Best concealed carry pistol?

[Diomed]

Shoot everything you can get your hands on first.

It's an intensely personal decision.

[Jim]

..... Most CHP holders do not regularly carry their firearm.....[/color][/b]

Well, I guess I just got labeled. I suppose I'm in the "few" category because I carry all the time. If the law doesn't allow me to carry in specific locations, I carry it until I get there.

[SteveGT]

Great posts everyone. Here's another question; if you cc an auto, do you carry an extra magazine, or with revolver, do you carry a speedloader?

I don't think I could get away with carrying a full-size, so I'm starting to consider a snubby .357/.38 or even something like a Glock 33 in .357 SIG. That Glock 30SF mentioned in a post is interesting as well.

Thanks again

[gunderwood]

Great posts everyone. Here's another question; if you cc an auto, do you carry an extra magazine, or with revolver, do you carry a speedloader?

I don't think I could get away with carrying a full-size, so I'm starting to consider a snubby .357/.38 or even something like a Glock 33 in .357 SIG. That Glock 30SF mentioned in a post is interesting as well.

Thanks again

I nearly always carry, but the one thing I do vary is extra mags. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. Even a single stack .45 has as many or more rounds than a revolver and most of those guys don't carry any speed loaders/extra ammo. Just my two cents, but if a six shooter is sufficient firepower (not saying it is or isn't), a semi-auto with 10+ rounds and no extra mags should be too.

I'm not a big fan of .357Mag in a snubbie, I think 38Special +P (or non +P) is just fine and allows for far better/faster follow up shots. Very few firefights are settled with one round. I have a G33, but just like the .357Mag snubbies, most people find it too much. I don't mind, but I am definitely slower than with the medium sized G32. It really depends on your body shape/size, but I don't find much difference in conceal-ability between a G33 or G32. YMMV. I tried carrying just a G33 of G26 and for me it was no different than a G32 or G19, so I only ever carry the smaller guns as same caliber backups (which isn't very often that I carry two guns). If I need smaller, I go for a Ruger LCP or similar.

Cost of practice ammo is very important. IMHO, the cost of a CC gun, holster, and belt are irrelevant. The cost of practice ammo will quickly outstrip those. A thousand rounds of 9mm cost over $200 these days (WWB), but .357SIG/.40SW/.45ACP cost around 50% more. To be honest, I go in spurts. I practice a lot and then take a break. I'm trying to break that habit because I get very rusty when I come back to it. I am trying to send at least 100-200 rounds down range out of my CC piece every range trip, even when my primary purpose is to shoot something else like a rifle.

[kevinmfduane]

Any small well built .357sig or a small Ruger/Smith double action .357mag and you are in "Beef Mo".

[tursiops]

...you are in "Beef Mo".

What does that mean?

[kevinmfduane]

With the Glock33 you don't have to worry about spending a lot on money on ammo because after 50-100 rounds your hand is so wrecked and eyes are so tired of the muzzle blast that the last thing you would want to do is shoot it more. Glock33s are for defense, if you also want to have fun shooting your carry weapon go with the .357mag so you can de-tune with specials at the range.

[ProShooter]

You want the best? Buy a Glock 23 and fo'gettabout the rest!

[SteveGT]

...you are in "Beef Mo".

What does that mean?

refers to Marshawn Lynch going into his "Beast Mode" he sounds like he says Beef Moe.

[SgtBill]

With the Glock33 you don't have to worry about spending a lot on money on ammo because after 50-100 rounds your hand is so wrecked and eyes are so tired of the muzzle blast that the last thing you would want to do is shoot it more. Glock33s are for defense, if you also want to have fun shooting your carry weapon go with the .357mag so you can de-tune with specials at the range.

Detune with .38 spls. at the range for practice. This is dangerous. When you have to pull that weapon and use it and it has a much grater muzzle blast from the .357 Mag. unlike the .38 spl. that you have practiced with it just might cost you your life. Practice with what you carry or a load that is the same as you carry. I would hope that no one on this board get's into any type of shooting situation it ain't fun and you must live with the outcome but if you must then at least be prepared for it and practice with what you will carry or a load that matche's the one that you carry.
Bill

[gunderwood]

With the Glock33 you don't have to worry about spending a lot on money on ammo because after 50-100 rounds your hand is so wrecked and eyes are so tired of the muzzle blast that the last thing you would want to do is shoot it more. Glock33s are for defense, if you also want to have fun shooting your carry weapon go with the .357mag so you can de-tune with specials at the range.

Detune with .38 spls. at the range for practice. This is dangerous. When you have to pull that weapon and use it and it has a much grater muzzle blast from the .357 Mag. unlike the .38 spl. that you have practiced with it just might cost you your life. Practice with what you carry or a load that is the same as you carry. I would hope that no one on this board get's into any type of shooting situation it ain't fun and you must live with the outcome but if you must then at least be prepared for it and practice with what you will carry or a load that matche's the one that you carry.
Bill

+1

I agree with Bill. I will note that some factory loads seem light. E.g. WWB 9mm 115gr FMJ. It is weak compared to full power 9mm and especially +P loads. I don't mind shooting it though.

@kevin

I have G33 and would be happy to shoot as much ammo through it was you are willing to pay for in one sitting. Slow target shooting, holster draws, double taps, your call. I've sent way more than 50-100 rounds down range in small .357SIGs in one sitting. They do beat you up, but no more than similar calibers in similar packages. Perceived recoil is unique for each individual.

