What's the best concealed carry handgun?

[Jay the Plinker]

I was wondering because I like the xd-m but don't know much about handguns.
Also could you explain why and what are some good concealed carry holsters?
I really don't know

 

[Shadow 7D]

What ever you got on you when you need it...
past that it's just personal preference

 

[R.W.Dale]

It's not going to help much but this is a very person dependent question.

What works for me in terms of guns, holsters or carry method may not work worth squat for the next guy.

My advice is to try to go to a range that can rent you several COMPLETELY different types of handguns. Shoot em then decide what offers YOU the best balance of accuracy, ease of operation and potential concealability.

Then you can dive off into what holster. Which is where seasoned ccw'ers will pretty much recommend their newest holster they haven't yet religated to "the box"

 

[Skribs]

What's the best color of crayon? That might as well be the question you asked. There are way too many factors, all of which involve some personal decisions on your part.

What type of trigger do you want (or is trigger important to you)? Look at the sticky for your answers there.
Do you want a small, easily concealable handgun or a large handgun that will be more stable and carry more ammunition? Both can be concealed, smaller is just easier.
Do you want autoloader or revolver? I advocate autoloaders, but if you absolutely like revolvers better, go with the wheelgun.
What caliber do you want? I advocate 9mm, but the .40 and .45 make bigger holes, and the 5.7 is a unique animal.

That's just some of the basics to get you close. If you decide you want a compact 9mm striker-fired polymer pistol, then you have to decide between G26, S&W M&P9C, Ruger SR9C, FNS 9C, XDm 9C, Caracal C, and Taurus PT 24/7 compact...

As for holsters, I'd google the different holster types and see what works best. Chances are you'll end up with a drawer full of holsters that had great reviews but you hated. I've got some that looked great and sucked. Just a word of advice on holsters - don't get a fabric holster ever. There are special fabrics that make quality pocket holsters, but if you're using a holster outside the pocket, go with kydex (which is my preference, it's basically a polymer that maintains its shape), leather (which forms to the gun and your body but takes a week to get working right) or a hybrid leather/kydex holster (which I don't like).

My personal preference for a conceal carry holster is IWB (inside the waistband).

 

[Shadow 7D]

Considering the box, it's worth asking for a PM, cause it's you can usually buy from the box at a substantial saving and you will know the advantages and shortcomings from the previous owner, and a gun show always has people cleaning out 'the box'

 

[Jay the Plinker]

I really like 9mm and the trigger is a deciding factor.

 

[Skribs]

So...which trigger style do you want? Just stating it's a factor doesn't help us narrow it down.

 

[357 Terms]

Like many have said; it all comes down to what fits you best.

Shoot as many variants as you can, find out what suits you best.

Me; I carry a DAO sp101 357 and a commander/bobtailed 1911.

YMMV.....

A good holster can make all the difference, and that is another variant...

 

[MrDig]

The one sitting next to me on my desk and no you can't have it get your own.......
Seriously? I can't tell you what gun to buy I can only tell you to find people willing to let you shoot theirs or a range that will rent some different ones.
9mm is a popular caliber choice for people who are just starting out.
Newer models with single stack magazines are quite popular right now. (A magazine that only stacks one round on top of the other, as opposed to staggering them to hold more.) Single stacks are slimmer and easier to conceal.
Some are liking the pocket rockets again too. 32 25 and 22 caliber pocket guns.
Personally I would not carry smaller than .380 but that's my opinion not gospel.
Truth be told I carry a Kel-Tec P11 which is a staggered Magazine 9mm.
Most often I also carry a 9mm Derringer as a Back Up Gun "BUG"

 

[oldcelt]

I have two favorite carry guns, Ruger sp101 327 fed. and Glock 19. I don't know if these are the best but they fit my lifestyle perfectly

 

[madstabber]

smith & wesson 642.

 

[frankmako]

way too many factors, all of which involve some personal decisions on your part.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

This has been debated for literally the last 100 years or more. There is no firm answer. Rent or borrow as many guns as you can and see what you like. Take a bunch of classes from top notch instructors and you will form opinions about what works for you. Don't be in a rush to buy a new pistol.

 

[RBid]

To determine your own, you must determine:

- your preferred trigger configuration. Double Action Only (DA), Single Action Only (SA), DA/SA (DA first pull --> SA subsequent pulls).

- your preferred carry method. IWB (inside waistband), OWB (outside-), pocket carry, IWB- appendix, cross draw, shoulder holster, purse/man-bag, etc. Some guns are simply not suited for some carry methods. For example, you're not putting a 1911 in your jeans pockets.

