Whats the best caliber for concealed carry?

It's a balance of weight and capacity for me.

I'd prefer to carry a 10mm that has a 20rnd mag, but that'd be 4x too big to conceal
Personally I don't have any use for anything under 9mm (unless it's got a hush pipe and certain circumstances exist 😎 )
On the other spectrum I went thru a 1911 phase and developed hip problems trying to carry around that anvil 🤣
I got my CCW in 1998 and qualified with a Beretta 92FS. Which was WAY to big to carry. After years of trying on what works.....I've had Sig, Springfield, colt, HK, Beretta, S&W, kimber, kel-tec bersa, kahr. When I was younger I couldn't afford to have multiple guns so I'd have to trade what I had to get or try something new. Back then I'd try that new flavor a while, but always ended up trading BACK for a Glock. Now I'm older and have the ability to keep and not trade..but I've sold most everything else other than my 9mm Glocks. Simply because they balance size/weight with capacity perfectly (for me) and I see no point in having anything taking up space in the safe if I can't or don't WANT to carry it.
Daily is a G26 with Pmag 12 round mag that my pinkie can get traction on. With a 17 rnd spare mag and multi-tool and flashlight on my belt
Cold weather is my G19
And in my briefcase bag is my G17 with a couple of 33 rnd mags
 
9mm - Glock 19.

She's ugly but dependable regardless of the season or clothing.

And with all the high-tech +P+ 9mm ammunition that is available these days, and modern handgunning rules of 'shot til they stop', I'm not concerned about what a bunch of fudds say about it being anemic.

As for the tubberware? Yeah, there's a lot of better stuff out there. But why get fancy with something that's just gonna get confiscated if I use it? If they take my Glock, I'll just open the safe up and strap on another.

Ideally, however - I'd carry my FAL. Because as the saying goes, "your handgun is what you use to fight your way back to the rifle that shouldn't have left behind in the first place." :)
 
CasterTroy said:
It's a balance of weight and capacity for me.

I'd prefer to carry a 10mm that has a 20rnd mag, but that'd be 4x too big to conceal
Personally I don't have any use for anything under 9mm (unless it's got a hush pipe and certain circumstances exist 😎 )
On the other spectrum I went thru a 1911 phase and developed hip problems trying to carry around that anvil 🤣
I got my CCW in 1998 and qualified with a Beretta 92FS. Which was WAY to big to carry. After years of trying on what works.....I've had Sig, Springfield, colt, HK, Beretta, S&W, kimber, kel-tec bersa, kahr. When I was younger I couldn't afford to have multiple guns so I'd have to trade what I had to get or try something new. Back then I'd try that new flavor a while, but always ended up trading BACK for a Glock. Now I'm older and have the ability to keep and not trade..but I've sold most everything else other than my 9mm Glocks. Simply because they balance size/weight with capacity perfectly (for me) and I see no point in having anything taking up space in the safe if I can't or don't WANT to carry it.
Daily is a G26 with Pmag 12 round mag that my pinkie can get traction on. With a 17 rnd spare mag and multi-tool and flashlight on my belt
Cold weather is my G19
And in my briefcase bag is my G17 with a couple of 33 rnd mags
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I've got a NIB Glock 48 you should try out.

That being said I can't imagine carrying a fullsize plastic pistol with the trigger of a keltec
 
braxton357 said:
I've got a NIB Glock 48 you should try out.
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For me... Single stack negates the "balance" of concealment and capacity
braxton357 said:
That being said I can't imagine carrying a fullsize plastic pistol with the trigger of a keltec
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🤔 keltec have 9lb triggers

aint nobody got time for that GIF



That's one of the many reasons I ditched all of the ones I had, even as secondary ankle carry
 
On the topic of concealed carry..... (and now I completely derail the thread)

The other day at my grandson's baseball game - I'm sitting in the stands watching him play (in the dirt - barely aware there is a game going on) and a dude strolls by me wearing a loose fit shirt and jeans. It's in the high 80's outside, 6 pm and we are at the ballfield at Hasty Elementary. Dude is also watching either his son or grandson (not sure which) play and his animated arm movements move his shirt up to display his IWB back holster complete with cordless high speed hole puncher.

