Basic CCW gun weights/sizes for a possible beginner.

[Ignition Override]

As a rifle shooter, I've never had a handgun, and any exposure to various types has been five rounds here (i.e. HK), six rds. there (Ruger P22 etc). This has been very sporadic with several types. Am gradually learning about the terminology.

But my main question living in a concealed carry state (TN, often going into MS) is whether it might be best to look at the smaller 9mms and a few .380s such as the PPK and Bersa.

Two friends who have many years of experience with rifles and handguns have Polish P-64s (Makarov caliber) for their CCW weapon. A third guy keeps a .380 in his pocket.

 

[JohnBiltz]

Personally, I carry a Glock G26. Its as small as I would care to fight with and as large as I care to carry. Which is the two conflicts of CCW. You have to carry it every where all the time but if you ever have to use it you are going to be wanting to have a large gun with lots of rounds in a service caliber. I would not carry a pocket a .380 unless I had to. I could not carry a G17 everyday concealed. Where you draw your lines is what decides what you carry. Those lines get drawn differently by every individual which is why everyone carries different guns and generally change their minds after carrying awhile.

 

[Ignition Override]

Thanks John.
I was impressed with the test carried out by the Army (or DOD) on the 9mm Beretta, but those must take up a good bit more space than the small 9mms (Rugers) etc, when wearing thin clothes in warm weather.

Looking forward to any other comments.

 

[357 Terms]

I carry a DAO sp101 appendix carry.

And a commander length bobtailed E-series Smith 1911. (4'oclock)

Get a good holster and it may surprise you how well a medium sized gun will carry.

I would only carry a 380 if all I was wearing were swim trunks

 

[jfh]

For various reasons, I now typically carry a revolver. Were I to change to a semiauto for EDC, I would look very long and hard at the Kimber Solo. here is a link to the Kimber specs, and you can read the American Rifleman review here.

The 1911 ergonomics combined with a new good design for concealed carry make it very interesting, IMO.

Jim H.

 

[maddy345]

Small guns are harder to shoot well and even harder to learn on.

I would suggest a "compact" and not a "subcompact" for a first gun. I.E. Glock 19 instead of a 26.

 

[Yuma]

Myself i prefer the Bersa 380, not too small, easy to handle, and not
as expensive as some other 380's. The Bersa 380 Thunder will
shoot anything you feed it, never had a problem with any ammo.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

The compact versions of military/police service pistols seem to be the best "all-around" CCWs, to me at least. They are a little lighter and smaller to carry, but are still easy to actually shoot. Very small guns are certainly easier to carry, but are more difficult to hit with. I own two such guns, a Glock 19 (full size counterpart the 17) and a CZ75D Compact (aka the PCR, full size counterpart the CZ75BD). A gun much smaller than, say, the Kahr K, S&W Shield or Bersa BP9 starts to sacrifice "shootability."

 

[CDW4ME]

I can comfortably IWB appendix carry the Glock 26 subcompact.
I carry a Glock subcompact in a Smartcarry.
The subcompact Glocks lend themself to non-traditional methods of carry better than the compact size 19.
I can get a full grip by adding the Pearce +0 magazine baseplate.

If the pistol will only be carried strong side IWB then the 19 has merit, but the longer grip will require more attention to detail to prevent printing.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I basically have 4 CCW handguns these days. I live in a very rural community with very low risks, but do sometimes travel to urban areas, and often they are in not-so-great parts of town. I'll detail what I carry to where, and why:

1. Kel-Tec P3AT .380 ACP. Ultra small, very thin and super light weight, this is a true pocket gun, but it still has a decent bite. 6+1 rounds with standard magazines, I carry handloaded 102 gr. Remington Golden Sabres. Sometimes I carry a spare mag, sometimes not. This is my always gun, since no consideration for attire is necessary.

2. Kel Tec PF9 9x19mm. Also very thin and very light weight, but a little too large to be a pocket gun for most. 7+1 rounds capacity, it has a little more authority than the .380, but still carries very easy IWB with an untucked tee shirt or any Jacket. I will carry this frequently when clothing allows it. It is stocked with Remington white-and-green box 115 gr. JHP's because they performed well from the shorter barrel.

