But It's Harder To Shoot

Author's Sig Sauer P232 in 9mm Kurz

As the daily threats continue to be a very real concern with many Americans, more and more are exercising their God-given rights to bear arms as further guaranteed by the Second Amendment. As they should. But now that firearm manufacturing technology has kept up with the world's greatest gun salesman, the Imperial Kenyan himself, citizens now enjoy a very wide selection of weapons in virtually any caliber, weight and configuration. That's pretty neat. When I first started carrying daily, way back in the late Eighties, there were only a few good options. Here in steamy Florida, especially during the summer, inside-the-waistband or in a pocket are just about the only carry options available in keeping the weapon "concealed." And polymer receivers hadn't been invented, so I carried either a stainless steel Walther PPKS in .380 ACP, or a Colt "lightweight" Combat Commander in .45 ACP. Both are heavy by today's standards, and as such, rather difficult to carry and conceal under lightweight clothing. A shoulder holster was sufficient under a suit jacket, but what happens when you need to take off the jacket? Thankfully today I am able to carry anything I choose, with whatever my wardrobe dictates on that particular day.  And so are you.

Variety!

Today a number of gun makers produce lightweight firearms that weigh in at considerably less than a pound, are less than one inch thick, and are available in 9mm, .380 ACP (9mm kurz, or short), .40 S&W, .357 and even .45 ACP and are small enough to carry in a pocket or purse. Glock, Smith&Wesson, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Colt, Kimber, HK, and many others are producing lightweight, effective firearms designed especially for carry. There are a lot - and I mean a lot - of good choices on the market today.  Some of the more popular concealed carry guns can be found here. The internet is awash with gun writers' opinions, of course, and every gun owner has his own pet favorites as well. If you want to carry a firearm, do read up on them, and then just go to your local gun shop and handle - and shoot - a few. Carry what is most comfortable for you to both carry and shoot. And then, learn to use the weapon inside out. Shoot it - a lot. All very esoteric, isn't it? 

Author's Ruger LC9

Many folks get wrapped around the axle when trading off caliber for size. And that's a tough decision. They want a full power 9mm, or .40 S&W or .45 in a small frame that can be easily carried all day. And with that there can be some serious trade offs involved.  A gun may be perfect for carry, but hard to shoot.  For example, Ruger makes a tiny, lightweight 9mm they call the LC9. It's striker fired (meaning there's no external hammer; it's double action only). In a pocket or purse you'd hardly notice it's there. It's got small size, light weight and full 9mm power. Perfect, huh?  Almost. As a safety feature, the trigger pull is a very long and stiff process, requiring the trigger finger to do a lot of work. And the laws of physics cannot be ignored, either. A light gun shooting a powerful load will result in considerable recoil. And these characteristics can make it harder to shoot, and that leads to diminished accuracy.  So that trade off may result in the choice of a smaller caliber in a slightly heavier frame like a Sig P232.  Put it this way: is it better to have a full power 9mm that you fire at a threat five times but only hit twice, or to have a smaller .380 that you fire at a threat five times and hit five times?

At the end of the day, owing and carrying a firearm is all about what's most comfortable - and less intimidating - for you. Not me, or your cousin, or Aunt Mae. You. So find the ones that you like, and can shoot effectively, and carry in confidence. It's not only your right to do so, it's your civic responsibility, as well.