I love a professional opinion without an egotistical bias

THANK YOU. This channel isn't as prolific as some others but almost every video that releases either has stellar entertainment value, answers a question I have that other channels don't quite cover, or has some other great value that makes it worth watching. Good stuff. A++. Keep it up.

Lucky Gunner is the “thinking person’s” go to resource for handgun information. No hype, no profanity, just great information. Thanks Chris!

Love ur show Chris. You’re not annoying , you’re not obnoxious and you’re smart and calm. Keep it up

Chris Baker has finally did it. Made a whole video talking about how Size Matters. 😂

"Analysis paralysis" is right. Indeed it's a hard decision sometimes. This video really helps boil it down. Great overview of the issue.

I've gone from a chuckle to laughter , the Industry keeps manufacturing in circles hoping no one notices. I'm still carrying firearms made 50yrs ago and they work just fine , the 1911 and S&W 39 , HI Power and model 60/19 have proven to be timeless.

"Nobody knows, we are all just making it up as we go along." 👍

I started carrying when there were basically 3 "viable" options depending on size preference: Glock 26 for a small gun, M&P Shield if the G26 was too fat for you, and Ruger LCP if you wanted a pocket gun. We are truly spoiled nowadays.

Nice, love "longslide microcompact" lol. Can't wait for industry to adopt this and inevitably add another 3 syllables and quantifiers

I’ve come to call the new size “slim compact”. With the largest of the bunch being the X Macro and the PDPF and the smallest being the XL and the Glock 48. Something I’ve noticed is that I’m seeing shooters with smaller hand sizes picking the X Macro, G48, PDPF and P365XL to be a replacement for their Full Sized handguns if their hands aren’t large enough to fit something like a G19 comfortably.

I remember one of your early P365 vids showing the very small distance between the top of slide and bottom of trigger guard. It's an important dimension not adequately addressed in specifications. And handgun hero is actually a cool site for initial impressions.

Handgun hero is a great resource and I have found it to be very accurate when overlaying two pistols. Great Job pointing out the distance from the top of the slide to bottom of trigger guard. I wish beretta would come out with a px4 A1 and trim up the frame to tighten up that dimension. That extra width gives the px4 so much bulk in the belt line, and it would be so much easier to conceal if it wasn't there. I suppose I have an unreasonable love for the px4, and I'm still holding out hope that beretta will update it to be more friendly for carry.

RIP to the real Manny Mansfield, Jim Scoutten

I have been trying to put into words as to why we would take a micro compact, such as the Sig 365, and start making it bigger. You put into words what my brain has been trying to sort out. Excellent video.

You are so underrated with your presentations. Youre really informative, helpful, and answer all the questions many new and even somewhat experienced shooters may have.

Big guys have more options. I carried an lcp for years before realizing that I’m a big guy even though I’m only 6ft 200lbs. I can carry a g17 without problem and I do that now. Doesn’t make any sense to wear xl gloves, xl shirts, jackets, size 12 shoes, and be too burdened by anything larger or heavier than an lcp. People can’t tell-because they don’t care. You too might be able to carry a full sized gun, you just might not know it.

Great topic and review Chris. You have a gift of taking a subject seriously without taking yourself too seriously. It is honest and refreshing and genuinely entertaining. The bit where you pushed all the guns over after fumbling one cracked me up. Thanks!

I don’t mind smaller guns, I just want steel not polymer. Excellent video describing ones crazy and sometimes confusing choices of todays firearms!

Great video Chris. That shed a lot of light on a pretty confusing subject! Thank goodness we have so many fine choices 🇺🇸

I always look for your new videos because they are simply among the best available for succinct, objective information. Virtually every second of your videos provides useful information without rambling on or the addition of lots of subjective opinions. Excellent work.

I love that you made this video. As an avid collector of both pistols and rifles this very topic has been on my mind for the past few months as more and more pistols are released in 2023. This is actually a very interesting topic.

Always love when you post new videos. One of the best gun channels on here!

Absolutely the best channel for very useful information. EVERY TIME !

Great summary. We do have a lot of great choices today, not only in pistols but almost as importantly, great choices in concealment options: belts, holsters, mag pouches. We really can select what’s best for our size, dress style, weather, and comfort. At first I thought it strange to see larger offerings of the micro compacts. But once you start carrying, I would say width of the pistol makes a big difference in comfort. So while I haven’t tried them yet, the Hellcat Pro, XMacro, and others do start to make sense.

Always look forward to your new videos. Cant watch one without learning something new. Keep up the great videos Chris.

