Why Buy A Full-Size Pistol?

I tried to conceal my g19 today with a t shirt. Was not happening, had to switch to a single stack.
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Mine conceals great at about 1 o'clock with a proper holster under a not even that loose t-shirt. I do this almost daily.


As for the OP, I keep asking myself the same question, but in a different context. I keep wanting to get a Glock 17 for... reasons. I keep telling myself that the 19 is everything I need in a 9mm Glock (fullish size) AND I know I shoot it about the same as the 17.

Yet I still want that 17.
 
Why Buy A Full-Size Pistol?
I've been looking at subcompact pistols (SR9C, FNS9C, M&P9C) lately. As CCW choices go, it's hard to fault them for anything....especially when they can take the mags of their full-size brothers. And, with ammo improvements, performance from a 3.5" barrel (or less) is comparable to 4"+ barrel, the subcompacts really don't give up anything that a good defensive pistol needs.

So, outside of competition needs, why would someone choose a full-size pistol over a subcompact pistol for general-purpose SD/HD/CCW use?
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Some guys prefer to carry say a 1911 and they do so absent any inhibitions...IMO if one can CCW a full-size frame then why not? The accuracy arguably is better (depending on experience, training...).

Now for HD I would highly recommend say a 1911, 92, Hi power etc. as it offers better accuracy and capacity.

Another category for guys buying large revolvers/pistols is collecting--I know of several buddies that have quite the collection (if they are missing one particular full-size gun they won't sleep until such time that they acquire one.
 
I remember being told on several occasions that certain guns are not suitable for concealed carry....
My best gun is big, so I carry it
Sometimes creatively
 
I think my first question is "are you wanting one pistol for everything?" If you're going to use this pistol for concealed carry, then that becomes a very important factor in what you choose. I carry inside the waistband, so I can't have a huge pistol. But...I do believe that it is easier to shoot a longer barreled gun more accurately, plus you tend to get higher capacity mags. That's why I do not believe in carrying any of these micro guns. You darn near have to be within a couple of yards to insure a hit with little 1-2" barrels and you only get a few shots.

My current CCW pistol is the Beretta PX4 Compact in 9mm. It's a bit thicker than I wish it was, but I use a very thin, nylon IWB holster of my own design. The PX4 Compact has a barrel not much shorter than the full sized PX4, and a grip that is just long enough I can get all my fingers on it. The kicker for me is that it still holds 15+1 rounds. For a relatively small size, that's a lot of rounds I can go through before needing to reload.

In the end, a CCW gun is a compromise of many characteristics. You have to define the roles it will play and limitations you'll encounter to conceal it, then start looking for pistols that fit within those parameters.

I've always said the hardest part of concealed carry is concealing the pistol.
 
I tried to conceal my g19 today with a t shirt. Was not happening, had to switch to a single stack.
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Everyone is different. I have no problem concealing my Walther PPQ in a Raven Concealment Phantom holster and a Beltman Belt. I have $200 invested in my CCW system but I love the way it works and how tight it holds my PPQ to my side. I can also do both OWB and IWB with the Phantom. When my shirt is pulled down per normal it covers the Phantom and about 3 extra inches.

 
I oftentimes shoot handguns out to 125 yards.
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But hopefully not in any personal or home defensive situation like the OP is talking about.

I remember being told on several occasions that certain guns are not suitable for concealed carry....
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Only 3 come to mind right away: 1) those you can't conceal, 2) those you don't carry, and 3) those you've never trained yourself to shoot under stress.
 
AZAK
I oftentimes shoot handguns out to 125 yards.
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Bongo Boy
But hopefully not in any personal or home defensive situation like the OP is talking about.
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Well, my barn starts at right about 100 yards downhill from my house with nothing beyond it for literally miles (read, safe backstop.) Where I live we do have predators...

Rifles might be in the safe, but a handgun is pretty much always on my side.
 
Well, good point. At one of the weekend training classes I took at Sig Academy, we were outside with steel silhouettes placed at 50 yds. Now, no one in the class including myself had ever shot handgun offhand at that distance. I thought I was an 'experienced' shooter (started in early 60s), but i thought it was a bit unlikely I'd hit the target (life-size human torso silhouette). I was surprised to be able to hit it every time--what a satisfying ring.

So, no harm in being equipped and mentally prepared for engagements at something greater than the usual storybook 7 yds.
 
I always gravitate to full size---they feel better, point better and have more shots.

Out of all my handguns, there is only one that is considered "small" and its still a chunk--Beretta PX4 Subcompact 9mm---the mag holds 13 rounds and factory stated weight is like 26oz.

I had an LCP for about 2 weeks---I never even shot it---after playing with it a bit, I knew it just wasn't for me.

My hands aren't even all that big---a Beretta 92 is ok but a full size Glock .45 or 10mm is definitely out of the question.
 
Bongo, 50yds is pretty easy with a full size 1911 or a 4" 686 rev. It all changes with a LC9 or a 642 revolver at least for me. I'm lucky to keep all shots on an IDPA target at 25 with the little guns. I'm 70 so I ain't as good as I used to be.
 
There is a gentleman on youtube who has posted a number of 230 yard shots with 5 different handguns; I believe that it is up to five now.

Hickok45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2cnop15VA8

Don't think that any of them are sub-compact; as in LCP sub-compact size.

And I do realize that most folks are not comfortable with, or practiced, for most longer range shooting with a handgun. It is a skill that is decidedly possible to acquire. And I might add, for myself, very perishable if not practiced fairly regularly!
 
There is a gentleman on youtube who has posted a number of 230 yard shots with 5 different handguns; I believe that it is up to five now.

Hickok45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2cnop15VA8

Don't think that any of them are sub-compact; as in LCP sub-compact size.
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Hickok45 makes all of us normal people look bad. I can accept Jerry Miculek because he's not human; Hickcok's just a regular dude.

He didn't do 230 yards with a subcompact, but he does hit 80 yards regularly with even smaller guns. Here he is hitting 5 of 7 shots with a Kahr PM9 (starts at 4:53).

I don't think I could afford the amount of ammo it would take for me to get half as good.
 
Bongo, 50yds is pretty easy with a full size 1911 or a 4" 686 rev. It all changes with a LC9 or a 642 revolver at least for me.
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I was using a P229...not a tiny gun.

Hickok45 makes all of us normal people look bad. I can accept Jerry Miculek because he's not human; Hickcok's just a regular dude.
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Yeah I noticed that when I started paying more attention to his shots. At first I just thought it was the camera of 'hmmm, he's pretty good', but then I thought about his hit ratio on those tiny little silhouettes that I can barely see. Yeah, he does okay. ;)
 
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"Full size" is all purpose/general duty in my book, compact is specialized use.
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This is the point I try to make when I order a beer and I'm given the choice of small and pathetic vs a proper pint.
 
Why drive a car when a bicycle will get you to work
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Perfectly good logic, unless your are a pizza delivery driver...

Just another example of how the logical answer for one person does not necessarily apply universally. Similarly, there is no pistol concept that is going to answer the question of "which one" for everyone. Of course, that results in a steady stream of new guns from companies who are trying to provide a better answer to that question, which means that this is one argument that we all get to win :D.
 
You can deliver pizza on a bike, just not as well as with a car
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Try it some time - especially in the rain or snow. I think my point was clear, though: the solution to one person's needs will not necessarily work for someone else.
 
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