Full-sized autos for CCW.

Comfort is relative. Most people who have never carried before have absolutely no idea what is comfortable or not. If you took someone who was uncomfortable with the idea of carry, and had them try several different tiny guns in various positions, they will say it feels like a tumor. No matter how far you go to accommodate them, you will never get them to say "It's like I don't feel anything at all." On the other hand, you can take a skinny kid who turned 21 61 days ago, just got his permit in the mail, and has been waiting a decade for this moment, you can hang a Desert Eagle under his left arm and he will swear he can't feel it at all.

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Very well said, great post.

As you said, it all boils down to each person. I do think though that for most, 2 carry guns is probably pretty optimal. I have a S&W 642 that I can just plop into a pocket holster when tooling around the house or going to get a gallon of milk. But usually, about 97% of the time, I carry a much larger gun that I simply shoot better than the little 642. Usually, that gun is a S&W Model 15, but sometimes it's a 5" 1911.

5" 1911

Another Clint Smith (paraphrased) "it's a big gun when I put it on and it's a big gun when I pull it out".

" Anytime I think I'm uncomfortable, I watch Band of Brothers." Golden!!!

I carried my full size Para P-14 with the LDA trigger for a long time but it was very difficult. You can't wear normal clothes, or you have to wear a jacket, and if you forget and bend the wrong way you have people wondering if you are going to rob the place. Back to pocket pistol I went screaming and have stayed there since.

I carry a Glock 21SF in a Blade-Tech Nano IWB( with two spare magazines) about everyday. When I am not carrying it, I carry a Springfield TRP in a Galco Royal Guard IWB with two spare magazines. For quick runs to the store I carry either my Sig 232 or my HK P7, but I prefer the P7.

I enjoy the control and handling of a full sized pistol. That's what I shoot the best with. It isn't comfortable a lot of the time, but It doesn't bother me.

4" 1911 bobtail for me in a Milt Sparks VM 2 holster. 1911 in a good IWB holster is one of the best carry weapon around

Started carrying my Sig p220 again, now that the heavy winter coats are out...

I really think it depends you have to do what works for you, my favorite off duty carry is a XD45compact, I think it is the best of both worlds, essentially a full size, but with a compact grip, still a fairly high capacity. For me anything 5-1/4" in height or under is concealable with most longer t-shirts or polo's. I would personally try to keep it at 5" or less in height. That being said in a polo I conceal my M&P40 just fine. I think the one thing Glock has right is their "compact" G19 G23 size weapons, I am not a glock fan but they are IMO just right for most situations, the same can be said for the XD45 compact, I just wish that SA would make a XDm40 compact with a 4" barrel and a chopped grip with the sleeve and S&W M&P with the similar dimensions.

If you aren't committed enough to protecting your life that you will carry REGARDLESS of how much it weighs, quit now. You will eventually quit anyway if you just think it's uncomfortable no matter how much it weighs or how big it is. This is a lifestyle change, get used to it or give up. (Oh yes, I said it.)

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I can't say that I agree with you, broski. With pocket guns such as the LCP, P3AT, etc. out there, people who don't want to carry a larger weapon can step down to the pocket guns and NOT give up carrying. I carry a LCP most days, and it's no more uncomfortable than carrying a cell phone. If a LCP is too uncomfortable for someone, then so is a cell phone or wallet Yeah, it's not a full size high cap .45, but 7 rounds of .380 beats the hell out of a sharp stick.

In my experience large, bulky, and heavy guns will eventually be regulated to the truck or the house.
Small guns are the ones that I will carry, every single day, every where I go.

I CCW my G 19. I use a OWB holster but those days I am thinking to swap to an IWB.

Cheers,

In my experience large, bulky, and heavy guns will eventually be regulated to the truck or the house.

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What constitutes large, bulky and heavy? Compared to an six inch N-frame, the 1911 is medium sized.

I started with a 1911 over 30 years ago. Over the years, I've tried different platforms, even revolvers, but always came back to the tried and true.

As mentioned above, whatever works for each individual.

MLJdeckard, you are wrong

I have been carrying a CCW for 37 years and at age 69 know a lot of people who are committed to carrying because of a weight that they choose , that is a light weight gun , and if they choose not to carry a large gun why should they quit. Just because they do not measure up to your standards does not mean they should quit carrying. My colt detective has been in my IWB holster for 37 years. It is adequate protection and comfortable enough for me.

There are two keys to carrying any gun.

1. Get a good holster and belt. I design and make my own holsters, so have the advantage of being able to experiment at low cost. Long ago, I designed a holster that carries the M1911 very comfortably for me.

2. Wear it. Wear it every day, all day long. When you have the right holster, you need to become habituated to carrying. After a while, you won't even notice the gun.

What constitutes large, bulky and heavy? Compared to an six inch N-frame, the 1911 is medium sized.

I started with a 1911 over 30 years ago. Over the years, I've tried different platforms, even revolvers, but always came back to the tried and true.

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There are two keys to carrying any gun.

