The older you get the motto changes to "carry the biggest gun that doesn't cause pain somewhere"

This "Tiny Girl" makes more sense than most of the "Big Men" you see on KZfaq. I'm not a small person, but there are times when I'm concerned about printing when I pocket carry by Bodyguard. I refuse to dress "tactical" or to dress around the gun. That in itself is a red flag. I prefer to keep it casual. I can take some additional liberties in a suit or in winter, but generally, I'm in jeans and a tee shirt with a P365 carried IWB. It's a tuckable holster, so I can still tuck my shirt in if necessary. You're doing an amazing job. Keep the videos coming.

"No gun is big enough when you're shooting it or small enough when you're carrying it" - Clint Smith. The answer is going to be different for everyone. I find myself going to my Taurus 856 Ultra-light in 38 special more often than not. I can throw it in a sticky holster and then into a pocket and I honestly forget it's even there half the time. With +p rounds it's snappy but I shoot it surprisingly well. I would love a 365Macro but they are spendy here in California and the lil snubby was a bargain!

this is a great channel for new shooters. Most other gun channels are too tilted towards very experienced people. Started with G42 because I needed a gun I could carry in all situations. Wasn't that worried about home defense. Also carried G48 for a while. Still carry G42 along with IWI Masada Slim with EPS Carry. Other handguns include G19, CZ 75 SP01, Walther PDP, Ruger Mark IV and Ruger 380 Lite Rack.

100% Agree! I have recommended this same thing for years. Buy a larger gun to learn to shoot and a smaller gun to carry. If recoil sensitive start with .22lr or .380. This channel is always honest and to the point!

I agree completely! I'm only 5'5 and 150lbs, and I started out with a p320 Xcompact. Figured out how to conceal that as well as I could, then eventually transitioned to a 365xl for comfort. Now that I've been concealing for 3-4 years now and have found the right belt and holsters for me, I actually can carry my G19 with surefire x300 and holosun dot comfortably and with very little printing if at all. It's all about the balance just like you said, no printing but also you have to be able to shoot the gun well!

Shooting the smallest gun you shoot well is the same thing as shooting the largest gun you can comfortably conceal

Understanding concealment can be more difficult than learning to shoot well. It's certainly more situational and that's what makes it so difficult to master.

its a spectrum between convenience and capability, and there is no absolute right answer…the system (e.g.: firearm, belt, clothing, scenarios, etc) choices should be based on the parameters of the individual; grateful for your time, energy, and effort..well done, young lady

I used to carry a P320 Carry (short barrel, long grip) because I could reasonable conceal it and I had heard that same advice many times. What ended up happening is I frequently justified not carrying it at all because it was so cumbersome in spite of being easy to conceal on my frame (6'1", 220lbs). I'd justify leaving it in the car at the grocery store and things like that. I eventually realized that "reasonably conceal" and "reasonably carry" were not the same thing. Call me a baby for it, but I don't particularly enjoy carrying chunks of steel on my body, so the smaller and more convenient it is, the more likely I am to actually carry it. The hellcat was the trial and error winner for me. 11/13 rounds in a mouse-sized package that I could still shoot 100% on the OPOTA qualification course. Now I'm armed absolutely everywhere I feasibly can be and much happier for it.

Extremely good advice. We have too many people in the gun community who say "I don't carry any caliber that doesn't start with a 4" or that encourage guns about Glock 19 in size for a first carry gun. I've met too many people that have tried carrying with a larger gun and then give up because it's too uncomfortable and inconvenient. Or people who have poor shooting fundamentals because Joe next door told them that 380 and 22, or sometimes even 9mm aren't adequately effective and they shouldn't even waste their time practicing with those calibers, much less carry them. Starting with the smallest gun you can shoot well is the best advice I've heard and I am very glad to hear someone with influence spreading it. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for another great video Tessah. I always carried a 9mm IWB but as I got older and my back more creaky, I started to pocket carry a Ruger LCP max. I’m loving it!

Very refreshing to hear some balanced advice I can live with. Getting the right size gun with an orthopedically appropriate level of recoil for my physical condition and control surfaces and springs that can work with my limited hand strength was a huge big deal. I went from miserable to wearing a gun all day with ease.

