Why not carry a full size?

I apologize in advance, I know it’s not what you meant, but the way it’s written I immediately pictured someone literally wearing only a shirt. In that case, I don’t think many would notice printing even if you were! :rofl:

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Introducing the new, Mostly Concealed Crack Holster! And you’ll have a ball with out new Almost Concealed Magazine Holster.

I agree. I carry a full size M&P 2.0 (5" Barrel, 17rds) with a vortex venom red dot and streamlight TLR-1. I know most people will say thats way to much for EDC but Im 6’ 4" and this rig works great for me. Definitely harder to conceal but I just wear longer shirts.

I also have a smaller 4.25 barrel M&P 2.0 but I’m much happier with the 5". Its a CORE model and the ported barrel and slide make a ton of difference. I 'm not even considering glock.

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I’ve seen videos showing the difference between the G48 and G43x as far as shootability goes is negligible if not non existent.

So if that were the case, I’d just take the smaller gun.

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I picked up these, IWB but will fit almost all my different magazines


And these for my G30sf made by Amberide

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I have mag holders like that as well. They’re on Amazon for like $11 for a two pack, they fit my shield mags and my full-size mags. They’re probably not the quickest mag holders, but they are comfortable and easy to take with you wherever you go.

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Very comfortable :sunglasses:

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Living down in FL and rarely dressed in more than a T shirt and shorts, I prefer teh sub compact carry. While I have always carried Glocks I now carry the Sig 365. It comes with a 12 round clip so that is plenty of ammo for me with one in the chamber. No need to carry anything bigger as it is a comfortable gun to shoot. Stopped me from carrying my Glock 43 with only 6+1.

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I’m definitely going to invest. Thank you for the info.

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I love this one. It can handle mags with side tabs (M&P EZ and M&P 22) :muscle:

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And adjustable tension :+1:

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Sir, I carry (open-carry, since it is legal in Louisiana, and I don’t feel like getting a concealed-carry permit (I am a nuclear engineer, and filling out all those forms, especially since it is ridiculous…). Anyway, I open-carry a full-size 9mm (Beretta 92S). I have three others; I just love Berettas!

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This is a very interesting question that demands observation of different scenarios when away from home.
Although the idea of carrying a full size might give me more confidence in case there’s a gun battle to weather the storm, (especially when I’m alone) I would prefer to avoid certain things like: printing, or moving my body in such a way as to give away the thought that I’m armed (this would mean that I would have to adjust my attire for summer/winter temps, or for when I’m going to a certain place - dressing the part, and the thing I need to do is to blend in…

But say for instance, I don’t care about printing or have a .5% limited flexibility when carrying a full size (as a matter of fact, any weapon), most of the time (based on observation and tact knowledge), the badder of the bad guys will quickly scan the environment/persons. They don’t have to look at you all the time to determine this, but can look at the folks around you to see how they are reacting - to you and to them. There’s an instinct (whether it’s a gut feeling or innate sixth sense) that a threat (from their perspective) exists, and one of the first things they’ll do (if they are persistent) is adjust to deal with that threat (based on their observation on how you move your body). This only takes a few seconds. As a matter of fact, how would you know if one of their counter parts (already in the environment) has already made you out. This of course, is just an example in THIS scenario.

So now, with this intuitive knowledge, they adjust to accommodate you in their scheme, and they come up to you so quickly that you are not able to ascertain if you should unveil your your weapon or not since you don’t see them carrying or attempting to pull out a weapon (given the law (by State or not) that prohibits you from exposing your weapon unless there is/was an immediate threat of the sort). They come up to you and grab you by the belt buckle and stick their weapon in your groin ares in an instant. In a sense, I would have created myself as a target by giving away these clues. In this case, it would not be a matter of size of weapon, but more about situational awareness as well as being able to create re-direction. Magicians do this all the time in their attempts to disrupt your focus. And this is (I believe) one of the main things about a conceal carry weapon) is to create space so you can get away - not engage fully. Another aspect altogether is keeping active via exercise to control breathing, flexibility, balancing. I find skipping great to cover all three.

Before I obtained my CCW, I was, and continue to always scan my environment. Even when I’m driving on the road. All it takes is a slowness of breath and tapping into your body’s intuitive (gut instinct) before (or while) moving into say (a store). While many people think that learning jiu-jitsu is good to know, I use meditation to focus, and study how the brain works. It practically does not cost much to create a space and using my intuitive energy to feel, see, hear. Where do I park, how do I park, what is the atmosphere of the parking lot, adjoining areas, access points. This has become innate as I practice this awareness automatically, especially as I’m now carrying - or not. I may just carry a small to medium very sharp knife because all I need to do is to do enough damage to escape and USCCA provides videos of knife handling too. So, if I’m not satisfied with my feelings, I use avoidance and go somewhere else. (this is an example).

