suggestions on concealed carry choice
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mljdeckard
Member
Whenever possible, I sneer at the industry and the magazines for selling us dedicated 'carry' guns, because they wan to us to think that it's impossible to carry anything full-size.
How about anything you shoot well? Really, that's the most important thing. To ME, this means to remember that a full-size pistol has a better sight radius and lower recoil. I tell rookies to start with a Glock, just because they're difficult to screw up. I now expand that list to include an XD and an M&P. Get to a store with a rental range, and drop $100 in ammo. Besides being the best hundred bucks you ever spent, it will give you a place to start for what kind of frame and action you can shoot well.
After 12 years, and half a dozen different carry guns, I wound up with a full-size, single-stack, 1911.
How about anything you shoot well? Really, that's the most important thing. To ME, this means to remember that a full-size pistol has a better sight radius and lower recoil. I tell rookies to start with a Glock, just because they're difficult to screw up. I now expand that list to include an XD and an M&P. Get to a store with a rental range, and drop $100 in ammo. Besides being the best hundred bucks you ever spent, it will give you a place to start for what kind of frame and action you can shoot well.
After 12 years, and half a dozen different carry guns, I wound up with a full-size, single-stack, 1911.
possum
Member
i suggest something midsize, no matter how bigsomeone is i neverreally suggest a fulsize gun unless it is a 1911, that wuld be my first choice for you, what about a glock 19, an d service model there are some great places to start right there.
You're "220ish"? Well... Get a Sig 220.
Seriously, I agree that you go to a range and borrow/rent a number of different firearms to get a feel for what you prefer in terms of fit, manual of arms/controls, weight/size/length where you will carry it and caliber.
As for me, it's been a full-sized 1911 OWB (I'm 5'6" and 155ish) for a long time and only recently I actually have gone to a Sig 220 Carry.
Seriously, I agree that you go to a range and borrow/rent a number of different firearms to get a feel for what you prefer in terms of fit, manual of arms/controls, weight/size/length where you will carry it and caliber.
As for me, it's been a full-sized 1911 OWB (I'm 5'6" and 155ish) for a long time and only recently I actually have gone to a Sig 220 Carry.
Mad Magyar
Member
With your body build, you can carry just about anything....What is your preference on carry? Duke Venturino who is much larger than you avoids cross-draw and shoulder rig where he has to reach across his girth...
Again, I think you won't have any problems; just a matter of selecting a gun & holster....Good searching....
Again, I think you won't have any problems; just a matter of selecting a gun & holster....Good searching....
i'm fairly inexperienced with handguns(except my desert eagle i take hunting), i've shot rifles and shotguns since i was 6yrs and i'm an excellent marksman with a scope...i'll just have to get used to shooting handguns
i want something i can afford to target practice with without going bankrupt and i don't need a super compact gun or anything but a full sized desert eagle is a little much for concealed carry(absolutely love it for open carry in the woods/pine thickets etc though)
i want something i can afford to target practice with without going bankrupt and i don't need a super compact gun or anything but a full sized desert eagle is a little much for concealed carry(absolutely love it for open carry in the woods/pine thickets etc though)
Koblenz
Member
The 9mm Glock 19 is an excellent choice. And if you want more power and don't mind a bit more recoil, pick the .40 Glock 23.
elderboy02
Member
+1. I have a G23. You can't really go wrong with a .40. The G23 has 13+1 rounds.
Ragnar Danneskjold
Member
I'm a big fan of the Taurus Millennium Pro.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Smith & Wesson 642. I decided it wasn't so perfect and I wanted more power, longer sight radius, and less recoil.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Kimber Pro Carry 1911 (aluminum frame with a 4" barrel). I liked the power, long sight radius, and lightweight. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I wanted less recoil.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Colt XSE Combat Commander 1911 (steel frame with a 4.25" barrel). I liked the power, long sight radius, and low recoil. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I wanted a gun that didn't weigh a ton.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Smith & Wesson M&P Compact .40 S&W. I liked the power and lightweight. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I was back to what I had with the 642. I wanted a longer sight radius and less recoil.
Now I think I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Smith & Wesson M&P full size 9mm. It's lightweight, low recoil, and has a long sight radius.
See where I'm going with this?
Finding the perfect conceal carry gun is hard. Renting several guns is a good idea, but you never really know until you lived your life day-in-day-out with your choice of gun on your hip all day long.