Thanks, Chris. I was one of the people who asked for the 80X and PX4 comparison. I want an SA/DA pistol with an exposed hammer and both guns fit the bill. On paper they have similar dimensions, but the PX4 just SEEMED bulkier. Thanks for doing the comparison. Another great video.

It's crazy how much variety we have! When I bought mine, I kept it simple: cost and comfort. I ended up finding a new XD9 Service model - 4" barrel and a double stack with cheese (16+1) - for

Chris nails the interesting + informative content balance that many channels can’t quite master.

Chris is by far the most thorough firearms presenter. Width has always been the most important factor in my choice of handgun, yet it seems to be universally ignored by the preponderance of gun videos. I found this out 40 years ago when I decided to buy a 45 caliber 1911. As large a gun as the 1911 is, the single-stack design means a thinner handle. Combined with the linear, non-pivoting trigger, the 1911 style handgun is a dream to carry and a joy to shoot. No other trigger is as easy for me to operate as the 1911 style. Back in the 1970s, a fellow LEO bought a Model 39 S&W 9mm. The double stack configuration, coupled with the pivoting trigger just made the gun too big, too thick, and too awkward to shoot (for me). Hence my penchant for the single stack 1911 style. A linear trigger sits closer to the gun’s handle, making it easier to ‘squeeze’ and thus hold the gun steadier.

A very nice n good video! Always found them size categories a bit confusing. And this video explained some of the things why that is. Thank you so very much!

Another excellent video which is worth watching. This topic is relevant and interesting. Chris provides valuable information with a calm and professional delivery and tone. This channel has very good content. I've learned a lot watching these videos. Please keep up the great work.

Duuuude! Always have loved your videos. Just pure excellence!!

Chris has one of the best logical thinking. Ty for your thoughts Ily

Another very good video. Good conclusions. There are so many options for conceal carry these days (especially when one accepts that the .380 is a good round for CC 😉). I'm very fortunate to be able to have several carry guns for different circumstances and outfits.

Awesome work, Chris!

Brilliantly done Chris and crew 😉

This video is right on target, Chris. Good job.

Great video. I have been a revolver carryer since the 1970s. After retirement I have experienced with both revolver and pistol for edc. Both have their pluses and minuses and both have a single purpose and that's to be the one that goes home in one piece at the end of the day. Thanks again for the information.

Quality of work you put on this video is just crazy good!

Hey Chris, great video as always. I do have one constructive thing to add. It's already a 10 minute video and adding more details like this would stretch it out longer, so I get it. When you compared the G26 and G43, you compared both guns with flush fitting magazines, and overlooked a small real-world detail. The 26 grip is just short enough that most shooters with moderate hand sizes cannot get their pinky fingers wrapped around the bottom of the grip for recoil control. Thus, we almost never see a serious shooter in the real world running the 26 without some sort of magazine extension. Personally I run mine with Magpul magazines which have the extension and offer +2 capacity. This makes the 26 effectively larger in common usage than the website specs suggest. The 43 grip is just BARELY longer than the 26 grip, but it's long enough to fix the 26's deficiency. Shooters adopting the 43 will be able to get their pinky wrapped around the grip-- if they can't, then hopefully their friendly gun store sales person will immediately steer them to a 43X or 48 to solve the issue. So, in common usage the 43 is very seldom seen with an extended magazine, while the 26 is almost always seen with the extended magazine. Bottom line: You can still conceal a gun with a grip long enough for you to use your pinky fingers, so in my opinion that is a prerequisite fitment test for any serious shooter looking for a concealable pistol. If you can't wrap all of your fingers around the grip of the gun, do not buy that gun to defend your life.

Great stuff as always, Chris.

This is a very informative video for new shooters and old salts alike. Great channel. 👍

Good info and very interesting! Thanks for sharing your insights!

Thanks for the video. Another factor is that two guns can feel fine in the shooter's hands but not shoot with the same accuracy for that shooter. One thing that this video illustrates very well is that not all trigger guard openings are the same. If one must wear gloves for much of the year, some of these are going to be good choices and some might be bad choices. I need to practice more. I realize that's not really a theme of this video, but watching the video made that thought come to my mind.

Another excellent video Chris. 👍🏻

Stellar! Thanks Chris. 😊

Great information. I saw an analysis of the glock 43x vs26 and they said it well; 43x easier to grip but 26 easier to shoot

With the advent of the larger double-stack micros like the 365XL and Hellcat Pro, I usually use "slimline" or "slim" for pistols that are roughly 1" thick instead of the more typical 1.25" thick. So I call a G48 a slimline compact while a 365XL would be a slim sub-compact. I try to reserve "micro compact" for the truly small ones, like the original 365 or Hellcat. You've also got the "carry" size ( Sig's term ) for the compact barrel length with full size grip: G19X & G45, Sig M18 or P320 Carry, and I'd call the XMacro a slimline carry pistol. Of course the granddaddy of the carry size would probably be the 1911 Commander.

