I am going to take the concealed carry class this coming Saturday and I will be in the market for a good concealed carry gun. I am in a very rural and safe area and for the most part I am getting my license in order to take my guns to the range for practice. But when I visit more populated areas of that state I would like to have a pistol with me. I plan to buy a M & P .40 for target shooting and home protection. Is the full size model of this gun too big to carry? I have considered the compact model but I like the capacity of the full size gun. Should I buy two guns, the M & P to take to the range and a small "pocket" gun for those out of town trips? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I've got a M&P 9 and 9c. What I like about that is my fullsize has a 17+1 capacity while my 9c has a 12+1. However, I CC my 9c and carry a spare mag so I bring the 17 round mag from my fullsize but I put the $12 X-Grip on it. That means I've got 30 rounds available.

I CC my 9c but I've also got a S&W J frame plus a Kahr CW9 that I CC too. I wear them all based on my activity, clothing, weather, mood, etc... Options are always good. My M&P 9 FS stays home with a Streamlight TLR-1 light on it (my Mossy 590A1 is my HD gun).

Good luck!!

You have asked a "trick" question; one that there cannot possibly be a single correct answer to. The truth is, there is no "one-size-fits-all" or "best" CCW gun out there. I think the fact that there are hundreds of different handgun models available from dozens of different manufactures is proof enough of that.

I have a fairly standard set of questions I ask people when they ask me to help them select a gun. Those questions are:

1) Keeping in mind that this is a self-defense gun, what do YOU expect the gun to do? How will this gun fit in with YOUR lifestyle, YOUR style of dress, and YOUR activity level?

2) Being as honest with yourself as you can possibly be, how much time will you realistically spend training with this gun and under what circumstances?

3) Now with all of that in mind, what do you think the true role of this gun is going to be and under what circumstances can you expect to have to be able to deploy it efficiently, effectively, and decisively?

The requirements I have for my carry gun might be a bit different than the requirements you may have, and it doesn't really do you any good for me to make a specific recommendation based on MY requirements. I would be happy to offer general recommendations, and even specific ones, as well as give you whatever guidance I can as you evaluate the questions I asked above.

As for me, a few of my requirements for my EDC:

A) The size/design of the gun MUST lend itself to ME being able to fight with it! That means I must be able to utilize it efficiently even with highly degraded motor skills, under severe stress, and with EITHER hand. It must NOT have any "on/off" (safety) switches that have to be activated in order to make the gun work, even a passive safety such as a grip safety. Also, the gun must be big enough that I can really get my big hands on it so as to fully utilize all of the strength in my grip so I can better retain the weapon.

B) It must be of an adequate defensive caliber. In my mind, I would feel plenty comfortable with 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, or .45ACP in an auto-loader, or in a revolver, .38 SPL +P, .357 Mag., .44 SPL, or .45LC. The .380, IMO, is barely inadequate, and except for very specific and limited circumstances, I would never carry one for anything more than a backup, and then, I would probably carry it loaded with FMJ ammo.

C) The gun needs to be "de-horned" so as not to catch or snag on clothing or it's holster as I draw it from it's holster. There are a number of "fighting" handguns on the market that come this way straight from the factory.

D) It must be absolutely reliable. 100% is ideal (hard to get that with any of the micro guns), and 99.9% is acceptable. Yes, any gun can malfunction at any time. Still, it's best to stay away from designs that are notorious for problems.

Once you make some honest evaluations regarding the questions above, you will have a lot easier time narrowing down your options I suspect. You may just find that you've already got the ideal gun for you in mind, or you might decide that something else would be more suitable for your needs.

No, there is no one true carry gun. Different guns will work for different people. The two that I carry more than the others are a Glock 19 and a S&W 642.

I would look real hard at a 642 or a 442. I always turned my nose up at them until very recently I saw that they may be perfect for a CCW.

The best for concealed carry is the one that you can shoot accurately, is reliable, and something your willing to carry each and every day.

