Micro vs. Sub-Compact vs. Compact?

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HGM22

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I feel like this is something that changes from individual to individual, but is anyone able to make an argument for one pistol size over the other? Stated another way, is there a good reason to go with one over the others?

For my situation, I'd like a compact pistol (CZ P01) since I work in a very bad part of town and the higher capacity (14+) would probably make a difference (a compact pistol also being concealable should I have to leave my car i.e. change tire). I imagine that the most likely defense encounter I may have will likely take place during my commute to work. It would probably be multiple armed assailants looking for a car jacking or robbery (several of my co-workers have been beaten and robbed outside of company property).

However, I'd also like to be able to conceal a gun in dress or tight-fitting clothes, which I frequently wear on my days off. A defense encounter here is unlikely, but still possible, so a lower-capacity sub-compact or even micro gun would be ok. I don't have a lot of experience concealing a gun, so I'm not sure how easy the different sizes (compact [CZ P01], sub-compact [S&W Shield], and micro [Ruger LCP]) conceal under a tight and/or tucked shirt. I was thinking a S&W Shield for these days, but I have little experience concealed carrying a gun. Would a micro gun like the Ruger LCP make more sense? I prefer a 9mm, but would go smaller if it meant a significantly reduced risk of printing.

Basically, I feel like I need to buy two guns because these situations are quite different; one for traveling to work (high capacity very important, with concealability a distant or even non-existant attribute) and another for off-days/formal occasions where tight/tucked shirts are the norm (concealability a priority). Can (or should) I get by with just one gun (forcing a sub-compact into a more duty-like role or concealing a compact in tight clothes)? I realize this is probably a question only I can answer, but I thought I'd ask anyway since this board has a lot more knowledge on this subject than I do.

OR, Mec-gar can make a 16rd. Shield mag that I can leave in my car :).
 
The biggest thing about conceal carry is to learn to dress around the gun. I conceal carry large pistols and revolvers and have only been asked about it once or twice in the last 10 years. Most people don't even notice as everyone is wrapped up talking to their friends, playing games on their phone, talking on the phone, or doing something else. You develop the confidence as you go through life and realize no one really notices or cares.

It changes when you get into the work environment, but there are still options. My suggestion is 1-2 guns with similar actions and triggers: the XD series, the M&P series, or Glocks of different sizes but exchangable magazines. Keep the larger pistol locked up in the car (hopefully in a small safe) and carry the smaller into the office. I have a subcompact (3 inch) XD that takes magazines ranging in size from 10 up to 19 rounds with mods. It is as small as Ill go and I use it for deep concealment with dress clothes. When I say dress clothes I mean a vest or jacket, not a dress shirt and pants only. You still have to dress around the pistol.
 
You will never know for certain if you have chosen poorly until after the encounter.

The chances you will ever be forced to pull a firearm in self defense is minimal. The chances you will be involved in a shootout requiring "high capacity" is even slimmer.

Awareness and avoidance are your best tools.
 
HGM22

I have always been of the mindset that as far as CCW goes smaller is better. In cooler to cold weather months I like to carry my Ruger SRc9 under a jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt with a vest. I have 10 rounds in the magazine with a 17 round magazine as a spare. In warmer weather when I typically wear a polo and shorts or jeans, then I like to go with my Kahr CM9. Perfectly suited for IWB or even carry if I so desire. I
 
I think it is difficult to have 1 firearm do everything.

I can pocket carry my Rohrbaugh R9 in business slacks. I've carried that way in business meetings and seminars and never had it print. I do have to be careful when I sit down that the gun and holster slide to the side rather than sit on top on my leg. I don't think I could pocket carry in business slacks with something larger or heavier, but that's just my opinion.

A pistol in the pocket is very difficult to deploy from a sitting position. That left me with the option of taking the R9 out of my pocket each time I was driving, but it didn't make sense to me to do that when I could afford another pistol. I wanted a gun that I could access quickly while in my vehicle. Since I wouldn't be carrying it, weight and size weren't much of a factor so I wanted a full-sized pistol.

