Compact vs. Full a Size for CCW

Everyone is different. And there are tons of options. You know the answer is find what works best for you.

I started with a PF9 as it was the smallest 9mm at the time. I then went to a XDs45 which was a little bigger but a bit heavier. I’m now going to a M&P 2.0 Compact 4”.

Get a good holster and belt and you’re set.
Also, there’s no rule that says yo7 have to use just one gun. I use my PF 9 when I wear dress clothes. And I’m sure the XDs will be used when I feel like it.

no right answer here. find what works for you and don't worry about what the next guy thinks.
I carry a G17 and a G26 depending upon the clothing I'm wearing. I shoot the G17 better, but that's to be expected with the minimal grip of the G26.

I carry both, though not together. Some days it’s a full size Walther PPQ M2. Other times it’s a G19 or 43X. Most recently it’s a Sig 365 in the pocket.

I carry a Glock 26 or a Glock 19 depending on my concealmeant needs. I carried an M&P9 for several years prior to switching to Glocks

I carry as big a gun that I can conceal under what I am wearing . Some days it’s my Hellcat, some my G29 or XDSC 45, some my G19. G19 is plenty nuff for me since I get a full grip and can carry spare 17rd mags.

G19. Rain or shine. Cold or hot. T-shirt, jacket or suit.

May need to get a PPK with a sharpened firing pin for tuxedo wear, however.

I carry one of my full size m&p’s most often... only occasionally do I choose my compact. I prefer comfortable to shoot over whatever very minimal gains there may be in carry comfort.

You will find lots of opinions on this subject. I have been all over the board myself. I use to think I needed a full size carry gun to be well armed. To much size and weight. I now alternate between a J frame air weight and a Sig P365. J frame in my right front pocket or the little Sig in a outside the waist band.

I have a choice between a 'full sized' Kahr CW9, and their smaller CM9... I much prefer the slightly bigger CW9... one more finger on the grip translates to far more controllability on the draw and presentation. Concealability being what it is, I do carry the CM sometimes... but I certainly prefer the CW.

I generally carry a gun big enough to shoot like a real gun if called upon. It’s a compromise.

There’s a time and a place for everything from a Seecamp to a full size 1911.

I’ve mostly carried a Sig P239 (in 9mm or 357 SIG) Both DAK.

But, I just picked up a Springfield Armory EMP4. I shoot it exceptionally well. And I have many years of carrying and competing with a 1911. Soooo...Made a holster for it and, going to give it a go.

I now EDC at work where I could get fired as well as everywhere else a Beretta APX Compact. It's about the size of a M&P 9C. It just disappears in me. Now I rarely ever carry single stack pistols.

Like @Trunk Monkey, I do not carry the G19 sized APX all the time. I switch based on my concealment needs. The best thing about it is I can make the APX a similarly sized gun as the G19 and M&P Compact by simply using the APX Centurion 15 round mag or I can just swap out the grip model since it's a modular pistol, and still have the same exact sights and trigger.

I've comfortably carried a Ruger Police Service Six .357 and a Ruger P95, in addition to the PF9 I normally carry. The P95 is actually pretty easy but, as a LH-ed shooter, I've yet to find the holster that will truly bring that gun to EDC.

Shooting results/accuracy/speed are a top priority for me, so I almost never go smaller than Glock 19 size.

It's relatively easy to conceal under all my clothing I'd choose to leave the house wearing (I do not like super slim fit clothes, they are uncomfortable to me). I do not tend to change my carry gun based on day, but I may go a little smaller and lighter during the hot months because the weight bothers me more when it's hot.

So, yeah, especially AIWB the longer grip can really help shooting and drawing a lot with a negligible change in concealment.

With my smaler size hands I prefer the ergonomics which go with a compact size pistol. My CZ P01 is a much better fit than the full size CZ 75; likewise the same with my Ruger SR9c versus the Ruger SR9.

Concealment is important to me. I carry iwb exclusively. Compact models are my choice. I generally carry a lcp, SR9C, or sp101.
I like using extended mags in my compact guns. Both lcp and SR9C have them. Added grip, added ammo...win/win.

I will say if you have issues with a poor grip carrying IWB that may be a problem with the holster. NOT the gun.

Sometimes holster makers position the belt attachment devices in such a way that you have to dig for the grip in order to make a good drawstroke.

others may design the holster so that the belt attachment points position the grip a bit further above the pant waistline. Sometimes ride height is adjustable. Sometimes it’s not. That’s what I’d be looking at.

for the record, I chose my IWB holster for my P365 with that precisely in mind, but I may also be found with a 1911 carried OWB with a good belt and holster.

