A CCW question that came up elsewhere...

[armoredman]

Sort of. How big is too big? No, put the testosterone down, gents, talking about your sidearms. How big is too big for YOU to conceal? In your situation/required dress, what do you normally carry? I put in four choices to reasonably accommodate most choices, both auto and wheel gun, I believe.
I personally carry a full size duty pistol, either my CZ P-09 or SP-01 Phantom in a High Noon Holsters Close Encounter or Down Under, respectively, both mounted on a High Noon Rock Steady gunbelt.

Just curious. And would you kindly state what carry rig you are using, if you don't mind, because I firmly believe that is as important as the chosen firearm.

Thank you for your time, much appreciated.

 

[Hanzo581]

I go between mouse and subcompact. I know there are people out there that can carry bigger guns comfortably, but I am not one of them. I am not going to be uncomfortable all day everyday for the one in a million chance that not only I'll have to defend myself with my gun, but my small gun won't be sufficient.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I carry a Sig P239 most of the time but occasionally carry a 226 or Model 10.

I like to be able to shoot the gun well, then conceal it.

I like to carry guns that I like to shoot and practice with, so...

 

[Ramone]

I selected 'compact', though it's probably about 50/50. I EDC either a Full Size 1911 or a Colt Officer's Model ACP, depending on mood and situation.

I carry OWB at 4-5 o'clock, using a basic Forbus Paddle Holster, what I've always called a ' bikini ' holster, just covering the trigger guard ( sort of a plastic Yanqui Slide ).

I really don't find the full size any less concealable than the compact, given my habitual daily wear of an untucked work shirt, usually unbuttoned.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Compact most often in the summer. Compact and full size 50/50 in winter. Subcompact occasionally when better concealment is necessary.

 

[Varminterror]

I've carried full size pistols and revolvers as large as X-Frames concealed, but outside of jacket weather, I don't enjoy carrying anything even as large as a G19 or J Frame, and opt for LCP sized pistols. I'm content with an LC9/P938 sized pistol as well, but it's incrementally easier to conceal the LCP size every day, so I carry it more often out of habit and familiarity.

 

[.308 Norma]

I go between mouse and subcompact. I know there are people out there that can carry bigger guns comfortably, but I am not one of them. I am not going to be uncomfortable all day everyday for the one in a million chance that not only I'll have to defend myself with my gun, but my small gun won't be sufficient.

Yep, I'm old school myself and carry a j-frame, .38 Special revolver in a pancake style holster. I'm about to become more "modern" though, and start carrying a little Smith M&P Shield 9mm. But I've only put about a hundred rounds through my new 9mm semi-auto so far, and don't trust it yet. Once I learn to trust it, I'll carry it the same way - in a pancake style holster under a loose shirt or vest. At any rate, I'm going to carry what's comfortable for me to "carry all day, everyday."
I know, I know - "A gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable." Well, I've also heard, "I carry a gun because a cop's too heavy." Those two old clichés kind of oppose one another. I mean, if a person believes the first cliché is true, why wouldn't that person carry a cop for protection even though a "cop's too heavy" to be carried comfortably?

 

[Zendude]

Charter 38 snub or Beretta Pico. Use a N82 holster for both.

 

[MedWheeler]

Fluctuates between sub-compact (Kel-Tec PF9 or similar) and sub-subcompact (Taurus PT738 or similar.) Environment is the hot and steamy jungles of southern Florida, which is running its highest average temperatures in over 122 years.

Last year, winter was on a Tuesday, and I had to work, so I couldn't try carrying anything much bigger. The year before, it was on a Friday, one of my days off, and I was able to tote my P95.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

LC9s in a single clip kydex holster 90% of the time. Occasionally in the winter I'll carry my full size TP9 in a Cloaktuck 3.0, but even in the cold months where concealing the full size is doable, the LC9 is just so much more comfortable to carry.

No one is comfortably concealing a full size in the hot humid Congo-like VA summers, period. It may be comfortable, or it may be concealable, but it won't be both.

 

[Scrambler]

Kahr E9 in a DeSantis Speed Scabbard. Getting good service from this holster. Three years edc and still great retention.

 

[bannockburn]

Scrambler

Big fan of the same holster for my SIG P229. Like how it keeps the gun close to the body. As far as gun size goes I'm probably somewhere between subcompact (Kahr CM9, SIG P238, S&W Model 638), and compact (Ruger SR9c, CZ P01, Colt Commander).

