Choosing an Effective Concealed Carry Gun

Introduction

Many states currently have or are working on passing laws allowing qualified citizens to carry concealed weapons for personal defense. While some states like New Mexico are "shall issue" states where you will be issued a permit as long as you meet the qualifications, other states like California are "may issue" states in which the local authorities have some part in the decision to grant a concealed carry permit. If you have some knowledge of firearms and live in a state where you can apply for a concealed carry permit, a concealed firearm can be an excellent choice for self defense.

There are many factors to consider when choosing an effective concealed carry gun. From the caliber of the gun to its physical size, you must consider all options carefully. For instance, a .44 Magnum will have great stopping power but will be nearly impossible to conceal; conversely, a .25 ACP pocket gun will be easy to conceal, but may not have enough stopping power to prevent an attack on your person. You must strike a careful balance between size and power to choose an effective concealed carry gun.

Choosing a Gun Type

The first decision you must make when evaluating concealed carry guns is the type of gun you want to carry. The two major types of handgun are the revolver and the automatic. A revolver will likely hold 5 or 6 rounds, and can be slower to reload than an automatic unless the user has put in a significant amount of practice reloading the gun. An automatic can hold anywhere from 5 to 19 rounds, depending on the size of the gun. Most automatics that will be effective as a concealed carry gun will hold 6 to 9 rounds. Automatics are generally faster to reload than revolvers, though the movement of the side can make them ineffective if fired from inside of a pocket or other very tight space that a hammerless revolver can be fired from.

Choosing a Gun Size

An effective concealed carry gun must be able to be concealed. While Dirty Harry might be cool to watch on film, his Smith & Wesson Model 29 would be very impractical for concealed carry. If you've chosen a revolver, consider both hammerless revolvers and revolvers with a hammer. Hammerless revolvers have fewer moving parts exposed, can be fired from inside of a pocket if necessary, and generally have a short barrel. Look at revolvers with a 3 inch barrel and a grip big enough to fit comfortably in your hand.

If you've chosen an automatic platform, there are many more options to consider. Take into account the number of rounds that the gun will hold and the calibers available in that size automatic versus frame size. Medium frame automatics are often the best balance between size and power. However, if you are more interested in concealment and comfort than power, a small frame automatic might be sufficient. For people in the opposite court, if the size and weight will not bother you, a full size automatic can be concealed under a jacket or loose fitting shirt.

Choosing a Caliber

An effective concealed carry gun must be chambered in a caliber adequate for personal defense. Each person will have their own opinion on what the ideal defense round is, and it is simply impossible to get everyone to agree that a single round is the most effective. However, taking all factors into consideration, there are a few calibers that stand out as effective for a concealed carry gun.

In revolvers, the three most common defense loads are the .357 Magnum, .44 Special, and .38 Special. The .357 Magnum is a great choice, with the other two being very effective still. A .357 Magnum revolver can also fire .38 Special ammunition, so it has an additional advantage in this. However, if you plan to shoot .38 Special exclusively or as your primary defense round, you are better served by choosing a gun chambered specifically for that round, as it is likely to be more accurate with that caliber round.

For an automatic, don't consider anything smaller than a .380 caliber. The .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and 9mm are all effective rounds. The .40 and .45 will have more stopping power than the 9mm, but a 9mm can be an effective concealed carry gun in that it will often be smaller and/or able to hold more rounds than a .40 or .45. The most important thing to take into account when choosing a caliber is accuracy. You are far better served by carrying a 9mm that you can shoot accurately than a .45 that is too powerful for you to fire accurately.

Parting Thoughts

In the end, an effective concealed carry gun is determined based on personal preferences in type, size, and caliber. Just because a hammerless .357 Magnum is one person's choice for a personal defense gun, does not mean it is the best choice for everyone. Hopefully this quick primer has given you an idea of where to start when choosing a gun. The most important thing to do when making this choice is to do your research, and make sure you choose the gun that is most effective for you.