- how much weight you want to carry

- external dimensions of the pistol (length, height, width).

- hammer, or striker fired?

- which type of safeties do you/don't you want? grip safety (1911, XD/XDm), manual thumb safety (1911, M&P, SR9c, etc), "trigger safety" (many poly pistols)

- in which condition do you want to carry? cocked & locked (pistol cocked, round in the chamber, manual safety engaged), etc.

Example:
I like poly style "single action" (misnomer. partially cocked striker, short and light trigger pull). I like to carry IWB, at 4:30. I like light pistols, smaller than a Glock 19. I favor striker fired pistols, and I prefer a manual thumb safety, so that I can carry with one in the pipe, and the safety engaged.

 

[smalls]

What's the best concealed carry handgun?"

:banghead:

 

[TennJed]

Well the NAA mini .22 is probably the most concealable. Start there and work you way up using details. like, caliber, semi or revolver, number of rounds, price range, ect.

 

[coalman]

The one you'll not regret having when you need it. For me, the Glock 26 for small and the Glock 30 when I have more room.

 

[mdauben]

Personally, if I could have one and only one handgun for CCW, I would chose the Glock 19. Its a reliable caliber, a reasonable size, light weight and utterly reliable. However, that's just my opinion. There's plenty of people who would pick any number of other guns (1911's, S&W's, H&K's, Sig's, etc.) for any number of reasons.

 

[C0untZer0]

This has been debated for literally the last 100 years or more.

Yes but then Carl Rohrbaugh introduced the R9 in 2004 and that has ended the debate.

 

[mljdeckard]

No one here can answer that for you. You need to go to a rental range and try different guns.

I tell my carry students to start with standardized, medium-sized guns in service calibers. It is easy to find holsers, magazines, and ammo for guns that are in wider use. You don't have to buy the most expensive gun, but remember that this if you ever have to use it, it is the singlemost important investment you have ever made. Glock 19, S&W J-Frame, Springfield Armory XD, 1911 series, Sig, etc. I have kind of run out of a reason to use the .40 S&W. 9mm has higher capacity, and .45 makes a bigger hole, all are quite effective. The smaller a gun is, the harder it is to shoot well.

The biggest thing here is to discern the difference between wise advice and peer pressure. You have your own set of circumstances that makes everyone else's advice iffy, if not worthless. Just because your uncle was in Vietnam doesn't mean that a 1911 is the best gun for you. Just because cops use Glock 22s doesn't mean there isn't something better.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Best Concealed Carry Handgun, for me it is the S&W 442 if you are talking all around EDC.

I tried many before I switched and recommend you try several different styles to see if you naturally hit with one easier than the other.

Here are a few reasons I went with the 442.

1) Tips from THR members.

2) Having shot them much more than semi autos ,I am most comfortable with revolvers so the Manual of Arms is deep in my brain.

3) I like the .38 special round for SD.

4)When loaded the 442 is still so light all day carry is barely noticeable with the right holster. I can carry IWB,OWB ,or in pocket with equal ease.

5) Hammerless -- After I witnessed a friends revolver being cocked by a dog jumping on him, I decided "no hammer " was a very good thing.

6)3-3-3,, most SD situations occur using 3 rounds in 3 seconds from 3 yards.
The revolver has no safety to disengage, no slide to rack and not nearly as much to snag if carrying or firing from a coat pocket.

7) I know a drummer that had an ND with a hammerless semiauto, while it was in his back pocket. As he was drumming the safety slipped off, if it is not safe with one in the chamber why bother carrying it.

I did put the extended Hogue grips on my 442 for more control. The 642 is fine also but I prefer my SD handguns to be Blued or Black not SS.

Many folks are glad to let you try their handguns. I took a friend out last weekend that had only shot .22s and he was shooting weak hand with the 442 in no time. ( a good thing to practice before purchasing a CC)

Hope you find what works for you.

 

[skoro]

S&W Model 642

 

[Godsgunman]

Simple answer = the one you carry everyday and everywhere.
It is such an individual preference its just something that you need to take time and pick out a few and see what works for you. I rotate between a CZ 82 and a S&W 6904. I chose those for a number of reasons (reliability and accuracy being my top 2), and some people may agree or disagree with my choices but it doesn't matter because I am skilled in the use of my choices and they can be just as skilled with theirs.

 

[hardluk1]

There is no best CC handgun. The one you like is your best.

 

[Skribs]

Answers like "the one you carry" doesn't really help when someone is trying to decide what to carry. There are reasons to choose one option over another, its all a compromise in the pistol world. It's better to guide someone to something that will work for them by asking close-ended questions than to simply open it up with "whatever".