Carry pistol size

[Commando]

I am wanting to get concealed carry pistol. It's going to be either a 40 or 45 cal. What size does everyone like? 4, 4.25 or 3.6?

[wadu1]

I carry a Springfield Champion  1911 with a 4 inch barrel, and 8 round mag's. 

[b23]

I am wanting to get concealed carry pistol. It's going to be either a 40 or 45 cal. What size does everyone like? 4, 4.25 or 3.6?

Preference, IMO, depends on how concealable you want it to be.  If being very concealable is important, obviously, smaller is better but if that's not your biggest concern, I think bigger is better because a bigger hand gun is typically easier to shoot more accurately.  Both, the 40 and 45 are going to have a decent amount of recoil so something on the small side is going to be more difficult to shoot as well as have less capacity.  If small is what you need, I'd add 9mm to your list of choices.

[Yondering]

I am wanting to get concealed carry pistol. It's going to be either a 40 or 45 cal. What size does everyone like? 4, 4.25 or 3.6?

You must have something in mind already if you're listing those specific sizes?

How serious are you about carrying; is this something you're committed to, or just something more casual, where you'd like to have the option if you wanted to?

If you're serious about carrying and training with your carry gun as a real tool, not a toy, smaller is only better to a point. Most adult males can carry a Glock 19 or 23 concealed all day if they're commited to carrying a serious fighting pistol. You'll also get plenty of advice here to go with tiny pocket guns and 5 shot wheelguns, so you'll have to decide which group you fall in.

[pianoman9701]

Springfield XD .45 with a 4" barrel, shoulder rig/13+1. In warmer weather and not so much clothing, an LC9. 10+1 with the extended mag.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have a Glock 29sf 10mm on right now. I'm a big guy and it fits and hides perfectly in my Fobus OWB holster.

[Commando]

I have something in mind but those specific sizes came off the wilson combat website. I was drooling over them this morning. I am planning on getting a full size 1911 and a carry 1911. It's either going to be a Springfield, kimber or save my pennies a bit longer and get a wilson. Not exactly sure yet. This will be a every day carry pistol.

[DRobnsn]

One thing to consider that I haven't seen talked about much is body weight fluctuation. If your the kind of guy who's weight doesn't fluctuate much its much easier to stick with one carry gun.  However if you gain and loose and have to change your wardrobe size every couple years its allot more difficult to stick with one carry gun.

For example, a guy I know  is 6'3". Two years ago he weighed 230lbs and was in great shape. He could carry a full size 1911 with 2 extra mags in a shoulder rig all day long even wear a over shirt when it was 80+ degrees outside and not sweat. Never felt like the gun was in the way. 

Same guy two years later, little over 300lbs not in good shape, no way is he going to want any extra shirts on in 80 degree weather and doesn't want to look like the stay puff guy to get the shoulder rig under a shirt in cold weather.  Always feel like the gun is in the way. 1911 gets worn less and less and the pocket gun gets worn more and more. 

[CAMPMEAT]

I have something in mind but those specific sizes came off the wilson combat website. I was drooling over them this morning. I am planning on getting a full size 1911 and a carry 1911. It's either going to be a Springfield, kimber or save my pennies a bit longer and get a wilson. Not exactly sure yet. This will be a every day carry pistol.

That's a big, heavy gun to carry. Been there, done that...

[jay.sharkbait]

I have something in mind but those specific sizes came off the wilson combat website. I was drooling over them this morning. I am planning on getting a full size 1911 and a carry 1911. It's either going to be a Springfield, kimber or save my pennies a bit longer and get a wilson. Not exactly sure yet. This will be a every day carry pistol.

That's a big, heavy gun to carry. Been there, done that...

I did that for a while.........

I called it my lucky cinderblock.

I'm pretty fond of the 442 these days.

[XAFSSGT]

I carry a Glock 23 in a Crossbreed Supertuck Deluxe. Which is quite a bit bigger than what you want.

I wear it under a flannel shirt usually, or a light jacket, and you can't tell. Just for reference.

[huntandjeep]

I have something in mind but those specific sizes came off the wilson combat website. I was drooling over them this morning. I am planning on getting a full size 1911 and a carry 1911. It's either going to be a Springfield, kimber or save my pennies a bit longer and get a wilson. Not exactly sure yet. This will be a every day carry pistol.

 

That's a big, heavy gun to carry. Been there, done that...

  I carried a 5" Springfield for a while and than went to a 4" Kimber. Now I'm Thinking about the new S&W M&P Performance Center shield in 9mm ( maybe .40)

[skeeter 20i]

Been there done that with most of the popular guns out there.  These are the ones that come out of the safe most often.

G23 in Alien Gear holster
or
G29sf in Alien Gear holster
or
S&W Shield in Alien Gear holster


And yes I have more Alien Gear holsters.

[CAMPMEAT]

Sig P250 SubCompact in 357 Sig and 9mm. It's as big as the 1911 but holds a lot more rounds, 13 +1.


Springfield XD SubCompact 9 and 40, 9+1.


XDS 45. Only 6+1


Glock 23, 29SF, 30 ( 45 I think )


These are all smaller guns that I own, except the 23 and 30. I carry the others well, when I want to switch it up, depending where I'm going. I sold the 23 last year, but owned it for 25 years with zero complaints. The Night Sights were done is why I sold it.

[Bofire]

  In a 1911 my experience is under 4 inch you start running into problems, double springs etc. if 1911 is your choice I reccomend 4 inch minimium. The Kimber Pro Carry being excellent.
Carl

[pilebuck]

I carry a Beretta 92 compact rail in 9 mm love it and shoot it well summer its nice to have a smaller like my sig 380 firs right in my pocket 

[Mongo Hunter]

I carry a Glock 26 so....that size

[Stein]

I rotate between a big one and a small one, never saw much utility in the middle sizes.

[high country]

I have a few 1911's and the one I carry most is the 1911pd scandium smith.....it's the 4.25" and everything I want. I'm considering building another in 10mm. I like the accuracy of a well tuned 1911 over the firepower of a striker fired gun.

[Firedogg]

 I swap back and forth between my Sig 229 in .40 and a Kimber Pro Carry ll in .45

Alien Gear for IWB holsters and a Kydex hard holster for carrying OWB. No problems concealing either pistol and with the right shirt the OWB  holster is concealed well.

[12Gauge]

A 1911 in 4.25" (commander), with a bob tail and in .40S&W may work.

http://www.fusionfirearms.com/handguns/custom-builds/commanders