That being said, I'll choose the G32 over a G33 everyday. I shoot better and faster with a it, particularly because I can get my whole hand on a G32. I'm not a big fan of mag extensions. Why extend the mag to get a better grip when doing so almost makes it as big as the next size up?

[Tweaker]

Great posts everyone. Here's another question; if you cc an auto, do you carry an extra magazine, or with revolver, do you carry a speedloader?

I don't think I could get away with carrying a full-size, so I'm starting to consider a snubby .357/.38 or even something like a Glock 33 in .357 SIG. That Glock 30SF mentioned in a post is interesting as well.

Thanks again

Primary - compact auto, usually with 2 additional magazines.

Back up - J frame or similar

[kevinmfduane]

I agree with Bill, for some, my post might be bad advise. I carelessly assume that everyone is like me when in fact some aren't. I know how my guns shoot with anything from trash range re-loaded garbage to the cor-bons and maxed out custom reloads but in a CC situation I know what I am working with. Myself, I do run a cylinder of .357mag after targeting with specials all day but if I didn't, I wouldn't feel uncomfortable defending myself on the way home because I am familar with my gun's performance with CC rounds. Any one in a defensive situation should know how their weapon and ammo perform together.

Gunderwood, I, like you, would have shot as many rounds as you would have paid for. You are right, re-coil is different for everyone but I am sure we can all agree with physics, a Glock33 is about as light and small as it gets, .357sig is about as heavy as it gets in realistic CC calibers (recoil/velocity wise). This combo is the whole reason I recommended the Glock 33 as a great CC in the first place. I have shot thousands of rounds through my Glock 33 and hundreds in a sitting but when I did, accuracy dropped in the 60-90 round mark (hand fatigue) and it defeated the purpose of practice shooting and began just being a waste of money. A Glock33 is not a target shooting gun it is a CC gun, although fun to shoot. I don't doubt for a second that someone else could shoot 300 rounds without hand fatigue or loss of accuracy, but I can't.

[jrswanson1]

Why limit yourself to one pistol? I know I don't like carrying my 1911 during the hot summer months, so I carry a .357 SP101 with 38 +P loads. I would love to get a smaller "pocket" gun but the budget is being used for something else right now and I won't need it for hopefully another 7 or 8 months. The best advice I can give is find a small firearm that works for you and practice with it. A .380 in your pocket is better than the .44 Mag in the safe at home!

Jim

[Jim]

.....I know I don't like carrying my 1911 during the hot summer months,.....Jim

My wife bought a collection of Hawaiian shirts for me to wear during the summer for carrying. At the hottest, it get's to about 90 up here. The shirts are loose and cool and long enough to provide good cover, even when I'm siting at a table in a restaurant.
My Ruger P345 is not exactly a really large auto, but it ain't no pup, either. The shirts she bought for me do a great job of covering.

[Tweaker]

Did she get a few Mumu's for herself?

Mrs. Roper...meow!

[gunderwood]

.....I know I don't like carrying my 1911 during the hot summer months,.....Jim

My wife bought a collection of Hawaiian shirts for me to wear during the summer for carrying. At the hottest, it get's to about 90 up here. The shirts are loose and cool and long enough to provide good cover, even when I'm siting at a table in a restaurant.
My Ruger P345 is not exactly a really large auto, but it ain't no pup, either. The shirts she bought for me do a great job of covering.

Half the time I just change my dress slacks for jeans and take the tie off. I then can untuck my dress shirt to cover the pistol, IWB with the shirt covering it, or just OC with the shirt tucked in. Very similar to your Hawaiian shirts and probably just as colorful given Kelly's disposition...

[lonestarag]

Its all about personal preference - which for me has evolved over the years. I mostly carry inside the waistband and my preferred qualities are thickness and grip length.

I started CC with a 1911 subcompact, and now use a single stack 9mm. The 9 is slimmer and the grip is shorter than a 1911, so it doesn't show through clothing. I also have a belt clip mounted on my pistol and I do not use a holster. The clip comes in handy for boot carry as well.

I looked pretty hard at the many new .380s on the market that are made specifically for CC. In the end I went with the 9 because it fit my criteria and I got a better deal on it.

[SteveGT]

I started CC with a 1911 subcompact, and now use a single stack 9mm. The 9 is slimmer and the grip is shorter than a 1911, so it doesn't show through clothing. I also have a belt clip mounted on my pistol and I do not use a holster. The clip comes in handy for boot carry as well.
.

What kind of gun is this?

Excuse my ignorance, but would .38 Spl +p be sufficient stopping power? I'm considering a Ruger SP 101 or a S&W, maybe M&P 340 if the price is right.

[gunderwood]

I started CC with a 1911 subcompact, and now use a single stack 9mm. The 9 is slimmer and the grip is shorter than a 1911, so it doesn't show through clothing. I also have a belt clip mounted on my pistol and I do not use a holster. The clip comes in handy for boot carry as well.
.

What kind of gun is this?

Excuse my ignorance, but would .38 Spl +p be sufficient stopping power? I'm considering a Ruger SP 101 or a S&W, maybe M&P 340 if the price is right.

IMHO, for guns people actually carry and most people perform best with .38Sp and 9mm are you best options. Remember, having a hand cannon only means you have a hand cannon. It isn't just caliber performance, but rather the whole weapon system and your training. You want the best package.

Given that you want the best package, I think the best initial carry guns are .38Sp and 9mm are the best options. I prefer +P in those calibers, but only if it doesn't degrade your shooting speed or accuracy. Later, if you want a bit more punch, then .357MAG or .357SIG/.40SW/.45ACP are options.