Which are the best handguns for concealed carry?
Which are the best handguns for concealed carry?
The short answer is, of course, it depends.
There are, however, many small and compact, quite usable pistols designed for carry.
Kahr, for example, makes a number of pistols similar to their P9, PM9, CW9, and P380.
Kel-Tec makes the P11, P32, P3AT, and PF9, all designed as sub-compact carry pistols.
S&W makes a line of compact and lightweight revolvers. Someone will be along shortly to list them.
Then, of course, there are the other revolver makers that do similar sizes and calibers.
Moving on, we find the Rohrbaugh R9 and R380, Ruger's LCP and LCR line of carry pistols, the Taurus PT series, and the Bersa Thunder 380.
And who could forget the Seecamp series?
There are plenty of them out there.
And, if you'd like, you can mosey on over here to see a comparision chart.
Enjoy!
One final note, though: whatever you decide to carry, you should be able to hit reasonably well with it out to 20 or thirty yards. Your life could depend on it.
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My 1911s, full sized and compact, work for me.
Gee, I'd love to see your data!
Personal, I think the CZ PCR is one of the best compact autos ever made for CCW, but it really depends what you want, what feels good to you, what modifications to dress and such you are wiling to make. If you want to stay neat and tucked in with form fitting garments, maybe an NAA 22 mini revolver in an ankle holster is the best you can do. If you are fat old and married like me, who really doesn't care what everyone else thinks about how I look, well, I can hide the full size CZ SP-01 Phantom with 18 round mag under a large t-shirt.
What are you looking for?
Too many varibles go into the equision. IE your body build, where you carry it, type of holster, preference.
CD
De Oppresso Liber
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Rod:
Welcome aboard....
There probably are as many correct answers as there are guns available....
If you are at all experienced with handguns, it's easier. Otherwise, it's going to get iffy....
First, establish a budget, and decide if you'll buy used or not.
Find a range that will rent guns, and try as many as they'll let you, or you can afford. Don't be all that enthused about little bitty guns until you've actually tried one - a gun that you can't shoot comfortably, and a lot of the small ones may be in that category, will end up on the night table or in a safe....
Avoid anything smaller than 9mm. .22's and .380's can be had in very tiny configurations. However, the former just aren't reliable manstoppers, if they fire at all, and the latter aren't that great at stopping somebody, either. (We shoot to STOP.... If the BG gets dead, he knew the job was dangerous when he took it.)
Also, avoid the "horsepower race" issues - a 2" .357 "airweight" revolver is going to be very uncomfortable with all but the lightest loads. Again, some problems with practice.... Usually you can tolerate .38Spl loads in those, but YMMV. If you're going to carry a revolver, a 3" Chief's Special or something of that size, in .38Spl should do it for most people. If you can handle something bigger, S&W and Ruger make some nice 2", 3", and 4" revolvers that will also do the job. My first "concealment" gun (that I could actually hit anything with) was a 4" S&W M10HB. The heavy barrel version of the then-standard "Police Uniform" gun from S&W. I'm kinda big, though....
If you're into semi-automatics, I really like the S&W M&P9C or M&P40C. The latter's a bit punishing, but not too terrible. The 9's just nice.... I wear a 40C around the house....
My EDC "outside" is one of two Officer's sized 1911's in .45ACP. They're a tad heavy, but about the same size as the 40C. Night sights and lasers.... (You don't really need either, but that's another thread.) The 40C would be just as good, but I already had the two 1911's....
Those are just a couple of potential starters.... If you have a friend who's in a gun club, or can join (or just hang around) one, you may also get the opportunity to talk to locals. Everybody's an expert, of course, but you will hear some good ideas.
(I'm an expert.... I bought that M10HB in 1968. Oh well, I'm old, anyway....)
It's probably NOT a good idea to just walk into a gun shop and ask 'em, unless they've got a range and rental capabilities. The counterguys may be working on commissions or spiffs, and point you to whatever they'll make the most money on. This isn't the worst thing that can happen if we're talking "name brand", but some of those can be hilariously expensive. (If you get a good recommendation FOR a gun shop, though, give it a try....)
Sound like a rough row to hoe, and it probably is, but finding a friend can really help out here.
My favorite local gun pusher quit carrying junkers, and seems to be more helpful lately. Never a problem for me after 42+ years in owning/carrying firearms. I did nail him once, though. I was having a problem with a gun, and he walked around the barrier to the back room with "well, if you'd buy better ammunition". To which I responded: "As soon as you start selling it."
(I was a little surprised to get out of there without damage
Regards,
Stu
(Why write a quick note when you can write a novel?)
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You don't tell us about yourself, your surroundings, or your usual dress, which are all relevant.
An example, myself --
I am a pretty large guy (6'2", 280) -- I work in an industrial setting, business casual dress -- spend a lot of off-time outdoors -- live in Mississippi with very hot summers.
