Why carry compact?

I carry as big as my clothing will allow. Typically a j-frame in the summer and my Coonan in the winter.

Its hard to strut around on the beach in a thong when you are trying to CCW a Desert eagle
 
to sigcurious. kidnapping scenario

I know what you mean. But I'm sure you would risk your loved one surviving a wreck versus never seeing them again or being tortured, or mutilated, or worse. Its all"what if's" but its theses situations that shock us the most I 'm not trying to say I have the perfect answer because I don't. But when performance becomes a part of our armed citizen life style, and adrenaline is affecting that 2" or 3" grouping that we have at the range at 10ft, what would you wish you had? More rounds? More accuracy? More ballistic performance? Are those the thoughts you want when they drive off with your loved one? Or lying there bleedinh when crooks lookoutt man shoots you from up the road? Again, I'm just speaking about being ready for worst case, not just common bad.
 
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For me, it's weight more than size in everything except extreme heat. I find a fully loaded glock 17 easier to carry than my 3" model 13. I found that as guns got lighter, I could carry bigger with less discomfort.
 
Fullsize, have you considered carrying a 6" revolver? I tend to believe a long barrel revolver to the most accurate handgun for most at longer distances. You can also find 8 round 357 for higher capacity
 
But when performance becomes a part of our armed citizen life style, and adrenaline is affecting that 2" or 3" grouping that we have at the range at 10ft, what would you wish you had?
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I'd say more time with your gun. My groups are smaller than that at 7 yards. Only when I open it to 20 yards do they get that large, or at rapid-fire. Beyond 20 yards will be a problem proving self-defense in court, most likely even beyond 10. And it's self-defense for me, as to why I carry. Of course, YMMV.
 
stevie ray and tennjed

That is true stevieray, but again 7 yds with a cool head is not impossible, impressive yes. But how much of that do you lose under stress? I'm only stating what I believe gives best performance. If you spent equal time with a g17 that you spend with a g19, which will most people shoot better with? And if you can conceal it, what is TFL"s opinion on why they don't. Thr long shot scenarios are hypothetical possibilityies, that's all. Would you really want to be out of the fight at 90 yds? Not typical defense range I get it, but do you think a mad gunman, or a wild animal cared about those statistics?
 
If you spent equal time with a g17 that you spend with a g19, which will most people shoot better with?
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Wouldn't know, I have a G26 that I do just fine with. And believe it or not some do better with the baby Glock than the full-sized. Search these forums and you'll see examples of that.

Knowing a madman is coming for me at 90 yards, I would probably know ahead of time and therefore be armed with my Colt 6721 along with my EDC. And I change my EDC to a G29 for the possibility of wild animals at my Northern exposure. If I knew wild animals were going to be in my vicinity for some reason or another, I'd opt for my FAL.;)
 
Lol! I hear ya man! I like the option for the wild animals. How's that FAL. shoot? I keep a dpms ar10 in the trunk of my car and raging bull 5" .44 mag in the glove box.I'm in the south where its a lot of wild hogs wild dogs and wild people. You'll face one the three in a 6 mo span for sure.
 
Accuracy up close is what I prefer; if I get that part right the size of weapon wont matter caliber might. 50, 30, 10, yards would be hard to justify, 10 to 15 feet or less is probably the norm. I'm comfortable with a sr40 with just a basic Galco IWB and a bodyguard. 38 with a King Tuck when I put on a suit ( which is often) and I'm ok with either comfort wise. I may change the sr40 for a sp101 2.25. Use what you feel will work for you, but don't make 50 yard accuracy your criteria.
 
rodeo roy

Hey man, it could happen. If he runs and continues to fire, or vice versa which is highly possible once the fight starts, I live first and justify second.
 
I keep a dpms ar10 in the trunk of my car
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Ooh, that's sweet. My FAL is a SAR-48HB, so it's a sweet shooter. Right now it's sporting a 4-16x50 scope, so it's even heavier than normal, probably about 13 lbs.:eek:
 
Why carry compact? Good question. Never made any sense to me. It's like driving one of those little tiny French cars. No thanks.
 
There are opportunity costs for everything we do and dress and carry have theirs. I carry a mouse gun in my pocket when in shorts & T-shirt. Why? My EDC is too large to carry in a pocket, and at other times I dress to meet the needs of carrying a larger weapon. Dockers and a Tommy Bahama shirt. IMO, Any gun is better than no gun in a gun fight.:D
 
Yes, really. Not saying its likely but its a scenario where accuracy would be critical. My point is that dynamic situations can arise and go from 10 ft to 50 yds and still be self defense situation. When I was in the military, I saw all kinds of situations where the weapon I had became
inadequate in a hurry. Defending my life AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS and staying within the law, I want every advantage I can have at my disposal, because frankly, criminals and terrorists don't care. I DO
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Unless the robber is kidnapping someone you just committed a felony. :mad:
 
Your point is ok, but my position is if I get off a couple of shots and it justs wounds the bad guy and he runs, and shots over his shoulder at me then am I really trying to stop a threat or attacking a bad guy in flight mode. Where I live gun crime is common and really people don't even get detained by the police for shooting a bad guy car jacker, stick up man, or home invader, they may get questioned, but they will be on the six o clock news telling the story, but shooting a fleeing suspect is gonna be a problem. Besides if the bad guy backs up off me long enough for me to flee, I'm running, driving, scampering away from the scene myself, defeneding your self does not just mean shoot it out, it can mean get the hell out of dodge.
 
Fullsize just based on your post I can see you are hyper viligant as you say, but consder this. The fine line between defending yourself and being a person looking for a fight. Somebody in a fleeing car is not a threat. A person in a crowded public place shooting people maybe a threat to you but for me if I can get out of the area I'm getting out, fast; and no one can complain about me not trying to kill the bad guy, I will always pick flight over fight and I think any smart tactican will do the same, fight is always the last resort. To me it sounds like you prepare to fight first, and that to has it's place. To each his own.
 
I wear shorts nearly 365 days a year. An LCP is one of the few things that is easy to conceal and can be quickly pocketed in its holster.

It's not bulky, doesn't limit my movements, and I don't have a heavy gun rubbing up against my back all day long... some days I wouldn't CCW because it's too hot, the gun too bulky.

Subcompact lets you have a gun when you normally wouldn't carry one. That's worth it to me. That and the LCP is shockingly accurate at 5-10 yards--if you don't mind recoil.
 
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