Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we took a look at some classy carry options for Christmas. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check out last week’s fun article. This week, I want to take a look at another topic not everyone talks about. With the recent trend in guns becoming smaller and now becoming slightly larger, there are a few very good reasons for this trend which I would love to look at closer. This isn’t by chance but there are a few specific reasons why bigger is sometimes better. Let’s take a closer look at why smaller guns aren’t always better.

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• Concealed Carry Corner: The Good and Bad of Winter Carry
• Concealed Carry Corner: Everyday Carry Examples
• Concealed Carry Corner: Most Overlooked Problems With Carry Guns

Three Points of Contact

When it comes to carrying a concealed firearm, there are a few hidden secrets that make carrying a gun more comfortable for a longer period. Most really small guns on the market like the Glock 43, SIG P365 and Kahr Arms PM9 are so small they don’t often contact the body at three points when holstered on your hip. They will only be touching on the pistol’s grip and belt line. Larger firearms like the Glock 48, Glock 19, and SIG P365 XL have three points of contact which include, the muzzle, belt line, and frame. Having three distinct points of contact allows for less movement and the slightly longer length allows the gun to sit parallel to the body instead of digging into your hip like smaller guns can sometimes do.

The three points of contact really start to come into play when you sit for a longer period of time or find yourself moving more. The common misconception in the gun community is the idea that smaller firearms are always easier to carry compared to larger firearms and that is untrue to an extent. Smaller firearms will be easier to carrier yes, but when it comes to midsize versus micro-sized firearms, I have found it easier to carry all day comfortably with something like a Glock 19 or Glock 48 rather than a small SIG P365 or Kahr Arms PM9 on the hip.

Ease Of Use

One of the biggest disadvantages when it comes to ultra-small carry guns is their recoil and they are notorious for being difficult to shoot in a self-defense situation. If you bump up even from a Glock 43 to something like a 43X, it will become easier to control when firing quickly as a result of the slightly longer frame. Having more real estate gives the concealed carrier more purchase on the firearm allowing for better recoil mitigation which leads to faster follow-up shots. Having a slightly larger gun just doesn’t mean faster follow-up shots though. Being able to have a slightly longer grip allows someone to find the firearm and draw more effectively every time since there’s more material there to hold onto.

A slightly longer slide means your sight radius is slightly better for more accurate shots if you find yourself in a mall or other public area shooting situation where it’s not out of the realm to be forced to shoot 40-50 yards away. Being more confident in your carry gun allows you to react more naturally since the larger frame allows for easier draw than something with a smaller grip. Most people will say a micro-style firearm is lighter and just makes for an easier daily carry, but having something slightly larger makes you not only more comfortable but more effective as well.

Practice and Practicality

One of the biggest reasons why I carry a slightly larger firearm than one of the ultra-compact offerings is the fact it’s much easier to practice at the range with a larger firearm without dealing with excessive recoil and trying to control a micro handgun at the range. Having something slightly larger not only allows you to shoot more effectively, but since it’s easier to handle most people will feel more inclined to shoot their carry gun more which gives the shooter the option to become more proficient over time.

One of the biggest issues I have seen in the gun community is people going to the range with full-size handguns they shoot at the range and then carry something smaller which they don’t shoot near as much. Having a slightly larger firearm allows you to not only have more gun to grip but also allows you to take it to the range and comfortably practice with it. Since I started carrying my Glock 48, I can confidently say I have practiced more with it than any other carry gun of mine because it’s a slimmer version of the Glock 19 and I can fire it like a larger firearm I shoot at the range. This may be a new concept for some of you but it’s well worth giving it a shot.

Overall Thoughts

For the vast majority of new concealed carriers, the idea that smaller guns are always better usually is thought of as fact. The reality of the situation is a slightly larger gun will not only be more comfortable to carry for a long period of time due to the three points of contact but it’s also easier to control and train with. I have mentioned a few of my favorite firearms to carry based on the reasons I talked about earlier.

What do you guys prefer to carry and do you think a slightly larger firearm is easier than the really small option? Let me know what your thoughts are down 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 in another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

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