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What To Carry as a Concealed Firearm

Posted by Scott Hughes On March - 6 - 2009
BLACKSBURG, VA - APRIL 17:  Roanoke Firearms s...
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A good friend of mine just got his concealed carry permit and he has been debating for a while now what firearm he should carry concealed. He kept asking me, and frankly I think it depends on the person, their shooting ability, why they want to carry concealed and their comfort level with the gun.

A good friend of mine just got his concealed carry permit, and has been up in the air as to what to carry as a sidearm. After giving him what advice I could, he still has yet to make a decision. I figured he probably isn’t the only person out there struggling with this issue. So I have developed this quiz to help you narrow down your search and better help you, and him, find the perfect gun to carry as a concealed weapon.

1. What is your body type? If you are a small framed person then you should be looking at 22 or 9mm calibers. These guns will have less of a recoil, or kick, and keep you from going off balance. If you have a medium to large frame then the larger calibers 40 and 45 might be better for you.

2. What is your shooting ability? My friend has been shooting for over 12 years and is very comfortable handling just about anything. If you are fairly inexperienced, then again the 22 or 9mm will be more your speed. They are smaller and will allow you to stay on target better.

3. What are you wanting from your gun? For the best stopping power you should look at 40 caliber and 45 caliber pistols. They have the best knock down ability, and will keep your assailant from getting up. A 9mm will knock them down, but there is the chance they could get up, and with a 22 you may not even knock them down, just slow them down a bit.

4. Is it Concealable? When choosing a gun, you need to make sure that it isn’t big and bulky and is going to protude and make it known that you are carrying a weapon.

I guess all in all, you need to get out there and start handling some guns. Ask your friends and family members if you can shoot some of their guns. Find out what works best for you. If you are small framed then you don’t want a 45 caliber gun sticking out of your hip, because that would defeat the purpose of being concealed. Go to some firing ranges that offer gun rentals, and shoot a variety of calibers. Get to some trade shows, and see what is available, for your price range, expect to spend anywhere from $500 to upwards of over $1000, depending on what you want. There are several classes you can take, even before you purchase your first gun. Get an instructor to work with you, and after they have worked with you for a little while, they will be able to suggest some guns for you to choose from.

This probably won’t help my friend, but I hope it helps you. Be sure to make a very educated purchase, research the manufacturers., check out the warranty on the guns, and do some research on the internet to check out their reputations. I have included a video to help you out when choosing a weapon for concealed carry.

Click Here to Watch the Video on Choosing a Concealed Weapon

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One Response to “What To Carry as a Concealed Firearm”

  1. Brian says:

    I recently got my CHL (Concealed Handgun License) for Ohio and my biggest issue has been wanting everything and not being able to afford it. I carry a Kel-Tec PF9 9mm with a Crimson Trace Laser in a Blackhawk pocket holster. I love it but still want a 45 and am leaning towards the Colt Defender. Whats your opinion on 1911 style compact 45’s like SpringField Armory, Colt, Kimber, High Standard and so on vs. double action 45’s like SpringField Armory XD, Glock, Smith and Wesson M&P and so on? I think I will always mainly carry the PF9 due to ease of use and carry but I always want more choices, me in a gun shop is like a woman in a shoe store. Thanks for the article.

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