A new shooter who had finished an NRA Women on Target class and a CCW class asked a SIG Sauer representative at SHOT Show 2010 the question nearly every new permit holder asks next: what should I carry? Gun Websites recorded the answer.
Comfort and fit come first
- Outside of reliability, comfort is one of the most important considerations, for men and women alike.
- Many buyers start by looking for the biggest caliber they can find. Fit matters more.
- Grip the pistol. You should get a full hand on the grip and reach the trigger comfortably.
Can you run it?
- Check that you have the strength and reach to work the magazine release, slide stop and any decocker.
- Make sure you can rack the slide and manipulate the action.
- Ask simply: does it feel good in your hand? It is often overlooked.
Caliber
- Anything from .380 ACP to .45 ACP is sufficient for concealed carry defense.
- His recommendation for comfortable shooting was 9mm, or even .380. He carries 9mm: proven, reliable and with more rounds per magazine than larger calibers.
Size
- Match the pistol to how you will carry it: waistband, purse or elsewhere.
- If it is too big and cumbersome, it stays home, and that does no good.
- Too small has its own problems. His wife, a federal agent, bought a tiny pistol that looked perfect for a purse, then found at the range she could not control it or work its controls. She went back to a slightly larger gun.
The checklist
- Fit to the hand.
- Controls you can reach and operate.
- Recoil you can shoot comfortably.
- A size that fits how you will carry it.
- Then take it to class. See Training Gear and How to Choose a Training Class.
Based on a video from the Gun Websites YouTube channel. Took a class recently? Write your After Action Report and add it to the Training Log.
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