3. S&W CS-45 .45 ACP. About the same length and height as the PF9, but considerably wider and heavier. 6+1 rounds .45 ACP. Carrying this gun requires a looser fitting shirt or a jacket. I usually have a spare magazine with this gun, and it is loaded with El Dorado Starfire 230 gr. JHP. This gun gets carried when I determine that the risk level is a little higher than normal, usually because I have family in tow.

4. Glock 20 10mm Auto. Full size gun, definitely requires attire adjustment. I typically carry this one when going into unsavory areas, or when on outings with wife & kids to places where I determine that a serious threat may constitute multiple actors, and/or may require providing cover fire for them to escape (like an active shooter scenario). I usually carry one or two spare magazines (15 rounds ea) with this firearm, and they are loaded with handloaded 180 gr. JHPs.

So, as you can see, there is a good reason for many of us to have several CCW options. Some people don't mind dressing around a larger CCW every day, others are fine with carrying a little less gun all the time. A lot of people compromise somewhere in the middle. Me? If I didn't have multiple choices, there'd be times I felt underarmed with too small a weapon, or times I was not armed because a larger weapon was too inconvenient to carry.

 

[Ignition Override]

MachIVShooter:
And in a warm climate, do most people 'default' to having a small (compact?) 9mm or .380, because they know that they can conceal it without any trouble, otherwise leaving the weapon at home?

I discovered "CCW clothing" on some websites last night, and have no intention of buying a second wardrobe, unless my impression is mistaken.

357 Terms: When people say '4 o clock', do they mean just below the belt in the left pocket? Just guessing here.

 

[TrueTexan]

I carry a Sig P220 carry SAS. 45 acp using a IWB holster. Normally I wear loose fitting work pants and tropical shirts. Carry at 4:30 it does not print and is comfortable as can be expected. Due to my years of wear and experience (age) I get away wearing what I want.

 

[Jimineer]

9mm - ammo is still affordable.

Go to a range and rent various guns. Carry what you shoot well or feels good in your hands. There are many great guns available but only you can tell what will work for you.

Good luck.

BTW - I have a Glock 26 and is the least expensive gun I own. I prefer it over any other gun I have because I shoot it the best.

But beware, some folks have trouble stuffing a striker fired gun into a holster in their waste band when there is no manual safety. But you will get used to a Glock or any other like it if you practice wearing it and handling it with a snap cap. Once you get past that part the idea of being able to pull and shoot quickly in a life threatening situation means something. But you will get hundreds of other opinions on that.

[edit] I have a Pearce +2 extender on my G26 and it still conceals very well for me. Plus that gives me a better purchase when drawing.

 

[k_dawg]

Many of the Eastern Block small pistols, etc Makarov, Tokarev, have nostalgia and niche followings. They are also cheap to obtain and often on a Curio & Relic FLL 03. But good luck finding a quality Jacked Hollow Point round in those calibers.

The 9×18mm Makarov is inferior to the 9×19mm Parabellum [what most people mean when they say 9mm] in almost all ways.

The 7.62x25mm is very fast but small/light bullets. Great for targets with soft body armor, or layers and layers of winter gear. People worry about "over penetration" too much with a JHP in 9mm/.40/.45 acp. Lol. They have not seen anything compared to this round! I would NOT want to use it for personal self defense carry.


My recommendation? Find a local gun store/range, rent a few of the compacts from a major manufacture in either 9mm [ cheap/plentiful training ammo. good JHP defense ammo available ] and find which you shoot the best.

 

[k_dawg]

BTW: Open Carry is Legal in both TN and MS [need permit in TN].

I _choose_ to conceal carry, but I do not have to worry about 'printing' as much as like back in Florida. I almost never carry my small Beretta .32 ACP "mouse gun" any more due to that change.

 

[Zerodefect]

Depends on clothes, weather, mood, risk. I usually have about 3-4 CCW worthy pistols to choose from.

My picks for each range size, any of these will serveyou well:

Fullsize: Dan Wesson Valor, LesBaer. Big .45 power, thin and concealable.

