re: Concealed Gun Recommendation

It all depends on what you want and what you intend to do. All options have merit and drawback.

Rule #1 - always carry where legally allowed

This leads to the comfort issue mentioned before. For comfort, nothing beats front pocket carry of the smaller pistols like Keltec P32, P3AT, Ruger LCP, and others in this class. You absolutely forget you have it in your pocket.

Problem with this is that they are in less effective calibers , 32 or 380 usually, and more importantly, are very difficult to hit very well with past about 7-8 yards.

On the other end of the spectrum is Clint Smith from the Thunder Ranch, who says "Guns should not be confortable, they should be comforting". He advocates carrying full sized 1911´s or big revolvers. So what he carries is not comfortable but much more effective.

So there lies the delima.

I have been struggling with this as well, deliberating each side of the issue. But here is sort of what I have decided on.

For me personally, I am leaning on toward the middle ground of the smaller or mid sized 9mm´s, which give me reasonable comfort with IWB or OWB carry, plus much more effective and capable than the small pocket pistols.


Whatever method you select, make sure you can live with the comfort factor so you will always carry as you may need it when you will least expect it. If you are comfortable carrying the big irons, great. If you are only comfortable carrying the small pocket pistols, great - just practice and understand their limitations.