Concealed handgun that does everything.

I also agree with the OP; the 'professionals' on YT and TV seem to rarely use compact/subcompact firearms in their respective instructional videos. And at least for myself, it would be nice to see how the professionals deal with the many issues of how to defend one's self with something akin to a Ruger LCP or a snub-nosed J-frame.

The fundamentals of using a firearm don't change because the firearm is smaller. Smaller firearms have less ammunition and are typically harder to shoot than larger firearms. That's a reality. There's no YouTube tip video that's going to change that. Sight alignment, trigger control, all of those are applicable regardless of the size of the pistol.

I've done a load of courses at this point. The smallest I've used is a Glock 26, because that's the smallest I carry. One gentleman complained to the instructor at one point that he had to keep leaving the line to reload his 4 mags because he didn't have as much capacity as the rest of us. The instructor told him straight out, "That's a choice you've made." The bad guys aren't going to give you a handicap because you carry a smaller pistol.

This isn't me saying you're wrong to carry a smaller pistol. This is me saying you're making a trade off and you have to deal with that trade off.
 
Glock 19, VP9, CZ P10,... choose.

Pocket carry?

How fast can you access it?

How about when seated?

If you're grappling?

If, for whatever reasons the pistol must be small you MAY wish to consider holstering the pistol onto your belt. It's MUCH easier to access under stress.


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Recoil spring: said:
Concealed handgun that does everything....I used to own a Glock 26 but sold it as it is almost the same size as my Glock 19, but the 19 is too heavy and large for pocket carry. Sold my S/W .38 cal. snub nose J frame too.

My Kahr CW 380 and the Ruger LCP work fine for concealed pocket carry but was looking at the SCCY or the others like it for more punch when expecting to be in dangerous places.

What bothers me with the online data/You Tube videos is there will be an evaluation of different guns, and then it gets down to where the author wants a concealed gun, but it must be able to do heavy combat, hold high capacity mags, be big in the hand, great trigger, sites, grips, etc. An easily concealed handgun is not going to be a military combat gun like a Glock 17 or Colt 1911. The bigger guns would be best in a street fight but you cannot hide it in a pants pocket in 100 degree weather.

This seems to be the trend with these videos, how many people here carry a Model 1911 type gun everyday and feel it is not seen and is very comfortable? You can't do that is most places in the USA in July. These videos need to emphasize that comfortable concealed handguns are just that, for easy carry in the pocket and better than a knife if confronted.

There are a lot of options to consider. The OP starts by saying he wants a Concealed Carry Weapon, but also states that a G26 is not that much smaller than a G19 which is too big. So he's really talking about a pocket gun that does everything, which doesn't exist. I would do a range comparison between the Glock 43, S&W Shield, and the Walther PPS-M2, which I did myself. I prefer the Walther, but there really isn't a bad choice to be made between these three and YMMV
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the LC9. I think it is a pretty good answer to the OP's querry. It fits the same basic category as the Shield, but it is slightly smaller and lighter. Ruger's big selling point on it is that it is less than an inch taller and longer than the LCP, which is a tiny little thing, as we all know. I rented an LC9 a couple of weeks ago, in fact, and tested it for how well it fit my pocket - it was like it wasn't even there. Of course, I didn't have a holster for it, which adds some bulk, but not all that much with the right one. If I get one, I'll likely still carry it IWB, but knowing I have options is a good thing.
 
OP,
I live in So. Fl. & it's hot as Hades. I have no problem carring my G19 15 +1 in the waist what so ever. I also carry my G43 6 plus 1 with Xtra mag. It just depends on how I feel.
Someone said the smaller subs are harder to shoot & be accurate and he was correct. It takes alot of practice to handle a sub compact well.
The G19 is preferable but IMO, either works for me. I don't like the Shield nor the Walther but that's just my personal feelings. I would never carry anything that I didn't have 100% confidence in
 
I am one who does carry a grown-up 1911, IWB. I'm short and fat, here is my handle here is my.....:D

The key to concealing the butt of a 1911 is a holster that rides low. Mine is a tuckable from High Noon, I forget the exact model name, I bought the holster a good 10 years ago at least.

Is it 100% comfortable? Of course not. I have tried carrying my Sig 228 in the same style holster, and it just doesn't work out so well.
 
