What's important in a Concealed Carry weapon?
 

When you were considering a concealed carry, what was most important to you in making your decision? Are there other considerations besides what I listed below? How did you prioritize these?

1. Size of weapon for ease of concealment.

2. Carrying capacity (number of rounds).

3. Caliber (for knock down power).

4. Comfort in shooting (large bore on a small frame kicks a lot).

5. Accuracy.

Most importantly, can I shoot it well? If I cannot confidently shoot it well then I shouldn't be carrying it. The purpose of a concealed weapon is self defense. If you cannot hit what you're aiming at you might as well leave it at home. Everything else falls in behind that.
Which Caliber, Number of rounds, Conceal-ability, Comfort....

I always tell people that carrying concealed is not supposed to be "comfortable" that being said... there are definitely more comfortable options out there for each different person. What works for me may not work for you.... But I do not sacrifice shooting comfort and accuracy for wearing comfort.

I think my next ccw buy will be a glock 43 I believe. Seems perfect for me.
-Jake

I disagree. I think first and foremost should be comfort so you aren't constantly fiddling with it and trying to adjust it. You want to "forget" that it is even there. If it isn't comfortable you most likely won't bring it along every day either, and whats the point in having a CCW permit if it sits at home?

+1 Jeepkid

Then you are misinforming people Jake. As Jeep pointed out, if it doesn't fit you then you wont want to carry the thing. Nobody wants to feel a hammer digging into their ribs or back all day. I tend to carry in a shoulder rig nowadays because it is just more comfortable than any type of waist carry. Old age "spread" has a lot more downfalls than just having to buy bigger pants :violin:

As far as the list goes, my first concern is now and always has been: how well I shoot it. Then comes trust in the weapon itself, is it going to fire when I need it the most. Then comes comfort for carry as well as concealment (printing). Every now and then I carry a 9mm but 90% of the time I carry a .45 so caliber wise I don't worry about to much. A man gets up from a well placed .45 has an S on his chest and I shouldn't be fooling with him anyway! :D

Interesting topic I am curious to see what other people post.

For me the most important characteristic is reliability: I have to be 100% certain that weapon is going to work and work in a big hurry. Carry comfort is also important for the reasons JeepKid wrote about. But for me reliability trumps comfort. And if you are wondering my primary CCW weapon is a Smith & Wesson "Chief's Special." Secondary to the Chief is a Kimber Solo.

Whether or not a carry gun is comfortable or not depends more on the holster and where you carry it than the gun itself, unless you are trying to carry a gun that is too big for concealed carry. I agree that the most important thing is how well can you shoot the gun consistently which means you should shoot the gun or one like it before you plunk down the money to buy it. There are so many choices out there in quality concealed carry holsters a person should not have a problem finding one that does the job. The rig must be comfortable, no doubt and in all the situations you will be in, sitting, riding in a vehicle walking etc, if not you will take it off and you won't have it when you need it. Of course you should practice bringing the gun to bear on a target from the holster you plan to carry the gun in and then practice regularly and if possible throw in some shooting under stress several times a year to find out what happens when you are under stress. Next for me is the caliber, I like a large caliber, .40 or .45, you will be able to shoot some brands better than others because of the distribution of the recoil in some guns is better than others. If you can't handle a large caliber, a small caliber is better than no gun. I never felt the need for a high capacity magazine, you can't shoot fast enough for poor marksmanship. That said, the agency I worked for for 33 years switched to Glocks in .357 Sig caliber about a year before I retired. That caliber is a good consideration as it packs a lot of punch and the grip is manageable to folks with small hands and it is rarely mentioned when people start asking about calibers.. The gun also must be reliable, it should go bang every time you pull the trigger, if it doesn't it is no more than a hammer.

1. Accuracy/Shootability - all of them are accurate, but not all are equally shootable I want a pistol that points naturally and hits what I need it to hit.

2. Manual of Arms - although not on your list, I pick my carry weapons based on their function, using a pretty simple rule: I want as little time and as few operations as possible between "oh $hit" and "bang" as possible. No manual safeties, no racking the slide to chamber a round, not overly heavy or overly long triggers, no cocking the hammer, etc etc... It should clear leather and then save my life, with nothing in between.

3. Size of weapon for ease of concealment - I've carried big, I've carried small, I know how I dress and how I move, and what works for me to carry. Small is good.

4. Caliber (for knock down power) - the cartridge has to be able to do the job. I carry a .380acp mostly, I've killed game with it, it does the job. I would not carry a 25acp, 22lr, 25acp, 32acp... But I'm comfortable and confident in the .380acp.