Only comment I would like to point out is what Clint Smith just said in the latest TFB TV video on the Springfield Echelon. His comments about micro handguns, and handguns specifically in a self defense situation are very telling. His comments can be heard at 7:20 into the video. Not cricizing your argument, as you make some very good, and valid points. A part of me agrees with both of you. Thanks for your good videos and insights! Great stuff for new and old shooters alike. ( I would link the video, but I think KZfaq frowns on that. Is that still correct?)

This new concealed carry equation you made actually helps. I've bought 2 different compact guns that were unfortunately too bulky and obvious to conceal regularly. Turns out I should've been looking towards the G43X, G48, and other guns of similar size. The G19 and my CZ-75 being a stretch if I dress around the gun.

For years I bought into the gun carry community that I needed to carry a full size gun AIWB with 2 reloads plus all the other stuff, flashlight, OC, knife. Then I hit that age where stuff starts breaking down. After two surgeries I could no longer carry AIWB strong side. Even going to a smaller auto wasn't an option given the scar tissue area and that area never returned to a normal comfort level. It never will. Hip carry just prints terribly so that was out. So you do what you have to do, I went to a jframe in a front pocket holster. Deciding to practice with it with as much dedication as I could. Learning the new reality of less ammo and slower reloads and techniques it requires.

I have a G 19X that I love, but do not carry it. I bought a G 26. I love it. I can use the 19X mags in it and it is much easier to conceal.

If you opt to carry something smaller, I suggest it is a smaller version of the larger gun you would use in class or competition or range training days. The great news about that is there are entire families of pistols where no matter caliber or frame size everything is on 1 pistol where it is on another. Sights, trigger distance, mag release, slide release are all in the same location on the smallest to the largest of Glock or M&P. And as far as carry go, most people who CCW feel they are printing far worse than they actually are. Most people out there are so absorbed in what they have going on I'd argue they wouldn't notice an individual walking into a store with a parrot on their shoulder and their head on fire. Fidgetting with it or acting suspicious will draw more attention that slightly printing but acting normal would.

As a dude, this was relieving to hear. Thanks so much.

RULE OF THUMB: As a rule of thumb, I completely agree with "Carry as large a gun as you can manage" and strive to put it into practice. It is a good rule of thumb, good rhetoric, and easy to remember. After the general principle is there, going into particulars which may impact what one carries is the stuff that discusson threads are made of and a good idea. Sometimes the right answer is J-frame pocket carry & that's OK. FIRST CCW FOR NOVICES: These are generally compromise guns, especially if it is the first centerfire handgun. They want it to cover every & all circumstances so it will be a bit large for many CCW applications. After all, "What if I want to carry into the sick-with bears national forest that borders on murder-hood?" These days, the average new-to-ccw-er is well-served by the Honda Civic of handguns, the Glock 19. For me, my first CCW gun was a S&W 686. Larger than most all would tote, but I made it work. It will be the last handgun I ever get rid of. Since then, I have filled out the usual CCW niches with other guns such that I can rather easily mate gun, carry gear, sartorial options, environment, & circumstances. That takes a while if you are not made up of money. AIWB-O-METRICS: Aplicable to AIWB, not much else. "Larger folks can generally carry larger pistols" covers the general case. Besides, AIWB is not a carry method I would suggest for a novice. The learning curve is steep, the carry gear is mostly limited to synthetics, the opportunities and consequences of flubbing administration are elevated, and AIWB fiddly-ness-for-comfort is off the chart. Sure, some novices start off toting AIWB, just as some novice drivers start out driving a muscle car. TRAINING VS CARRY GUN: I guess I have fallen into this to some extent. I also like to have a .22LR semi-auto to warm up and cool down with, especially if I have shot some real thunder-boomer flinch-factory pistol during hte range session. Don't let those bad habits or flinches creep up on you.

I’m a 6’ tall …slim…145 pounds. Started out carrying appendix 12 years ago…. A Glock 30…. then…a Glock 43….then a Sig P365… then a Glock 19…. and finally…..my favorite for the last 3 years, and hopefully many years ahead….Glock 48. It has over 16K rounds….. I can carry it all day long… even while driving all day… very easily concealed in a TXC X1 Pro holster.

