Best caliber and gun for CCW?

F

Firepower!

New member
Hi
What is the best handgun and caliber for CCW? Please answer this with respect to optimal power while keeping the concealment factor in mind.

I personally think a 3" .44 Magnum. Unfortunately it is not available where I live. Therefore, my compromise is on .357 in rather 4". I would like it to be 2" but other than Taurus I cannot find any other revolver under 4" here. Another thought would be Glock 30 in .45.
 
Undoubtedly, the best caliber and gun is the caliber of the gun you have with you, when you need it to save your life or another person's life.
 
My best caliber and gun ( most of the time ) is a J Frame in .38 Special (+p ). I know compared to most of you I'm carrying too few and too wimpy rounds but I usually don't mind. When I do get to feeling inadequate because of my small pistol I switch to a S&W 457 in .45 ACP but more and more often the little J frame gets to go everywhere with me. If you are comfortable carrying a big ol' gun in a big ol' caliber more power to you. A 3" 44 SPL is going to look real nasty to anyone staring into all those big holes and punch some big ol' hole if need be and that can't be bad:cool:
 
The "best" gun is the one YOU like, not anyone else. It will be a compromise of:

1. Fit - It should fit in your hand like you were born with it there.
2. Reliability - It should go BANG about 99.8% of the time you pull the trigger.
3. Accuracy - In YOUR hand. It's how well YOU shoot it.
4. Concealability - It should be comfortable enough to wear and easy enough to conceal so you won't leave it laying on the dresser at home.
5. Cost - You don't want to scrimp on your "life protector" weapon, but you probably don't need a $1,000 Kimber, either.
 
^^^ What he said plus don't forget good ammo. The proper ammo is almost as important as caliber.

CWPinSC, you in the upstate?
 
... Perhaps you might find whats most comfortable for you. My choice may not work in your situation. I'd suggest that you visit a few gun-shops. Get the feel of a couple of different firearms. If you have a range that rents guns.. try a few different ones. .32, .380, .38, .357, 9MM, 40S&W, and my personal favorites .44spl, .45ACP... see what floats your boat.
 
I like ccw guns to be light weight and easy to handle. I like 9mm autos bc you can easily handle the recoil and .38 in a revolver but all my ccw guns are under 1lb each.

But it is like everyone already said the best is what you have when you need it and can shoot well.

Lastly, it depends on the threat level.

If you EXPECT/PLAN ON trouble.....then don't go! (if at all possible).

If there MAYBE,MIGHT,COULD be trouble....then I suggest a good semi or revolver with a reload for which ever you carry.

If there is NO WAY, NEVER EVER, NOT a CHANCE of trouble....then I carry pocket pistol, just in case somebody forgot to tell the troublemaker.
 
You want a gun that isn't so heavy or large that you don't want to or can't carry it everywhere. I use a Springfield XD subcompact 9mm for summer carry. The gun hides nicely under a loose t-shirt and isn't too heavy. I like it because it is a hi-cap and I prefer at least a 9mm if possible. I also use a FNP 40 for winter carry under a jacket, I prefer the 40 for winter because people tend to wear heavy clothing. Like others have said you want a gun that goes boom whenever you pull the trigger. I carried a keltec P11 9mm for years and it never failed me in firing well over a thousand rounds.
 
9mm Luger

I know this gets down to personal opinion, but when I factor in weight, power, and size I always come down to the 9mm. I don't like the recoil of the .40 in that size, and I sold my only .380 because I was not happy with the penetration performance.

My .38spl's +P is good but less power.
My .45ACP's are not compact.
My Speed Six .357 2-3/4" is great accept for weight.

In my case that leaves my XD9 4". I am planning to buy an XD9 sub soon.:)
 
Glock 23

What is the best handgun and caliber for CCW? Please answer this with respect to optimal power while keeping the concealment factor in mind.
Click to expand...

This is pretty subjective and everybody will have a different answer, of course. Personally I like .40 caliber because it performs better than 9mm and about as well as .45 in defense, but the smaller .40 diameter gives you greater capacity than a .45 of similar grip size.

With respect to the best .40 caliber gun for CCW, there are many good choices. I personally like a Glock 23 with 13 round magazine, because it conceals easily, is light weight, and every shot has the same trigger feel, unlike DA/SA guns. I also like the reliability of the Glock - my G23 has functioned perfectly for about 10 years and thousands of rounds. I have other .40s from H&K and Sig, but tend to prefer the Glock for CCW.

Glock2340.jpg
 
As another poster said, you have to get what YOU like. All of us here have our own favorites and reasoning behind why we like what we like.

My opinion is the Glock 23 is a great year round CCW. However, I prefer my Springfield XD-45. Both are great guns.

Check out what your guns store stocks, ask the salesmen questions, read other posts on this sight, maybe ask some of your buddies what they have and like, then ask to go shooting with them to try it out. Take your time and make sure you get what's right for you.

In my opinion, the 3" .44mag will be hard to conceal on hot days. Not the best round either if you happen to shoot indoors, miss and it kills someone else 2 rooms down. I realize other lesser calibers also penetrate walls, but you're responsible for any errant rounds. Lots of responsibility goes with carrying a handgun around.

Good luck with your choice!
 
As much as I like big bore revolvers, they can be rather difficult to hide in hot weather. Heck, unless you take to wearing jackets and coats that are a size or two larger they can print too much.

For me, a light, single-stack auto works best. The aforementioned S&W 457 is an excellent choice.

I also have a S&W 3914 (a black version of the 3913 Ladysmith) that sees frequent use. Right now, coming into cooler months, this is what I like to have handy;
1911sc.jpg

S&W 1911Sc .45 ACP

This lightweight .45 shoots well and has a great trigger. And it doesn't require me to pull up by britches every five minutes. :rolleyes: It also means it'll be with me when the elephant looms large.

There's almost no question that a big-bore snubby can be intimidating. Those gaping holes and large visible projectiles can be... sobering. For example;
M25Front_1755.jpg

S&W Model 25, .45 ACP.

The .44 Magnum will undoubtedly offer lawyers a chance to trot out "Dirty Harry" analogies. Even if you've loaded it with .44 Specials. And someone already mentioned the liability for missed shots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top