Whats more important for your CCW firearm

[Rockrivr1]

Ok, I have a slight quandry when it comes to my CCW firearm. I currently have a 642, but this question is about any carry piece in general. This issue is that my 642 came with the standard hogue boot grips that are really small and are a little difficult to hold onto with my large hands. The plus side though is that the revolver conceals very well in a pocket holster.

Because I really hate rubber grips on a revolver I bought a very nice set of S&W combat grips for it. They are very very nice and a little bit longer so my hand fits a lot better. Not to mention they make the gun look oh so much better. The down side is that they are longer and a bit more bulky so it doesn't conceal as well in my pocket.

My question is basically this. What is more important in having a CCW firearm. Sleek and very concealable, but is harder to handle when firing? Or a little less concealable and sleek, but much easier to handle when firing?

Oh and before I get flamed for saying it, I KNOW that no one is supposed to see how good my 642 looks with the new wood grips.

 

[cslinger]

I want the gun as easily concealable as possible while still retaining the ability to shoot it well. I have a model 60 with wood grips and will soon have a 642 with the small CT laser grips.

If you cannot shoot the gun well then you shouldn't be carrying it. If you shoot the gun well doesn't matter what it looks like. You can conceal anything with the right dress and attitude so if you need bigger go with bigger.

My CCW criteria is.
-Absolute reliability
-Ability to shoot it well at reasonably close ranges 15 yards and closer
-Caliber of at least .38 Special
-Ease of concealability

For me that pretty much puts me into the J-Frame sized revolver camp.

Chris

Oh and just for the record I am kind of a revolvers should have wood grips kind of guy myself. Whenever I get around to picking up a 642 it will be the only revolver I have that will not have wood on it, but I want the laser grips for a night sighting system.

 

[Chipperman]

If you are not confident in your ability to securely hold onto the gun in a stressful situation, that is not good.

I'd go with the wood grips and change you mode of dress to assist concealment.

...otherwise use a different gun for CCW.

 

[Jim K]

I found the factory Hogue grips on a 342 to be not only useless but painful. I put on a set of the old standard Magna wood stocks. Now I can get a good DA grip and hang onto the little monster.

Jim

 

[perception]

I don't mind trading a tiny bit of concealability for having a gun with a grip I can comfortably use. I carry a sig p229, and the fat grip is a bit hard to make dissapear. I could carry something smaller, but I would rather have a gun that fits my hand well than have one that conceals better.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

There is no one correct answer and even for a given person, there may be multiple answers that that will depend on context.

For example, I firmly believe that a person's concealed carry gun should be of the largest caliber that the person can handle extremely well, deploy well, shoot well, that is reliable and that can be concealed. For general purposes, that is a full-sized 1911. I may have to make a little extra effort to keep it concealed, but the effort is warranted for the power.

Work is another situation. Concealed carry is not allowed and working in close proximity to others, sometimes in tight confines, means not being able to carry a large gun like a full-sized 1911 that could potentially be discovered through casual contact. So a pocket gun is warranted. However, this is a big compromise in power and ability to shoot as well, as fast, and as far. My choice had been a Colt Pony, but I grew so disgusted with it that I purchased a Kahr PM9 that has more power and I can shoot it better at more than 3 times the distance I could shoot the Pony. The Kahr isn't a full-sized 1911, but does currently represent the largest caliber I can handle well that can be concealed well enough in tight quarters situations such that it will not be discovered by casual contact.

If you think about it, there are several compromises in concealed carry and they are greater when you are going for deep concealment. However, one place in which you don't want to compromise is in your ability to land shots on target. It won't do you much good if you can't hit our intended target and may cause you great harm when your intended target manages to shoot you or that your errant shot hits a non-combatant or one of the good guys.

Don't forget that your optimal carry gun may turn out to NOT be the gun you are intending to carry and so you may need to rethink your carry gun options, at least for some situations.

 

[KAR120C]

I just couldn't get used to my pinky hanging in space with the original two finger grips on my 340PD, so I got the three finger Laser Grips. I don't know that a two finger grip would actually have resulted in less control, but it distracted me, and I don't need to be distracted in a life or death situation. I sometimes wish it were a little smaller for concealability, but only rarely. In truth I don't think the slightly longer grips are going to make it any more noticable.

Go with the bigger grips, and if you aren't happy with how it fits in your pocket, extend the pocket. Cut the bottom 2" off your pocket, then cut the bottom 3" off of a similar pair of pants that you've worn out. Sew the 3" peice onto your carry pocket... and you have a pocket that is almost an inch deeper. Just be sure to make a strong seam.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I guess I should clarify that I can shoot the 642 well with the smaller grips, but as Jim Keenan indicated, they are painful. I also find them not very comfortable when shooting. I CAN shoot the gun effectively. I just dont like shooting it at all in that configuration. But then again, in a life or death situation, I'll like shooting it fine.

 

[BlackJack]

Looking at your specific question--what's most important in a CCW handgun--my assessment is the following are the key factors in order:

1 - your ability with the gun to put 1-3 bullets where you want them (say within a 9" circle) at 7 yards or less quickly.
2 - your ability to carry the gun on your person concealed for long periods of time (preferably all day every day) without revealing that face to the casual observer.
3 - all other factors--price, looks, feel, etc.