5. Carrying capacity (number of rounds) - I have absolute confidence in 5 shot revolvers for carry, as well as 6 and 7rnd pistols

NOT RANKED IN MY CONSIDERATION: Comfort in shooting (large bore on a small frame kicks a lot) - Carry pieces are shot often, but not shot a lot, they don't have to feel good under recoil, they just have to do the job.

Thanks for your feedback guys.

Just my preference, I really like my HK P-7 M8 single stack 9 mm Para.

One of safer methods to carry, not zero, but nearly zero chance of an unintended discharge.

Accuracy is exceptional for a non target type pistol.

I've never found a round yet it won't chamber, fire, eject and reload.

It is flat and easy to conceal.

Down side, it is heavy. But the extra weight makes a double tap easy.

You really have to clean it after a couple of hundred rounds, I usually clean it after a hundred.

I carry mine high under my armpit, with the proper holster I don't even notice it is there. Not the quickest draw but the most comfortable for me.

Funny I have factory tuned target pistols in 9 mm para, my P7 shoots nearly as well. It just seems to fit me. I have large paws but still prefer a single stack.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I carry a firearm for a living. I carry every second I'm off duty. Buy a proper holster, find a way to carry "comfortably" but the point of ccw is not comfort. At all. If it were we'd all carry pillows. Perhaps you're taking the "not supposed to be comfortable.." too literally. It's also not supposed to be uncomfortable. But to pick your weapon based #1 on comfort is not correct.
Dress around your weapon. If that means you can't wear a tank top and swim trunks to the mall, then you don't wear tank tops and swim trunks to the mall. I can comfortably carry in the summer while wearing a tshirt and shorts..., with quality gear it's possible with most compacts and subcompacts. But I'm the first to admit that wearing a weapon all day is not comfortable. There are days my back is sore, my hip is sore( from wearing a duty belt which is a whole other topic) and even throwing an IWB holster on is not the most comfortable option. Point is, Comfort is fairly low on my list for selecting a CCW.
What are your goals? If your goal is to comfortably carry your weapon, buy something small, light, and carry it in a cell phone type case on your belt, or in a pocket holster. But don't complain when your empty because you couldn't shoot beyond 21 feet.
If your goal is to defend yourself, your family, and others around you, then pick a weapon that you can do that with. And learn how to wear it in the way that works best for you.
The CCW game has changed in recent years in my opinion. The threats people used to carry for are different than the threats we can face today. Mass shootings have simply changed the game. A small compact low round revolver was a good option when you were concerned about a robber catching you on the street. But now a threat could potentially be an Active Shooter in a crowded mall, 75 feet away with an AR15. A compact, small caliber, low round count "comfortable" option is still better than not carrying at all... But there are better options out there, and it may require you to sacrifice a little comfort. Just my opinion.
As mentioned I carry a springfield XDS off duty. Usually on an IWB holster. I also always carry a spare magazine usually in my pocket.. Not because I want my pockets full of junk because it's comfortable, but because I believe that's the smartest and safest option.
Again, any carry option is better than not carrying. So if you need to be comfortable, buy for comfort. It's better than nothing.
-Jake

I'll add this as well... I may have different goals than many with ccw due to my career choice. I personally would not be comfortable just carrying a ruger lcp as my only option. But for many people that may work perfectly. It just doesn't fit the role that I need it to fill.
-Jake

You're right, the point of a CCW isn't "comfort", it is actually carry a concealed weapon. And who is going to carry something that isn't comfortable? That's the point I was getting at. I hear it all the time that guys/gals don't carry every day because it's "inconvenient", not practical, etc...

And I'm sure you're goals, my goals and Joe Fridays goals are all much different. I live in a very small town in California where things are very conservative, but just an hour away are "cities" where CCW's are pretty much non-existent so my goals are ABSOLUTELY no printing or fiddling with my holster or weapon, ever. So I will sacrifice firepower for comfort, if I can't do the job in 7 rounds of 9mm then I shouldn't be engaging the threat.

In my perfect world, I could open carry and I'd be carrying a nickel 1911 or an FN FiveSeven. :rock:

Jake, you make some very good points. Especially that the world we live in is much different than just 10 years ago. Lots to consider.

A CCW should first be concealable under any circumstance. While size has lots to do with concealibility it will affect comfort. Ease of operation and firepower are the next things I consider. These are subject to the individual opinions.

