Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some of the keys to successfully carrying a concealed handgun. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to look at why certain individuals, especially people who are just starting to get into guns, always seem to think larger calibers, while a smaller-framed smaller caliber pistols with higher capacity can be superior carry guns. It’s the argument of capacity versus firepower, but I have seen some incredibly interesting choices lately rather than the more common 9mm carry guns. Let’s take a closer look at why bigger isn’t always better.
Caliber Matters
Over the last week, I have had this conversation with two separate people who are looking to buy their first carry gun, but don’t want something like a 9mm carry pistol that has become so common. The first person I chatted with wanted to carry a snub-nose N-frame Model 629 from Smith & Wesson because even 357 Magnum wasn’t enough to stop someone in his eyes. This is one of those guys that is so far out there it’ll be hard to save them. While that may be true for a grizzly bear in Alaska, this is not the case for a self-defense handgun in everyday America. While a snub-nose .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum does offer significant stopping power, the amount of recoil that comes with these rounds makes it more difficult to fire a follow-up shot quickly. I’ve heard the old-timers who have had this debate when it comes to 45 ACP versus 9mm, but having a big-bore revolver for a carry gun is completely overkill.
The other individual I was chatting with was a woman who had never had a concealed handgun or shot much before. She was convinced that 9mm isn’t enough to stop a man, so she started asking me what options she could carry in 45 ACP or 10mm. Now, if she was experienced and held that belief, I wouldn’t really worry about her. During our conversations, she said she fired a Glock 17 and it seemed too easy to make hits, which made me laugh at the moment, but she was expecting handguns to be uncontrollable rather than having something that fits her hand and can be controlled with proper grip and training, something like a Glock 43X or 48, which would allow her a proper grip, enough stopping power, and the ability to carry 15+1 with the updated Glock magazines.
Power Vs Mobility
The biggest issue when it comes to carrying larger caliber handguns for concealed carry. There are two routes that you’ll have to grapple with. The first option is to carry either a full-size or smaller option chambered in 45 ACP, 10mm or even a 357 Magnum. I’ve found most people still carry either a commander-size or officer-size 1911, which is still a smaller option than the full-size variants but still weighs more due to its full metal construction. Heavier revolvers like a 44 Magnum N-frame can be incredibly bulky, which ultimately makes it tough to conceal. The other option is to go with the lighter options, but those aren’t perfect by any means either.
Carrying the super lightweight options makes concealing a magnum extremely easy, but the major issues with these are when you actually fire them. With the lack of weight combined with a larger powder charge, it can be extremely difficult to fire accurately, but even tougher to fire quickly. There has certainly been an advance in technology when it comes to metallurgy and weight reduction in the revolver market especially, but that lack of weight means the recoil impulses will be significantly more than the heavier metal-framed variants.
The Majority Caliber
If we look at the vast majority of people who carry a concealed handgun, we can look at what is selling best on the market along with the aftermarket support for various handgun models. One of the overwhelmingly popular calibers is 9mm and a massive number of carriers do, in fact, carry a 9mm concealed handgun. A significant number of police departments and law enforcement agencies also carry a handgun chambered in 9mm for the simple fact that you can train economically and have a significant level of stopping power with modern self-defense rounds. If you do decide to carry a larger caliber handgun, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. The issue is when people develop opinions with no background knowledge but rather just take their assumptions as fact and go off those assumptions.
Overall Thoughts
Part of the fun when it comes to carrying concealed is finding the perfect carry gun and there’s no wrong answer. There will be drawbacks with any handgun you choose, but you have to find what works for you. The vast majority of people, though, agree on finding something that’s comfortable to carry and that you can accurately shoot under pressure. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but there’s also no need to carry the largest handgun possible in order to feel safe. There’s a balance and finding that balance will ultimately help you.
What are some of your favorite carry guns that you use on a daily basis? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.
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