Conceal Carry: Glock or J-frame

[rskent]

I gotta go with the Jframe (first). I have a G36 and as easy as it is to carry there are still times when it is
too big. If the dress for the day is shorts, T shirt, and flip flops a Centennial air weight is the way to go.
Steve

 

[jbrown50]

My two J-frames, a S&W M&P 360 and 637, hide much better in a pocket than any of the tiny 9mms including the Ruger LC9, Kahr PM9/PM40 and Beretta Nano. The J-frame's lighter weight and rounded contours make them surprisingly easy to conceal in a pocket. The only guns that conceal better in the pocket are the tiny 380s like the Ruger LCP, Keltec P3AT, Kahr P380.

The Glock 26/27 is just too heavy, thick and blocky to carry comfortably in a pocket. Earlier in life I carried a Glock 27 in a pocket holster but it stuck out too much so that ended. I prefer carrying my 27 or 33 in IWB/OWB hard holsters because of their light triggers. I carry a Kahr PM9 or PM40 in a pocket holster but, because of their lighter triggers, I'm much more cautious about reholstering those guns than the J-frames.

To me the J-frames, especially my M&P 360, are the best backup/pocket/everywhere carry guns. They have heavy but smooth triggers, adequate power, point instinctively, and hide extremely well. The downsides are low ammo capacity and slower more cumbersome reloading but, if you're using it as a backup gun or a gun to have with you when stealthiness is of the utmost importance, then those downsides don't really matter.

 

[BossHogg]

I carry a glock-36 on the belt with IWB holster most of the time just because I like the 45acp. To me the perfect pocket carry is a S&W 638 J-frame. I can always carry the J-frame but not always the Glock-36.

I don't know if you're a new shooter are not, but be aware the snubnose is a up close and personal weapon. It will take a lot of practice to learn to shoot accurate at any distance. It's not that they're bad shooters it's just the short sight radius.They're more of a point and shoot type of gun. I love to shoot all my J-frames and practice with them all the time.

 

[HoosierQ]

I didn't read the whole thread but a hammerless S&W 642 or 442 pocket carries pretty well. Sometimes the thing will move around and the grip may not present itself easily...pocket carry is not the fastest carry method from which to deploy the weapon without a pocket holster.

I would never pocket carry any Glock (which is in fact my EDC CCW IWB) without some sort of purpose built holster or garment...and maybe Kevlar boxers!

 

[xXxplosive]

I'd love to be able to feel confident carrying a small frame 9mm.....I just have no confidence in the round.
I usually carry a Combat Commander in .45 or a "J" frame other times but would like to like the 9mm.
But....It just leaves me hangin' on.

 

[mopar92]

I conceal a 19 no problem...

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

For everything but pocket carry, I like the mini-Glock or other, similar, subcompact pistols over any revolver. It is about the same size (but with much different contours), yet holds twice as many of a more efficient cartridge and is much easier to hit with and more pleasant to shoot.

 

[X-Rap]

I'd love to be able to feel confident carrying a small frame 9mm.....I just have no confidence in the round.
I usually carry a Combat Commander in .45 or a "J" frame other times but would like to like the 9mm.
But....It just leaves me hangin' on.

I don't doubt your feeling but I do doubt your logic, neither the commander or J frame have near the potential capacity of a modern 9mm and the 38 has nothing ballistically on the modern 9. I have no argument with the superiority of the 45 acp but with double the capacity in a similar package I have come to choose the 9 every time when it comes to CC.

 

[coolluke01]

I'd love to be able to feel confident carrying a small frame 9mm.....I just have no confidence in the round. I usually carry a Combat Commander in .45

I think your estimation of the 9mm may be very well correct. But I think if you think the .45 will drop them in their tracks you would be over stating the effectiveness of that round. A handgun is a compromise in it's self. 90% of handgun wounds are not fatal! A handgun is at best a very good deterrent. Belief that it is anything more can lead you into a false sense of security.
When choosing a carry weapon, pick the one that you shoot the best. I doubt the J frame will fit that bill out of the two options listed. In self defense situations shoot fast and shoot often. Find the gun that does that the best for you.

I think the Glock grip angle is what you learn to compensate for over a long period of training, not the other way around.

I have to disagree with you on this one. The Glock grip angle is something that has to be overcome by those that are used to something different. New shooters do not have the same issues old 1911 shooters have, for example. I personally believe that it is a better "mousetrap" and even if it takes some work to overcome the experiences with inferior platforms it is worth it in the end.

 

[NG VI]

I would also suggest that pocket carry is not really a good way to go. A decent in waistband holster with something like the Glock 26 will give you a gun that's actually fun on the range, shoots as well as a fullsize, holds more ammunition, is ballistically superior, even though I feel the service calibers are all about the same, and more importantly, has many more options for top-class defensive ammunition available.

