Concealed Carry Corner: The Perfect-Sized Carry Gun

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at the top items to avoid when carrying concealed. If you missed that article, click the link here to give it a read. This week, I want to look at some of the ways to find the perfect carry gun and find the best of both worlds when it comes to concealability as well as being usable. The firearms industry has gone through a number of trends but these phases have created handguns that can fit any need or any size someone may need. The hard part is finding the perfect carry size for your everyday life. Let’s take a closer look at the perfect-sized carry gun.

Industry Trends

If we go back to the mid-2000s, carry guns were all over the place. There were options like the Glock 26, SIG 290, and the Kahr Arms PM9. Each had its own positives but none of them were perfect or anywhere near perfect. The Glock 26 was my personal favorite but it was fairly bulky for the 10-round capacity. If we start to look at the 2010s the industry started to see a need for a smaller handgun that is easy to carry all day every day for a wide variety of people. Models like the Smith & Wesson Shield, Glock 43 and other options started to hit the market making it easier to carry a concealed handgun.

2018 changed things with the SIG P365 and Glock followed up with models like the 43X and Glock 48. These were slightly bigger models but still extremely easy to conceal. SIG also came out with the P365 XL. All of these were still compact pistols that not only were easier to conceal but also very capable with larger capacity despite their size. Looking at the market today, we have several models out currently that have a higher standard capacity while remaining very small in overall size. With all these variations on the market, there’s never been more options for people to pick from when it comes to finding a handgun to carry concealed.

Frame Size Is Key 

So how do we start finding the perfect carry gun? The first big determining factor is finding the right frame size for you. The frame will be the number one thing to print and show you’re carrying a concealed firearm. Considering your body type and seeing what you can easily conceal will help you determine what will sit on your body without printing or leaving a mark on your shirt. Someone with a stockier body type will be able to carry a larger-frame handgun with ease.

If you have a slim build, appendix carrying a mid or full-size handgun will be easier without printing since it rides in the front of your body. Bigger guys will usually carry strong side on the hip since it is more comfortable than the appendix holsters as you do not have anything digging into your stomach. For bigger guys carrying strong side or thin guys carrying appendix, it’s easier to carry a larger firearm with a slightly longer frame. Things like the Glock 17 or SIG P320 can be concealed depending on the individual build. If you are carrying in the summer months and only have a shirt and shorts on, smaller guns will be much easier but depending on the model, certain small handguns are extremely difficult to fire under stress.

There’s a certain size that really is the sweet spot where you can have a standard capacity of 10-15 rounds and still have it be extremely concealable. Smaller guns like the Glock 43X/48 and SIG XL along with the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro can be easily concealed while offering a good amount of capacity and easy ergonomics. Some smaller framed individuals may need to bump down to the Glock 43 or standard SIG P365 to easily conceal the firearm on their body but that's all a part of sorting out what's perfect for you.

Overall Thoughts 

When it comes to carry guns, the general trend has been to go smaller until we reached a point where we have developed technology to increase capacity and go slightly larger while keeping the overall profile incredibly compact. Models like the Glock 43X/48 and P365 XL along with the Hellcat PRO are in that sweet spot of being compact to easily carry while having a higher amount of rounds as standard capacity. Finding the right gun can be a challenge but trying them out before purchasing a gun can be a massive help. Whether that's renting the guns to test fire or trying out a friend's gun to see how it sits can be invaluable when looking for your perfect carry.

Looking at things like grip size and your clothing choice can help out a ton when looking for that mythical perfect carry gun. What do you guys like to carry when it comes to your perfect carry? Let me know your preferences in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.