The OP apparently likes his little Kahr .380, so I'm surprised the CW9 hasn't been mentioned. It's a nice 7+1 that should be an easy IWB/OWB carry - especially with a flush fit magazine:

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Glock 19, VP9, CZ P10,... choose.

Pocket carry?

How fast can you access it?

How about when seated?

If you're grappling?

If, for whatever reasons the pistol must be small you MAY wish to consider holstering the pistol onto your belt. It's MUCH easier to access under stress.


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You are CORRECT in every point

Pocket carry has advantages, but also some tremendous disadvantages

Due to these issues, I ditched the pocket carry a few years back

An M&P40C is very comfortable (Here in Texas) in a Remora holster

With the +2, extension and one in the pipe 13 rounds in a 40 cal compact is awesome

As far as the do all is concerned, this gun switches from 40 to 9 (and to 357 Sig)
with a barrel swap ($67) and mag change (9MM)

It will also accept a 15 round mag (with an xgrip) and then you have 16 rounds of 40......... Pretty powerful for a compact conceal carry

I also have a Shield in 40.... also an AWESOME weapon..... but I pack the M&P40C

On sales at CDNN for $359 with Night Sights...... It also has a MUCH improved trigger from 2 years ago

To me this is the closest to Do it all, in one pistol
 
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Most would say you need at least two CC pistols. A LCP like 380 for pocket carry, and a single stack or compact double stack for OWB carry.
 
I have 2 cc guns. My bodyguard.380 for pocket carry and a CZ 75 p01 for IWB. I'm a small framed guy (5' 10" 140#) so I have to be very selective in the clothes I wear when carrying the larger CZ. My mom has a Ruger lc9s and it's not a lot bigger than my .380 bodyguard.


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I carried a S&W Shield 40 for about a year. A few months ago, I purchased a Performance Center Shield 45. Handles & shoots better than the 40. I pocket carry with 6 rnd in cargo pants and spare 7 rnd magazine in the Tech pocket. Phoenix, Arizona gets a little warm.

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The Keltec PF9 might be just the ticket. It's small, thin, and lightweight.
You can add the belt clip and carry it IWB without a holster, and it's almost totally concealed.
 
Does summer carry (in the heat) mean working outside all day (extended period of time) or going in and out of vehicle / buildings?

If working outside in the heat, something I try to avoid, a pocket pistol may be best I am willing to do, example mowing yard in the sun with 100+ heat index (sucks).

Going from vehicle to store, to gas station, (intermittent air cond) ect... I can (will) easily conceal a Glock 19 under a loose untucked t-shirt plus a pocket pistol in cargo shorts pocket; most people are going to at least wear shorts and a shirt, not going around shirtless.

When I was skinny, and picky about not printing (just cause) I concealed a Glock 26 appendix IWB - easily under a loose untucked t-shirt with no (zero) printing.

Personal preference: I wear some sort of t-shirt between holster and my skin, a-frame (AKA wife beater) or thin wicking type; I remove the sweat guard from any holster that has / had one for a minimalist holster, also like open bottom leaving the muzzle sticking out, more minimalist.
 
Glock 27

Want more capacity? Slap a G22 Mag into it. Want even more capacity? Swap the barrel, extractor, & mag for 9mm. Want more umph? Swap the barrel for an extended length barrel in 357 Sig or 40S&W.

One day the Sig 320 platform will be able to do the same.
 
I went with my S&W 3913NL for my carry piece or my Beretta 84f. They are usually carried IWB during the summer months here is SC and provide a level of security I am comfortable with. When I'm forced to carry smaller I will pocket carry two different guns in two different places to provide access when sitting/driving/standing.
 
The only thing I have that is suitable for pocket carry is a 642 revolver. I have an LC9 but if you grab it by the handle it ain't coming out of a pocket. I have not tried the LCP. You can put a gun in a cargo pocket and you can get it out even while driving. Prolly even the LC9. It seems the autos just aren't shaped for pocket carry, at least for me. I'm not concerned with the 642 only having 5 rounds in it. If more than a couple bad guys you're prolly screwed anyway. A pocket gun is a compromise any way you shake it but it is the gun I carry. I try to shoot at least 25 rounds thru it every week.
My 2 cents.
 
