Recommend a concealed carry pistol to a (relative) gun newbie

Great info so far! I also have large hands, and an opinion regarding caliber and selecting the right caliber for you. My wife is a former deputy, and I have been a firearms enthusiast for years.

With big hands, be sure to fire before you buy. You might find that a slide or hammer bites the web between your thumb and index finger. Also your hands may be too big on smaller pistols that have triggers that require you to bend your trigger finger past 90 degrees to fire it.

If you find that you like the way a particular brand feels when you pick it up and fire it, and it proves reliable on forums that are specific to that pistol, buy it. A .22 is better than nothing, if you need a gun, but the most caliber that you can fire without flinching, the better of you are, I suppose. I like revolvers, they are a lot of fun, but I don't carry-never tried. BUT, in my opinion, they are more reliable than a semi auto. Any good name brand in .38+P or greater would be great, if you are confident in the capacity.

Do you prefer a double stack or single stack? Double stacks have more capacity but they can be bulky when carried inside the waste band. Single stacks conceal easier but don't have as much capacity. Also, check laws, some states are implementing capacity restrictions, etc.

A full size 1911 is tough for me to conceal in the summer, but is my choice when I can wear heavier clothes. However, when driving for long periods of time, it can be uncomfortable. I can carry additional magazines as well. Practicing with it is FUN!!!! I love 1911s! Pick a couple of them up and see if they fit you. Mine are all single stack.

I also carry a Colt .380 Government Pocketlight. It's similar to a 1911 in design and control placement, but, I can conceal it in beach clothes. It's similar the mustang with a bigger grip. I find myself wanting an M&P Shield to replace it, though (because of caliber).

For some, .40 seems snappy, and it's snappier than both .45 and 9mm in my experience. Some people don't mind. The bottom line: have your friend load a snap cap in your magazine somewhere. If you flinch when pulling the trigger keep practicing. If practice doesn't resolve it, go with a lighter round that you can fix the flinch with.

I have a Sig P229 in .40 and a nice holster, but, don't carry it (not because of the round) but because my fingers are too long to be comfortable to practice with it a lot. I prefer to carry the CZ85 in 9mm which is a GREAT VALUE if you can find it. CZ75 is great too.

I'd like to add: please get a safe of some sort, even if it's just a biometric that's bolted down. They can be had for ~100.00 and offer quick access.

Good luck, and I hope you never need to use it!

In .380 go with Sig p238 or P938in 9mm. Both are essentially small 1911's and shoot very nice while also being easy to conceal. True pocket guns

SlickDizzy wrote: My ex-military relative asked me how much my life was worth and told me to spend accordingly, so I'm not afraid to spend some money...to a point, at least.

not to detract from the discussion, but something about that mode of thinking really bothers me when people say stuff like this to self-admitted gun novices.

it just smacks of sensationalism on the part of the person who would say that to you.

I would say to you, that the amount of money you spend on the gun shouldn't be the focus.

The money you spend on yourself to become a confident, competent, prepared, literate, and mature shooter as a whole is. There's alot of good advice in this thread especially about trying lots of weapons out, but i would implore people to look at it from the mindset I put out as well.

and remember, practice and sport shooting is fun for lots of people. when you carry a weapon into public, its not "fun". its meant to be a tool that when you use it can lead to someone's death.

Carry a Mosin.

No need for concealed. And if you can't find a 2x4 to cycle the next round you can always bayonet the person. That's if the blast from the round didn't set them on fire already.

SlickDizzy wrote: So far I've been advised to go for a 9mm or .45, and to avoid .40 (something about being a real slow moving bullet).

Never, ever take firearms advice from the person who told you that, again. Any good manufacturer produces a .40 S&W round between 135-165 gr that's moving faster than 1,000 fps at the muzzle. Not that even if it was a slow-mover would it be wise to tell you to avoid it, 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 all are great, time-tested rounds and for your application the differences are ultimately academic.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I don't understand the advice to avoid the .40 S&W. It IS a slow moving bullet that hits hard. Like a baby .45 ACP. It won't penetrate 20 phone books and kill unintended things behind them. THat is a bonus, not a detriment.

No way man, run the numbers. The .40 S&W is slower than a 9mm, but it's by no means a slow moving round. It's significantly faster than the .45 ACP. It's just as fast as a .38 +P, for a heavier bullet.

There is only one common centerfire pistol round I'd advise someone to avoid when shopping for a personal defense pistol: .32 ACP. Even then if you find a pistol that you like that is only available in it (and not .380), it still wouldn't be a dealbreaker.

Any side arm is better than no side arm.

I have tried carrying IWB and didn't have good luck with it. I have a similar build to yours and had trouble keeping it from "printing".

I agree that a 1911 style pistol will fit your hand well- the trouble is carrying that big of a gun. Thin seems to be the new in thing in the gun world, so that plays to your favor.

Honestly my ideal carry arm is a S&W .38 snubbie with a shrouded hammer. But that's just me.

