NOT EVERY HANDGUN IS GOOD FOR CONCEALED CARRY
For most gun owners, choosing a handgun that is appropriate for concealed carry is often based on their individual preferences. How does it look? How does it feel? However, there are a lot of factors to consider when you are choosing a gun that you plan to use for everyday concealed carry.
Concealed carry handguns are usually compact guns that can be carried comfortably without detection through the day. Some people do carry a full-size pistol for their concealed carry, but they are not very easy to conceal. Many full-size pistols, like service pistols can be very heavy, so they can be uncomfortable to carry concealed.
Ideally, you want to choose the smallest carry gun that you are comfortable firing that will stop an attacker.
Concealment
Think about how you are going to carry the gun. Will you be carrying it in a holster or concealing it directly against your person?
Carrying directly against your person isn’t always the preferred method, but in some cases, it may be the only option. Carrying inside the waistband means the gun will be sitting against your abdomen, appendix or other area of the mid torso. A gun concealed in a bra will sit right against the breastbone. A gun carried inside close to the body would likely be smaller and more compact than one carried outside the body.
Most concealed carriers prefer that the weapon be in a holster.
Outside the waistband carry would involve the gun being placed in a clip or on a belt slide. A Shoulder holster will hang on the side of your chest. Pocket carry could involve a pocket clip that sits against the thigh. Some people even prefer an ankle carry holster. How you plan to carry can affect your choice of concealed carry gun.
You should be able to easily conceal the gun so that it is completely covered and the trigger guard is secure.
Size
Many new concealed carry permit holders make the mistake of looking for either the biggest or the smallest handgun they can find.
A handgun that is too big will be difficult to conceal biggest it creates bulges in your clothing. Additionally, a larger handgun’s weight can make it difficult to carry all day.
Just as there is a disadvantage to a handgun that is too big, there is also a disadvantage to a handgun that is too small. Small handguns are very hard to grip correctly, which means they are difficult to shoot. Additionally, smaller handguns tend to have more recoil making the harder to control. Grip is one of the most important considerations when buying a gun because it affects your aim and accuracy.
What is the best size handgun? Your handgun should be of a sufficient size for your size hand that allows you to get a good, comfortable grip on your gun.
Performance
Is it simple to operate? Revolvers are considered the simplest handgun to operate because they have fewer moving parts. It is less likely to misfire because it doesn’t depend on the spent round’s exhaust gases to advance the cylinder to the next cartridge; you simply pull the trigger again. They can handle hot loads and larger bullets making them effective personal defense weapons. The ideal revolver would have a 3″ to 4″ barrel, a six-round cylinder, and a grip that fills your hand.
Is it convenient and easy to load or unload? Semi-automatics are known for being able to hold more ammunition and being easy to reload. These guns tend to have adequate accuracy and power, and large enough grips to be comfortable. Semi-automatics can be single action where the hammer must be cocked, generally by racking the slide, for the gun to fire. They can also be double action where the hammer must be cocked by the first trigger pull, but subsequent shots are cocked by the action of the slide cycling back. These pistols will generally load 8-10 rounds in their magazines (or more if you can find the magazines), have full-length grips, and 3.5″ or longer barrels.
Your handgun should be easy and reliable to operate and powerful enough to stop the target.
The best concealed carry handgun should allow you to get a good, comfortable grip on the gun, be easy to conceal, be easy and reliable to operation and powerful enough to stop a threat.