Great vid! Very helpful topic for a lot of new owners or at least folks new to carry Perhaps something to explore in the future, low-recoil hollow points that actually work in 9mm or, failing having that, 9mm ball of high enough quality to use in defense, sort of like wadcutters in .38s. Recoil sensitivity in a lot of new shooters is a thing and I feel that we need to meet folks where they're at. The cost of .380 combined with a general lack of pistol options is frankly prohibitive to a lot of folks. This is not to say it's necessarily the best choice, but it's better than the average person never shooting their 20 +P hollow points and being unprepared for the recoil if they ever have to

Me carrying my 226 appendix every day “full size go unga bunga”

Great subject matter. Weight is also a huge issue. This is the reason I have stuck with my Kahr P9 & PM9 is not only the very thin slide and overall profile, but they weigh around 18-20 ounces fully loaded. Very few if any other options meet this criteria for me. Thanks for sharing

Excellent breakdown

Chris is a beast. Thanks for the content.

In reference to the S&W with the Shield Plus and the M&P 2.0 Compact, I saw a review/comparison (I think it was on TFBtv) which was interesting. One of the "testers" was a woman, who preferred the M&P 2.0. The reason she gave was controllability. When I tried one of the first Sig P320s, at a range, I found it snappy and hard to control. Understand that I am generally not recoil sensitive. As for the Px4, I have a full size and have obtained (but not yet installed) "stealth" G levers. These levers are flush with the slide, and would bring the overall width to the 1.1". Good video. Lots of interesting info. Thanks.

I was nodding off when I heard "handgun models have exploded" and I thought I was hearing about a bunch of horrible accidents. Thank goodness the you were just talking about more handgun options.

Great video Chris. But regardless of the reliability debate, no conversation involving 43x capacity is complete without at least mentioning the Shield magazine. For those who may not be aware, it gives the gun a 15 round capacity, equal to the "chunky" Glock 19, but in a smaller, thinner package, all with a flush fit magazine. And by most accounts the reliability concerns were resolved with the current generation of the mag.

That 43 and 26 comparison is 100% correct. The 43 is SOOO much more comfortable for myself over the 26. The width is very noticeable.

Much respect for your thoughts and analysis. Most of us have at least a couple different personal protection pistols. How about your three or four favorites for carry depending upon whatever criteria sounds right to you? Maybe a duty size, a compact, a micro and a whatever along with the holster you use with each one? Thank you.

Rapidly evolving and expanding designs. That’s a good thing!

0.2 inches in width doesn't seem like a lot on paper, but it means that a gun like the XMacro is roughly the same width holstered as the P320 X Compact is by itself.

Larry Vickers holds up a plucked chicken "Behold! A fullsize!"

THANK YOU! Great, great, great, great video! Handgun hero is your friend and will absolutely help you avoid analysis paralysis. Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the numerous options available. At the end of the day, we as consumers are the winners of having so many choices and having competition drive innovation forward and drive prices down. The overlap between the compact and micro compact is a very real thing and I find it easiest to view it this way...compact is a downsized version of the full-size gun. Micro compact is an upscaled version of the subcompact/pocket pistol. The later usually being thinner. Thickness and grip length are the two biggest factors! As touched on by your G26/G43 comparision, thickness is a HUGE part of CCW and should absolutely factor into your decision. Barrel/slide length is less of an issue because that part sticks straight down along your leg/groin area. IMHO the LCP Max is top of the heap for me right now. Having 12+1 of modern 380 hollow point loads in a gun that feels no bigger than carrying a multi-tool on my hip is a huge win and I carry it daily with ease.

Concerning the variety of sizes and capabilities, we live in great times! Grip thickness can make such a big difference according to your hand size and finger lengths. Great video!

One of the best channels on KZfaq

The odd thing is that as I have followed the journey of finding the perfect semiautomatic to carry it led me to revolvers. I found that I carry them easier and actually enjoy shooting them more. I can carry a j frame all day and don’t feel like I have it. I carried Glock 26, 42, 43 and Sig 365 and even went back to full-size firearms. Anyway. My firearms journey has been fun. Who knows I might pull out a 1911 and carry one again. That’s for the great video.

I love the 365xl. I saw it on one of your videos a year or so ago. 10/10 would recommend.

Interesting vid! Lots of good information!!!

Thank you for the information on Handgun Hero. That is an amazing informational site.