I like a revolver in .357 mag. It is a Ruger LCR so no hammers, safety, or racking a slide. Very quick and quiet to get out and shoot.

In the other hand some don't like the idea of 5 shot revolver so they would need an automatic pistol with a detachable magazine. You have access to more ammunition capacity and quicker reloads.

If I spent more time around big cities I might reconsider my definition of firepower from a few powerful shots to more ammunition capacity and reloads.

Excellent topic with some quality answers. To answer your questions, see my answers in blue ink below. In general, I try to match my CCW weapon (size/caliber-wise) to the risks/situation that I anticipate. After that, I figure out what options I have as far as clothing, methods, etc.



Other considerations--You asked (wisely) about other considerations. From personal experience, these are my observations based on 25 years of carrying both openly and CCW. If you're carrying openly, full size is the only way to go. Longer sight radius for more precise aiming, etc.

If you're carrying CCW, it depends on what your CCW needs are, what clothing you're going to wear and what types of threats you anticipate. I know, no simple rule.

If you're going into some dangerous area where you think you'll have a reasonable chance of being involved in a shooting or gunfight, you should consider carrying full size and carrying extra magazines. Even better, bring friends who are also carrying CCW.

If you have to carry CCW, here are some important facts to realize. For just speed of draw and shoot accurately, these are the fastest to slowest methods of CCW:
1. Waist/belt/inside the belt holster--Hanfs down (no pun intended), this is the fastest method. Border patrol type holster is probably the fastest followed by various upright holsters with safety holsters being the slowest.
2. Gun bag holster is 2nd fastest method. Not as fast as belt holster but significantly; faster than # 3.
3. Shoulder holster. Is significantly slower than #'s 1 & 2. I know people like the Miami Vice look and it has it's place but just be aware that it is slower.
4. Small of the back holster. A lot of reaching and it is slower also.
5. Ankle holster. Not really that stealthy when you look for it and the slowest method involved.

There are other methods (hidden in purse, briefcase, jacket pocket, under short, etc.) that may be more stealthy (concealed) but they are generally also slower to draw and fire.

If you're thinking that you're "reacting" to the bad guy(s) criminal behavior and are starting behind the proverbial 8-ball, you're correct. The single best weapon you have is to pay attention to your surroundings and AVOID being placed into a shooting situation to begin with. Failing that, you want to keep large objects that offer cover/concealment between you and potential bad guys. Yes, it might seem a little paranoid but over time, you can get quite adept and smooth at this so it doesn't even look like you're doing it. After all, it's much easier trying to draw and fire from behind some kind of cover/concealment than having some dirtbag stick a gun in your face and you have to "react." Extra information to consider but it's smart to consider this type of "what if" stuff.

Hopefully all of this stuff helps some.

Maybe it is just me, but safety is right up there at the top of my list. I get in a situation maybe once every ten years when I may need a pistol. That is 3650 days, with every day a chance of an accidental discharge, against the one day I may actually need that pistol.

A quick draw is secondary for me, while having that pistol secure while I go about my daily chores is paramount. I'm not one for leaving my pistol laying around, even in a vehicle. I'm likely to be wearing it while I cut wood, dig holes or whatever.

The only pistol I'd ever carry with one in the chamber is my P-7. Everything else the chamber is empty. Racking the slide back only takes a second.

Even my revolvers have an empty chamber under the hammer. The experts will say you don't need it, with the newer pistols having a hammer block. I have one revolver now with a broken hammer block (it fell out one day at the range), fires just fine.

I always carry two extra magazines.

I've seen numerous accidental discharges. And I'm not talking about novice shooters either, mostly people who carry every day and had a brain fart. The law of averages is going to catch up with you some day.

I watched one guy blow his own kneecap off (mostly it was just hanging by a thread of meat).

I've seen or heard about numerous close calls. I'm a firm believer in Murphy's law, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. I plan for worst and hope for the best.

Open carry, that pistol is right at my crotch. It may look funny, but nobody is going to grab it from behind.

Concealed carry, a shoulder holster. High under the armpit is a good spot to be able to clamp that holster down tight with your arm if you have to run any distance. Kind of depends on your build if it will work for you.

I suppose the aspect of "high density crowd = potential target" is something to consider. I only go out to malls once a year, within the week before Christmas, and on that trip, I typically find myself taking my G19, SP101, or 1911 Officer with an extra mag or two (or speedloaders). A spree shooter wasn't necessarily on my mind, but rather the risk of groups outside of our malls.