 

[JEB]

most days for me is a ruger sr9 in a simply rugged cuda holster. plan to get a crossbreed supertuck eventually. already have one for my glock 22 but i like the ruger better. i have been considering adding a compact of some sort to the line up when funds allow, maybe a glock 19 or a kahr of some sort, but it wont be anytime soon.

 

[Blkhrt13]

All of the above have a time and place.

 

[guyfromohio]

I don't think any of your choices are too big. I carry a full size 1911 at times, a compact G19 or P99 at others. However, I really like Walther PPS for EDC. I called it a subcompact for the purpose of your poll.

 

[Danoobie]

M9A1, DeSantis OWB 4 O'clock. I may carry others, at times, but I'll never tell.
Thinking about getting one of those S&W model 69 combat .44s, though.
Still looking for a holster.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Glock 20 in a Bianchi Shadow OWB.

I live in MT. If our [expletive withheld] govenor would stop vetoing it, we would be Constitutional Carry. As it is, open carry is legal and protected, concealed carry is legal outside city limits without a permit, so the only time you need a permit to carry a firearm is concealed by clothing inside city limits. And guns are still accepted here enough that even in a blue county like Missoula, nobody seems to care even if they notice you are carrying. I love my state, but if any of your anti-gun friends ask, tell them MT is full but I hear North Dakota is nice this time of year...

 

[Jim NE]

A few years ago I CC'd a CZ 40 P at Yellowstone, and it seemed OK, though not optimum. I love the gun, has a P 01 frame, which is technically "compact" though it doesn't really feel like it, to me. I can CC a S&W Sigma or M&P if I have to, and those are full sized, I guess. I guess J frame revos are what I like to carry best. I really like my Ruger SR9c as an all around defense gun - more compact than the other pistols I mentioned, but still not really comfortable IWB. The Taurus PT 111 G2 is smaller still, and more concealable...but the J frame-ish revolvers are the most comfortable to carry.

 

[edwardware]

Combat Commander (steel frame, 4.25") in a IWB Milt Spark VM-2.

In my experience (~10 years), I don't see much point in a concealed carry weapon that's 1) too large for the pocket, and 2) smaller than 'full size' for belt carry.

My S&W 642 or Ruger LCP both drop into a pocket (although pocket carry has never been comfortable), and that has its place. My Commander-size 1911 rides comfortably on my belt, and since I have a cover garment and a good belt and holster, its size and weight are comfortable.

Anywhere in-between those two sizes seems to be a compromise without benefit. The entire class of compact Glock 43/Kahr CM9/M&P Shield/Ruger SR9c are too big to pocket and still require a cover garment and belt/holster, but are difficult to shoot well because they're small.

Note: 'full-size' for belt carry will vary person-to-person, but it's larger than most new carriers think. A real holster and belt go a long way.

 

[bullseye308]

Guess I'll be the odd man out. I carry either a Glock 17 or 17L with a TLR-1 HL IWB daily with no problems. There is just one spot around at 3:30-4:00 where it melts in and goes unnoticed by me. I got the hybrid holster made for it and I have no problem carrying it all day.

The only smaller guns I have are an Astra A-100 9mm or my wife's Ruger SR-9C and I love them both, but I shoot the Glock better. I'm trying at find the perfect holster for my Springfield Range Officer 5" 9mm and would carry it with no worries.

 

[bassjam]

Subcompact (SIG p938) is as large as I'll go. Not sure where a j-frame falls, but I carry that fairly often as well. My even smaller LCP sees a decent amount of duty as well, I'd put that somewhere between a subcompact and a mousegun.

I carry a NAA .22 revolver around the house, THAT'S a mousegun!

 

[olkowsr]

Hk p30 size to Smith 686 size for me, depends on weather

 

[badkarmamib]

My preferred rig is an M&P FS IWB at 5:30. If I wear extra layers (during winter), I will move it OWB at 4:30 for an easier draw. When I have to shed layers (during summer), I will switch to an XD-S 3.3 IWB at 5:30, or pocket holster.

 

[stoky]

I figure out what I wanna carry and dress for it.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Compact Kimber .45 ACP summer and winter...