Compact: Glock 23, Glock 19, S&W M&P, Dan Wesson CCO, ECO, Les Baer Stinger, Concept 7. Glock 23 is alot of firepower in a concealable package.

SupCompact: Kahr P9, PM9, Mk9, S&W M&P 340 revolver, Springy XDS, S&W Shield.

Tiny: Kahr P380

Holster: Crossbreed Supertuck IWB, Minituck IWB, or Ravens Concealment OWB.

 

[MachIVshooter]

MachIVShooter:
And in a warm climate, do most people 'default' to having a small (compact?) 9mm or .380, because they know that they can conceal it without any trouble, otherwise leaving the weapon at home?

I'd say that depends entirely on the individual. I'm in CO, so we have plenty of warm days (it's been stupid hot this summer), and generally do carry smaller weapons on hot days. However, as I said, when I feel the potential risks are greater, I make a larger CCW work. I can conceal my G-20 under an untucked short sleeved button-up pretty easily. It'll print a little in certain positions, but no one gives a second thought to a bulge under clothing these days, especially when you're a clean-cut individual with a wife and toddlers in tow.

All I'm saying is, if you're only going to have one CCW, make sure it's something that won't bee too inconvenient to carry and end up sitting in the safe at home. Carrying part time makes about as much sense as wearing your seatbelt part time or only having insurance part time.

 

[hentown]

Whatever size and weight my G26 is, is what I'd recommend. Carry mine daily, IWB. Bought one for my daughter and one of my sons.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I've carried a full-size M1911 for half a century or more. What you need is a good belt and a good holster.

 

[AC1911]

When people say '4 o clock', do they mean just below the belt in the left pocket? Just guessing here.

The clock positions are around the waist, 12 o'clock being where you button your pants, 3=right hip, 6=back, 9=left hip.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The 4:00 O'clock position is just behind the right hip. The hip is the widest part of the lower body, so that by carrying behind the hip, you don't present an obvious bulge. Also if your cover garment swings back, the guy will still be concealed.

 

[Pilot]

A semi-compact 9MM like the CZ-75D PCR like someone else mentioned would be a good choice. I have been carrying one for twelve years, and it is accurate, reliable and holds fifteen rounds. It is easy to shoot well, and can be used for range work as well as home defense. Others in this class to consider:

Glock G19
Sig P229
HK P30
Walther P99/PPQ

 

[CZ57]

The CZ PCR is a good choice but an even better one in my opinion is the CZ P-01 it has a forged aluminum frame vs. the cast frame of the PCR and there is a picatanny rail for lights/lasers should you need it. The P-01 also went through very rigorous NATO testing and won a NATO certification that few pistols have. It is very capable for both CCW and extended range use.

 

[FMF Doc]

You can carry just about anything you want as long as you are willing to accept the limitations and alter your wardrobe accordingly. I spent and entire deployment carrying a Beretta M9 concealed in plain clothes. It can be done, but you need a very good holster and even better belt. I have also carried various revolvers and other semiautos of differing size. These days, in the Carolina summer heat, I either carry a Glock 19 in a Raven Concealment Phantom holster or a S&W Shiled in a Ludus Magnus holster. Both are modular and can be easily converted from Inside the Waist Band to Outside the Waist Band in just seconds. I have carried .380s before, but prefer something a little more robust after a friend or mine almost lost his life to "not enough gun." Try out some different guns, see what feels good, and then get the best holster and belt you can find for it. You would be amazed how easily and comfortably you can carry a fullsize, double stacked metal framed gun with the right gear. Good luck!

 

[ritepath]

You waste a bunch of money on great firearms that weigh a ton. You'll spend a bunch on holsters and belts. Finally you'll settle into something that works for you and what you wear and how a active you are. It's a journey all of us take, good luck.

For me I have a M&P 9c, P229, 642 and PT145 in the safe. While my normal carry pistol is a LCP.
Until this weekend I haven't seen a pistol that would make me budge off my little 380. Then I held a P938...Ummmm nice little 9 indeed. I'm going to have to consider one sometime in 2013.