5’8” 170 ish pounds, I carried a G17 with a a TLR 1 for the longest time. I had to dress around it and it wasn’t comfortable for sitting extended periods of time. I’ve since moved to a PX4 compact with a JM custom holster and a hand held streamlight. A pretty good tip for holsters especially appendix, attach a foam wedge if the pressure makes carrying difficult. JM Custom Kydex were wonderful to order through and if you read their FAQ page there’s an Easter Egg.

Very thoughtful; thanks! I'm a 6'1" male who pocket carries, so my goal is the smallest gun with reasonable power. I recently settled on the P365. Your point about regular practice with a tiny carry gun is right on point! I try to run at least two mags FIRST at each range session, before shifting to larger guns. It turns out that the Sig pocket rocket, though, is the pistol I have the most fun shooting! 😎

Excellent advice! Especially the class and carry gun advice for many of us.

I've been in the gun selling and training business for a few decades, so please understand that my process of finding out what a customer needs for self-defense can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on more variables than I care to list here. But I can say there are some things I will immediately ask when someone comes to the shop to purchase a gun. One of those things I always ask is if a man comes in to purchase a gun for his wife or girlfriend, the first question out of my mouth is, "Is she here?" I could not care less what he wants for her to have. I could not care less about what he likes. I could not care less about what works for him. Unfortunately, most men use those standards to chose a gun for her. She is the one who needs to hold it for fit, balance, comfort, ease of operation, use of the sights, weight, size, and all those other things that matter to her and more importantly, are specific to her due to her experience, strength, build, size, etc. One of the last things I concentrate on is the caliber. Finding a caliber is just a waste of time if there are no guns that fit her. Let's find a gun that fits first and then work on a caliber that she can handle. While I may not be a "bigger is better" kind of guy, I do value the idea of being able to handle a caliber well enough to put that bullet where it will actually do some fucking good. So if that caliber is a 45ACP and everything else works, hell, strap a 1911 on her and call it a day. But if a 22LR is all she can or wants to deal with, then we will find a peashooter that fits her needs. What it all comes down to is this: if a woman is willing to carry a gun to protect her life and the lives of her family, and that gun is a NAA 22LR or a Desert Eagle, then what you, I or anyone else thinks don't mean shit. More power to her. I can't begin to count the number of women I've seen scared away from a gun because their husband or boyfriend tried to push a gun on them that they didn't want.

excellent advice. i was a devotee of the government model 1911 for some time, before switching to a G19. now i'm really keen on a beretta 81 in 32 acp, or maybe a tomcat for holster carry (the G19 is carried in a bag when holster carry is impractical)

started out trying to conceal a g19 with a dot. never carried it, because every time i tried to practice or go on a walk in my extremely rural town, i became more stressed and anxious than i've ever been in my life. ended up giving the 19 to my brother and getting a p365x, which i am much happier with. still don't carry much, but i feel much more comfortable and in control of myself when i do.

For me it’s more about carrying as many rounds as I can comfortably conceal. Thankfully with new innovations like the sig p365x macro you can get 17 in a small package.

Absolutely agree on 22lr first and .380 (Locked breech) being on the table. In fact I’d say a new persons first severl hundred rounds should be 22lr. Glock should make a higher cap compact .380 (like the p365-380)

Good advice. I know AIWB has some advantages, but after carrying on and off duty at 3:30 for more than a half-century, I just can't wrap my head around pointing a gun at, well, you know where.

It’s was cool running into you at the airport. Hope you had a good trip. Great insight on this topic, from my humble LE instructor point of view.

A lot of variables as you noted. For me, I tend to either carry the Langdon PX4 or a Glock 45. For what I do every day, this works comfortably. During the summer I’ll switch it up to the compact sizes, and very rarely-usually if my clothing doesn’t allow me to carry the larger guns- I’ll opt for a Glock 26. I carry appendix and I’ve found that good holsters and belts matter. But this is also very dependent on me; my daily routine etc

Great content and perspective! I especially like the ratios for considering what is easily concealed.

I am 73 and a bit chunky around the middle. I totally love my G19/4 (No Optic). I would someday like to carry a Beretta PX4 Compact or a CZ Shadow 2 Carry. I have an original LCP and it hurts my hand after one magazine. I had tried a Glock G42 but did not have the accuracy or ease of handling that my G19, or even my wife's G26 had. I sold the G42. So, I am Leery of micro nines!

