A LinkedIn Poll Provides Insight
Several months ago, a firearms instructor posted a survey on LinkedIn, asking what respondents considered to be the best concealed carry firearms. Replies were quite varied. The complete discussion can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com
We are including some of the highlights of the survey results, with many of the comments from women.
Best Concealed Carry Firearm?
Andrew Nelson, Professional, Sr. Operations Manager ? Leadership Coach ? Concealed Firearm Instructor ? Game Changer ? Curious? Read on!
I wanted to take a poll of what all of you think is the best concealed carry firearm, I realize this question is largely subjective and what feels good to the individual but that is the exact reason why I wanted to get your opinions. I am a NRA instructor and a Utah Concealed Firearm Instructor and get this question all the time. I tell them it depends on a lot of factors and give them a list of criteria that is specific to them but I want to know what you all think; so…
In your opinion what is the best concealed carry firearm for men and women?
The best is usually what the person you are asking owns at the time. There are so many variables to consider on an individual basis, that I don’t think there is really a true answer to the question. Universally, the best one on an individual case by case basis is the one that person is comfortable with, knows well, can shoot well, and can control well. IMHO the fewer gadgets you have to flip off or depress to bring the gun into service when you need it, the better, i.e. the safe action pistols like the Glock or the S&W M&P and others of that design.
My favorite is a Glock 19 gen 3. Gen 4 wasn’t as comfortable as my finger rested on the trigger. I bought it after a great deal of research as far as best concealed carry and best guns for women. I never even shot it until after I purchased it. I also took into consideration reliability. My best friend, who is male, looked at a lot of guns, shot several and finally bought a Glock 19 gen 4. They are a bit on the big side, but I don’t like recoil, and when I hold it right, I don’t even notice it. A smaller gun you would have more recoil.
Like you say there are variables involved in the selection. I think for women it is best to select a smaller footprint semi especially if they are interested in concealed carry on the body. Some ladies don’t prefer to carry “on the body”, but rather have the weapon in a handbag, then a larger weapon might be preferred.
Everyone has a different answer to this question. My answer is reliability and if it’s comfortable for you to handle, if not you won’t carry it.
My wife and I both carry and we tailor our wardrobe around our firearms. I carry the same piece no matter where I go and it is easy to conceal whether I am at work, church, or fishing. About the only place I can’t have it on me and concealed is at the pool. Carry concealed is a lifestyle not something that we say what I will wear today like a lady picking out a pair of shoes. Brad your point on compromising outside the home is a good one. Outside the home is where most of the time you will need something that can stop someone, you are accurate with, and reliable. Outside the home is less forgiving than being in the home the majority of time.
I like what Melvin has to say that he and his wife tailor what they wear around their firearms. Not many people think like this and I have to say that I like the way they think. I get tired of hearing I couldn’t carry because I couldn’t find anything to wear. Sorry but to me that’s not good enough, is that going to be on your tombstone? I do not purchase any pants that do not have belt loops on them, my shirts have to be long enough to cover my holster. If I am going to put thought into my plans as to what establishments I can carry in, why wouldn’t I do the same with my wardrobe? May I ask about dry fire practice? If you have multiple carry weapons with multiple carry holsters do you practice with all of them for each season of clothing? These are just some of the considerations that come to mind when I hear of people who 1. Have multiple carry firearms or 2. Dont consider what they are wearing when they go out.
All great comments here and I tip my hat to Greg B. He sums up what I think many here don’t think about or at least not comment on. Its one thing to carry, its another thing to engage in combat. I always have a gun or two with me at all times. Might be in a brief case, glove box, but rarely on my hip. Possibly because I know the gun laws of my state and more importantly I know that if I feel the need to carry I am probably in an area that quite possibly I would be better off avoiding. Are there other options? I know, we all know, it can happen anywhere, but reality is knowing your surroundings, are you a woman walking to her car at night in a parking lot with plenty of exposure? Or a man in the same situation. Are you going to ATM in the dark? My advice to the CCW carriers is that if youre not prepared to get close, really close, even hand to hand close, you better be real sure if you draw that gun its being drawn for the right reason. LE does not take kindly to a CCW permit holder flashing hardware to scare off a possible perp. Its not against the law to stand there and look frightening to you! All the practice in the range will mean nothing if youre not prepared to actually confront or be confronted. My advice or merely to add a comment here to CCE holders is be aware of your surroundings, are you putting yourself in danger, are you taking a risk you wouldn’t normally if you were not carrying a weapon. If you can say yes to that question then you shouldn’t be there in the first place. My concealed weapon of choice doesn’t matter, we all have several and good choices abound from many of your comments. But are you really ready to act, to save your life and the life of your loved ones. Having the weapon doesn’t make you LE, you can’t start defending others because you carry and not avoid going to jail along with several civil suits added to it. CCW is for your protection only, and when there is a visible threat, hand in pocket won’t cut it, and hopefully none of you will ever have to utilize them. I see a lot of experts and trainers here, all good stuff…carry choice so I can stay on task with the group would probably be Sig226 9mm, or S&W Performance Center Shorty II, .45. Do keep a small MPA .380 around as well. Stay safe outside and inside your home and for defense purposes use the best ammo you can afford! Lock and Load!
I just don’t feel it’s possible to determine “the” best carry gun. As has been stated above, there are so many subjective factors for fitting a gun properly with grip, rapid aiming, comfortable recoil management, not to mention the holsters and gear needed to carry comfortably which will vary hugely among individuals. As a petite curvy woman, for example, there is no way I can easily conceal a 1911 at my hip, although several of my coworkers are able to. The best carry gun is the one that is easy to conceal carry, comfortable to shoot, from a reliable manufacturer, and in the biggest caliber the owner can shoot accurately and quickly. That said, my personal favorite is the Sig P938. It is a great little pistol and I have found many people love it as well.
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