Two points I would like you to consider:
I'm skinny. I'm 5' 10" and 145 lbs. A good belt and a good holster makes life carrying a gun so much more practical. I carry my full size M&P inside-the-waistband with a Comp-tac Infidel holster. My belt is a 1.5" kydex reinforsed leather belt made specifically for conceal carry. The holster and gun are very stable and well concealed under a teeshirt.
You don't have to spend $1,000. For that budget you can buy a $500 M&P, XD, or Glock, $150 on a good holster and belt, and have $350 left over for ammo. I paid $450 for my full size M&P.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Kimber Pro Carry 1911 (aluminum frame with a 4" barrel). I liked the power, long sight radius, and lightweight. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I wanted less recoil.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Colt XSE Combat Commander 1911 (steel frame with a 4.25" barrel). I liked the power, long sight radius, and low recoil. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I wanted a gun that didn't weigh a ton.
I thought I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Smith & Wesson M&P Compact .40 S&W. I liked the power and lightweight. However, I decided it wasn't so perfect because I was back to what I had with the 642. I wanted a longer sight radius and less recoil.
Now I think I found the perfect conceal carry gun in a Smith & Wesson M&P full size 9mm. It's lightweight, low recoil, and has a long sight radius.
See where I'm going with this?
Finding the perfect conceal carry gun is hard. Renting several guns is a good idea, but you never really know until you lived your life day-in-day-out with your choice of gun on your hip all day long.
Two points I would like you to consider:
I'm skinny. I'm 5' 10" and 145 lbs. A good belt and a good holster makes life carrying a gun so much more practical. I carry my full size M&P inside-the-waistband with a Comp-tac Infidel holster. My belt is a 1.5" kydex reinforsed leather belt made specifically for conceal carry. The holster and gun are very stable and well concealed under a teeshirt.
You don't have to spend $1,000. For that budget you can buy a $500 M&P, XD, or Glock, $150 on a good holster and belt, and have $350 left over for ammo. I paid $450 for my full size M&P.
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MarshallDodge
Member
I am 5'10" 175 and I carry a Kahr E9, Springfield Champion, or a Kimber Target. The Kahr is the the easiest to conceal and light.
nerfsrule2
Member
I carry a Glock 23 in.40. It is a good mid size gun; with tons of options to customize it and make it your own. I went with Ghost ring tritium night sights, extended mag and slide release,Wolf spring kit, Comp 3.5 lb trigger, and CT laser grips.....
jpwilly
Member
I have a Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro in 45ACP that is on me or in arms reach nearly 24/7 365. I like the DA SA trigger and 10rnds of .45!
When asked by a reporter why he is the only gangster who carries a .45 automatic, John Dillinger replied, "I shot a man with a .38 once and he shot back at me."
When asked by a reporter why he is the only gangster who carries a .45 automatic, John Dillinger replied, "I shot a man with a .38 once and he shot back at me."
tnieto2004
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S&w 642
DHart
Member
Glock 23 with 14-rounds of forty on tap is about the PERFECT combination of not-too-big, not-too-small, good potency, great capacity, excellent accuracy, wonderful reliability & durability. It's one of the world's very best carry defense guns. Sure do love my G30 though! And G19. And G29.
DWARREN123
Member
I am about the same size. I have a few I carry, CZ 75 Compact in both 9mm and 40 S&W, Bersa .380 ACP, Ruger Sp-101 3" 357 mag and a Ruger SP-101 4" 32 H&R mag. All are carried IWB.
HK USPc .40 cal OWB
HK P2000SK 9 mm IWB
Both are great guns and I like the features of them. Hammers, decockers and the option of SA and DA in one gun. I like 9 mm's a little better than my .40 since I am more accurate with them. I don't have a 1911 yet but it's next on my list for this spring.
HK P2000SK 9 mm IWB
Both are great guns and I like the features of them. Hammers, decockers and the option of SA and DA in one gun. I like 9 mm's a little better than my .40 since I am more accurate with them. I don't have a 1911 yet but it's next on my list for this spring.
Smokewagon45
Member
+1 on the Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro.
1911RjB
Member
i carried a full size 1911 for a long while, before deciding to switch, I still shoot better with a 1911 then any of my other pistols.
i agree with going and renting a few pistols and shoot see which one fits you the best
i agree with going and renting a few pistols and shoot see which one fits you the best
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