Concealed Gun

D

deggendorf

New member
I've just started getting into guns, I have 4 full sized 1911's now, but I'm looking for a gun to carry concealed. I have my CCW. The two guns I'm considering are:

1. Wilson Combat Sentinel Compact
2. Kimber Ultra Carry II

My main concern is size and ability to conceal. Any suggestions on a good daily carry gun I should purchase? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
 
A S&W 642 or 442 both are revolvers which most folks are better off with. The small semi autos are just not as reliable. Welcome to the forum, orchidhunter
 
Agreed, revolvers are much more reliable than a semi. But the first rule of a gun fight is to bring a gun. No revolver is as concealable as one of the small semis in a .380 like a Rugar or Kel-Tec.

And if you don't feel you are carrying concealed, you aren't, and you won't carry everywhere which leaves us back to the first rule in a gun fight. See above.
 
Welcome to the forum,

A word of warning, we have alot of trolls who turn innocent questions into caliber/brand debate by making baseless/mindless comments that have nothing to do with the topic. No matter, trolls dont last long around here.


A S&W 642 or 442 both are revolvers which most folks are better off with. The small semi autos are just not as reliable. Welcome to the forum, orchidhunter
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:rolleyes:

I have always loved the Wilson your looking at. A shop near my house has had one in the case for months now, I always set aside a few minutes while I'm there to gauck at it. I have had bad experiences with kimbers. Both the Pro model and the Ultra, both models were unreliable with any type of ammo. The service from Kimber was horrible as well. However, others say just the opposite, they love the pistols and the company.
 
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The OP starter already has four 1911's, so there is obviously a preference and a familiarity with the platform.
So the two originally asked about would make good carry pieces for him, but be aware that even a compact .45 isn't always an easy pistol to conceal.
Also, the OP starter is no stranger to spending over a Grand on a pistol, so look at the Rohrbaugh R9s. That is a pistol that can be carried anywhere and every where, and being a 9mm, you're still not undergunned.
Of the first two mentioned, the Wilson would be a no brainer for me. I have two different friends who have found their Kimber UCII's to be problematic. One of the guys has sold his and the other is thinking about trading his in as we speak.
But consider the Colt Defender as well. It's another good, reliable pistol in compact .45 size.
My personal recommendation would be to get the Wilson or Colt, but also invest in the Rohrbaugh to have as the pistol to grab when the .45 is just a little too much to carry.

And if you don't feel you are carrying concealed, you aren't, and you won't carry everywhere which leaves us back to the first rule in a gun fight. See above.
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I'll take some issue with this follow up comment. It's really the other way around where if you're "not sure" that you are carrying concealed "enough", then you probably are.
One of the most common things I hear from noobie CCW permit holders is that they think the moment they strap on a gun, that everyone within sight immediately knows that they are carrying.
I see lots and lots of people with bumps on their hips and in pockets, and the vast majority of them are cell phones or eyeglass carriers or PDA's... all sorts of things people carry. For that reason, I no longer worry about just a little extra bump showing up under a shirt. I've yet to be looked at twice by a police officer or security guard anywhere, even in places where we aren't supposed to be carrying.
 
I don't like the 1911 frame, it just doesn't fit my hand. However, I have a Colt Defender and my wife has a Springfield V10 (the ported one). I'd recommend either for concealed personal defense. Great guns!
 
Both of your choices are fine, as is carrying a full size 1911. Many many people carry a full sized gun concealed just fine.

bob
 
You seem to have settled on the platform by your purchases, . . . and hopefully you have had enough TRAINING and EXPERIENCE that you will be both confident and competent with those weapons.

That is your first step, . . . getting to where you know your weapon well, . . . have invested enough time, money, and study to where you are an asset to the community of semi auto shooters. Those who don't do so have to fall back on revolvers.

As far as which one, . . . a good rule of thumb is: the one you shoot the best. It is the most comfortable, most pointable, and goes to the "X" ring for you.

Personally, . . . I carry a full size steel 1911, 8+1 and a spare mag about 95% of the time, . . . my Bersa Thunder .380 takes up the other 5% for various reasons.

My holster can be carried IWB, OWB, or can be fully tucked, . . . almost impossible to ascertain that I am carrying when it is tucked & bloused.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
I live in central fl .our cc laws say no printing .due to my build i am short and squaty .so i must carry in the pocket allways .seecamp32 or m@p compact.you must dress for area.
 
I live in central fl .our cc laws say no printing .due to my build i am short and squaty .so i must carry in the pocket allways .seecamp32 or m@p compact.you must dress for area.
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Printing has always been clearly defined as the outline of a gun (that shows that you are wearing a gun) showing through your clothing.

A bump or a sharp corner or a bulge on your hip is not "printing".
Have some fun with this and the next time you walk around at a mall, look to see how many guys have some kind of lump under their shirt or in their pocket. You'll find that more do than not, and I doubt if you could pick out the ones who are carrying a pistol from the ones who aren't.
 
My winter carry is a full sized, all steel 1911 that I carry OWB. You might be surprised how easy to carry a full sized 1911 is. However, you do have to dress around it and you do need a good leather holster and gun belt.

If you are looking to downsize, snub nose revolvers are a great CCW choice and there are some well made pocket guns like the Ruger LCP.

Looks like you would like to stay with the 1911 platform, which is fine and maybe you can add the Springfield EMP to your list, but this also might be a good time to expand your collection a bit. A snub nose revolver is a great CCW gun (check out the S&W Airweight series) and there are some fine pocket guns out there like a Ruger LCP if you want to broaden your horizons a bit.
 
A bump or a sharp corner or a bulge on your hip is not "printing".
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Different states have different criteria, but in SC, that's correct. The law reads: "that must be carried in a manner that is hidden from public view in normal wear of clothing".

I believe the keywords there are "hidden from view". Can an object or bump be positively identified as a gun? In most cases, no.
 
Thank you all for the great advice. I'm pretty sure I will end up getting the Wilson and either the S&W M&P 340CT or Rohrbaugh R9S as a smaller back-up when I feel the Wilson is too big.

Once again, many thanks for all the help.
 
A five shot .38 or .357 snub.

I had about a half a dozen full size 1911s, and I carried one daily for years, but after I had abdomenal surgery I couldn't carry one comfortably any more.

So I bought a compact 1911, and carried it for awhile.....
Eventually I went the snubby route for an all day carry anywhere gun.
 
Living in fl it is the fanny pack heaven .camera bags,due to tourist trade .when florida went cc. people went nuts.you would go wally world.and some would not even try to conceal .i tell my students conceal means no printing .nra cc.teacher from 1988.living on the space coast .thats my best advice.some law dogs are not too friendly:rolleyes: advice can be given .but not to be writen in stone.
 
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re. to conceal carry

If you want cc revolver a snub nose 38 special is the one.i carry a 38 its light weight and quit affective
 
I find a full-size 1911 too awkward to carry ... but I do carry one of your choices, the Kimber, and I love it ... it has been totally reliable since I got it, conceals very well in a strong-side paddle holster and is perhaps the most accurate semi I own at SD distances ... I love it ...
 
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