Compact vs Subcompact vs Micro

[1911cat]

I'm curious to see on what kind of applications determines the size of the gun.

[sigfan91]

Where and how you want to hide the gun.

[Kowan]

Summer wear vs. Winter/fall.

[JJE]

For fun at the range, anything goes: 22 pistols with 5" to 7" barrels, 3-lb revolvers, full-size service pistols.

However, for carry I want the smallest gun that shoots at least a 380 cartridge, that can accommodate a standard two-handed grip, that has replaceable sights (so that I can install something like the XS express/big dot combination), and that is going to be 100% reliable out of the box. Currently, for me that's the Glock 26. However, it looks as if the Glock 42 380 may also satisfy these requirements while being much thinner than the G26. I'm going to save my nickels and dimes and hopefully pick one up this year. The reduction in magazine capacity for the 42 compared to the 26 is not a big factor to me.

Although they would be convenient to carry, I'm not interested in any gun that's so small that it's painful to shoot or that is so small that I can't form a solid two-handed grip.

[m850168]

I'm in the "carry the largest gun you can stand" camp, with the CA modification that anything over 10+1 capacity is useless.

If you find yourself needing a pistol, you're going to want a big, easy to shoot pistol. But a tiny, painful to shoot pistol will be better than nothing. If you're comfortable carrying a 5" 1911 that's great, but if you can only bear to carry a NAA .22 LR revolver it's better than nothing.

[Sundevil36]

my G26 is amazingly light, but I also spent a decent amount on a good belt/holster combo that fits my needs. I have a police cross-hatched belt at 1.75" and a desantis cozy partner. Carry at 4 o'clock and its invisible in almost any pants or shorts with belt loops. I don't carry when I'm wearing workout shorts, as I haven't found a good combo for changing into/out of either set of clothes at the gym and having to disarm discreetly in a locker room. other than that I carry most of the time. Also, I have tested out tuckable holsters, all I can say is not a fan. something about them doesn't sit right with me, and Wile I had one I was always worried that if I had to use it, my shirt would somehow get caught and that hang-up could be all the difference. Not to bash tuckables, I can only report my experiences.

[ja308]

For fun at the range, anything goes: 22 pistols with 5" to 7" barrels, 3-lb revolvers, full-size service pistols.

However, for carry I want the smallest gun that shoots at least a 380 cartridge, that can accommodate a standard two-handed grip, that has replaceable sights (so that I can install something like the XS express/big dot combination), and that is going to be 100% reliable out of the box. Currently, for me that's the Glock 26. However, it looks as if the Glock 42 380 may also satisfy these requirements while being much thinner than the G26. I'm going to save my nickels and dimes and hopefully pick one up this year. The reduction in magazine capacity for the 42 compared to the 26 is not a big factor to me.

Although they would be convenient to carry, I'm not interested in any gun that's so small that it's painful to shoot or that is so small that I can't form a solid two-handed grip.

I could be wrong but I dont think the Glock 26 is available in california.
That leaves a revolver or just a couple self loaders,no striker fired models for us Californians.

I personally like the 5 shot titanium 2inch in 38 special.
With lots of dry fire practice before hand,its accurate out to 200 yards and has been completely reliable for range practice.
This is my prefered carry gun when Im in a state that recognises my free state CCW.

[JJE]

I got my Gen 3 Glock 26 when I still lived in CA, and I hadn't heard that Glock had dropped the Gen 3's in CA. I hope they will continue to carry them - it's a huge market and very popular gun. The 42/43 and all the Gen 4's are a different matter - I believe they are not rosterable because they lack the required "safety" features.

[CSTactical]

I try to carry the biggest gun I can conceal well which is usually a Glock 19 (Compact), though sometimes a Glock 26 (Sub-Compact) conceals slightly easier depending on my clothing and the Glock 43 (I guess it's a micro?) is for the times I may pocket carry or if I'm not wearing a belt and the metal clip on the holster attaches to my shorts or sweats.

And yes a plain Gen 3 Glock 26 is on the roster.

[solipsism]

I'm in the "carry the largest gun you can stand" camp

Echoing this. I wear jeans and t-shirts during the summer and still comfortably carry a 19.

[IVC]

The best way to appreciate the difference is to shoot the different types of guns.

You'll quickly notice that small guns are no fun at the range for any prolonged shooting - they have more felt recoil, they are harder to hold, they are inherently less accurate due to shorter barrels, they are harder to shoot well and there is nothing where they excel over larger guns (at the range, remember).

So, if the small gun is inferior at every aspect of shooting (at the range), there must be some place where it is superior and that turns out to be concealed carry (some are also a fun novelty).

When deciding on concealed carry, you are deciding on the tradeoff between how much you dislike shooting the small gun at the range vs. how hard it is to conceal a larger gun.

[003]

It is my observation that far too much weight is given to the ability to conceal as opposed to being able to effectively “use” the gun if ever needed. There are many guns on the market today that are relatively easy to conceal. From my perspective, I would never carry a gun smaller than those considered “mid-size”, similar in size to a Glock 19.

For those that carry a gun for personal protection, ask yourself if you would really be 100% comfortable using an ultra-small pistol to defend yourself or a loved one against 1-2 armed attackers. If not then you need to consider a different gun.

[Mopar Guy]

I suppose it totally depends on the user. The smaller the hand gun, the easier to conceal and possibly harder to shoot.

For me, my G30s conceals fine. Has nice firepower, fits my hands with the grip perfectly. Yet, I usually carry a 9mm G26. It is a little smaller, still has nice firepower and carries 10 rounds. If it is winter, I would use my G17. That one I have logged lots of training time and is the most comfortable weapon I own. I suppose a 5 shot revolver would be fine.

It really depends on what you need a pistol for. Lots of uses, lots of options, lots of platforms. Home defense and CCW are different. Target shooting is different.

[Cokebottle]

I could be wrong but I dont think the Glock 26 is available in california.
That leaves a revolver or just a couple self loaders,no striker fired models for us Californians.

Most of the Gen-3 Glock line is still available.

The G36 has been removed recently, but we can still get:
17/17OD, 19/19OD, 20SF, 21C/21SF, 22/22OD, 23/23OD, 26/26OD, 27/27OD, 29, 30SF, 34, and 35/35OD

S&W Shield 9/40, Kahr, and a bunch of other striker-fired are still available.

[lonehousewife]

Most of the Gen-3 Glock line is still available.

The G36 has been removed recently, but we can still get:
17/17OD, 19/19OD, 20SF, 21C/21SF, 22/22OD, 23/23OD, 26/26OD, 27/27OD, 29, 30SF, 34, and 35/35OD

You're referring to the gen 3 Glock 36, correct?


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