figure out what you find disheartening about 9x19.

It isn't that I find it disheartening. It's that in a compact piece it makes me flinch too much. I have no problem on a conscious level with hard-recoiling firearms that smack your face with pressure. I had a .454 Casull for a while and other than bashing my finger I didn't mind it. I loved shooting the BFG revolver. Flinching has nothing to do with how much recoil you can "take." It's a subconscious reaction. I want to have no hesitations and NO subconscious fears of a nasty pressure wave if I have to shoot a small, concealable weapon in close quarters when the SHTF. I want it to be a pefect extension of my hand and arm, even if the cartridge it uses is "weak." To me this is much more important than a few extra ft. lbs.

[BluesBear]

My advice, for what little it's worth, is to carry what YOU feel most comfortable with.

The ability to hit your target in a timely manner in an area that will be the most effective is very important.

Plenty of people have saved their bacon with .32 autos and .38 Specials.
Don't sell them short just because they're not the biggest and fastest.

Age and experience will overcome youth and exuberance every time.

Being confident in your abilities is half the battle. It's not about winning, it's about surviving.

[Ky Larry]

Carry what you shoot best. A hit with a .22 short is better than a miss with a .500 S&W Mag.

[ajacobs]

I agree that it should be "CCW piece should be the most powerful one you can conceal and fire; accurately, consistently, and safely." If you have problems with other firearms you should certainly use what you are confortable with for CC.

But I would add that you should continue to practice with the others even if you never end up using them, your overall shooting will improve. If you can sweep a match with a .500 S&W you certainly would do even better with a .38 special.

[Vitamin G]

I've found that personally, I can shoot any gun ROUGHLY the same in terms of accuracy, after i get about 100 rounds through it to familiarize myself with it. (that probably says alot about my firearm skill, in a negative way ;) )
I carry a Glock 26 in the summer time, and a Kimber TLE II in the winter. Hopefully if funds allow, i'll pick up a Glock 19 and officer size 1911. Maybe a Kimber Ultra or Colt Defender. :) Sounds good. I find myself alternating mostly according to dress, rather than any other factor. Oddly enough, I wear the 1911 more when I dont feel like carrying IWB, since I only have a fobus paddle that prints something awful without a fleece or vest, and an IWB. I can conceal a full size 1911 OWB with a longer-style Tshirt or polo. Go figure. :rolleyes:

[Biff]

CCW does not have to dictate a small frame weapon. If you are ever in my area on a Saturday, look me up, and I'll let you try out my full size Hi Power. It conceals quite well and is not in the least obnoxious to shoot.

[Richard]

My guess is if you find compact 9mm and 40 S&W pistols uncomfortable to shoot you need more range time prior to carrying. Another thought is for you to buy a Bulgarian Makarov and to put a lot of rounds through it. The Mak is a bargain, 9x18 ammo is cheap, and shooting it will build up your tolerance to recoil. Regards, Richard :D

[foghornl]

My humble 1/50 of $1...

The largest calibre that you are comfortable, consistant, accurate, and FAST using is my choice.

If you meet those criteria with a .32 auto, so be it. Half-a-dozen .32 ACP's in the thoracic cavity of a Bad Guy is infinitely more effective than a single 40MM Bofors Cannon round that only hits the sky.

[Cosmoline]

Biff--I've been eyeing the Hi Powers for some time, but the price tag is steep. They do fit with my theory that a firearm is at its best when used as originally intended. If I'm not mistaken the Hi Power was designed to go with the 9x19. It's flat and has a fairly small frame, but is solid steel and heavy enough to absorb the pressure.

[SAG0282]

I intensely dislike smaller guns (snubbies, Keltecs, mini-Glocks), so I currently concealed carry a SIG P226 9mm loaded w/ +P Golden Sabers. Though objectively these (smaller guns) are many times quite good in the role they play, I don't feel particularly well-armed with them and so I don't carry them. Yep, weird, but I make no apologies.

I'm looking to acquire a new pistol, and right now the Steyr M9 tops my list. Though not quite as big as my beloved SIG, it is nonetheless a service-size weapon that suits me just fine. Other guns on my list include similarly sized pistols like the P228, SIG SP2340, and Glock 32. I think for versatility, these somewhat larger weapons are much better.

:)

[Brigrat]

read this thread, and see if it helps you make your decision:

http://64.177.53.248/ubb/Forum78/HTML/000581.html

[Smoke]

what you're best with or what is best?


ummmmm.......YES!

Oddly enough I feel I shoot my best with a Para Ordnance double stack SA 1911. Even better than all of my .22s

I think any gun in a major caliber that you are extremely familier with, train with and can shoot competently is the gun to carry.

