Choosing a Concealed Carry Firearm
“Why do you need so many different guns she says?”…. “Why do you need so many pairs of shoes?” I replied… We’ve all had that conversation! The answer is there’s an appropriate tool for every job! And so is the case with a pistol.
A SWAT officer wielding a 6-shooter is ill equipped in an active shooter scenario (to say the least). Conversely, a squirrel hunter using a .308 rifle wouldn’t bring home much table fare. The point is that we all have factors to consider when choosing our carry piece. Here are a few that played a part in my decision.
1. Reliability. I wanted something with a proven track record of rugged reliability. See any of your favorite pistol torture tests on YouTube. They’re entertaining and people do some pretty ridiculous things in the name of torture testing. The “Professional Russian” has a pretty funny Glock test.
2. Cost. Cost is a factor for almost everyone. Being a Colorado native, I’ve become a bit of an Elk addict. During archery season, I feel I need a gun that gives me a fighting chance should I find myself eye to eye with a hungry black bear. At the time, I couldn’t pony up the dough for an everyday carry (EDC) gun, such as a Glock 19, and a woods gun like a .357 magnum. That said I had to compromise. I finally settled on a Springfield Armory XDm compact in .45acp. I know….I know…. a .45 against a black bear? I’ve had this conversation, and having 14 rounds of .45+p available makes me feel better than 20 of 9mm or nothing at all, at least against a bear.
3. Comfort. We all want to carry in comfort, which is why I chose to go with the XDm. It’s large enough to hold 10 rounds with the short magazine but small enough that I can comfortably carry at the appendix. In general terms, the more compact the gun, the easier and more comfortable they are to carry. That said, the smaller guns will sacrifice capacity. Keep in mind that “Carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable; it’s supposed to be comforting. The gun that’s with you is better than the one that’s home in the safe.” – Clint Smith
4. Capacity. More ammunition is better, period. I like the fact that the XDm comes with a compact magazine and a full size. Different applications right?
5. Caliber. There are thousands of caliber debates online and a lot of good info on YouTube. See .45 acp vs 9mm. Google till you get to the end of the internet and then get out and shoot them yourself. You’ll find that “felt recoil” may play a big part in your decision.
6. Shootability/Accuracy. How well do I shoot my gun? In my opinion, we don’t put enough emphasis on this one. I love the cost, reliability and reputation of the Glock but I just don’t shoot it that well. Could I train enough to become proficient with it? Absolutely. I just don’t see a reason to when there are others that fit me better. Bottom line, find the gun that fits you the best. It’s comfortable in the hand, has the capacity you need for your application, doesn’t exceed level of recoil you’re willing to deal with, and you shoot it accurately. There’s really only one way to find out which one was built for you. Get out and shoot them yourself.
A guy once told me that the only reason for a handgun is so you can fight your way to your rifle. There’s a lot of logic in that statement. We’ll save that for another article.
