I am curious if there is any downside to carrying a full size gun. The gun in question is a Glock 17. I bought the 17 a while back and at first I was a little dissapointed. I found I shot my 26 better so I sorta just put it in a drawer. I have now spent more time with it and I shoot it well. I find I can shoot my 26 great but when it comes to actually running the gun I dont have to readjust grip on the 19 or the 17. On my 26 I find sometimes I dont get a full grip and often have to readjust during a string of fire. I run them and shoot them all good and would feel confident with any of them for carry. Where my 26 and my 17 shine are at distance. I realize that shooting someone at 25 yards may be controversial and thats not my point. I am more likely to want to shoot a plate or an armadillo at 25 yards than I will need to shoot someone in defense at 3 yards. I find this is where my 19 fails me. I really like the xs sights but at distance I just dont shoot them as well. AFter carrying my 17 for a week or so I can say my 19 feels a lot smaller. I have even considered cutting my 17 to a 19 but dont know if I will lose the feel of the 17.When I grab my 17 it feels good and I have a good grip and it points well. My question this all boils down to is at 5'7" 135lbs if I can carry and conceal a 17 is there any reason not to?
Any reason to not carry a full size
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peacemaker45
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The only reason to carry anything else is comfort and convenience. If you can comfortably carry a full size, all you get are advantages, shooting wise.
The grip is longer, so you get more leverage to control recoil. You get more capacity. The extra sight radius improves your practical accuracy. Extra weight also helps with recoil control.
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The grip is longer, so you get more leverage to control recoil. You get more capacity. The extra sight radius improves your practical accuracy. Extra weight also helps with recoil control.
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Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Exactly as Mat says. Carry the largest, most comfortable and capable gun you can. The only reason to go with smaller guns (with their - generally speaking - harsher recoil, lower capacity, shorter sight radius, shorter gripping surface, and often less powerful cartridges) is because you believe you can't carry a larger gun for some reason.
(Or, of course, if you actually DO shoot that smaller gun better, faster, more accurately, than your full sized guns, and have proved so with a timer.)
My usual carry guns are all full sized service models.
(Or, of course, if you actually DO shoot that smaller gun better, faster, more accurately, than your full sized guns, and have proved so with a timer.)
My usual carry guns are all full sized service models.
herrwalther
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Large vs small guns is all about tradeoff. Can you conceal a 1911 in jogging shorts? Probably not as well as a Kel-tec P32. Everything has to be taken into effect when picking a carry weapon, including comfort in carry and shooting. If you can conceal a larger weapon, by all means feel free. Largest firearm I conceal regularly is an XD 45 and I have no issues with comfort or concealment.
Zaydok Allen
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If it was comfortable to me, I'd cc a 12 gauge.
Sounds like you're doing what's right for you based on your ability and comfort.
Sounds like you're doing what's right for you based on your ability and comfort.
tommy.duncan
Member
I usually carry full size, but, sometimes you can't. I have a commander 45acp and a PPK if I need something small. I have a big enough frame to carry the big ones.
45_auto
Member
Only downside I've found to carrying a full-sized gun is that the weight makes my pants fall down, then too many girls want to date me. 
MagnunJoe
Member
Glock 19 is about as full as I go. Glock 26 is ideal 4 EDC
For self defense shooting someone at 25 yrs will land you in jail unless he shot first and you couldn't find cover. Otherwise, capacity is important. A longer sight radius is meaningless in self defense because you won't have time enough to aim for it to make a difference. You'll be point shooting.
Being able to hold the gun while your hands are shaking from the adrenaline is important.
Being able to hold the gun while your hands are shaking from the adrenaline is important.
Just depends on how well you can tolerate weight and bulk. I would love to carry my big ol .357 magnum, but as I get older (and I'm only in my early 30s) I simply want to carry a comfortable gun over a bigger one.
The 26 in a belly band is the bee's knees for me. I don't even feel that I am carrying a gun and 30 rounds. I shoot it better than my full size 9mm and it's just a joy to carry.
That said, I'd pack a 17 if I could carry it easily.
The 26 in a belly band is the bee's knees for me. I don't even feel that I am carrying a gun and 30 rounds. I shoot it better than my full size 9mm and it's just a joy to carry.
That said, I'd pack a 17 if I could carry it easily.
Matt:
I'm an old man that carries what is best for me and family. At this type it is a Glock 30. If it prints so what? I have a ccw license and in Ohio open carry is not against the law. I do my best to conceal but I will not let an occasional print worry me.
I'm an old man that carries what is best for me and family. At this type it is a Glock 30. If it prints so what? I have a ccw license and in Ohio open carry is not against the law. I do my best to conceal but I will not let an occasional print worry me.