1. Get a good holster and belt. I design and make my own holsters, so have the advantage of being able to experiment at low cost. Long ago, I designed a holster that carries the M1911 very comfortably for me.

2. Wear it. Wear it every day, all day long. When you have the right holster, you need to become habituated to carrying. After a while, you won't even notice the gun.

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This sounds great on an internet forum, but for many people it just doesn't work out that way in real life.

Perhaps it depends upon your lifestyle....

Rock-climbing and rappelling, biking, skateboarding, playing basketball, playing beach volleyball, playing soccer, etc....
I just can't see wearing a strong belt and holster and carrying a 40 oz pistol while doing those things.

But I can carry a S&W 5-shot Airweight snubbie (17 oz loaded) and do all those things with minimal discomfort.

Some states seem a little more strict on printing than others and that could also come into play. Here in KS, it just has to be covered. Bascially, you could carry four 5" 1911's OWB with a snug shirt "covering" them and be within the law. It might not look good, but would, for all intents and purposes, be legally concealed.

In some places, if you get made, printing in any noticable manner, it's essentially brandishing or open carry and you get in trouble. That's my understanding anyway from looking at various state laws for travel purposes.

If the latter is the case, a full size gun may not be a good option. A smaller gun may be more desirable. But, many of the compacts can pack a good number of rounds so you should be alright. Unless your caught in the middle of a north hollywood shootout. In which case, a pistol might not be your best choice for defense.

Me, Ruger SR9 strongside IWB (Supertuck) and a 38 spl on the ankle. And there's usually a rifle or a shotty close by. Just in case.

Rock-climbing and rappelling, biking, skateboarding, playing basketball, playing beach volleyball, playing soccer, etc....
I just can't see wearing a strong belt and holster and carrying a 40 oz pistol while doing those things.
I've carried a full-size M1911 while rock-climbing, rapelling, biking, sky diving, shooting white-water rapids, climbing in and out of an Armored Personel Carrier, crawling into tunnels, and doing a lot of other physical things.

Snooperman, what I said and still stand by is: If you are lazy about carrying because of the weight, you aren't committed. You will quit.

I also said that small guns are something experienced carries should use, not rookies. Ask yourself this. If for some ficticious reason you were required by law to carry a full-size gun, would you quit, or would you decide that a full-size gun is better than nothing and keep carrying? If you are genuinely committed to protecting yourself, you will use whatever you can. If you aren't, as soon as the circumstances change to where YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, YOU WILL QUIT.

There are a number of activities that might be easier to do wearing a compact gun than a full-size, but if I am doing an activity that requires a lot of my concentration, I take the gun off anyway. For example, when I am playing onstage with a band, I don't keep the gun on. Not because it's too big, but rather because the performance requires enough of my concentration that I can't maintain a real defensive mindset anyway. Like Vern says, in the army, you learn ALL KINDS of things you didn't THINK you could do carrying a full-size pistol OR rifle.

AGAIN, this is a lifestyle choice. If you make it, stick to it.

I carry the biggest gun I can easily conceal. Last night walking the dogs that was an HK USP Tactical in 45ACP, I was wearing a long heavy parka. Spring and fall the Sig 230 usually comes along, riding in a Highnoon Bare Asset IWB holster.

I just received my ccw about 3 months ago, so I haven't had the chance to carry in the summer months. I am guessing that I will have a Ruger LCP by then. I don't want to pen myself in and say that I am only going to carry a full size gun, I know myself, If thats the case I would occasionally leave it at home, and thats when I would need it. I just want to always have a gun with me, regardless of size.

There are too many times that a full size gun just wouldn't work for me.

How do you guys conceal a full size pistol when its 115 degrees outside?

I've carried a full-size M1911 while rock-climbing, rapelling, biking, sky diving, shooting white-water rapids, climbing in and out of an Armored Personel Carrier, crawling into tunnels, and doing a lot of other physical things.

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That kind of thing might look fine while wearing BDU's, but a person would look totally psychotic on the beach wearing swim trunks and sandals AND a belt and holster with a 1911 on his side.

But to each his own I guess...

I carry whatever I like shooting and can get a lot of ammo for at the time. Example: I had so much .44 special and .44 magnum that I could shoot pretty much weekly and carried a .44MAG mountain gun IWB during that time.
Then I had a ton of .45ACP and carried a full sized 1911 or a 4566 all the time.
Then it was a .38 Special and .357MAG and carried that all the time. I found a K-frame to be a nice size, but awkward shape for carry. The cylinder bulge was in a weird spot on the 3" guns.
Now it's a S&W 6906 with 5906 slide. Sort of full-sized. 14 rounds 9mm with 4.25" barrel. Easy to carry, but not a "pocket gun". I go back to .44 Magnum when I'm in the woods.

I carry the one I can hide the best.

Sometimes is my 5 1/2 inch .44 magnum, sometimes is my 5 shot snubby.

Depends.

My EDC is a full size M&P I like it but agree that it can be tough to conceal at times. This is why my next gun is going to be an LCP, I dont get the idea of the compacts or sub compacts. If I have to carry on the belt I mine as well go with a full size gun.