It's important to note that few people land on their perfect gun the first time. There's trial and error. Say a G19 is too large but a P365 is too small and sucks to shoot but a G48 ends up the happy medium of comfort, concealment, and shootability. Not that I believe guns should be sold, but if a gun doesn't work out it's usually not hard to sell. Thanks to eBay and Reddit you can even sell holsters to recoup some money. I got lucky with my first carry gun, a Ruger SR9c. Great shooter and easy to conceal. I decided to try something with a bit more support so I got a S&W M&P9c M2.0 4" with a TLR-7, about the size of a G19. I could conceal it but it wasn't easy or the most comfortable. Then I put on weight and needed something smaller. A SCCY CPX-1 was briefly my carry but it sucks to shoot big time. I landed on a S&W Shield Plus 4" with a Holosun 507k that's both comfortable and a good shooter. I recently picked up a P365 and while I like the size I find that my Shield Plus is even more comfortable and easy to conceal. I'm tempted to get a regular Shield Plus without a dot. I wish I could carry a bobtail commander 1911 but that might be pushing it.

I don't understand why anyone would want to do that. The larger the caliber, the fewer the rounds. I'd take my Glock 19 or maybe 48 over an m&p shield45 compact with 5 rds.

I currently carry a sig p365x topped with a holosun 507k optic. I carry this in a crossbreed Mt 2.0 IWB holster at 4 o'clock position. It works perfect for my body type 5 foot 9 inches and 230 pounds. Thank you for the advice !

Great video, 💯 agree. This is why I've been looking at the Glock 26 MOS with a mag place extension for pinky purchase grip.

I started with a pretty small gun (original xds) and I've carried and shot it for years. I'm only just now to the point where I'm absolutely certain I can conceal something larger effectively.

I think my daughter is an edge case here. She always open carries a Glock41 as a visual deterrent, that looks huge on her hip since her BMI is 18.4, then a H&K USP compact in her purse, and finally a Taurus Curve in her pocket.

My G19 is still my favorite handgun BUT I finally really started training with my P365X and I’m gaining ground. Haven’t run it in a class yet but I’m planning on doing it. I find myself carrying it more and see a small but manageable degrade in performance at about 20 yards vs the 19

You can get quite good with a micro compact like the Shield Plus with training and practice. I outshoot guys with full size guns (some that cost upwards of $3000 🤣) at the range every week. I don't even have an optic on it.

Good video, I started carrying a g17, then carried a full size 45, now I carry depending on what I'm wearing, I will carry a p 365 xl, when I wear less clothing, but I usually carry my cz p10c, cause I have 20+ 1 and I shoot that gun lights out, solid video though

Love your videos. I switched from my Shield Plus to a 4.25" metal. Carry everyday and i dont feel the weight/size difference.

grip tuck being the challenge that it is i stick to g43 summer and 48 winter when i can add another layer

LCR .327FM loaded with Buffalo Bore Wad Cutters. Easy pocket carry - revolvers are much easier to fish out of a front pocket or purse because the grip extends away from the frame. The gun is always upright in the pocket. Lifting your shirt to reach around your back will get you shot. Your front pocket looks like you're just grabbing your wallet or keys. With the .32 Wad Cutter there's no concern over hollow point expansion. They just punch holes with no recoil. First shot wins 99% of encounters. It's not about capacity or caliber. It's about what you can have ready.

Well said. I have found carry the biggest gun you can reasonable conceal and will always have on you. I started with small 380s then micro 9s then worked my way up to a Sig 365XL spectra comp. The best gun is the one you will have on you. Also totally agree your carry gun need to see range time from how you carry it. I have also found the Primary Arms ACSS reticles help with quick acquisition of a red dot sight. If you haven’t tried that reticle give it a try. When I saw it at shot show I was like the outer ring is outside the field of view but one saw how it helps fix bad presentations under stress I was a convert. Definitely try one.

I go between my Ruger Security 380 and my Springfield Hellcat. Both I shoot pretty good but could be better.

I like the smallest gun with the most ammo on board. 43X with the 15 round PSA or something like the Ruger .380 max.

I carry depending on what I’m wearing that day. If I’m in tight fit clothes or gym clothes I’ll take my Glock 43X MOS. If I’m wearing bulky clothes I’m taking my Springfield Echelon. I take both to the range at least once a month.

