Concealed Carry Handguns 101

By: Mitch Eckler

For many people, the idea of carrying a gun every day can feel intimidating. That intimidation can come from a lot of places. There is the legal responsibility, the lifestyle adjustment, the training commitment, and of course, the simple question of what handgun to choose. Selecting the appropriate firearm for your needs is a huge part of that equation. Selecting one that actually fits you adds even more to an already large pile of considerations.

The concealed carry handgun market is enormous. There are tiny pistols, compact pistols, slim pistols, double stack pistols, revolvers, optics ready guns, manual safety guns, striker fired guns, hammer fired guns, and everything in between. Choice is good, but too much choice can leave a new shooter standing at the gun counter with no real idea where to begin.

 

Your Carry Gun Isn’t Your First Gun

The biggest mistake a shooter can make is incredibly common. They select a carry gun as their first and only handgun.

Let me explain. Concealed carry pistols are often purchased with criteria formed by an inexperienced shooter or inexperienced carrier. A new shooter may choose the smallest gun possible because it looks easy to carry. They may choose a caliber based on internet arguments. They may choose a platform because a friend, instructor, or salesman told them it was the only serious option.

The problem is that those choices can be short lived. They may not reflect how that same person shoots after six months of training. They may not reflect what they value after a few classes. They may not reflect how their hands work under stress, how they draw from concealment, or how much recoil they are willing to tolerate during meaningful practice.

Your first handgun should be big enough to manipulate easily, large enough to shoot well, and chambered in a common caliber that encourages as much live fire training as possible. Ideally, it should be large enough that you might conceal it with the right clothing, but forgiving enough that it helps you learn. A concealed carry gun may fit some of that criteria, but most likely it will not fit all of it.

A small gun is easier to carry. A larger gun is usually easier to shoot. That is the first compromise concealed carriers need to understand.

 

Start With the Goal

Who are you protecting? What are you protecting yourself from? Are you protecting yourself from threats on two legs or four? Are you carrying in town, on the road, on the farm, in the woods, or all of the above?

Many people say they want a one size fits all firearm. Sure, those exist. They are usually inconvenient to carry everywhere. They are also usually called rifles.

Every gun feels too big to carry and is too small to fight with. That is the reality of handguns. A handgun is a compromise tool that gives you defensive capability when you do not have access to a long gun. Understanding what you are actually defending yourself from can dictate all kinds of choices, but it most commonly affects caliber, gun size, and carry configuration.

For this conversation, we will stick to defense from the two-legged variety.

 

Shoot First

The very best way to establish a good carry gun is to shoot as many as possible. Create a list of firearms that you think may work for you. Seek out people who own them and people who carry them. Ask about their experience. More importantly, ask about the things they dislike.

You will quickly find that every gun is a collection of tradeoffs. What may be an issue for someone else may actually be a bonus for you. 

That is why platform loyalty can be dangerous. Someone will try to tell you that their preferred platform should be your platform. It is important to hear them, but not necessarily listen. Just because it is their favorite tool does not mean it will be yours too.

 

Critical Control 

One of the most overlooked factors in selecting a carry gun is the control layout. If the gun is so small in your hands that you cannot manipulate the controls, it is too small for you. If the gun is so large that you cannot properly grip it, it is too big.

You need to be able to draw the handgun from a holster under stress, establish a firing grip, operate the magazine release or cylinder release, work the slide if applicable, access the safety if it has one, and place the most accurate shots possible. That is your job.

It does not matter how good the gun looks in a display case if you cannot run it. It does not matter how popular it is if you cannot reach the controls. 

 

Cost and Reliability

Every person has a budget and a number that feels acceptable to them. Fortunately, the concealed carry handgun market is broad enough that there are good options at many price points. However, you are betting your life on this tool. Price the responsibility of that device accordingly.

A pistol needs to be expensive enough to work and be accurate. That does not mean you need to buy the most expensive handgun in the case. It does mean that if you buy a cheap pistol, you should expect a cheap experience.

Used guns are not ruled out here, absolutely not. A used gun can be an excellent carry gun as long as it runs. But that is the standard. If you buy a gun, any gun, and it has repeated failures to feed, eject, or ignite cartridges, get rid of it or get it fixed by someone competent. If it cannot be made reliable, move on and get another one that works.

Reliability is not optional in a defensive handgun.

 

Support and Holsters

Aftermarket support is a critical component. You will need exceptional holsters and gear. In reality, you may need three or four different holsters for your primary carry gun. Those holster options allow you to carry the gun in ways that fit your lifestyle. The gun has to fit your life or you will eventually stop carrying it.

No matter where you are going, the goal should be to have a handgun with you. The day I leave my gun home in the safe and just run out for milk is absolutely the day I expect something stupid to happen. Having a handgun is having a plan. Saying “that will not happen to me” is not a plan.

 

Caliber Choice

Far too many instructors and keyboard warriors will tell you about a magic caliber that does everything. Again, it is important to hear them, but not necessarily listen.

If you are a laser beam with your .380, then please carry that. But I would challenge most shooters to be honest with themselves. Are you truly better with the tiny gun, or is it just easier to carry? For many people, they are a better shot with a pistol that is slightly larger than what they would prefer to carry.

That is why shooting as many guns as possible is so important. You need to understand how they work, how they recoil, how quickly you can get back on target, and whether you enjoy training with them. A gun that is comfortable to carry but miserable to shoot is a gun you will not train with enough.

 

Ancillary Gear

Do you need a weapon mounted light and a red dot mounted on your carry gun? No. They can be valuable tools, but they are not mandatory.

You should have a flashlight. You should have a pocketknife. You should have your handgun. You should have spare ammunition. You should also have a tourniquet and a fire extinguisher in your car or very close to you.

That last part… You are exponentially more likely to need a fire extinguisher or tourniquet in your life than a handgun. For the cost of a basic fire extinguisher, you can put a real problem solving tool in your vehicle and even teach a kid how to use one. Self defense is not just about the gun. It is about being prepared to solve emergencies. If the emergency you’re preparing for involves a gun you may need to plug holes in yourself too. 

 

The Gun Is Only the Beginning

The last point is the most important. You need to enjoy training with your carry gun, or at least be willing to train with it seriously. Money cannot buy skill. Gear cannot replace competence. A better pistol does not automatically make you more prepared.

Dry fire with it. Live fire with it. Draw from concealment where it is safe and appropriate to do so. Take classes when you can. Shoot quality ammunition. Use quality gear. Learn what the gun does well and where it demands more from you.

A concealed carry handgun is not a talisman. It does not protect you simply because you own it. It is an instrument, and you are responsible for learning how to use it. The right gun is not just the one that disappears under a shirt. It is the one you will actually carry, actually train with, and actually be able to use when the situation is no longer theoretical.

That is the real resolution to the concealed carry question. Do not start with the smallest gun, the cheapest gun, the gun your friend likes, or the gun the internet says is best. Start with the mission. Then find the handgun that fits your hands, your body, your skill level, your clothing, your environment, and your willingness to train.

There is no perfect carry gun. There is only the gun that gives you the best chance of solving the worst problem of your life, provided you have done your part before that day ever comes.

You cannot protect anyone else if you cannot protect yourself. Choose wisely, train honestly, and carry consistently.

Shoot safe.

Mitch Eckler
Follow me on Instagram @the_bad_gunsmith, X, and YouTube @MitchEckler // Hang Fire TV