I got my CHL in the mail today. (When I have time I’ll try to do a post on the process of getting one for those who haven’t.) I currently have a Kimber .45, which I think is a bit heavy to use as a carry gun.
My instructor was big on the Glock, which I know a lot of people use as a carry gun and has some improvements over the M1911. So I thought I would ask my CHL-holding rreaders: 1. What concealed carry gun do you favor, and why, and 2. What experience (if any) have you had using a Glock?
And speaking of CHL classes, here’s Karl Rehn of KRTraining on what to bring to class to make your instructor happy.
I am a big proponent of Glocks, but in the end, the decision whether to buy a Glock over another great defensive handgun (like the Springfield XD or the Smith and Wesson M&P) is clearly a matter of personal preference. It’s much like the Ford vs. Chevy debate in many respects.
I like the Glock platform for its reliability and the interchangeable magazines within the same caliber. In addition, all Glocks work the same – no new switches, buttons or other doo dads to learn how to operate. If you can drive one Glock, you can drive them all.
Plus Lee Ermey is their spokesperson. What else do you need?
The Glock 19 is considered the gold standard of carry guns. The G19 and the 4″ M&P 9mm are our top two recommendations, for a gun you would carry in a hip holster.
The Glock 26 is one of the guns we recommend as a pocket gun, with the M&P Shield, Kahr PM9, and any .38 snub from S&W, Charter or Ruger. You may find that carrying a smaller gun in a pocket holster (don’t carry w/o a pocket holster) may be more practical than carrying in a hip holster.
[…] and carry on a regular basis, but don’t read Lawrence’s Battleswarm blog as well: he has a post up asking for advice on a carry gun. I’d appreciate it if you’d go over and weigh […]
Depending on my mood, I’m either carrying a Bersa Ultra Compact Pro .45, or an M&P Compact 9mm. My next purchase will probably be a revolver for the size and concealment options with my daily attire. It’s tough to hide a .45 when dressing up every day unless I have a suit jacket on.
Glocks are fine and pretty reliable. But for the feature set and accuracy, I’ll take the M&P over any glock. I used to have a glock 22 (.40 cal) and it just felt cheap and not as sturdy as the others.
Others that I am a huge fan of are the springfield XD series and the Beretta PX4 Storm
Find what is comfortable to you and practice practice practice. And then practice some more. If you can’t draw it flawlessly while being aware of what’s happening around you at all times, carrying it is useless.
I have a Kimber 45 but I more often carry my P3AT (small .380)
just because it is so much smaller and lighter. A decent pocket
holster and it doesn’t really matter what I am wearing.
The best carry weapon is the one you have with you. :-)
I have tried my friend’s glocks (he doesn’t have any of the very small ones)
so I don’t see much difference in the size but there is a little in the weight
but not enough to make a difference for me.