I also wanted something cheap that I wouldn't worry about being subjected to the extremes of heat, cold and humidity of my car.

I settled on the SAR B6P. I purchased the pistol for a total of $241.43

When I'm driving it sits in a Gum-Creek holster just to the right of my right knee. Its very quick to deploy. Its not so much that this saves me the trouble of taking the R9 in and out of my pocket as having a gun that has advantages over a smaller pistol. It holds 19+1 rounds, longer line of sight, heavier pistol with more mass forward so less muzzle flip and quicker follow-up shots.

There are a lot of decent guns available for < $300 so I think it makes sense to get 2 guns that better fit different roles than either getting a compromise that doesn't fit any one role well, or getting a gun that really only fits one role well and using it for a role it doesn't really do well in.
 
I think it is difficult to have 1 firearm do everything.
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This and I don't "always" want to dress around a gun.

IMHO the one that would be easiest for me to leave out is the sub-compact especially the short barrelled ones IE G26/27 and XD sub as IMHO they are tweeners too big to pocket carry and not really much easier to carry IWB than G19/23 and XD duty.
 
For me personally I like to use both a double stack compact (HK P30SK LEM W 13 round magazine/X-Grip) and a single stack subcompact (Walther PPS 9MM) depending on season/situation and that works well for me.

The Walther PPS is getting carried the most these days as it is so thin and conceals great and still gives me 7+1 rounds. Many people carry a spare loaded magazine with them when carrying a single stack though I personally do not feel the need. I don't have to wear oversize shirts to conceal the PPS either.
 
In terms of the gun, the larger the better. Better grip, sights (sight radius), recoil control and capacity.

Concealing it is an interplay of holster/belt, how you dress and how you carry yourself. I have carried a P226 under a tucked shirt to church. Ideally, 2 guns, but one gun G19 or G26 size can do just about everything.

Your threat assessment includes a good probability of multiple threats, no way would I carry a pocket gun, I'd make something larger work.

Practice awareness and avoidance, vary your routes. Consider reading "The Gift of Fear", "Left of Bang" and/or "In The Name of Self Defense." The last one badly needs an editor, but the information in it is priceless.
 
I decided a long time ago that I was not going to let a gun determine how I dress.

I dress to be comfortable and then carry what works with that which is usually a micro pistol in my pocket and a high capacity pistol in the car.
 
For me, compact, subcompact and sub-subcompact are used throughout the year and different conditions. The G19 is great if you can comfortably conceal it. The G26 works better most of the time and the LC9S Pro is as small as I want to go though a Kahr CW380 sure is tiny.
 
I like the subcompacts. I want 10 to 12 rounds in the gun and don't really care if there is more than that. In a civilian context I think it would be hard to find examples of when more than 12 shots were fired by someone defending themselves. You have either won, survived or been overcome by events if you need more than 12 rounds. For decades the Browning High Power capacity was considered excessive to needs. I don't think things have changed much today. Something like a Glock 26 shoots a lot bigger than it is. As I often say, a Glock 26 is as big as I care to carry and as small as I would care to fight with.
 
kokapelli said:
I decided a long time ago that I was not going to let a gun determine how I dress.

I dress to be comfortable and then carry what works with that which is usually a micro pistol in my pocket and a high capacity pistol in the car.
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+1 that whole "dress around the gun" is a relic of by gone days.

I own a Micro(LCP) sub(P-11) and compact(G23) well that's how I rank them for my purposes.
 
To the OP: On the worst day of your life when things have gotten so bad that you're in imminent fear of great bodily harm or death, do you want a tiny little gun in a marginal caliber that holds only a few rounds, or something that has the power and capacity to actually fight with? I'll take a sword over a dagger any day.
 
huntsman said:
+1 that whole "dress around the gun" is a relic of by gone days.