Good video; I'll say that I believe the biggest difference between the 'Compact' and 'Long-Slide Micro Compact' classes is ergonomics, and by extension concealability. Having trigger time with both a P365XL and a P320 AXG Classic, The AXG trades some concealability in the thickness for better purchase on the pistol. Personally, I find the 365XL to be difficult to find traction on with my support hand due to the small diameter of the grip, while that's a complete non-issue with the 320. Just my two cents.

😂👏Thanks, you are good making videos, contents and form.

Best firearms content on KZfaq.

I’ve found when trying to demonstrate various handguns to new shooters they’re drawn to guns sized roughly like Makarovs, CZ 82s, and Beretta Cheetahs (old or new) ; I’ve been calling them “Surplus Compacts”, it seems to help categorize them. Guns that occupy a weird space between traditional Compacts and Micro Compacts in weight and size.

It seems to break down pretty simply... You can only reduce a standard size pistol frame/design so far, so there is a minimum limit to those platforms. Adding length or width to a pocket pistol design allows you to enhance capacity and/or handling characteristics in a thinner, less bulky platform. It is interesting to watch the market hunt for that "sweet spot" that meets the needs of the greatest number of concealed carriers.

So many different varieties… almost tried them all, I still go back to a compact carry version. Great video btw. 🤙🏼🇺🇸

I have a CZ P-10 S and I absolutely love it.

Props for recommending handgun hero AND saying to take it with a grain of salt given the amount of advertising LG does on that site.

I’m sick of dudes thinking they need a two inch pistol to conceal it. You can conceal whatever you want

Very well done as always. Very good explanation and examples. Appreciate the shout out to "hero" for another helpful resource. Thank you.

I'll I can say is wow! Thanks Chris!

Nicely done.

Every time I see a new LG video has been uploaded, I clear my schedule for the next 15 minutes. But part of my just really hopes it's going to be another Wheelgun Wednesday or Manny Mansfield installment.

ALWAYS VERY GOOD PRESENTATION

Good info! Thank you.

Leave it to you to make a completely uninteresting topic interesting. Terrific job, as usual.

Having large hands, for compact/subcompact, my preference will skew toward the longer distance from the bottom of the trigger guard to the bottom of the grip. Like the Sig P365 xmacro over the P320 xcompact.

Chris, I really liked your handgun analysis….Actually, I watched it a couple of times. I think another important aspect of this analysis is ability to shoot the gun and deal with mussel flip. You have mentioned these aspects before. Also, selecting the appropriate caliber which impacts everything.

While everyone says the Shield was the start of the single stack polymer frame 9mm subcompact, the Walther PPS pre-dates it by 5 years. Just my $0.02

Always quality content.

Love the content, love your products!

Chris, I would love an analysis of carry guns in relation to pocket carry. I just don’t enjoy an inside the waste band holster.

So many choices if one wants a polymer, striker fired, 3.5-4" barrel in 9mm. 'They can have any color they want as long as it's black.' Good video. It is funny how the marketing departments set the lingo, which somehow manages to confuse rather than clarify, and all the gun companies choose to make similar products with only cosmetic differences.

5:45 A point I have noticed is that holster makers often position the pistol in the holster so that the trigger guard is in the same spot. So while the P320 X Compact is the same height as the X Macro, the amount of grip that extends away from the holster might actually be greater with the X Macro because of the lower bore axis of the X Macro. This can impact concealment, though not always. Then again the X Macro is also notably thinner than the X Compact, and that will have a role, too.

Excellent information.

Waaaaaa! No 43x & 48 comparison? Please do a part 2. How’s about the long forgotten HK lineup

So many choices. Every spec you give or take is a trade off. Wider , taller , longer , thicker , heavier , etc is generally going to be softer shooting or easier to control. Every time you take away from one of those measurements at the benefit of comfort , you almost certainly give up some shootability. Train accordingly.

Great way to give us some extra thought when choosing a carry gun, I love using handgun hero! Came for the info, comment for the algorithm B-)

For IWB I switched to holsters ro fit the longer slides to make subcompact more comfortable. So my comfortAble g19 holster works the same with a g26.

At the moment a big difference to me the old compact/sub compact to the new single stack and stagger stack micros is trigger guard . The old ones seem bigger and better for gloved hands. But there is so many now who knows.

S&W 642 airweight! 1 pound 3/4 ounces fully loaded. Pull trigger goes boom. No out of battery, failure to eject, failure to feed and if the round doesn't go off just pull the trigger again. When your adrenalin is through the roof and FForF kicks in it can be a better option. S&W 9mm Shield 1 pound 8 3/8 ounces fully loaded (9 shots). Ruger LCP 1 pound 4 ounces fully loaded (8 shots).