Is this a pistol that you will be carrying on your person?
These questions bring an entirely different dynamic into the equation.
Unfortunately, there is often a bit more to the picture.
There are a range of sizes available for personal protection. Is there a definitive answer as to which is the best?
When dressed in this manner, hiding a full-size pistol like a 1911 is not an issue.
No doubt, the fact that I am a pretty fair size guy helps my cause.
I daresay most other people dont have such latitude.
Some people prefer a larger gun for self-defense. Is a full-size gun like this 1911 DS Prodigy 9mm a reasonable choice for CCW?
What sort of clothing do you wear in your daily routine?
What might work on the ranch or farm will be a non-starter in the office.
Clearly, men have it much easier than women when carrying a concealed pistol.
With a quality holster, many people are able to carry larger guns, although a Hellcat Pro like this makes a good compromise between large and small.
A great many workplaces frown on or even forbid the carrying of a weapon by their employees.
Where it is allowed, for many people staying under the radar remains extremely important.
But thats precisely where we are today.
A small gun is often lighter to carry than a duty-sized pistol. This XD-S 9mm is a good example of a compact yet capable CCW.
Polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols such as theXD-M Elitenow rule the market, and for a lot of good reasons.
They have proven highly durable and reliable, and the learning curve for new shooters is not incredibly steep.
Might a full-size pistol work for you?
Is there a comfortable medium between a duty gun and micro-compact? Something like this XD-M Elite 10mm Compact offers both impressive power and concealable dimensions.
Depending on your lifestyle, attire and holster, it may indeed make the cut.
With an inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, I can render a service-size pistol nearly invisible.
But the key is paying attention to the small details such as your belt and covering garment.
What do you prefer? Something large that is easy to shoot? Something tiny that is easy to slip into a pocket? Or something like this Ronin EMP 4″ 9mm in between that blends the features of both?
But there is the trade-off for that enhanced performance potential.
Ultimately, you must decide if the additional inconvenience of a larger pistol is worth the effort.
Even with the smallest backstraps in place, some pistols will have too great a circumference for some users.
One family of full-size pistols that will generally fit users with small hands is the 1911.
The short trigger reach and the ability to get a proper grip can add up to success.
Quite simply, there is more to size than length and height.
But what if none of these fit your needs?
Small But Not Too Small
What if you were to go the opposite direction?
Not only was their stopping potential questionable, but also their reliability.
When I first broke into the gun game, snub-nosed revolvers filled this exact niche.
Snubs are relatively powerful, compact and easy to operate, but they are difficult to shoot well.
The new breed of micro-pistols is far more user-friendly and boasts a significant increase in onboard ammunition capacity.
Some solid contenders in this category include theSpringfield Armory Hellcatand theXD-S Mod.2.
The Hellcat has carved out a sizeable portion of the micro-pistol market, and its easy to understand why.
The single stack XD-S Mod.2 is yet another slick package and is available in both9mm and .45 ACP.
Measuring less than an inch wide, the XD-S can be easily concealed.
Both pistols feature a slide cut for affixing a red dot optic.
What if we compromise and select a medium-sized pistol for everyday carry?
It just might work, but those same questions loom large.
Although length and height are significantly reduced, the subcompacts are just as wide as their full-size brethren.
With that said, a medium-sized compact pistol works best for me.
But when you get down to it, it doesnt have to be that difficult.
Pick the one thats just right.