Yeah, .40 is a decent round so is a .45, .38 +P (which was design specifically for what you are wanting to do.) and the 9mm.

Become proficient and trained in what ever you choose.

For a CC weapon I still like my S&W .38 +P.

A FRIEND bought a glock 22 (.45 ACP.) Granted, he's never shot anyone to death, but his friends who had highly recommended it.

Also, Ruger LCP with integrated laser is a popular choice in certain circles, especially for mama.

Sorry I can't offer any advice beyond that. I don't own any guns.

poopshovel wrote: A FRIEND bought a glock 22... Also, Ruger LCP with integrated laser is a popular choice in certain circles, especially for mama. I don't own any guns.

I read that as:

"since I am a felon, I am unable to own firearms. But, Mrs. Liddy owns several hundred..." - G. Gordon Liddy

poopshovel wrote: glock 22 (.45 ACP.)

Actually a Glock 22 is a .40 S&W the Glock 21 is a .45ACP. They are both considered "full size" however the 21 actually has a larger frame and slide than the 22 that is only shared with the 20 (10mm).

We have had the same 3 Glock 22s sitting on the gun shop shelf for the last 3 years.

EDIT: Oh yeah and the 21 is freaking HUGE when you compare to some of the other guns we have discussed. As a combat weapon on your hip or thigh rig it is great. For concealed it is a pain in the butt (I have one and have tried concealing it).

Take a look at a CZ. I used to have a Browning Hi Power and I would love to get another one but they are $$$. I rented a CZ 75 at a range and it was sweet.

Definitely shoot before you buy.

You can buy easily concealed guns that will do the job, but they are no fun to practice with - too small and too light.

I wanted a cc gun that I could also shoot comfortably at a range for at least 50 rounds, ideally more, and become a better shooter. I don't cc often in the urban public though - mostly in the woods.

I landed on a S&W M&P Shield 9. Very happy with it - it checks all the boxes I wanted. The biggest benefit I found was that with the extended mag, it was close enough to a full frame M&P - it feels like a bigger gun in my hand than it is. Being single stack - it's also quite thin.

I had shot a small keltec 9 and it was not enjoyable to shoot. A .380 might have been. I liked a few Kahrs that I've shot.

I also have a 3" barrel Taurus .357. With a 2" or less barrel, I think .357 might hurt. The extra inch and a grip that fits my hand well, and it is still just fine to shoot at a range. .38s are easy. I probably would stop at 50 rounds of .357 though. I'd cc it as well.

Both guns were under $400.

What are you comfortable with?

That is the only question that needs attention. I max out the scales at about 125 lbs and carry a full frame .45 without a problem. I carry it because I'm comfortable with it.

Any reasonable weapon (and some unreasonable) can be carried without detection by anyone.

Asking which gun to this group is like asking which car. Everyone has their favorites. I personally like my 9mm XD subcompact with an extender on the mags baseplate for my pinkie.

Just like in racing, seat time is everything. Practice, practice, practice. Become absolutey comfortable with the gun and carring it. You don't practice racing by just driving fast down the straights. Don't practice shooting just standing there with the target 25yds down range.

Remember that a gun is just a tool, and like every other tool in your box you need to be damn good at using it. If you ever need to use it you won't have time to think about how it works. Everything needs to be instinctive.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

poopshovel wrote: A FRIEND bought a glock 22... Also, Ruger LCP with integrated laser is a popular choice in certain circles, especially for mama. I don't own any guns.

I read that as: "since I am a felon, I am unable to own firearms. But, Mrs. Liddy owns several hundred..." - G. Gordon Liddy

Time to practice up on throwing knives and carry several of them......and a bow.

I shot close to a dozen different guns and ended up with a Glock 23 (40 S&W). It's small enough to conceal easily on IWB, stopping power is good so sayeth the ballistics testing, more reliable than gravity, parts are everywhere, no external safety, holds plenty of rounds, field strips in seconds. A very nice piece so far.

Try everything, talk to some knowledgeable folks at the range, buy what you wish.

"A kimber is to show your friends, a Glock is to show your enemies" - yeah, they ugly, but they work.

In reply to tuna55:

External safeties are pointless anyways. FWIW, M&P handguns can be optioned so they're like a glock as well.

Since we are touching on a lot of topics, I am going to give you some rules I follow that are the basis for some of my opinions.

Don't ever show the gun to anyone while CC, brandishing is a big deal.

Don't ever point it at anything you are not willing to shoot (some friends with ext safeties on their guns get sloppy on this point, and it's deadly)

Don't pull the gun unless you are going to use it.

Always know the condition of your gun.

Since I am not the 'drill drill drill' sort, I need to have something simple that I can get right in the heat of the moment. An external safety would inadvertently get left on, a DA/SA trigger would mess me up. I want the same trigger every time to make a bang every time.

A Glock is not the only gun that can do this, but it's my choice at the moment.