How do you choose the right gun as a primary carry piece? I suggest that you look for a handgun that is substantial in capability and shoot-ability, but small enough that you can carry it most of the time when dressed casually. Therefore, it proves a very individual choice. There are, indeed, guys who can carry full-size service guns, like a Glock 17 or full-size M&P, most of the time. I am not one of them. There are also those who will not bother carrying anything larger than one of the micro 9mm options, as they ask, “why bother?” I fall in between.
I suggest that you choose your primary carry gun based on a compromise between adequate concealment and adequate capability. Larger guns typically provide at least some more performance, all else being equal, than do small pistols. However, if the gun is too large to adequately conceal most of the time, you won’t carry it.
So, I will try to offer some guidance using my own journey to my decision as an example:
For the past decade plus, my primary carry gun has been a Gen3 Glock 26, with Trijicon Iron sights. I like red dots and use them on other guns, but for concealed carry I still like the simplicity and smaller profile of iron sights. I will share with you my experience coming to this choice, and your choice will likely be different, but the method for reaching it proves sound.
How did I arrive at the Glock 26 as my favored carry gun? After much experimentation I realized that, for me, it struck the best balance between the afore discussed concealment and capability. I find that I can conceal it almost all the time, and I also shoot it almost (not quite, but almost) as well as the larger Glock 19, or even Glock 17. While the Glock 26 is significantly larger than the modern micro compact guns like the Sig 365 or the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield, I find that I can conceal it almost as easily. I use 12-round magazines that offer a pinky extension, providing a full firing grip, but even so, the gun still carries much easier for me compared to a Glock 19. So, for my concealed carry needs, it simply outshines all other options.
When selecting a compact pistol, you really need to get an idea of how much performance you give up as compared to a full-size gun. While you likely give up some performance, it may be less than you anticipate. As an example, I find that the Glock 26, even with the full-firing grip magazine, gives up some performance in several aspects of shooting:
I average about .05 to .10 of a second slower out of the holster to first shot compared to a Glock 19. I believe this is due to the slightly smaller grip surface that slows the establishment of the grip in the holster down just a bit.
I average about .02 of a second slower in split times. So, for example, if shooting close range, fast strings of fire, I might average .17 splits with the G19, and about .19 with the G26.
Also, I can reload the G19 faster than the G26, which should be obvious, due to the truncated grip length of the G26.
Finally, the G26 with the 12-round magazine does give up three rounds of capacity compared to the G19. While I find that compromise entirely acceptable, more capacity is always more.
Now, ironically, for distance shooting I tend to be slightly MORE accurate with the G26 than the G19 at 25 and 50 yards. This, as it happens, is not that unusual, as many have found that they shoot the G26 more accurately than the larger Glocks. While some argue that the shorter radius slide has more secure lockup, whatever, I think the truncated grip, even with the use of the pinky extension magazines, fits my palm a certain way that enhances the accuracy slightly, in my particular case. So, as it turns out, the argument to carry the bigger gun in case you need to reach out and smite an active shooter at extended distances is rendered moot in my situation, as the smaller gun actually does better for this. Go figure.
So, the personal decision I had to ask myself was this: does less than one tenth of a second increase in speed from the holster and two one-hundredths of a second increase in split time speed warrant the larger gun? Understand that the G26 absolutely disappears under my normal clothing, yet the G19 always seems to print just a bit. So, my answer was: the slight increase in those shooting metrics do not, in any way, under any circumstances, offset the concealment penalty. The G26 took the prize as best overall choice for primary carry.
At one time I would carry a G19 when doable, and a G26 when I felt I needed the smaller, more concealable, gun. However, after really ironing out the true performance difference, I just went to using only the G26 as I find the larger G19 offers no appreciable “real world” improvements as a concealed carry gun that make it worth the added size.
The slight enhancement in metrics of the larger gun does not, in my mind, outweigh the true concealability of the smaller one, and concealment is of the utmost importance in real world application. If you ever find yourself under the visual scrutiny of enemies, having a gun that truly disappears is far more important than any slight performance advantage. True concealment from common, or even focused, observation may prove imperative. Therefore, finding your best compromise weapon, one that you shoot well, yet disappears, is important.
Remember that, as well-known firearms instructor, the late Pat Rogers, said, “mission drives the gear train.” What is the mission? If concealed carry is the mission, staying well concealed is important. If, for example, I was working some kind of private security, like protecting a private school, where guns are still carried concealed but with no significant penalty for printing, I would opt for a Glock 19 with a red dot on it. But, for daily carry in public, I favor the better concealment over the slight performance enhancement.
You need to test your favorite small gun against your preferred full-size to see what the metrics actually are. If your performance with a smaller option is abysmal compared to what you can do with a full-size gun, then that should be considered. Perhaps really making changes to your wardrobe is necessary. However, you might find that the performance difference is not that great, and if the metrics are close, more concealable is better.
My two cents.