I have tried the small guns, and have found that a G19 size is perfect for carry and I shoot it well, without sacrificing capacity. I do however prefer something larger still such as a full size M&P which I will carry in the winter time when its easier to dress around it.

Spandex work pants from Walmart. Fits a Glock 19/23/30S . If it’s fits, it works

A full size gun is a better weapon to have if you need to deploy it. My advice for new concealed carriers is to carry the largest gun you can comfortably and effectively conceal rather than your advice here which is carry the smallest gun you can comfortably shoot. Although with the caveats you provide those approaches aren’t so different. I also agree printing should be avoided in general. I appendix carry a Glock 19 with a light and an optic and can pretty easily conceal it with my body type 6’0” 170ish lbs but I do deliberately dress (and buy clothes) with consideration to my carry. If I didn’t do this I’m sure it would be much more difficult to conceal.

Since I'll most likely NEVER have to use it, I carry the smallest & lightest gun possible that is reliable, shootable, and has MY personal minimum of 13rds onboard. So a CR920/P, 365X, 43X with PSA mags, etc., all work. NOTE: I prefer the 43X over the 48 because I carry at 2:30, and the keel thing's never been an issue.

I found I've gone full circle, partly because of concealment issues and partly because of age and physical limitations. From 1911 in .45 for almost 30 years, to Browning HI-Power, to Kahr K-9, to Glock 43, finally back to 1911 (in 9mm), and Beretta 92 compact (with Langdon touches). At first I tried to always carry 3-4 O'Clock IWB, but weight was the bugaboo, so I kept down sizing the guns. Once I accepted suspenders (the fashionista in me shudders), and sometimes shoulder holsters (gasp), I found I could go back to the more full size guns for most of the year. My summer carry is still a 3-3.5" gun, but the Glock 43 went away and was replaced by a SA Ronin EMP. What was also a major factor was changing from .45 to 9mm, as my hands started rebelling at 750 round weekend classes and big matches, to the point of pain. Being 6'2" and 250, hiding a full size gun wasn't the problem, but the weight of such a gun on the belt plays hob with an already damaged back. Sticking with a platform you know intimately (in my case the 1911) is critical too. After almost 50 years of 1911 it's still my choice.

I advise my friends to carry the gun you can shoot and conceal effectively. In 99% of cases the size of the gun will not matter the mere presence of the firearm will end the threat. In my LE career I fired my duty 357 in 3 deadly force encounters. In my off duty time and post retirement I have had to make the presence of my concealed carry firearm known 4 times and in all 4 they scurried away like the cockroaches they are. Of the 6 potential assailants one was arrested immediately by me, 2 were picked up by the local PD within 2 hours of the report, 1 died in a drive by later that same night and the other two were arrested 3 days later breaking into cars in an apartment project.

I've always cringed at 'dress around the gun'. That's how you end up with awful looking baggy jeans and oversized shirts and painfully obvious and out of place 'concealment' vests.

I care less about concealment and more about function with a firearm. I want a gun I can conceal, but I'd trade perfect concealment for shootability

My Ruger Security 9-compact carries well and feels comfortable in the hand. But the trigger reach is too short for my longer fingers. This results in unintentionally pushing the gun left or contorting my trigger finger unnaturally and uncomfortably to press the trigger on my index finger pad correctly.

I started carrying a SW shield plus. After training with it for a year, I moved up to an HK P30sk. I don’t own a full size gun, but I consistently win our local league. I plan to shoot USPSA this year with both my Shield and my HK. I don't expect either one of these firearms to be the weak link in my performance. I have yet to begin training with a dot, but I expect a dot will help me extend the capability of my subcompact guns. I am unconvinced by the 'biggest possible gun' argument. It sounds a little too much like gun-bro tough guy posturing.

Walther PPS M2 LE Edition.

Find the gun that fits your hand the best that you can shoot well. Then learn how to conceal it well this young woman has amazing videos that help show that. Concealment is very important but it is secondary to having a gun that you can shoot well that will do the job.

Another valuable video! Thank you.✨

GREAT video, Tessa!!