I disagree with the premise that a gun has to be a pocket/pocketable gun to be a true CCW pistol. I disagree with the premise that larger guns are OK in winter or cooler climates, but are not warm-weather CCW pistols. Heck, that second part really makes no sense to me. I like IWB carry (tucked or untucked). If you are working in a professional environment the only difference between business dress or business casual during the cooler months v. the warmer months is you are less likely to wear a blazer/suit/sport coat so you would need a tuckable IWB over a regular IWB or OWB or you may wear short sleeves in the summer which would have no bearing on how you carry. When going casual, with an untucked T-shirt, sport shirt or polo with shorts, jeans or khakis/chinos you can carry whatever you want so long as it isn't too thick or the shirt isn't too tight, and with a tucked T-shirt, polo or short shirt most thinner double stacks and pretty much any single stack will work with a tuckable IWB. Before you say "you aren't in TX/FL/whatever", MD summers do get pretty hot. Highs in the 90's is the norm this time of year, and we get 100+ degree days most summers (usually a nice string of them). Our humidity can rival much more tropical regions this time of year (with all the rivers and streams, the Bay, the ocean to our east, and mountains to the west keeping it all contained, and being in the northernmost reaches of the subtropical zone, it gets quite humid). In fact, a friend from FL who is just experiencing her 2nd MD summer is convinced it is more humid here than where she is from, and almost as hot.

That said, the OP prefers pocket carry, so consider pocketable guns. No pocketable gun will be a good gun for everything. If it is small and light enough for pocket carry, it is too small and light to be a do everything gun, not much can be done about that. However, some are closer than others.

If I was him, I'd steer clear of the lightest weight 9mms. The recoil will be pretty stout and that will make it difficult to have quick follow up shots, and in all likelihood the amount of range time will suffer as well. A 20ish oz gun may be heavy for full-time pocket use, but it is pocketable. Getting something in that range with both an IWB (preferably a tucked IWB) holster and a pocket holster could be a decent full-time/all scenarios carry gun if you just want one. With a good IWB and pocket holster, the heavier single stack/micro 9s are as close as you'll get to one gun that can do everything if you want pocket carry.

My SIG P290RS is quite accurate and comfortable for its size, and the cloth on my chinos/khakis and jeans are substantial enough that it doesn't print (it won't work very well with very thin dress pants and suit pants though). Guns that seem to be a similar blend of range comfort/accuracy and size are the Shields, PPS, SIG P938 and there are others. Personally, I've also shot the Kahr PM9 and MK9 and I can vouch for the MK9 being quite comfortable and both being quite accurate for the size. Another option could be an all steel J-frame if you don't mind the capacity.
 
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I disagree with the premise that a gun has to be a pocket/pocketable gun to be a true CCW pistol.
I disagree with the premise that larger guns are OK in winter or cooler climates, but are not warm-weather CCW pistols.

250
 
CDW4ME, we are on the same page for sure. Though, I wasn't always there. I did believe in smaller is better for summer.

Last summer I went camping (camper with AC, but camping) in southern VA in August. That particular trip I did bring my SIG P290 instead of my P250 Compact. I carried IWB with a tuckable holster, though since I was camping, walking the beach, on a boat, etc. I didn't worry too much about tucking my shirt most of the time. In the August southern VA heat, I do not see how the larger gun would have made me warmer in a similar IWB holster. Since I was at the beach and camping, I wore shorts. Even though I wore shorts, I did not carry in my pocket. With an untucked polo style shirt most of the time, an untucked t-shirt some of the time, I could have just as easily carried my much larger P250. Even with the one or two times I tucked in my polo into jeans that trip, I've carried the P250 Compact tucked before and it works.

By that trip I was already gravitating to a larger gun when in a state where I can carry due to better capabilities and an overall minor sacrifice regarding carry comfort and concealment. After that trip, I never bring the smaller gun out of a perceived need (though I do sometimes pick the P290 as a BUG or just because I feel like bringing the P290).
 
As long as I am wearing a shirt, and I always do, I carry a six inch 357 revolver. It conceals easily in the right holster, is light enough that I can carry it all day every day and I have been carrying it like that for the better part of 45 years. My secondary carry gun is a 45 Colt.

You have to find what fits and works well for you. I can get at my 357 from any position with either hand and that is why I use the shoulder holster.
 
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