Now, I'm all for concealed carry, but his lack of body awareness made it all too obvious that he was carrying, and while it was after school hours, it is still on school property. In the moment, I couldn't figure out a subtle and polite way to inform him of his infraction without sounding like I'm anti-2A (which I am not), or just being a dick about it - or worse, having someone overhear our conversation and call the law or escalate it unnecessarily. Fortunately, nobody else either noticed or cared either, so he went about his business and I went about mine.
 
ManglerYJ said:
On the topic of concealed carry..... (and now I completely derail the thread)

The other day at my grandson's baseball game - I'm sitting in the stands watching him play (in the dirt - barely aware there is a game going on) and a dude strolls by me wearing a loose fit shirt and jeans. It's in the high 80's outside, 6 pm and we are at the ballfield at Hasty Elementary. Dude is also watching either his son or grandson (not sure which) play and his animated arm movements move his shirt up to display his IWB back holster complete with cordless high speed hole puncher.

Now, I'm all for concealed carry, but his lack of body awareness made it all too obvious that he was carrying, and while it was after school hours, it is still on school property. In the moment, I couldn't figure out a subtle and polite way to inform him of his infraction without sounding like I'm anti-2A (which I am not), or just being a dick about it - or worse, having someone overhear our conversation and call the law or escalate it unnecessarily. Fortunately, nobody else either noticed or cared either, so he went about his business and I went about mine.
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Yeah, that dude could get in a $hitstorm in a hurry. That's a smart one for you
 
ManglerYJ said:
On the topic of concealed carry..... (and now I completely derail the thread)

The other day at my grandson's baseball game - I'm sitting in the stands watching him play (in the dirt - barely aware there is a game going on) and a dude strolls by me wearing a loose fit shirt and jeans. It's in the high 80's outside, 6 pm and we are at the ballfield at Hasty Elementary. Dude is also watching either his son or grandson (not sure which) play and his animated arm movements move his shirt up to display his IWB back holster complete with cordless high speed hole puncher.

Now, I'm all for concealed carry, but his lack of body awareness made it all too obvious that he was carrying, and while it was after school hours, it is still on school property. In the moment, I couldn't figure out a subtle and polite way to inform him of his infraction without sounding like I'm anti-2A (which I am not), or just being a dick about it - or worse, having someone overhear our conversation and call the law or escalate it unnecessarily. Fortunately, nobody else either noticed or cared either, so he went about his business and I went about mine.
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Federal offence. do not pass go, do not collect $200. That said, I can't say that an interaction would have been a good idea. you just never know. If he didn't seem nervous or agitated, I'd probably have just kept an eye on him instead of potentially provoking a scene.

It's only thing about taking my kid to school and the potential of having to pick her up in the afternoons on my way home from work that annoys me. In a pinch I can ask her to walk off premise, but that's a bit of hike, really.
 
NCJeeplover said:
I fell in love with the SIG 938. Best feeling and shooting "micro" pistol I've ever shot. And thats even with Shrek hands. Love that gun.
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I had a P238 before the 938 came out. I now have 2 238s... I'd like to have a 938 but not worth the cost of upgrade to me.
 
mbalbritton said:
Federal offence. do not pass go, do not collect $200. That said, I can't say that an interaction would have been a good idea. you just never know. If he didn't seem nervous or agitated, I'd probably have just kept an eye on him instead of potentially provoking a scene.

It's only thing about taking my kid to school and the potential of having to pick her up in the afternoons on my way home from work that annoys me. In a pinch I can ask her to walk off premise, but that's a bit of hike, really.
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Laws may be different oh FL, but you can have it on school property, just can’t carry it if you have a concealed carry. Meaning, if you go inside you have to leave it in the car and you definitely can’t bring it to a school function. I can’t even bring a pocket knife to a football game with the metal detectors. I do this regularly. Keep it on me in the pickup line for my daughter (don’t have to leave the car), secure it in the console to walk inside for my son.
 