Okay, so this video got me a little confused by the title. In the beginning, a big gun .vs. little gun seems to be about the caliber. Then, it switches over to the size of the grip. But that is not all that matters when trying to conceal in the appendix position. Great video though. I agree that people will likely have more training time and be more open to train frequently if they can shoot something of a smaller caliber well for longer sessions, but that doesn't mean it needs to be a subcompact. In fact, a longer slide gun will be easier to conceal than something with a shorter barrel provided that it does not have a very long grip or extended magazines. (Case in point. People cutting glock 17 to glock 19 frame size). The concealment ability in the appendix position greatly depends on the holster features. For which a longer slide really helps. You can get small caliber guns that look really big by the size of their frame. I do like your research and theory on the ratio of grip versus available waist space. I think that's a good guideline for gun selection.

Great video. Looks like you forgot to add a link at 1:42.

Personally, I carry a G43 because it perfectly fits AIWB with no printing and still shoots cleanly and efficiently. I also, knowing that 6+1 may not be enough, carry a spare mag horizontally on my belt. Bigger isn't always better; knowing your concealment pistol so well it becomes a natural extension of your hand is.

I get the sense that this video was made in response to Clint Smith's opinion on carry gun size in the recent Echelon episode on TFB TV. Lol.

Nah I think that’s the best advice you can give someone. Carry the largest gun you can comfortably carry. Because while comfortability is important, what is the main reason you carry a gun? To protect yourself and those you love. Much easier doing that with a grip you can get full control of, draw consistently and get shots on target fast. For me the p365xl is great for summer carry,also the smallest gun I’d ever consider. And in the winter I carry a shadow systems mr920.

I carry a Hellcat. I'd much rather carry a 43X , but I'm a lil chunky in the middle so the Hellcat is my EDC. Maybe in winter under a sweatshirt I'll switch to the 43X. I shoot it way better and I'm much more comfortable with the 43X .....

I always took the adage of carrying the "largest gun you can conceal" as saying something like carry the best performing gun you can conceal, rather than the literal largest gun. So for a new person, it wouldn't literally be saying to go out and carry a 44 mag revolver if you can conceal it, but rather the most controllable gun that you can best perform with. If, due to a lack of skill that means carry a 22lr, then in my mind that would still apply to the saying. But this could have more to do with the fact that I haven't thought much about what people actually mean when they regurgitate it

the way I frame it to my new gun owning friends is. Is it for the house or for carry. If the answer is carry. Ok get it small and light enough so you will actually carry it

There likely very little that can't be handled with a J-frame in 22LR, and even less that can't be handled by a P365 380. I don't understand this obsession with 9mm when it's so unpleasant to shoot in tiny guns and so unnecessary. I carry the largest gun that I can get away with without having to make modifications to my wardrobe, and that's pretty small. If I didn't ever have to tuck my shirt in, I could carry practically anything, including an 8-shot 357mag. Maybe someday I will have that luxury.

All depends on your body type and your clothes. I have a 30 in waist but a big upper body so I commonly carry a g45 and conceal it well as needed. Of course a 365 or g48 is way more comfortable, and I do prefer to carry those guns over a full size.

A P365 is in my pocket at all times (365😂). A P226 is with me OWB when I’m wearing a coat. The P226 is accurate out to 40 yards for me. I lose confidence in the P365 after 15 yards.

Somebody needed to say it! I love my p365 but I am also considering a beginner comp gun to train alongside it. Looking to get proficient with both.

6'2"- 250lbs and my edc is a LCP Max because I simply won't carry if it is annoying me. Anything larger than that annoys me.

Thanks

I agree to disagree, as someone who helps a lot of (beginner) women to shoot as well as pick choose carry gun. I recommend to shoot something big and heavy first before you move to a carry gun, so the fundamentals solid then go small. And you only showed apendex carry with measurements, is that what you recommend?

Carry the gun you are comfortable with and ignore all other advice.

I completely agree 👍

Are Wednesday video still going to come out? Look forward to the next one

I like big handguns best, notably the Glock 17 and Ruger Redhawk (.357 Mag/4.2"). For concealed carry I like the Ruger LCR (9mm) best as it's very concealable and can be fired inside a jacket/vest pocket without jamming. Also easier/quicker to get out of a pocket than a comparable sized semi-auto due to its more rounded shape, while it will also fire if it comes into hard contact with an attacker without jamming. Fitted with a custom grip to optimize comfort and controllability without harming concealment. The long and moderately heavy trigger pull makes an AD/ND very unlikely but it can still be shot very well with practice (it has by far the best trigger pull of any small frame revolver I have ever tried). In a semi-auto I prefer the Glock 26 (with the heavier NY 1 trigger spring) if I feel I need more firepower and carry two 17 round mags for reloads (might choose the S&W Shield Plus if I had smaller hands). I would carry a Beretta Tomcat if I had weak hand strength or severe arthritis.

