{"id":96,"date":"2014-09-30T11:49:42","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T11:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joeglock.com\/wp\/?p=96"},"modified":"2014-09-30T11:49:42","modified_gmt":"2014-09-30T11:49:42","slug":"concealed-carry-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joeglock.com\/wp\/concealed-carry-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Concealed Carry Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0carry at work but fail to carry everywhere except at work. Some don’t believe that self-defense is really<\/em> necessary in our day and age, but still got the permit? Some haven’t taken the time to get the right gear.\u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n

Make not mistake, I believe the GLOCK 19 or GLOCK 17 are\u00a0the best choices for\u00a0home<\/em> defense, but we’re talking about outside<\/em> the home. What you carry on your person is an extraordinarily personal decision based on what clothing style you have\u00a0that day<\/em>, your body size, the weather, whether you’ll need to remove your jacket, sitting, standing or driving… the list goes on and on.<\/p>\n

We begin by recognizing the balance which must be struck between concealment, reliability<\/strong>\u00a0and power<\/strong>. My Kimber Tactical Custom II<\/a> is an awesome firearm with great stopping power – but I’m a little guy and concealing that much awesomeness borders on silly.\u00a0I can hide my NAA 22MS<\/a>\u00a0derringer 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> 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<\/a> I have an ideal balance between concealment, reliability and power. I also use a SIG Sauer P238<\/a> in this same holster, but it’s a little heavier. This maximizes concealment<\/strong> at the expense of a little power.<\/p>\n

For a little more chutzpah<\/em>, 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<\/a> in 9mm or Ultra CDP II<\/a> in .45 ACP. This category would include the SIG Sauer P938<\/a>, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield<\/a> and Springfield XD-S<\/a>. This maximizes power<\/strong> at the expense of a little concealment.<\/p>\n

There are other firearms\u00a0could be on the above list, but I’ve not been impressed with the overall reliability or fit. These include the\u00a0Kahr PM9, Keltec PF9 and Ruger LC9.<\/p>\n

For a little more power<\/strong> at the expense of a bit more concealment I often carry my GLOCK 19 instead of the GLOCK 26 – because I can. \ud83d\ude42 On particularly cold days, when I have ample clothing, I carry my SIG Sauer P226 MK25<\/a>. With either of these options I have one of the most accurate and reliable handguns available should I be called on to preserve life.<\/p>\n

The third option is to maximize either concealment or power at the expense of reliability<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n

Shoot the handgun you’re thinking about buying\u00a0before<\/em> you buy it. Once you have it, you’ll need to choose a holster. Now\u00a0that’s<\/em> a tough choice…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0carry at work but fail to carry everywhere except at work. Some don’t believe that self-defense is 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