I’m often asked what the best concealed carry handgun is. The answer is simple: the one you will carry. I know many, many CCW/CHP permit holders. Only a small handful actually carry every day. Some are not permitted to carry at work but fail to carry everywhere except at work. Some don’t believe that self-defense is really necessary in our day and age, but still got the permit? Some haven’t taken the time to get the right gear. The first step is choosing the right handgun. I try to carry a different handgun each day of the week so I can give good counsel on each with pros and cons. Your situation (and budget) may not allow this.
Make not mistake, I believe the GLOCK 19 or GLOCK 17 are the best choices for home defense, but we’re talking about outside the home. What you carry on your person is an extraordinarily personal decision based on what clothing style you have that day, your body size, the weather, whether you’ll need to remove your jacket, sitting, standing or driving… the list goes on and on.
We begin by recognizing the balance which must be struck between concealment, reliability and power. My Kimber Tactical Custom II is an awesome firearm with great stopping power – but I’m a little guy and concealing that much awesomeness borders on silly. I can hide my NAA 22MS derringer in my sock or pocket but it’s single-action only, meaning I have to cock it when I present and it’s only a .22. We’ve moved from silly to laughable.
I believe the 9mm Parabellum cartridge is the wisest choice for both target shooting, competition and self-defense. When it comes to concealed carry I often use the same size bullet in a shorter cartridge – the .380 ACP – in order to save space. The GLOCK 42 is a GLOCK, meaning it has proven reliability and ease of use. It’s chambered in .380 ACP with a single-stack magazine, which provides a very small footprint. With a Versacarry holster I have an ideal balance between concealment, reliability and power. I also use a SIG Sauer P238 in this same holster, but it’s a little heavier. This maximizes concealment at the expense of a little power.
For a little more chutzpah, I carry the GLOCK 26 at the small of my back, on my hip both inside and outside the waistband. With its double-stack 9mm magazine it’s a little wider, but the grip is short and easy to hide. This allows me to carry 10 rounds of 9mm instead of 7 rounds of .380 ACP. I can achieve the same stopping power with the .38 Special cartridge. Both Smith & Wesson AirLite and AirWeight revolvers allow for the same three carry options and are much lighter than the GLOCK 26. I can also step up to the Kimber Ultra Carry II in 9mm or Ultra CDP II in .45 ACP. This category would include the SIG Sauer P938, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield and Springfield XD-S. This maximizes power at the expense of a little concealment.
There are other firearms could be on the above list, but I’ve not been impressed with the overall reliability or fit. These include the Kahr PM9, Keltec PF9 and Ruger LC9.
For a little more power at the expense of a bit more concealment I often carry my GLOCK 19 instead of the GLOCK 26 – because I can. 🙂 On particularly cold days, when I have ample clothing, I carry my SIG Sauer P226 MK25. With either of these options I have one of the most accurate and reliable handguns available should I be called on to preserve life.
The third option is to maximize either concealment or power at the expense of reliability. I cannot condone such a decision and don’t have a good option. If I am compelled to use deadly force to protect a life, I want to do the job with excellence.
Shoot the handgun you’re thinking about buying before you buy it. Once you have it, you’ll need to choose a holster. Now that’s a tough choice…