ManglerYJ said:
On the topic of concealed carry..... (and now I completely derail the thread)

The other day at my grandson's baseball game - I'm sitting in the stands watching him play (in the dirt - barely aware there is a game going on) and a dude strolls by me wearing a loose fit shirt and jeans. It's in the high 80's outside, 6 pm and we are at the ballfield at Hasty Elementary. Dude is also watching either his son or grandson (not sure which) play and his animated arm movements move his shirt up to display his IWB back holster complete with cordless high speed hole puncher.

Now, I'm all for concealed carry, but his lack of body awareness made it all too obvious that he was carrying, and while it was after school hours, it is still on school property. In the moment, I couldn't figure out a subtle and polite way to inform him of his infraction without sounding like I'm anti-2A (which I am not), or just being a dick about it - or worse, having someone overhear our conversation and call the law or escalate it unnecessarily. Fortunately, nobody else either noticed or cared either, so he went about his business and I went about mine.
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He could have been off-duty LE? They're allowed to carry on school grounds. Either way bad move carelessly exposing weapon like that.
 
Wes said:
Laws may be different oh FL, but you can have it on school property, just can’t carry it if you have a concealed carry. Meaning, if you go inside you have to leave it in the car and you definitely can’t bring it to a school function. I can’t even bring a pocket knife to a football game with the metal detectors. I do this regularly. Keep it on me in the pickup line for my daughter (don’t have to leave the car), secure it in the console to walk inside for my son.
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Really? I know state level gun laws different state to state, but seeing as it's a Federal offence to bring a firearm onto school premises (at least in FL), and being a Federal ruling, I would think that would reciprocate to all states. Interesting...
 
mbalbritton said:
Really? I know state level gun laws different state to state, but seeing as it's a Federal offence to bring a firearm onto school premises (at least in FL), and being a Federal ruling, I would think that would reciprocate to all states. Interesting...
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In North Carolina you can have it in your car. If its not in your possession, it must be in a locked secure box or the vehicle must be locked.
 
mbalbritton said:
Really? I know state level gun laws different state to state, but seeing as it's a Federal offence to bring a firearm onto school premises (at least in FL), and being a Federal ruling, I would think that would reciprocate to all states. Interesting...
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I specifically remember this same conversation in my concealed class. He called it the soccer mom law. If a parent is carrying, it’s silly to go home, ditch your weapon, then drive all the way back to school for pick ups. It’s legal for that, but you definitely can’t bring it into school or a game. At least that’s the way it was explained.
 
Wes said:
I specifically remember this same conversation in my concealed class. He called it the soccer mom law. If a parent is carrying, it’s silly to go home, ditch your weapon, then drive all the way back to school for pick ups. It’s legal for that, but you definitely can’t bring it into school or a game. At least that’s the way it was explained.
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as it should be IMHO.

Funny, I went and googled this. For NC, it's quite clear as you stated. But for Florida, I found a bunch of freakin' gibberish and varying answers. I know in my CC class down here, our instructor made it VERY CLEAR, No guns on premises. No way, no how.

however as i stated before in another CC thread, you're allowed to drink alcohol in a restaurant (not the bar area though) while carrying. big no in NC as I recall. That one I found odd. Mixing alcohol and firearms... interesting.
 
mbalbritton said:
as it should be IMHO.

Funny, I went and googled this. For NC, it's quite clear as you stated. But for Florida, I found a bunch of freakin' gibberish and varying answers. I know in my CC class down here, our instructor made it VERY CLEAR, No guns on premises. No way, no how.

however as i stated before in another CC thread, you're allowed to drink alcohol in a restaurant (not the bar area though) while carrying. big no in NC as I recall. That one I found odd. Mixing alcohol and firearms... interesting.
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Yep. Big no on alcohol in SC as well while carrying.
 
G43 with extended mag in warmer months. Spare clip :flipoff2: in my pocket.
In proper fat boy (hoodie) weather, my trusty G22 15+1 fits the bill just right.
 
Like others it depends on clothing. For my size/frame and Summer clothes a S&W Bodyguard 380 is with me. During colder months a Beretta Cougar 9m keeps me company
 
AdamH said:
Like others it depends on clothing. For my size/frame and Summer clothes a S&W Bodyguard 380 is with me. During colder months a Beretta Cougar 9m keeps me company
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Yeah, a good cougar can definitely keep you company in the colder months.
 
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