What are the best guns for concealed carry? Sounds like a good question to start an argument.
The truth is there is no perfect gun. Every firearm is a compromise offering certain benefits at the costs of others. Yet, I am frequently asked my opinion on what gun someone should buy, or at least consider, for carrying.
Generally, I try to find out a little more information about the person’s situation and their experience with guns. Sometimes there will be a wild card thrown in, such as a significant known risk from a criminal enterprise or ex-spouse. Almost always, cost is a consideration.
So, with all of these variables, how does one pick which guns are best?
Based on my experience and the collective experience of the shooting community, there are certain guns and brands that I remove from consideration on this due to known reliability problems or high cost.
Some of you are going to hate my choices while others will agree with some or even all of them. Just keep in mind that each person who chooses to carry a gun for self defense has very specific needs. Just because these guns work for me doesn’t mean there aren’t other great choices out there.
Glock 19 – For a great, all-around concealed carry handgun, it is hard to beat the Glock 19. It is compact enough for most people to conceal in an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, yet is still large enough to fight with. I’ve always felt well-armed when carrying a 19.
The model 19 is chambered in 9mm and holds 15 rounds in the standard magazine. For an identically sized pistol in .40 S&W, take a look at the Glock 23.
Another option for the Glock fan is the subcompact 26. Also chambered in 9mm, this pistol is more compact than the 19 with a shorter barrel and grip. There are a lot of people who prefer this pistol to the larger 19, but I am not one of them. However, it is still a good choice if you absolutely need to cut the size down.
Springfield XD-S – Springfield Armory’s XD-S line of pistols are great for concealed carry. They are thin, offer reasonable firepower and are just as reliable as most modern polymer pistols. Initially, the XD-S was offered only in .45 ACP, but they were introduced in 9mm this year.
For me, I prefer the 9mm XD-S, but I’m certain that there are a lot of .45 fans who would opt for the bigger bore version. The guns are only 1” wide, which makes them fairly easy for concealed carry.
No comments:
Post a Comment