I carry an S&W 637 in a pocket holster. I'm more accurate and faster at distance with an M1911, Browning Hi-Power, or S&W 686, but they're not as concealable all day every day, even with a good holster.

The most important thing to remember is this--whatever you have, whether you got to choose it or have to make do, spend more money on range time and ammo than you do on the gun practicing. Practice a little, often, instead of a lot, rarely (e.g. 10rds once a week instead of 200rds once a year). Use big close targets so you don't lose bullets, practice what you do poorly first, not what you do well, and remember--accuracy first, then speed.

Hope this is of use to you.

 

[Darth Ruger]

Ditto everything cslinger said.

Get a SmartCarry. Then you can have the grips that
give you better control, and it won't be a problem concealing it.

Then again, if you move to England or Australia,
the problem will be solved for you.

 

[Colt]

My choice had been a Colt Pony, but I grew so disgusted with it that I purchased a Kahr PM9 that has more power ...

I did the same thing, but couldn't adjust to the DAO of the Kahr. Did you try the Colt Mustang? It's much more similar to the 1911 than the Pony. The Mustang's a true SA.

.380 is a bit of a compromise from a 9mm, but the Mustang operates so similarily to the 1911 I carry the other 6 months of the year that I feel the comfort/accuracy of the Mustang is worth the trade.

Just my $.02

 

[Mulliga]

I CAN shoot the gun effectively. I just dont like shooting it at all in that configuration.

If you can shoot the gun reasonably well and can tolerate the unpleasantness of firing it enough to practice regularly (say, a couple cylinders every range trip), then I would just keep the boot grips. Or, you could use the large grips for the range and the small grips for carry (yeah, I know this goes against the whole "practice what you carry" philosophy, but I figure the trigger pull, sights, etc. will be the same, so a change in grip for comfort's sake on the range won't matter).

 

[bubbygator]

Here's a tip I've mentioned before. I tried all sorts of things for my Model-60 many years ago. Finally discovered that if I wrapped tennis grip-tape around a small boot grip, that the grip didn't seem so small now that my hold was more secure. Turned out my little finger didn't really contribute that much. Try it - it might work for you too.

 

[Old Fuff]

A big part of the trouble is that the "boot" style of grips add material back of the trigger guard, and then don't extend beyond the bottom of the butt. This leaves just enough room for two fingers.

CDNN sells a simple pair of wood grips that convert a round-butt J-frame into the standard "J" square butt configuration. They are no longer then the boot-grip, but leave more room for ones fingers.

On problem though. The back of the trigger guard will sock your fingers if you shoot +P/heavy bullet loads, which I don't.

Sometime ya' have to make a hard choice ...

 

[MachIVshooter]

A CCW should be as compact as possible while still maintaining funtion. For example, I am 5'11" 180 lbs and my Witness Compact 10mm is a bit on the large and heavy side for CCW on my frame, but it holds 10+1 rounds of very potent ammunition and I can unload it into center mass of a silhouette at 20 feet in under three seconds. I can also stay in the black of a B-3 target at 25 yards 90% of the time with it (slowfire). Sure, a S&W 340pd (one that I have considered) is much easier to pack, but offers less energy due to the shorter barrel, has half the capacity, far less accuracy and is borderline uncontrollable with hot loads.

 

[Biker]

A) It must go "bang" everytime I pull the trigger.
B) I must be able to carry it everyday.
C) It must be .380 or bigger (my usual is 45 LC).
D ) Ease of shooting is last. If it is a bit difficult for you to shoot but provides acceptable accuracy at 7 yards or less and it meets the above criteria, practice can make the weapon seviceable for self-defense puposes.

Just a couple o' pennies...
Biker

 

[GI Jane]

Dh and I had a similer talk a few days ago. I like the beretta 9000s on sale at the Mountain right now but I feel it is too small for my grip.So I don't wanna use it a my ccw gun. So he says it dosent matter its function is for easy concealment. I said who cares about that, I have to feel comfortable with anything I carry. Indiana's permit dosentt say it has to be concealed anywhere on it anyways. It must function correctly and I must be familier with it....That way I can put it to work when I need to and I know My intended target is going down.

So my anwser to this question is: I belive if the grips help you to feel more at ease with for ccw gun it is important.

 

[Standing Wolf]

As far as I'm concerned, shootability has to be the first consideration: ultimately, that's what a carry gun is for.

That said™, there's no way I'd even consider carrying a gun with plastic or rubber grips: I'd be too embarrassed to look myself in the eye in the mirror every morning.

 

[Javelin Man]

grips

My first concealed carry gun was a S&W mod 3 with a tiny wood grip. I don't know how I got through the class without dropping the thing as I shot it. I got a three-fingered grip through CDNN and it gave me a ton more grip. Unfortunately, the grip was almost as big as the gun, or at least it felt like it. I couldn't conceal that gun at all. I got another two-fingered rubber grip with a small indent for the pinky. I am thrilled with the way it handles. When I reach for it, it doesn't move around and stays in my hand as I shoot.

Yes, it's rubber, but it's also concealed. If I'm going to a range, I'll switch to the large wooden grips. As far as I'm concerned, the original grips will never be installed again as the rubber grips are perfect for me and the large wooden grips are for show.