I carried my PPS 95% of the time and a Lightweight Commander the other 5%. Both are very accurate (that commander....wow...). I have never been able to shoot Glocks as well as I would like to...always hitting left no matter how far I move the sight to the right. That being said, I own six of them....2 19s, 2 17s, a 30SF and a 48 (I’ve been through a myriad of others over the years spanning multiple generations, calibers, and sizes) because they make so much sense on paper. They are lightweight, reliable, accurate, and have great capacity. About six weeks ago, there was a thread about Glocks on THR (shocked, right?) that put my wheels in motion. By my own admission, I wasn’t willing to work on my Glock shooting because I have plenty of other, if not better options. But on paper..... so I decided to put the work in. I’ve been shooting and carrying my Gen 4 G19 exclusively for about two months now. My sights have moved back to about center (still a tiny bit right) and I am really enjoying the gun. I don’t notice the difference on my belt (IWB) between the PPS and the G19 and now I have 16 instead of 8. After an incident, has anyone really ever said “I wish I was carrying fewer rounds”? Long story, short.... carry the gun that is most likely to be on your person first of all, but decide what is important and learn to master it. An LCP in the pocket may be easier to carry, but is it easier to grab and shoot? I love the 1911 and shoot it hands down better than any other, but I grip high and under stress I don’t always get a good squeeze on the grip safety. That counts it out. Wow....what a rant. Sorry.

Sovblocgunfan said:

I will say if you have issues with a poor grip carrying IWB that may be a problem with the holster. NOT the gun.

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While I agree with you about the holster being an issue, I have a completely different take. While you're focusing on the belt attachment point, which could be an issue, but usually isn't a concern for most holsters.

While you use an extreme minimalist holster, the biggest issue to pistol access is probably the trend towards giant sweat shields on many of these new comfort orientated holsters.

Such as this one, and this relatively small compared to many of the current crop of foam backed holsters.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/9692

Depends how you're built and I'm lucky I guess. I carried a g21 for months before downsizing to a g22 just because I could draw quicker. Definitely need a place for the ole pinky fingers and extra magazine capacity is a bonus.

With the full length grip I get a perfect grip right at the holster with no adjusting on the way out.

I believe shooting a full size gun will always result in a better shoot, within reason. If you get into DE sized guns I actually wonder if excessive weight might slow you down. But.....

I'm 6'3" and 203 lbs, and am shooting for 195 by summer. So I actually have a lot of negative space on my body where I can conceal a gun with appropriate attire. So I do carry a VP9 on occasion, and will likely start carrying my commander length 1911 on occasion also. That being said, I despise the feeling of a full sized gun being jammed up under my arm to facilitate concealment. It also requires me to wear clothing that I feel looks slovenly and too large. I live in a very low crime area, and lead my life in a way that is convenient for me, but also by chance really doesn't expose me to much risk of attack. I'm not saying bad things can't happen. They certainly can, and I still carry a gun when legal, and other weapons where not.

So I carry a P30SK in winter when I have a heavy coat on, and in warmer months, I carry a Sig P938 Legion. They are both adequate for my risk level in my opinion, and if they aren't, I'll be dead and it won't matter. I have no family, so I widow no one if I get myself killed because my gun is too small.

460Shooter said:

and will likely start carrying my commander length 1911 on occasion also. That being said, I despise the feeling of a full sized gun being jammed up under my arm to facilitate concealment. It also requires me to wear clothing that I feel looks slovenly and too large. I live in a very low crime area, and lead my life in a way that is convenient for me, but also by chance really doesn't expose me to much risk of attack. I'm not saying bad things can't happen.

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Kind of my opinion as well. I used to carry my .45, but I found it's size... weight, mostly... was a factor, and I started leaving it in the truck more and more, which sort of defeats the purpose. A smaller pistol (the Kahr) allows me to carry it almost 100% of the time, and the smaller small pistol (the CM) even more so. I did buy an alloy 4" 1911, for carry (over the heavier stainless 1911) but it's still a bit of a trick to conceal (I'm at 6'2" and 200#.) Even with a good IWB holster, I almost have to wear suspenders to keep my drawers from falling off my hips. I don't intentionally go to places that might put me at a disadvantage, but it happens.... it is what it is.

I'm 5'6" and around 170. I also live in a place where what many consider "summer attire" is what we wear MOST of the year. This means smaller handguns make the most sense for me.

I like carrying a full size when I can get away with it. I think it's the better option.

Better shooter, more capacity, etc

But I usually I can't, so 'compact' it is.

Corpral_Agarn said:

I like carrying a full size when I can get away with it. I think it's the better option.

Better shooter, more capacity, etc

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I get that a full sized gun has more capacity, but as far as being a better shooter than say a sub-compact (G26 (@Pat Riot)) Officer, or Shield, at what distances are we talking about? Are you guys going to the range and doing much better with fullsized guns at distances that would be hard to justify a self defense claim, and then coming to the conclusion that you can't shoot a G26, M&P 9c, Shield, etc accurate and fast enough for self defense purposes? Are you all seeing that big of a difference at 7 to 10 yards out?