Try the FIST #1AK, took about a month for mine to arrive, but it is an outstanding thin Kydex holster, perfect for the subcompact Glocks.

 

[SlowFuse]

+1 on the fist for an IWB, very slim fitting and seems well built for the price.

 

[orionengnr]

Well, I have owned multiple Glocks, multiple j-frames and a PM9.
The only one I currently own is the PM9. Bottom line: j-frame--too few rounds and too big. Any Glock--too fat.

Although I carry a 4" 1911 every day, I keep the PM9 because it is (IMHO, and after a lot of experimentation) the ultimate pocket pistol, and a nice option to retain. I also own an LCP but I do not take the .380 cartridge seriously (YMMV).

 

[dnilson]

First of all, I am an AVID Glock fan...don't know why, but I just love them!!!!! I just took my CCW class, but have decided not to carry my glock. I have a G30 (.45 ACP subcompact), however, at least for me, even a subcompact is a little too bulky to carry IWB. Also, as a woman, my clothing can make concealment more of a challenge. I did quite a bit of research and while the glock has NEVER jammed on me, it could. Therefore, I ended up getting a Ruger SP101, DAO with a 2 1/4 inch barrel (.357, 5 shot). Revolvers are just more reliable and less likely to malfunction. I'm not saying they can't malfunction, just that it's less likely than with a semi-auto. I assumed I'd get a j frame but after finding the Ruger, I was hooked. It's a little bigger than a j frame and made of stainless steal, so, it's heavier, but the weight doesn't bother me and it helps with the recoil. Also, it's built like a tank...I mean really sturdy. When you hold it, you can tell you're holding a great gun!!!! I LOVE it!!!! Regarding the reduced amount of ammo, if you can't get in at least one decent shot out of five, you should probably be practicing more! However, having said that, I'll admit that a face to face confrontation is obviously a great deal more stressful than being at the range. Therefore, even though I'm a pretty good shot, I added Crimson Trace laser grips to improve my odds. Also, if necessary, with a speed strips, and practice, you should be able add extra rounds pretty quickly.

 

[NG VI]

I did quite a bit of research and while the glock has NEVER jammed on me, it could. Therefore, I ended up getting a Ruger SP101, DAO with a 2 1/4 inch barrel (.357, 5 shot). Revolvers are just more reliable and less likely to malfunction. I'm not saying they can't malfunction, just that it's less likely than with a semi-auto.

And if a revolver does quit, which does happen, it usually takes an act of gunsmith to correct the deficiency. Sometimes it's just that crud got into any of the places where all those moving parts are located, but it's much slower to clear a malfunction with a revolver than an auto.

An auto chokes, you yank the slide back and let it fly forward, and probably eight or nine times out of ten, probably more, the problem is resolved. People act like revolvers are so simple, but look at the way it's designed, look at all the things that absolutely must go right for the revolver to safely function properly.

It's honestly a miracle to me that revolvers don't crap the bed far more often than they do. Autos can present a more intimidating visage to the mechanically unfamiliar, but look at what they really do, most of the service autos are far simpler than people give them credit for. Four basic pieces, the magazine, which is held in place and doesn't really need to do anything special, the frame, which just acts as a platform to keep all the other parts cohesive, the barrel, pretty inert, and the slide, which only has to hold the sights and move in two directions, forwards and back.

Compare that to a revolver, whose hands have to work perfectly or a bullet could hit the forcing cone and destroy the revolver entirely. Autos may choke on bad ammunition from time to time, but their malfunctions are almost universally user-fixable in under two seconds.

 

[dnilson]

I hear what you're saying, but I've also heard that most revolver malfunctions are just as easy to fix...just pull the trigger again and that will usually take care of it (at least according to my gunsmith). I guess it's just the luck of the draw. Of course with my luck, I could carry both a revolver and semi and have them BOTH malfunction. Oh well, at least I've still got my pepper spray. In all honesty though, especially during certain situations, I probably will carry both. In fact, earlier today I bought an ankle holster so I could use the ruger as my BUG. I'm just a lot more comfortable with the Glock and it IS more intimidating. I recently found a holster online that I think will work with the TLR 2S. If it doesn't fit with the light, I'll just take it off. I found some REALLY cool, small (about the size of a nickel) LED lights that have adhesive on them. You just peel off the strip and stick the light on the gun (probably best to put it in front of the back sights). I'm sure it won't be that bright, but it's better than nothing.