Smoke

[Biff]

Cosmo-

You are correct about the Hi Power being all-steel, designed around the 9x19, etc. New Hi Powers carry a pretty stiff price tag, but there are many deals to be had with surplus ones, Argentine HPs, and the FEG clones. Wild(insert descriptive phrase here) Alaska has an Israeli surplus HP that he has fluffed and buffed nicely. WA can probably find you a good deal if you decide you gotta have a Hi Power.

I have 3 guns to choose from for carry- a Springfield Champion 1911, a Taurus 606 .357 snub, and the BHP. All are steel framed guns. The extra couple of ounces does not bother me for carry, but they soak up recoil alot better than alloy frame guns.

The trick to training with a .357 snub is to use .38 specials for practice, and practice double-action a lot. For carry, use .357 HPs in whatever weight your gun prefers. The difference in point of impact between the .38s and .357s is negligible from 7-14 yards.

My 1911 in .45 is my preferred carry piece, and I shoot it fairly well. The Hi-Power is my preferred shooter of the three. It is almost intuitive! It fits my hand extremely well and recoil is negligible.

One other 9mms I have used are the CZ75 and its Italian cousin, the EAA Witness. The CZ I shot was the compact model, which is all steel, but about as small as a six-shot snub revolver. The Witness was full size. Either would shoot under 3" groups easily at 25 yards. Again, that CZ hump-backed frame profile fits my hand perfectly.

Are you undergunned with a .32 and a .38? I know a guy that uses a .223 to hunt moose. Key is being comfortable and confident enough with your gun to place your shots right where you want them. In Europe, the .32 and .380 are considered viable police rounds. I also know of a bad guy who was stopped with one round of .45 ACP hardball, and it didn't even break his skin, it just convinced him he was dead!

If you're interested in getting together, drop me a PM.

-Biff

[Maddock]

When clothing permits, my preferred carry guns are 4” K and N frame Smiths and 1911s.
However, my all-the-time is a S&W 442, and that is what sits closest to me at night at the headboard. For a lot of reasons, I feel more comfortable with the 442 as the closest to hand in the middle of the night. As others have said, there are lots of light recoiling handguns that are more powerful than a PP or Police Positive Special, but the confidence, security and tranquility you get from a handgun is based on more than numbers.

[dairycreek]

When choosing a defense weapon the first issue must always, always, always be reliability. Will the gun of choice be able to perform when, and if, the time comes. Now, given that there are a lot of reliable firearms from which one can choose the question becomes, "with which reliable gun can I perform the best"? The rubric of "largest caliber I can shoot/control well" is not a bad way to look at how one makes a choice. No use carrying and relying on a gun with which you simply cannot perform. In short, BOTH the gun AND the shooter must be reliable. Good shooting;)

[orangeninja]

I shoot the Sig Sauer 2340 and 229 the best. Even better than my much adored CZ. Its no mystery why though....I'm forced to train with that gun at work. So I guess training beats weapon choice any day.

[JNewell]

Well, lessee...

Can you miss fast enough to stop a lethal force threat?

:scrutiny:

There, I didn't think so...you already knew the answer.

That doesn't mean that more training isn't good, or that you might not move up to der grossenboomerstick...but...see above...

[Hatchett]

Just try to find the middlepoint. You want the biggest thing you can, that you can shoot the best with.

If you have trouble with big rounds in little guns, you might also want to consider simply using big rounds in big guns. I never had much trouble concealing a .45 Government Model IWB. I personally like the LW Commander more now that I'm not quite in the same shape I used to be, but I never had any trouble with it.

I imagine that it wouldn't be that hard to hide a slightly larger piece under all that winter clothing you must wear to keep warm in Alaska. I concealed a full-size .45 in a state where we seldom wear pants in the winter.

[JohnKSa]

As with any question that tries to reduce a complicated topic to a single point, the answer is more complicated than the question.

It's not just what you're best with.

It's not just what you can carry easily.

It's not just what is most effective.

You should pick something for CCW that has ALL of the following characteristics.

A gun you WILL carry.
A gun you WILL practice with.
A gun you can fire accurately.
A gun you can operate easily and consistently.
A gun that is reasonably effective given your level of proficiency.

If you ignore or discount ANY of the above qualities, you're going to perform less than your best when the rubber meets the road.

[BluesBear]

Good points John

[ceestand]

Cosmoline, I think I have the same issue as you. I find recoil one of the determining factors when deciding my CCW. Many guys I know, and even more on this forum have no problems with .357Mag, .44Mag, .357Sig, 40S&W, etc., but I do. I find I could get two well placed shots of .38 off in about the same time it would take me to get off one good .357Mag shot and line up another good shot. So I carry a .38.

I'm surprised that you have a problem with 9x19 though. I find it to be on par with regular .38 as far as recoil goes. Maybe a heavier 9para gun would make the difference?