Damn, I carry a .357 magnum. Magbe it's too big, but I've had it for 10 years, and I'm too lazy to learn how to shoot something else at this point.

Have you tried the Wilson Combat P365xl frame for your Sig? I just did a 1000 round 3 day class with my P365x using that frame and besides by middle finger knuckle needing a bandaid for some cushioning from the trigger guard on day 2, I had no problems running that gun and only that gun for the 1000 rounds. Of course I am a guy and I have like 70 pounds on you and my hand is bigger etc. so its easier for me to grip hard and absorb impacts, but still, the WC frame made a big subjective difference to me compared to stock and I would expect it to make enough of a difference for you to be able to withstand at least a few hundred rounds out of your actual carry gun. It really makes the P365x feel not like a backup but like a real gun, but still somehow more concealable than the G43X. It is a decent bit rounder and thicker than stock though and the magwell is flared, so concealability in tighter clothes will take a hit.

Do you still carry the P365X ?

Carry what's best for you! That's what people need to do, I would never recommend large guns for certain people. If you're serious about helping someone out take them to range and let the shoot and handle multiple guns That said my first gun ever was a big glock 21sf I'm a big dude so I love it.

The problem I see all the time is when the older generation started into firearms we started with BB guns then .22LRs and then a single shot bolt action until we were comfortable with the fundamentals. Unfortunately, we're seeing beginners and novices jump straight to centerfires and acting like John Wick.. Not a good idea. Buy a .22 and then work from there. It's easier to learn and cheaper which means going to the range more often. Forget about self defense until you have the fundamentals.

Always wonderful videos and great presentation. TK’s for all you do for our concealment community!👍

What I've heard pretty often is "carry the smallest gun you can shoot well"; the idea being that the smaller gun should be easier to conceal by nature, but you don't want to carry something so small that you can't shoot it comfortably and accurately, or don't enjoy shooting it at all. I suppose it's kind of the inverse of "carry the largest gun you can reasonably conceal" in some ways.

The 22lr carried all the time trumps the Glock 17 you leave at home or in the car and don't carry. Saying that I carry a Kahr CW9 unmodified other than textured grip panels on my person if I've got pants on. If in shorts usually a Smith and Wesson M&P 22C IWB with two extra 14rd mags full of CCI Stingers or a Taurus 2" 942UL 8rd revolver and ammo wallet with 24 more rounds.. If I'm feeling unsafe I'll carry a Glock 48 MOS or 43X MOS on person IWB or belt slide and the Kahr and two mags go in a flat carrier in my computer bag as backup. I have a S&W Bodyguard in 380 and really don't like shooting it all that much but if I've got to go smol gun its riding in a pocket holster.

The advice line you're responding to is a corruption of a comment by either Elmer Keith or Jeff Cooper directed to experienced shooters planning to carry. What they actually said was closer to, "Carry the biggest/most powerful gun you can shoot well and enjoy shooting." Here we need to distinguish between those new to shooting and those new to carry. The consensus then (I my thought now) is newbie shooters should wait until they have basic pistol skills before carrying. Once they have basic skills, the limiting factors of "shoots well" and "enjoys" were based on skill level and propensity to regularly practice. It pointless to carry a gun one can't shoot well either because it is too big, too small, or too powerful. Likewise, if one doesn't enjoy shooting the gun, they won't practice with it. Unfortunately, the corruption of the original suggestion has undermined the point they were trying to make. I like the way you phrased your approach, "smallest they can shoot well." I introduce many people, especially overseas visitors, to shooting. My goal is not to set them up for carry, but a soft introduction to shooting. I used to start with 22LR, it's just too inaccurate for newbies to get gratifying results. Now I start with larger 380 guns, like Beretta Cheetahs. The size is small enough for smaller hands, but big enough felt recoil is reduced. They have a longer sight radius, can be more accurate than 22LR, and have a decocker or safety. If they do well, I might let them try the Micro380, which is more accurate, single action, and harder to shoot. It depends on their progress and interest. Should they then want to carry, they can use the Berettas to develop the necessary skills. Only then would I start looking at practical considerations of carry setup and firearm selection, as you discuss.