 

[dprice3844444]

i can carry a g26,g19 or a 9mm sigma in my pocket,no problem
for different type of clothing to hide guns in safely,go to nrastore.org,5/11 tactical makes nice pants to hide stuff in,and http://www.concealedcomfort.com/

http://smartcarry.com/

 

[jad0110]

It's honestly a miracle to me that revolvers don't crap the bed far more often than they do. Autos can present a more intimidating visage to the mechanically unfamiliar, but look at what they really do, most of the service autos are far simpler than people give them credit for. Four basic pieces, the magazine, which is held in place and doesn't really need to do anything special, the frame, which just acts as a platform to keep all the other parts cohesive, the barrel, pretty inert, and the slide, which only has to hold the sights and move in two directions, forwards and back.

While I agree that revolvers can jam, I think you are oversimplifying semi automatic handgun function quite a bit. You say the magazine doesn't really need to do anything special. On the contrary, the magazine is the heart of the entire system. If the feed lips are slightly bent or cracked, or if the spring tension isn't quite right, or if the follower hangs up you will get malfunctions. If the recoil spring tension is too low or too high you'll get failures. If the mainspring or firing pin spring weakens you can get light strikes. The extractor can wear or loose proper tension and cause failures. Crap can get into the works (just like a revolver) and sieze it up just the same. The ejector can sheer off and jam into the slide rail, which will basically weld the slide to the frame (ask me how I know this). Then there are the numerous small internal parts in the frame that, like revolver parts, can and do break. Finally, the reliability of the whole system is dependent on the user holding the gun correctly and at a good angle. Note that I've found polymer autos in particular to be especially susceptible to "limp wristing".

I'm not knocking autos, just pointing out that both platforms have their complexities and simplicities. Also, as for this:

Compare that to a revolver, whose hands have to work perfectly or a bullet could hit the forcing cone and destroy the revolver entirely.

True, but such a failure usually doesn't happen out of the blue. This sort of failure develops over hundreds, even thousands of rounds. Any half way knowledgable person can see the issue developing before it becomes a real problem.

As for the Glock and J Frame, carry both! Both work fine as a belt gun (IWB or OWB), but for pocket or ankle carry the J Frame gets the nod between the 2, at least IMHO. This of course assume you can shoot either reasonably well. I'm alright with a J frame, but Glock ergonomics flat don't work at all for me, and concequently I shoot them pretty poorly. Great guns, just not for me.

 

[whalerman]

There are so many choices regarding holsters for small Glocks. The holster issue is a non issue. Not sure why it was brought up. As far as what is the best choice, I like 'em both. The Glocks give you lots of firepower, but I carry my JFrame more when off duty.

 

[DevilDog0402]

Others have mentioned the LC9 a few times already. It is a great choice. It carries well in a pocket and disappears IWB. 7+1 9mm with a quick reload is not bad at all.

I own a Glock subcompact (33) and a j-frame (340 pd) and have carried them all, but the LC9 is currently my go-to piece. I shoot it far better than a j-frame, and almost as well as the Glock 33.

 

[ORHunter79]

I went through the same thing. Small revolver or small semi-auto. There is always a trade off. For me it was size vs firepower and the reliability of a revolver vs semi-auto.

I recommend you rent them before you buy if you can. Some people hate not being able to put their pinky finger on the small Glock. Some people cant shoot a small revolver to "save their life".

After weighing all the options and carrying a variety of guns, I went with a Glock 27 in 40 S&W (same as a 26, but bigger caliber). With a good holster, it's comfortable.

Good luck.

 

[Madjohn]

i had a smith 642 revolver for a while and didnt like it. i ended up trading that in towards a glock 27 and havnt looked back and its become my standard carry gun when i feel the need to carry.

 

[wheelyfun66]

How about both?

G26 IWB and J-frame pocket or ankle:

 

[Prosser]

Both are truly horrible, because without a bit of work, they both have the worst triggers on the planet. The glocks because of it's being a Glock, and the S&@ because for instance, mine came out at 16 pounds, and, a 'tuned' trigger was 10 pounds. combine that with a feather weight gun, and .357 magnum potential and you have a recipe for barn accuracy.

There are far better triggers, and more accurate guns at both sizes.

 

[bbuddtec]

j's are wider. done
In an SD application, I can pull a 50 lb trigger....

just sayin...

 

[Armedleprechaun]

If it were me,I would go with the Glock 26. It is boringly simple, reliable, tough and just plain works. Also, it offers twice the capacity of the revolver. Another thing to consider is that should something break, almost all the parts are easy to find, and easy to replace. Not to mention the Glock 26 along with it the rest of his 9 mm brethren can take 33 round magazines! Talk about range fun! I've just started to CCW and, the Glock 26 is my daily carry. Hope this helps.