So -- to work daily, nothing, it's prohibited by the workplace. Off, for six months a year, a mid-size revolver carried IWB strongside, or sometimes a Ruger Mark II carried same way (for impromptu squirrel hunting). When it is too hot, I go to a 32 revolver pocket carried in baggy cargo shorts.
YMMV. Fill us in.
Paul
People have some respect for the complexity of technology. But almost every ignorant fool thinks he understands money and economics.
I the winter time I carry a Glock26 in a belt hoster-135 gr hydra-shok
Summer tine usually carry kel-tec P3-AT or Sig 380 in pocket hoster.
I consider concealed carry is only for self defense.
I don’t see self defense as an issue at the range or on the back forty. However, I might conceal carry on the way to a range, and I carry a large gun when checking the timber.
Therefore, for an SD gun I’m not interested in sights adjustable for windage and elevation and I don’t try to hit a bull’s-eye at 100 yards. If I can draw, fire, and get it onto an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper at twenty feet in one second I’m satisfied.
I have a practice (can it be called a hobby?) of spotting other CCWs. Hawaiian shirt? Watch carefully and if a CCW you can usually spot the slight bulge. Big out-of-pants T-shirt? Watch and if a CCW you’ll always spot the slight bulge. Of course, most of the general public is not aware of CCW and never notice a thing; you could likely go around with a double barrel 12 gauge stuffed down your pants leg and no one be aware of it.
I’ve found, at least for me, that cocking the gun is slower than double action.
I have automatics and a couple have had malfunctions. SD ain’t no time for a malfunction.
In SD I don’t plan on using a “Weaver Stance” because I believe that by the time I’ve Weavered I’ll have been stanced. My SD guns have laser sights, which I’ve learned, after a lot of practice, that I don’t really need but they don’t hinder me so they’ll stay.
So:
I pocket carry a Ruger LCR revolver. Others make a gun just as good, and some say better, and I’ll not argue that. I have a .357 revolver in the car or truck in an easily accessed spot. The LCR makes a very slight bulge in my pocket but the soccer mom has no idea that it’s a gun, unless she’s also a CCW. I don’t wear tight pants but neither do I wear a size bigger.
When wearing a hip length jacket I carry cross draw.
I don’t own a Glock but some of my best friends do and I still associate with them. A family member has one but whatcha gonna do about family?
Ranked by compactness, not preference:
1. J-frame .38 (SW 342 is the best of them)
2. Walther PPS 9 mm (a hair bigger but way flatter than the J-frame)
3. Glock 29 (10mm)
4. 1911 .45 (Govt 5-inch barrel or Commander 4.25-inch; I like Smith & Wessons)
I'll stop there; I'm very happy with just those.
Guns, if they have a moral dimension, are good. Without guns, the strong can always dominate the weak; the many can always dominate the few; and men can always dominate women. A gun gives each person an agency equivalent to his (or her) moral standing. In my humble opinion, those who teach correct and proper gun use are doing G-d's work.
Rod:
Clay reminded me about accuracy.... There's a horsepower race going on in that area, too. You'll see "Match Barrel", for example....
Doesn't matter.... Presuming you do your job, and there's nothing wrong with the gun, putting about six rounds into a six-inch circle at about 30' is more than enough for Self Defense.... If you don't feel that the gun is doing this, before you start adjusting sights or thinking about swapping it for something else, get somebody else (preferably an experienced shooter) to try the gun. It could be you
(You should never buy or carry a gun that "you must point six inches to the left", for example. If it doesn't more or less naturally go into your hand and shoot more or less where it's pointed, there's something wrong, but it could be your technique. New shooters tend to need to train up a bit....)
Also, if the budget allows more than one gun, don't join the "gun of the month club" - always carry a gun that works more or less exactly the same as any others you're going to carry. If one has a thumb safety, all should, or at least not have a thumb safety that goes the other way. In my case, the M&P I usually carry has a thumb safety for training commonality, but the design just doesn't need one. But at least it's "down to fire" like the 1911's.... I've got a couple other semi's where it's "UP to fire".... Fortunately, they can be safely carried with the safety off, as a decocker. It's always easier to miss something that you don't need than to try to figure out which way to move it. This is still NOT a great idea, but you can live with it.
I'm also a believer in "more or less the same recoil and trigger". No need to really match this stuff, but when the trigger pulls are similar, you'll shoot 'em both more accurately. The recoil issue helps avoid the "where the heck did my hand go" effect of firing that a small .357 can provide....
The good news in the recoil area is that if you're used to a .45, for example, anything smaller should be comfortable enough. The exceptions are usually the mini-guns (often .380's) or those super-lightweight magnums.
It really boils down to "pick something that feels good" and practice, practice, practice....
Regards,
Stu
(Why write a quick note when you can write a novel?)
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j-frame 642 or 332 or pd451
p11 or p9
Sig p239/40
colt defender, and to walk the dog a
p380
these rather require that you are a somewhat accomplished shooter and can handle recoil in smallish packages.
