Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Full Size Vs Small Compact for CCW Use

I may be the exception to the rule but I prefer a full size gun to a compact model for concealed carry use.


I do not like the small guns like the Kel-Tec or LCP .380's at all. They just feel too awkward to me and are much harder for me to shoot well with.

I shoot better and guns like a 1911, HP, Glock, or Springfield XD.

I have also never had any problems concealing the larger guns but that may be largely due to physical size/frame.

Anybody else the same way or am I just "special" ( watch the wise ass stuff please. I am very sensitive )?

HBB, you have hands the size of a decent ham; the micros aren't going to fit. As far as concealment, you ain't exactly "small framed" and (no offense) you ain't exactly "trim", either. If I have no problem carrying or concealing a FS 1911 or BHP, you sure as Hell shouldn't either.

I am smaller than I used to be. I am now down to a svelte 245 lbs naked and 252 lbs fully clothed.

I look almost skinny

hb, that's awesome, buddy! I remember when you told me you were going to start trying to lose some weight. Congratulations! Look forward to looking you up next time I'm up.

If you need that gun, odds are you will need it very badly. No toy guns for me. Learned that lession many years ago.
One needs to ask what he would give him confidence in a serious fight. E

I have a harder time with some small semi autos. I've been taking a young friend out shooting with me for a little over a year. He got his paperwork back for his CWP, but they're now making you come into an office to finalize here in FL, rather than through the mail.

Anyways, I went with him to pick up his first gun yesterday, a S&W M&P 40c .40 cal subcompact. It's a single stack 7 or 8 rd mag. Found the groove with it after a mag or 2. But, with my big paws, I don't shoot it anywhere near as well as my Kahrs. That S&W feels pretty tiny in my hands. Liking my new G19 a lot better.

Hillybear

I understand your thoughts on CC shooters.

I'm 6'5" and 250lbs and I went on a quest for a cute little mouse gun that I could hit stuff with. I went through a bunch of those little bitty shooters and didn't have any luck with accuracy with any of them.

I did get a S&W 60-7 that I had the hammer bobed and the sweetest trigger job imaginable done on it and surprisingly I could hit stuff with it!!!! After carrying it for a while in a bad commercial area where I had a client one day I noticed that the cylinder only had 5 holes in it ???? Now I could hit stuff with it but sometimes the bad boys come in fours and fives in this neighborhood.

As time went by it seemed that the Gun makers started to address the market for shooters that were small AND accurate. Next stop for me was a Glock 26 and all was good and still is good along with a Glock 27. Some trigger work by me has helped in the "hitting stuff" department.

I did happen to walk by the gun counter in the local GS and noticed a Ruger LC9S Pro being fondeled by a bunch of lads. I held it and tested the trigger and bought it on the spot. Super light, think and a fabulous trigger that helps to hit stuff. I carry it in a OWB DeSantis holster and have been very happy with that change.

See if it works for you.

If you are looking at the LC9 make sure you handle the LC9s or the LC9s Pro. Those two models are striker fired and have a much better trigger pull than the LC9 which is a hammer fired with the long long trigger pull as you probably already know.

I may be the exception to the rule but I prefer a full size gun to a compact model for concealed carry use.


I do not like the small guns like the Kel-Tec or LCP .380's at all. They just feel too awkward to me and are much harder for me to shoot well with.

I shoot better and guns like a 1911, HP, Glock, or Springfield XD.

I have also never had any problems concealing the larger guns but that may be largely due to physical size/frame.

Anybody else the same way or am I just "special" ( watch the wise ass stuff please. I am very sensitive )?