I saw a guy on swamp people end a gator's life with one of those NAA mini-revolvers last week, but when the gator shoots back I'd rather have something else. It all comes down to confidence. Which gun you are confident with in your shooting abilities, and which gun you are confident will fire any time you pull the trigger.

Thank you all for the excellent feedback! I am new, as you can tell, to CC. I only recently renewed a love for shooting that I had as a young man! Now I can't get enough and that means transporting my gun, soon guns, to the range for practice. I think I'll stay away from the "pocket guns", I like the advice about reliablity and ammo size. Again, thank you one and all for the help. I will report in on what I buy and how I choose to carry!
I have had a good look at the 442 and 642. Those seem like a perfect CC, size, .38 spec, and nothing to go wrong. Again, thanks for the advice! I think I'll get one of these for my carry gun and the M&P for the gun to keep at home with the "old" security six that I have had for years.

You will find that many of us have more than one carry gun. Depending on how I dress usually, not always, but usually determines which gun I carry. But I normally carry two anyway.

Shoot some guns if you can rent them and see what works for you. Consider how and where you will carry it.

The 642/442 or other similar snubbies do require practice and patience. But they are not hard to master at bad breath range.

Ed Lovette's "The Snubby Revolver" is a great book.

For the most part I like revolvers .. I carry a mod 28 3"... a 66 2 1/2 "
a mod 60 2 " and I also carry a CS45 a lot more than I thought I would.
A lot of it depends on the time of the year and where I'm going.
The revovlers imho look more intimidating than a lot of autos. I always get a few ... " exclamations " when I show someone my mod 28.
I think a lot of it is personal preference .. like most other things.

The M&P FS guns are big. Still, they can be carried successfully with long oversized t-shirts and polos in an OWB. I do it on occasion. Mostly, I just leave the FS to duty use and carry the M&P40c off duty with a FS mag (Arredondo'd) for a spare. Good luck in your pursuit.

Which gun is best for CCW???

The one that you will carry with you without fail.

Rule 303

Rule 303 got it right. Is the 642 the ideal concealed carry gun? Not really. But it's one that many, many people will actually carry every day, day in and day out.

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Centennial Every Day

+1

My 442 is on my hip every day, the wife's 642 at her appendix.

+2 Easy to conceal. Light enough to carry everyday.

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I drank what? - Socrates

Of course . . . a trusty J frame IS the best concealed carry handgun!!!

I bet my life on it!

I like my 3913 LS and my Colt Magnum Carry.

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OHH NOOO!!!

+1............................

Thanks to many threads like this one, I decided on S&W J frames for CCW. Whether the question was "what is the best CCW gun" or "what CCW gun do you carry most", the discussion would first turn to big calibers or high dollar semi automatics. But sooner or later, most of the answers became the J frame, chosen for its ease of carry and reliability.

It's a good place to start. I like to back up my 642 with a Glock 19 sometimes.

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Centennial Every Day

I usually carry two. A 950 Jetfire on my belt with shirt out and either a BT380 or a 442 in a pocket holster.

I carry the fill size M&P 40 in a 5.11 Holster Shirt and occasionally an Uncle Mikes IWB, carried with the slide about 6 oclock and the grip about 5:30 to my right. I'm 6'2" 260 so with my size it is very easy for me to conceal it. I seriously considered the compact M&P, but it just wasnt comfortable in my large hand. It feels good in the shirt and I never have to worry about printing with it as much as my IWB. If your size is so that you can conceal it well go ahead. Like everybody has told you, it is a big gun to try to conceal so just go with what works for you.

all handguns, by virtue of design, are for carry in some form.
With the exception of a few large framed creations, most can be concealed.
Im partial to a full sized auto like a 1911 as a starting point. its enough gun for most things.
you may opt to stay there or make adjustments. What I dislike are the micro pipsqueak pistols. yeah they fit nice in any and all pockets you may have, the trick is keeping them oriented to avoid fumbling with it when you need it, as well as the fact that the caliber must shrink as well.
You will do whats right for you in the long run, and you dont need us to tell you exactly what that is.