Teachers can learn ua the rules;
Experience teaches you the exceptions
The ones you handle best.Which are the best handguns for concealed carry?
My suggestion is to locate a copy of Massad Ayoob's "The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry". It is a pretty thorough volume covering the subject and it would provide more useful information than this thread.
Ayoob is one of the best of the current gun writers. I do note, however, that he comes to guns and all associated subjects surrounding guns from the standpoint of law enforcement. As such, he pretty much discounts all handguns of .380ACP caliber and smaller and covers mostly the .38 Special caliber snubby revolvers, small 9mm caliber autoloaders and larger guns and calibers in the book.
I carried a full size 1911 until I decided I wanted the simplicity of a revolver. Didn't want to give up power so I got a .357 Ruger SP101. IMHO this might be the best carry gun there is. I did however replace it recently with another Ruger .357, a 3" GP100. Most people think the GP100 is too big for concealed carry but it works for me with a custom IWB holster. Both revolvers are DAO ('hammerless'), stainless steel, with fixed sights. Hard to break, simple to work.
Iff'n it were me, I'd recommend using the Ruger LCP and LC9 as a baseline. You could do a lot worse than either of them as a starting point for your research.
They may not end up being your choice, but both are excellent, quality hardware and have the benefit of being reasonably priced, unlike some smaller guns that appear to charge extra for being small?
I'm guessing you're a noob?
If so, I'd second the recommendation of The Gun Digest Book of Concealed Carry.
Heck-get your hands on anything by Ayoob!
Oh, and are you considering carrying yourself? 'Cause as you may already know, the legal recognition of your right to do so in California varies tremendously depending on what county you live in.
Please bear in mind this is just an opinion, sir.
For a man, a hammer-less snub-nose .38.
For a woman, a purse-gun, most notably a 22LR automatic.
But I'm not the one to ask, because in my "not catering to the whims of criminals" style, I prefer to carry a full-size pistol which I can also
enjoy shooting accurately at the range.
The most important thing to remember if you need a gun is that you have to HAVE a gun. A great big bearstopper that's locked in your safe at home does you no good if a mugger decides he needs your car more than you do when you're filling it up at the gas station.
My usual gun is an S&W 340Sc, which I load with Winchester .357 Silvertip hollowpoints. It wears Crimson Trace lasergrips that cover the backstrap with rubber, so it's merely unpleasant - rather than downright painful - to shoot. But if I'm somewhere legal to carry, it's in my pocket, well concealed yet accessable even if uniform of the day is cargo shorts and T-shirt.
Depending on wardrobe (which impacts what I can conceal), I may alternatively carry a G26, BHP, or 1911.
Pay attention - the inmates really are running the asylum.
FYI:
http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdf
As other post-ers indicate, any handgun can be concealed, if you are willing to do what it takes; the above site is just one bit of information.
Powder smoke- The smell of FREEDOM!
I don't shoot to kill; I shoot to LIVE!
IMO
Smaller is better.
A full size gun is a better shooter, but it is just too easy to leave it home because, "It's not practical today."
I love my Seecamp because it's so easy to drop in my pocket.
S&W J-frame, I like all steel. May be a tad heavier but I get better follow-up shots. 38SPL+P 158gr SWCHP.
Glock 26 if you fell you'd need more fire power. (10 vs 5). 124gr +Ps
My two cents and personal choices.
Bersa Thunder .380
Bersa Thunder Pro UC9mm
Ruger SR9c 9mm
Glock 19
Glock 26
Bersa BP9cc 9mm
Instead of trotting out the usual list of makes and models, I'll give you the down and dirty of what it takes to select what handgun is right for you personally.
1) go to the local gunshop, preferably one with an extensive handgun selection.
2) handle all sorts of handguns. Revolvers, autoloaders, big ones, small ones, chambered in everything that starts with a .3 and up to the big stuff that seems completely improbable.
3) Set aside the ones that feel good in your hands, put the rest back under glass.
4) Determine how large a gun, both size and caliber you will consistently carry and be able to handle well. A CCW does no good if left at home because you find it too inconvenient or uncomfortable to shoot.
5) Select the handgun that meets that criteria. The largest size you will carry because larger frame handguns are more controllable in any given caliber and longer sight radius makes hitting the target a bit easier. Larger caliber because nobody ever walked away from a gunfight wishing they'd had a smaller gun with less ammo.
Personally, I carry a full size 1911 with a reload or two. Your personal threshold for size, weight, recoil and inconvenience may be greater or less than mine. Only you know the answer to that, so only you can determine which pistol is right for you.
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Some of the smartest people I've known were "dumb hillbillies".
To add to 1911Guy's suggestion; take whatever gun you have to the range and shoot. If you are safe and friendly yourself, many other shooters will gladly let you try their guns. If you mention that you are looking for a CCW and will help with ammo cost, you will just about have a line of people offering to let you shoot their favorite blasters!
Powder smoke- The smell of FREEDOM!
I don't shoot to kill; I shoot to LIVE!
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