Selecting a Concealed Carry Pistol

Selecting a Concealed Carry Pistol

My articles are meant to be quick and simple where possible. Let's try to cut through the distractions and talk about what matters.

There are a ton of things to consider when selecting a firearm for daily concealed carry. This is one of those topics that is endlessly debated online. Things that matter when selecting a concealed carry pistol include size, weight, capacity, caliber, and carry method.

Size

If the gun is smaller it's easier to conceal and lighter to carry, but you'll have more felt recoil. If the barrel is shorter it's usually more comfortable to carry, but you'll lose a little muzzle velocity compared to the longer barrels.

At minimum you need to be able to get all your fingers of your shooting hand comfortably on the gun. If your pinky is hanging off the bottom of the grip, it's going to affect how well you can control that pistol. (I'm looking at you, .380s.) Several small bodied pistols, such as the XD 3" sub compact, have Pearce grips that you can switch the factory base plate for on the 13 round magazines to get a full grip and it is worth every penny of the about $7 a mag you'll spend.

For barrel length we need at least a 2" barrel. Above that, go with whatever barrel length you're comfortable carrying. Single stacked variants of popular double stacked guns are thinner but not by a lot. A Glock 43 is just 4mm thinner than a Glock 26.

Weight

Again, heavier guns have less felt recoil provided the two guns you are comparing are chambered in the same caliber, but lighter guns are usually a little more comfortable to carry on an everyday basis and more forgiving on how much support they need from your clothing.

Another way people decide to cut weight is by choosing a single stacked gun. In single stacked magazines the rounds are right on top of each other in the magazine. In a double stacked magazine they are stacked in a zigzag pattern. This is why single stacked magazines are thinner and hold fewer rounds. Ammunition is heavy, so fewer rounds means less weight.

Capacity

The more rounds you carry the better. I always carry at least one, and often carry two, spare magazines while carrying my pistol. I don't think the allure of a 4mm thinner pistol is worth giving up almost half of the capacity of the pistol. The only time you can have too much ammunition is when you're drowning or on fire. We don't carry more ammunition so that we can shoot more, spray and pray. We carry more ammunition in larger magazines so that we don't have to handle the gun as often with loading and unloading and can focus more on the fight at hand.

Caliber

Lighter and faster bullets expand more reliably than slow and heavy bullets. The smaller the round, the lighter it is to carry your ammunition and the more you can carry comfortably.

Carry Method

You need a good belt and a good holster. If the gun cost $500 or more, don't stick it in a $10 nylon holster. This is life saving equipment. Don't buy the cheapest thing you can find. That goes for the gun, too. Don't buy "Fred's Brand" gun. Buy something that is common, that has been around for a while, that has been tested and found reliable.

Safeties

I don't like manual safeties on pistols. Manual safeties are dangerous for the user especially if they are unfamiliar with them. Among the uneducated they build complacency because people think the manual safety can replace safe gun handling. Among the educated but poorly trained manual safeties can keep the gun from firing when you need it to fire.

Bottom Line

What I recommend for a self defense pistol is simple. I recommend a 9mm with a double stacked magazine. Something that has no manual safeties. You should carry it in good holster on a stiff belt and carry at least one extra magazine. Top of this list is a Springfield XD 3" subcompact and the Glock 26.

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-Patrick Smith Jr.

-Gun Safe Academy

-Omaha, NE