Outside of that one trip to the mall, I've only been to 4 or 5 movies in theatres in about 10yrs. I'm just not in high density areas very often. I'm a lot more often to be found out in the middle of nowhere with a 44mag on my hip than I am to be found lost in a crowd.

Given a more frequent occurrence of high density exposures, I'd probably carry more rounds more often, and maybe a little longer barrel.

However, given my current employment, I do occasionally concern myself with our corporate offices getting hit by some activist while I'm there, but usually these types are spineless and poorly washed, so you can smell them coming, and they don't pose much threat. But... I do violate our corporate policy regularly and carry past the "no beretta's" sign on the door every day I end up at the office.

Speaking of the threat. I'm out and about most mornings before 3 A.M.. Once or twice a year I stumble across some sexually frustrated intoxicated or drugged up youngster who gets the wild thought in his mind that old men are easy prey. I figure alcohol and/or drugs and hormones are the main cause.

Most times I manage to out maneuver them, sometimes it turns into a confrontation.

Just last week I popped some drunk right between the eyes with the end of my nightstick.

The weirdest was one morning when some guy (really big) came running out of the darkness towards my Jeep, I slam on the brakes and he jumps up on my hood and makes faces in the windshield. Then runs around to the drivers door, which I got locked just before he grabbed the handle.

Coming out of the eye surgeons into a parking garage, I go to open my door and some guy appears from the front of my Jeep, then I hear a noise behind me. I managed to get in the Jeep faster than even I believed possible and locked the door.

Weirdness only happens once or twice a year, but the law of averages says someday I'm going to get caught napping. And I'm a firm believer in having options. Your usually not in real trouble until you run out of options.

I think all these answers really point to a big "IT DEPENDS" If you spend most your time on your farm cutting firewood and feeding the chickens etc you're going to carry differently than somebody who spends their time in the big city. Also it depends on what your goals are, shoot and hide, or if you think you may need to go after the threat to stop it. Many things to consider that can really only be answered by the person who's asking the questions of themselves. I think we can all agree that it is better to carry than to not carry.
-Jake

This. Once i bought a micro .380 i find it easy to carry, therefore i actually carry it.

I carry a S&W Shield in a G-Code Incog holster appendix style.

But when looking a conceal carry pistol I first of course look to a company that has a great reputation like S&W or Glock (Just to name a few). Then I look at how the gun points when I go from chest to my shooting stance just as if I am at a range shooting static targets but I keep my eyes closed. I see which one naturally points for me. Then I go by size and comfort at that. Being that I carry appendix to me it is a lot easier to get away with bigger sidearms. But in my eyes don't let comfort be your number one reason but let it be in the top close to your number 1 can you point and accurately shoot this sidearm. Most self defense situations will be a point and shoot and you will not get a sight picture. Just my two cents.

Had to rule-out S&W and Glock because they don't offer anything pocket-small and inexpensive like the....

Ruger CLP
Taurus TCP738
Kahr CW380

Keep in-mind these are not once-a-week range guns. What you cited above are. These-above will fire every time a Glock or S&W does, coming out of concealment when needed.

One must decide how and when he will use this CCW first. If I want a range pistol, I'll buy something more expensive and more reliable for firing thousands and thousands of rounds. None of those three I mentioned above, will I even fire a thousand times in their lifetime. They are for dire-straits security (up-close and personal) and they wear most comfortable than any others in that price/size category.

I want something small and thin - where a holster is not needed. I want something that won't pocket-print without a holster. That's what those three I mentioned above will do. The Glock and S&W are bigger.... too big for me. But I would buy either for a waist-carry pistol. Both are nice pistols for sure. But both are too big for many small pants-pockets. I want a carry pistol that works with any sized pocket. I do not want to rule-out any pair of pants, when climbing out of bed in the mornings.

Also, I do not want a waisdt carry pistol that gets in the way of truck consoles and/or seatbelts. RH-shooters normally carry on the same side as my truck console and seatbelt clip-on. So that's another reason why I want a pocket carry 1st --- ankle carry 2nd. But that ankle carry needs to be a lightweight gun and that's what those three I mentioned above are.

When walking the dog everyday, I'll take my bigger 9MM PT111 G2 in a totally covered Sneaky Pete holster...... keeping it totally water-repelled..../ out of the elements outside. I'll use it for that everyday and for keeping in my sock drawer at night, which is an arms length away. I sleep in a smallish bedrooom. My entire house is only 1100 square feet..... small.

