Revolver Or Automatic

Ruger LC9,

A lot of people automatically think of a semi-auto when looking for a concealed carry pistol. Butrecently some very nice smallish revolvers have come on the scene. So which is the best concealed carry pistol?  Thats a tough question I actually have both and feel secure carrying both. Lets take a look at a few things and maybe this can help you with your decision on what's best for you to carry. 

Ease of Operation: For a new shooter a revolver is a nearly perfect set up. On most there are only two moving parts. The trigger and the cylander release. They are for the most part a point and shoot operation. In the case of a misfire, which are rare the clearing process consist of pulling the trigger again. On a semi auto on has to check to see if the magazine is seated correctly, rack the slide at least once to clear any obstructions all of which take valuable time. exspecially if someone is shooting back at you, rumor has it bad guys sometime do this. 

Firepower: Semi autos and revolvers now days both have good caliber of rounds carried in the weapon and the ability to recharge it quickly is something all together.  Most small frame revolvers have a capacity of 6 on a good day. Small semi autos can carry anywhere from 7 to 15 rounds.  A semi auto with a extra usually gives your more rounds and quicker reloads.  Yes they make speed loaders for revolvers but speaking for myself I can't reload as fast with them as I can with a semi auto. 

Ruger LCR

Easy to Conceal: Semi autos are flat and thin but with the extra ammo they often carry comes extra weight. Revolvers on the other hand can be lighter but are usually thicker than many semi autos. 

Holsters and other accessories: For better or worse revolvers are thought of as old school and only grumpy old farts like myself would be seen carrying one. Semi autos are way more popular and thus have a wide varaty of holsters and other goodies. Keep in mind just because you buy a semi auto does not make it easy to find add on accessories. if your gun is popular and selling well it only makes sense that third party vendors will be making holsters, sights and grips for that model of pistol. If your have grandpa's pistol made in Bumfuq that he carried 60 years ago.... not so much. 

So what are we suggesting you carry? A revolver or semi automatic? I' m  not suggesting you carry either. What i would suggest is you go to a gun range that has a wide varity of guns you can shoot and decide for yourself. Yeah, keep the above in mind while checking out these weapons but base your decesion on what feels good fo you.

What Makes A Good Concealed Carry Pistol

Lets face it. There are hundreds of great pistols out there but how many would you want to carry around all day, every day? What? You don't carry every day, all day? If not why? Do you have a magical card to hand out that reads

"Don't rob me today, I'm not carrying my handgun"

In this post we will look at what I think makes for a good concealed carry pistol. 

Great gun, heavy as a brick, hard to conceal

As always this is just my opinion and I know it's impossible but I could be wrong. That said here are a few key things I look for in a concealed carry pistol. Simple to use. Power. Reliability.  Comfort/Ease of carry. Safety. Lets take a close look at each of these. 

1) Simple To Use: When the shit hits the fan you don't want a weapon with a bunch of bells and whistles on it. According to the F.B.I most handgun encounters take place in the often quoted 7 yards.  In other words you don't have a lot of time to think and you want something that is easy and simple to use. Draw, click, point, shoot.

2) Power: A buddy and I have this conversation over and over. He is a 1911 fanboy  and has convinced himself that no other handgun ever made has any stopping power whatsoever. To give a direct quote that I have heard from him several times

"9mm and .380 are pussy rounds"

Browning .22 target pistol. Easy to handle, accurate but stake your life on it?

I for one don't want to be shot with anything.  Maybe I'm a 10 year old girl but I've gone paintballing a few times and getting drilled with one of those hurts like hell and definitely gets your attention. And if your like me a .22 beats the hell out of carrying a stick. Do I recommend carrying a rimfire cartridge to defend your life with? I wouldn't do it. But my niece who is 5'4 and just over 100 pounds can't shoot anything much more than that. She has a nice Smith and Wesson .38 special with a 3 inch barrel and after 5 rounds of shooting it she"s done. My point here, carry what you can shoot well. I wouldn't go under a .380 myself. Okay, I actually wouldn't go any smaller than a 9mm but lots of folks have been killed with .22s. 

3) Reliability: A .reliable .22 beats the pants off a ,45 that jams every fourth magazine you run through it. Reliability covers not just the gun but your ammo. Practice with what your going to carry every day. It also covers what you can shoot well. As I mentioned above, my niece can shoot lights out with any  .22.pistol you give her.  She can't hit  the side of a barn with a full sized 9mm. Her hands are too small and she limp wrists the weapon causing jams that I or her dad never have with the same weapon. 

4) Comfort: Like I mentioned above whats the point of having a concealed carry gun if it's at home locked in the gun safe. Which brings us to comfort. I love everything about a full sized 1911 except one thing. It's a brick. Same with the FS92. Great gun, I can shoot it lights out but humping it around in the summer with a t-shirt and shorts is well.... a challenge. With the new "plastic" guns out there you can still have good firepower, capacity and not wear the photo safari vest everywhere you go.