I own a Micro(LCP) sub(P-11) and compact(G23) well that's how I rank them for my purposes.
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You guys advocating the pocket guns being plenty and not dressing around it are forgetting the OPs own threat assessment:

It would probably be multiple armed assailants looking for a car jacking or robbery (several of my co-workers have been beaten and robbed outside of company property).
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What the average self defense scenario entails doesn't matter if the OP thinks they will likely be dealing with multiple threats and several co-workers have been robbed and beaten by multiple assailants. In light of that, recommending a tiny pocket gun for reasons of fashion seems out of place.

Maybe that is just all my military and executive protection background kicking in. I'm used to analyzing the operational environment and anticipated threat level (of that specific environment) and planning from there. Not, generic threat/statistics and what's convenient.

In the OP's shoes, I'd seriously up my awareness game, vary my routes, tailor my schedule as much as possible to lowest crime times of day in those high crime areas and carry as much gun as I can reasonably conceal (for me, full-size or compact, I see no reason to go below G26 for this situation).
 
Given the OP's commute scenario, I have linked a youtube video which most have seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv6_cukH5h0

Eight shots in a little over 4 seconds against three robbers. This may be more to the OP's scenario. I am against a car gun because of the ease it gets broken into, particularly in the OP's description of his work area. If it's on you, then you will always have access.

As far as your off work time, perhaps listen to those arguing for a small concealable firearm. The most concealable may be the little 22 LR revolvers by North American Arms. I just am personally uncomfortable with so little caliber and capacity, and consider .380 as marginal.
 
The reason to have a gun on you is to fight with it. If I am wrong about this please correct me.

So I believe you should if possible have enough gun to fight with. There are people in non-permissive environments that have no choice but to go small. But to say how I dress is more important than having a gun to fight with just freezes my brain in cognitive dissonance. I don't understand it. I mean I just do not understand.
 
Don't overlook the Kel-Tec P11. For firepower in a subcompact package it is hard to beat.

Because criminals are often attacking in groups of 2 or 3 these days, it is suggested that your carry gun should hold at least 10 rounds. The P11 fits this requirement.

There is always the option of using an ankle holster.

Please let us know what you decide and how it works out for you.
 
My pocket gun is a Sig P238 . it is almost invisible in my pocket ,has plenty of power at SD range, and is extremely accurate . Wear anything you want . Just don't forget to bring it. A gun left at home is worthless
 
I've carried a Glock model 20 for a few years and before that the model 21, big heavy pistols! Am about to purchase a Colt Defender in .45. It has a 3inch barrel and a bit less weight. Will keep and extra magazine 15 rounds. Same concerns as you have.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 
NeveraVictimAgain said:
it is suggested that your carry gun should hold at least 10 rounds
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Recommended by who? It appears all those revolver guys, people buying single stack pistols and those already carrying less than 10 rounds didn't get the memo. If you survey a broad range of concealed carriers I'm willing to bet most of them carry a spare magazine because it is the competent most likely to fail in a gunfight or because it might get ejected (intentionally or unintentionally) during a violent encounter, not strictly because they desire extra capacity.
 
I have all three sizes, prefer the Micro Kimber, Sig P 238, G42 or Mustang for my daily carry however i seem to carry the Sig most often. All of the pistols in that group are easy shooting pistols and reliable for carry purpouses. My Sig P 938 is my favorite 9mm for carry followed quickly by the S&W Shield....I bought a G 43 but as nice as the G 42 is the 43 is less than impressive to me and i did a rare thing for me and traded it away. The compact M&P is a great pistol as is the full size, I do not have great interest in the Springfield imports although they are very popular just do not appeal to me and were not comfortable to shoot..
 
I prefer to cc as much capacity as I can comfortable carry. The majority of the time it's just as easy for me to cc a 15 round option. If you're only able to get one firearm I would consider something like a Sig 320sc where you can essentially have the flexibility to have both. You could include a g26 as well but I personally like the 320 a lot more than my glocks.
 
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