Anything Wrong With Short Barrel Handguns?

[rkt88edmo]

That is not quite it, see the part about the longer sight radius. Using the same shooter, better accuracy will be obtained by the gun with the longer sight radius.

[insin]

I see. gracias

[Turbinator]

Do you need to CCW? If so, a smaller handgun may be the only way to go. Weight and concealability play a big role here, and the smaller compact guns win over every time, IMHO.

For range trips only, probably a longer barreled gun will do better, for reasons other posters have already stated.

Personally, I'm a big fan of compacts, though, so I tend to gravitate towards them even though I don't CCW.

Turby

[VeryCoolCat]

If you want to get a compact gun... many guns have "compact" counter-parts. the HK USP has a comapct version also.

Though if your using it for home/target you might want to stick witha slightly longer barreled gun. I don't mean massively long, but average length so that way the hp bullets have the force to expand on impact.

[maxicon]

I've got a mix of big and small guns, 'cuz I like variety, and each is good for different purposes.

As others say, bigger guns are great for the range and for home defense, where concealability matters less than control and accuracy. For concealed carry, you have to trade off size for control.

If there's ever a chance you'd have to carry concealed, you want something that would work for that, and you want to have practiced with it to improve control, and put a bunch of rounds through it to prove reliability.

I make myself take a compact to nearly every range session to keep in practice, and I wear them around the house in various types of holsters - IWB, OWB, shoulder, pocket, etc - just to get used to them. It's amazing how much difference a few ounces and inches makes.

I may never need them, but if the S ever HTF and I need something discreet, I'm planning on being prepared. Plus, it's a good excuse to get more guns'n'gear!

max

[Greg-Dawg]

Short barrel guns are good for one thing: Concealability.

Good luck with them in CA.

I'd try out different ones if I was you. Long, short, full, mid size guns and you be the judge.

Everyone has valid points here. Especially for longer barrels being more accurate since the sights are well spaced therefore easy on the eyes...especially when you get older.

I purchased a Glock 35. Before buying it, I tried out different guns in different styles and the G35 was the best one for me. Where ever I aimed at, there was a nice hole through it.

[ohsmily]

Short barrel guns are good for one thing: Concealability.

Good luck with them in CA.

CCWs are easy to get in some CA counties.

[mike100]

shoot a full size 1911 (5 inch bbl) and you'll come to like the looks of the bigger gun. Even a 4.25" commander 1911 is a snappier shooter. The 5 " gov't model is handgun zen. A good 4" 357 magnum is also a classic.

I've been infatuated with the HK P7M8 which is a semi compact gun that shoots like a longer one.

[Adog5]

Here's some practical advice for Glocks:

If you need to hide the gun in a small space, then go with the sub-compact glock.

If the gun will be used for home defense and is kept near you in your house, then get the compact model. First of all, I believe having a flash light attached to my handgun, cause when I hear something in the middle of the night, I'm not going to fumble for two things (a gun and a light). Also, I want a free hand to open doors...etc. The sub-compact Glocks do not have an accessories rail. Secondly, having the pinky there should be more stable and you can put a larger magazine capacity into it without making it feel weird (since on the subcompact you can also stick a larger magazine, but the pinky is not stable). I know the legal limit for mags are 10, so if you have a caliber bigger than 9mm, on you will have more rounds in the Compact than Sub-Compact.

I wouldn't worry about accuracy, easier to aim, etc. These are very small points in the reality. Glocks are very accurate...I can put the bullets through a quarter sized hole consistently (at 7 yards), whether I'm using a compact or sub-compact. In terms of recoil, and velocity of the bullet... don't worry about it. Just make sure you go to the shooting range and practice with both till you're good. In most home defense situations, you are not going to be shooting long distances.

I suggest the .40 cal glocks as a good balance between power and # of rounds (especially if you have pre-ban mags for it).

[luvtolean]

Expert pistol competitors use the longest barrelled guns they can to hit targets in competition.

This is to perform as well as possible, under much less stress than fighting for your life.

There is absolutely no good reason to buy a less than full size service style pistol or revolver for home defense.

The only good reason for a short barrelled pistol is the modern reality of making people nervous with openly carried guns, so we must hide them.

When was the last time you saw a open carrying cop screwing around with a compact pistol as their primary arm?