Best All Around Carry Pistol for Versatile Use

[silverdalesauer]

These are great thoughts! Keep 'em coming. I'll be talking with my friend later today and will give him all of your thoughts.

[Mtnwalker]

If I could only have 1 it'd be something in the size range of S&W shield, P365xl, G43x etc. Pretty versatile, big enough to shoot well but still small enough to conceal comfortably.

[tydawg]

Surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet, but the Glock 29. It meets all the criteria, you can get 10mm HPs for self defense in the urban environment, and Buffalo Bore hardcast for the forests/encounters with 4 legged creatures.

Smaller than a Glock 19, albeit a bit thicker. Decent IWB or OWB concealed carry holsters, but then for hiking there are duty holster options too.

I personally carry a Glock 29 in a low ride Safariland holster when hiking, and it is very comfortable.

[bearhunter99]

I have an XDS45, an LCP 380, and two 38 revolvers (S&W airweight and a Charter bulldog).  Most times I carry the LCP because it fits in my front pocket and looks like a wallet with the Tagua holster I have.

Hands down though, especially for someone who might have little experience, I would suggest the air weight.  Hammerless (won't get caught on clothing), 5 shots, just have to pull the trigger and it goes bang.  It's also light and fairly concealable.

[bornhunter]

I believe it is what you are comfortable carrying and what you can hit with. Daily I carry Sig P220. Hunting, Smith 44.

[bustedoldman]

Lots of good options out there, have them go to as many gun shops as possible and feel them in hand, choose 3-5, find a range that rents and shoot them! Then choose what was best....XDM 4.5/3.8 in any caliber, G19x,29, 26, 23, 30, 43x, Sp101....The options are unlimited these days.

[fowl smacker]

If only 1 then a Sig P365xl

[jrebel]

You can't beat the overall stopping power, reliability and ease of use of a revolver. Stainless smith or Ruger lcr in 357, shoot 38+p and your covered for most all predators, 2 and 4 legged.

People do worry about round count but in most edc situations you only need 2-3 rounds.

Ya, and if someone is doing some ground & pound action on your skinny butt you can jam that revolver right up in their guts and it'll still fire.

 

I couldn't agree more with what was said above.  My carry of choice is a Ruger LCR .357.  It is super lightweight, easy to conceal and surprisingly accurate.  It fires every time I pull the trigger.  I shoot a lot of semi auto and revolver and would consider myself proficient with both.  I trust my revolvers as they have "NEVER" not fired when the trigger was pulled.  (well....except for the .22 that was not loaded when I was trying to shoot a grouse.    ) 

.357 is big enough for most all critters in WA.  I carry two 5 round speed strips in a belt pouch so have 15 rounds at my disposal. 
That's a huge part of it .. learning curve is literally pull point and shoot... I've seen some bad situations get worse because of Cqb stuff and semi autos being pushed out of battery. Braced contact shooting takes allot of training and takes two hands... revolver I can shoot one handed and use my other for defense..etc.

[thinkingman]

CC-Kahr PM9, Single stack is so much easier to conceal and the recoil is very mild for it's weight.
If 8 rounds won't solve your problem, well.....

I am looking at the Sig P365, both standard SAS and XL for round count.

Range time I'll always have a full-size 1911, 45ACP or STI 9mm.
Just like driving a beautiful classic car with impeccable engineering and build quality.

Outdoor carry is usually in an open holster.
SW 386 full size 7rd revolver with a 6" barrel.
Buffalo Bore hardcast bullets don't care what they hit...they're going through and a 6" barrel makes them cook.
I never understood shooting .357 mag out of a snubby unless you're looking for the BANG! effect.

For a beginner, forget 10MM, even .40SW.

9mm, 38sp +P is all the firepower a novice can handle until them build up some round count.

[MADMAX]

Glock 19

[fly-by]

Since OP is asking for ONE gun and it's for cc, I think it has to be truly pocketable. To me that's a 2" revolver or single stack 9mm, 6+1 or 7+1. 
I think my most versatile cc is a 3" dao K6S but it's not really a pocket gun.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Glock 10mm.

[scotsman]

Smith and Wesson model 60 revolver in stainless, 38/357 with 3” barrel. A real pleasure to shoot. Just enough weight to absorb recoil yet light enough to soon forget you have it.

[BD1]

As an old timer once told me..."They all put a hole in you and they all hurt like hell"  I usually grab my S&W .380 and throw it in my front pocket or ankle rig but also love my 9mm"s. So many options, it all comes down to what feels right for you in your hand and how you want to carry.

[b23]

everyday carry, hiking in the PNW, biking, camping trips, kayaking, etc. what would you choose.

Depending on the person, their size, and the kind of clothes they wear I think you are better off with two different guns. 

For everyday CCW, I think a single stack small-ish pistol like a M&P Shield or G43 or small revolver like the S&W 442 or Ruger LCR are some of the best because they are small and easy to conceal as well as carry and the easier those two things are for you the more likely you are to always have it on/with you versus leaving it sitting at home.

But, I'd prefer something full size and more capacity on a hiking or camping trip.