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it just needs more voltage

Agreed. Body type, how you dress, and risk level should determine what and how you carry. Depending on the environment, I will carry everything from a high cap full size in an OWB, to a compact in an IWB. The learning curve in the concealed carry question can only be addressed by personal experimentation. All men and situations are different.

I have been carrying a Rock Island in .45 acp semi-auto full size and,carry 230 grain ball ammo for target and self defense. Never had problems ccwing it.

I love all of my smiths and have several snubbies (66-3 2.5"; M36) but my EDC is my Glock 19

I shoot it best, its totally reliable, high capacity, conceals well, and no safeties

Behold: The Ultimate in Concealed Carry:

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Vote Responsibly

...and it accessorizes quite nicely too!

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Centennial Every Day

642 first and foremost for me.

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Take it easy. Chris

I have gone through this process over and over....

I'm 5' 9", 170#. I live in AZ where it's shorts and light shirts almost all year long. Shorts with no belt are sensitive to a gun's weight and bulk. I personally don't like my pants listing to starboard due to pistol weight and wearing a belt with shorts is just uncomfortable to me, plus many shorts have loops that are too small to fit my carry-belt. Polo style shirts, and T's are sensitive to bulk (printing).

I've spent money on three different ccw guns before finally deciding the J frame is best for me.

1st try: Ruger SP101 3" 357mag. Loved it, but: heavy trigger, heavy in general, didn't like practicing with 357's so I practiced with 38's and carried 357. Ultimately it was too heavy and bulky for me to carry every day.

2nd try: Kahr PM40. Super small, lots of blast and muzzle flip, fit in my pocket really well, but gave me blisters every time I shot it, so I never shot it (bad).

3rd try: Star PM 9mm. My dad's gun. It's a single stack 9mm smaller copy of Browning's Hi-Power/1911. Great fit, shoots fantastic. I decided I didn't like to carry this in Condition 3 because it has no grip safety, and I was unsure of this gun's firing system. Condition 2 is no good, that leaves Condition 1 which is close to pointless.

For now I'm using my dad's stainless Model 36 he bought in the seventies. I love it!! It shoots well, fits in my pocket with or without a holster, and I can handle it well enough to actually shoot it. I shoot in on a bi-weekly basis and my confidence is high. I keep a speedloader in my off side pocket.

When the funds free up I'm getting a hammerless J frame. All modern J frames are +P rated btw

There is a lot of trash talk on this 'inner-net about how anything under a .40 will not be useful. BUNK! 9mm and 38's have stopped a lot of bad guys.

The other pistol I considered for ccw is HK's USP compact in 9mm with the LEM trigger. I love the LEM trigger, and I am a big fan of HK's mag release lever (not button, lever), love it. It's hammer fired with no safeties, no buttons, just pull it and stroke the trigger. Great gun, being a double-stack, it's just too big for me to ccw with. If I lived where I could wear a little heavier clothing, this would be my choice. Today it hit 112F, so I'm not wearing jeans or a sport coat any time soon!!

This question is highly personal You need to find what fits you, fits your clothes, fits your lifestyle, and fits your combat accuracy with recoil control and Practice Practice Practice.

The bottom line is: You can't stop what you can't hit, and you can't shoot if you don't carry.

I had a great time reading through the thread. Lots of great advise!

Have fun

I like the Navy Seal Teams answer, whatever is available..

...from whom you've taken it!

For me a Colt Commander loaded with 230 gr. Speer GD's and 2 spare mags. I shoot it the best of any of my handguns so thats the reason. I'm swapping over to a 2.5" S&W 66-2 loaded with .357 158 gr.Speer GD's as it's a lighter weapon and won't hurt my jacked up lower back. It's also a kick butt round. For someone new do some comparison shooting with different weapons and calibers and don't role out revolvers in your search. Pick the one that feels good in your hand and you can shoot accurately. For most folks a 9mm or a .38 special loaded with +P's are great calibers and will get the job done if you shoot it well.

JMHO

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Roger / SG