I Disagree | Big Gun vs. Little Gun "We've probably all heard the phrase, "carry the largest gun you can reasonably conceal", but what does that ACTUALLY mean?" I think the reason that phrase is going around is because the larger the gun the easier it is to shoot, the weight offsetting recoil and longer sight radius. However large guns in large calibers or magnum calibers may be a no no as the recoil will still be severe. With practice and training on the gun the recoil management should not be a problem. Recoil will have to be overcome no matter what gun is used so buck up. Appendix or belly carry is not the only carry position folks use. In fact its down right more dangerous where the muzzle is pointing and folks that do use it take that risk. It all depend on our individual body size. Some of use are bigger and some of us are smaller. There is no one size fits all. I am in the small body size group so its hard to hide a gun on me. However some guns both big and small can lend themselves well for small body sizes. My first pistol was a Thompson Auto Ordnance 1911A1 that I worked up for gun club bowling pin matches. Believe it or not the big .45ACP is slim in profile, lies flat, and is not hard to conceal unlike wide thick pistols. So I could get away with carrying it at the 4 O'clock or in a shoulder rig and it concealed well. Not so with a wide thick Taurus PT92 or a Beretta 92 that I later had. Those were full size pistols. I later settled on an Astra A-100 Spanish SIG P226 copy although as a "compact" it was still wide and thick at the grip and heavy, its high capacity being an 18 shot mag. But I carried that one through the '90s until I got newer sub compacts and later a micro compact. Today I mostly settle on the SIG P365 although the smaller the gun the harder it is to shoot but nothing beats it in both conceal size and capacity. I will still carry my sub compacts when I can use more layers of clothing. I am currently looking to carry a small three inch J frame revolver if I can get away with concealing it but the cylinder is going to have a larger bump than the P365. Why? I don't want all the hassles of an autoloader and all those extra rounds of capacity are not needed for two reasons. One, only two to three rounds five at most are fired to stop a threat in real world shooting cases by the data. Two, we are responsible for every round that leaves our gun as a lawyer is attached to every bullet. If I can't get the job done and stop the threat in six shots with two more six shot reloads if necessary then its because of poor accuracy/marksmanship, not capacity. I have to have good marksmanship under stress whether I carry an autoloader or revolver. While I must stop the threat with as many rounds as it takes, I don't want to put more rounds downrange than is necessary from bystander and legal perspectives. So I must control my shots both in accuracy and how many I fire while under stress. I have to make every shot count.

In the midst of an actual gunfight, nobody ever wished they had a smaller gun. Ever. Assuming someone has learned to handle firearms and shoot safely and competently, carrying the largest gun you can conceal is actually good advice. As the video correctly identified, this is going to be different for different people. I would add that some people are more willing to make wardrobe compromises to accommodate carrying concealed than others. Just make sure your firearm is on your person, and NOT in a purse, bag, backpack, etc. This channel provides some great information, and the videos are WELL worth watching.

Thank for spreading this message. I've had to unteach the bad macho boyfriend advice so many times. And give more reasonable suggestions.

Good job 👍 🎯 (you're doing fine) carry on 🔫 🇺🇲

I have a mossberg 500 that MI insisted was a pistol and I'm going to carry it!

I could argue that we're splitting hairs here. " Carry the largest gun you can REASONABLY conceal " could be interpreted as "carry the largest gun you can COMFORTABLY conceal" , which could be defined by the parameters you lay out here. I just think the former is a simplification , and the latter is maybe a more clear way to say it. Also , I'm pretty sure you're speaking to a "small" (pun intended) group of likely lady shooters , which isnt a bad thing. This is what the world needs more of actually. Edit: but im a big dumb slob of a man and i don't take stuff like how i dress seriously , and obviously this is not manslpain advice , or i didn't intend for it to be . You're doing well. Carry on.

You're quibbling. The advice is the 'the biggest gun you can reasonably conceal'. That is solid advice, the word 'reasonably' is baked right into the statement.

Thank you for the video. Commenting for the Algorithm.