Range gun? If you are planning to buy a handgun to carry for protection and you do not make regular trips to the range and send some lead down range under different circumstances wearing different clothing you may as well carry a flat rock in your pocket and save yourself some money. You would be surprised at how close you can miss something or someone if you are under stress. I don't know if you wear the same trousers every day of your life in all seasons but I can access my handgun from my hip faster than out of most of my pants pockets. My holsters also are not full of pocket lint which can cause a problem with gun function, that is why they make pants holsters which slow you down even more when you go to bring your gun to bear.

How else will it see up-to 1000 rounds oldtimr? I'm 64 years old and if I live another 20 years, divide 20 years into 1000 rounds and that's how many rounds it will see per year (50 rounds) (most-all at the range). For 3-4 weeks out of the year, it may see northern Michigan woods target practice during hunting season. I'll shoot the gun 2-3 times per year. Doesn't need more work than that anyways. These inexpensive guns aren't built to be used a-lot .... dozens and dozens of times per year. These little guys are for protection and more delicato. They are just as dependable as those twice the money, if not overused.

So, pretty simple and not hard to imagine. You wear the heavier,. bigger stuff and I'll wear the small and thin. I guarantee you I'm more comfortable and not needing to do the holster routine (on & off) everyday.

Done with this. Its a no-brainer with me. I'll carry an extra magazine and they also are small and light, single stack with 6-7 rounds.

I carried a handgun for my job for 33 years, 8 years into retirement I still carry every day out of my house and yard. I have to qualify each year in order to nationally carry and I do so with a revolver and a semi auto, 50 rnds each, which is twice as much in one day as you plan to shoot in a year. You will not guarantee that you are more comfortable than I am because I would not wear a rig that isn't comfortable enough so I don't know it is there except in my mind. Just for fun, do you practice drawing and shooting from your pocket quickly? Quite frankly It is no skin off my knuckles what you do, but a poster asked a legitimate question and I figure he deserves legitimate answers not an ill conceived preference. Now he has both, he will be able to make an intelligent decision.

My ratings on several different qualities on a concealed carry gun are as follows.

Reliability, it HAS to be reliable no matter what!

Fit, if it don't naturally fit my hand and point natural for ME I'm never going to shoot it as good when in a hurry or under a high stress situation.

Accuracy, it has to be fairly accurate when shot under combat conditions. I'm not talking about moa, but rather minute of bad guy. See fit.

Adequate power, I want the most powerful cartridge/load as I can shoot & control for rapid shooting within the confines of whatever design I choose. I want the most firepower as I can get within a platform and the most firepower for it's size as long as I can control it!

Capacity, naturally everybody wants the highest capacity as they can get within reason. Nobody EVER said I wish my gun held less capacity after being in a gun fight!

Price, a person should strive to be able to get the gun he's most comfortable with and meets all the other criteria, but it MUST be affordable. Of course a lot of people try to cheap out and wind up with something less capable than what they really need instead of saving to get the absolute best for THEM. You cannot put a price tag on your life, and spread out over the life of the firearm it's really quite inexpensive to get exactly what you need, and once in a firefight it's a bit too late to say I wish I could upgrade to what I really need.

I likely missed some categories but I'm SURE some of yall will point them out for me! Having said all that, my own personal carry guns are as follows-pocket pistol (with pocket holster of course!) or 2nd gun or backup but during hot summer days or at times when I cannot pack anything bigger is Kahr CM-40. I used to carry a Ruger LCP religiously but after having participated in extensive penetration/expansion tests of different loads for most of the usual defensive cartridges into a variety of test medias I quit trusting the .380 to adequately do the job so moved up in power to where I feel I can trust it's ability to do the job with proper bullets/loads as long as I do my part.

Regular carry gun-XDm, 1911 with .460 Rowland conversion, or Para Ordnance LDA.

Truck gun is High Point that never leaves it's hiding spot other than practice or reliability tests. If it ever does get stolen, I won't be up for years lamenting losing 1 of my all time favorite guns. Also have some scattered around the house as it would be bad form to ask the bad guy that just kicked in your door to excuse you while you walk by him to retrieve your gun from the other room! Bathroom gun as well as kitchen gun, garage gun, and a couple of others as I'm sure they won't wait for me to get off the commode or shower before invading.

This is something I rarely hear mentioned when people are discussing home defense. But is a very important point. I often hear people say they "sleep with it under their pillow or other similar things.." which is great, but what if you're in the basement, garage, shower, home office, etc.
-Jake

This post summed up my thought process precisely. There are many right answers but for me, if it is much larger than a small pocket carry, I won't carry it on average.