I just am not comfortable carrying a full sized gun around on my body all day. I have tried it with multiple guns from revolvers to semis, multiple locations and multiple holsters. Like most pistol owners I am holster poor.
I have found that I am most happy(defined as comfortable) carrying a gun in my pocket so I virtually always have a .380 or a small 9mm. I wish I could get used to a full size but the weight is the largest detractor to me.
During our month of winter I can carry a compact "full size" in an ankle holster and be pretty comfortable but I like the ease of slipping the gun in my pocket.
I have found that I am most happy(defined as comfortable) carrying a gun in my pocket so I virtually always have a .380 or a small 9mm. I wish I could get used to a full size but the weight is the largest detractor to me.
During our month of winter I can carry a compact "full size" in an ankle holster and be pretty comfortable but I like the ease of slipping the gun in my pocket.
peacemaker45
Member
Howdy, Fastlane. I'm not sure if you're disagreeing or not.
But Ohio's great that way. I call it casual concealment. It's covered, which keeps the sheep from panicking, but I don't sweat it if it prints a bit, or a gust of wind comes up.
In re: your G30, I'm not arguing that there aren't viable reasons to carry less than a full size service pistol. After all, the first rule of gunfighting is to have a gun. The second is to know how to use that gun. Which gun, much as we like to argue the point is a strictly tertiary concern.
That said, however, would you say that your G30 is really a better gun to shoot than is a G21, or are its advantages more in the area of portability and hideability?
That's what I meant about comfort and convenience. If, somehow, you could easily and comfortably carry a G21, would you still pick the G30?
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tomrkba
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Ask Erik Scott what happens when a store employee calls the police because his gun was showing.
The time for casual carry is over.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
There was a lot more to the Erik Scott case than SIMPLY someone seeing his gun. Let's not make absurd oversimplifications.
Open carry, "casual" carry, and every other type of carry is becoming more common all the time. As it should be.
The time for hiding like scared rabbits is over.
Open carry, "casual" carry, and every other type of carry is becoming more common all the time. As it should be.
The time for hiding like scared rabbits is over.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
Oy vey. You'll do whatever you've trained to do in the situation that presents itself. Much of this "might as well file off the sights 'cause you'll never see 'em anyway" talk smacks of excuses for poor or insufficient training and practice.
And also of the irrational but very common belief that you can somehow predict what "your" gun fight will look like.
peacemaker45
Member
Well said, Sam.
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X-Rap
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For me the compact Glock is the perfect EDC size but in the heat of summer I am rarely not dressed in cargo shorts and a tee shirt so if that is tucked in even the 19 won't conceal. I am in full agreement of the casual carry comments and when that doesn't work I have a 26 or P3AT for my pocket.
When fall hits and I am in a vest or fleece pull over I can pretty much carry what I want but the 19 or 26 is usually on my belt.
When fall hits and I am in a vest or fleece pull over I can pretty much carry what I want but the 19 or 26 is usually on my belt.
Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I carried this very evening in cargo shorts and a tucked in polo shirt. My "deep concealment" rig is this that member Joel made this for me early in his holster-making career:
Very comfortable and VERY tuckable. Only the straps show when I've got a t-shirt or polo tucked in around the gun.
I suppose I could carry a Kel-Tec pretty discretely if I really felt the need...
Very comfortable and VERY tuckable. Only the straps show when I've got a t-shirt or polo tucked in around the gun.
I suppose I could carry a Kel-Tec pretty discretely if I really felt the need...
jrod
Member
None whatsoever!
Don't put words in my mouth. All I said was that the longer sight radius won't be significant. For it to be significant, you have to be able to aim and hold the sight picture steady. If you can't, and I don't believe you will because you'll be under tremendous stress, then, at best, it's a wash. There are more important things to consider when deciding what gun to carry; sight radius doesn't counter or offset anything important.
Outlaw Man
Member
Definitely agree that comfort and concealability are the main factors. I used to carry an FNP 45 that functioned flawlessly and I could shoot as well as anything I owned. But I found when you're carrying so much weight it has a tendency to stay at home a little too often. A .32 you'll actually carry will do you a lot more good than the .45 you leave at home. Well, assuming it's not a Lorcin or something...
Now that I wear tucked in shirts 5 or 6 days a week, carrying a full-size (or oversize like the FNP) is even more difficult. I gravitate more towards compacts and pocket guns most of the time.
However, one of my best friends carries a Beretta 92 almost everywhere he goes, so it's definitely possible.
Now that I wear tucked in shirts 5 or 6 days a week, carrying a full-size (or oversize like the FNP) is even more difficult. I gravitate more towards compacts and pocket guns most of the time.
However, one of my best friends carries a Beretta 92 almost everywhere he goes, so it's definitely possible.
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