But why am I saying all this as it pertains to carrying a full size weapon? For me, the idea of conceal carry is to hide from view and lessen someone’s prying eyes probability to near zero. If I have a small, yet effective weapon that’s secure but quickly accessible with confidence without fumbling (carrying two extra mags concealed inside my waistband that won’t irritate my skin or not hitch against my clothing), I’ll have more that enough to fend off the immediate threat, while planning (if I can) to make it back to my car, using the engage and move maneuver away from the danger where I’ll have a finger printed lock box for say (a .45 handgun - loaded with 15 bullets and another 2 mags with the same count). Enough?

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I see your point, but I think most of us who have responded in favor of carrying full size have stated it does not hinder our movement or restrict us in any way. If it did so, I know I for one, wouldn’t carry full size. I’m fortunate I can and I do not have printing issues, in any season, regardless of clothing choices, therefore I don’t worry about being “made” or whatever the proper term is. Size of chosen EDC is extremely personal and varies widely.

You hit on situational awareness, which coupled with consistent quality training is the key regardless of what we’re carrying or not carrying.

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I don’t carry a full-size unless I’m in the woods simply because I’m not a big guy so the full-size versions are harder to conceal, they tend to get in the way and/or some are heavy. Even some non-full-size guns are not comfortable. For instance,I have a Walther PPK-S which is an ok size but it is just too heavy to be comfortable for me.

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I carry a Ruger 9E and have no trouble concealing it and my wife has a M&P Shield 380 that she has no problem with.

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I carry either a Kimber Ultra Carry or a Springfield XDM for the concealment attributes. Because I carry EVERYWHERE I stay away from full size firearms because they’re harder to conceal.
When i open carry I carry either a 5" S&W M&P or a Springfield OSP for the extra capacity, though I rarely open carry. It’s not always important what you carry but it’s critical that you always carry.

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Why not carry full size? Weight mainly.

For about 40 years I’ve carried firearms, military and police. A lot of my time as a cop was in detectives and / or plain clothes, so I’ve developed a certain style of concealed carry. I’ve carried full size service pistols most of the time, typically a 1911a1, .45 cal, or full size Smith & Wesson in 40 and .45 caliber, both on and off duty.

(Prior to 1990, it was revolvers only on duty, so I carried S&W mod. 19, .357 mag. on duty, 1911 off duty.)

Now in retirement, and rapidly approaching 75, I discovered a few of years ago that my hips and back could no longer take the weight of full size pistol. Being old-school, I reluctantly agreed to try a polymer striker type pistol and was able to continue carrying more comfortably. Glocks were my first experience, but they just didn’t fit my hands. I did extensive testing ( a close friend is a gunsmith ) and found that the Springfield XD pistols are a perfect fit for me. I currently favor the XDs, 9mm 3.3, mod 2, although I also have an XDm in .40 caliber waiting in the safe. For around the house, or hot weather carry, I like the Ruger LCP 2, with an Apex trigger and of course extended mags and a couple of reloads.

I have other options, but they’re mostly safe queens, along with my long guns.

Carry ammo is Hornady CD in 40 & 45, Federal HST in 9mm +p, and more Hornady CD in .380. There’s some new stuff being made by major ammo makers, but like everyone else, I can’t find any. Fortunately as a prepper, I have a good supply of duty ammo, as well as FMJ, but everything’s on hold for now.

As a believer of the Greg Ellifritz study on handgun stopping power and able to annually qualify for HR-218 (LEOSA), I feel more than adequately armed for anything I’ll likely to encounter.

Carry on, and God Bless America!

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I’m issued a Glock 17 that I have to conceal carry wearing plain clothes. In addition to that, I have to carry cuffs, two spare mags, spray, radio and a prom queen sash asking people not to shoot me because I’m a good guy.

Outside of work, I carry a 19. Every day. In the rare occasion I go to the mailbox in gym shorts, I carry either my 42 or 642. But that’s twice a month tops.

I have always preferred carrying a full-size gun. I always like to tell people “carrying a gun is comfort-ING, not necessarily comfort-ABLE”. I get why a lot of people don’t carry a full size gun. I just think the benefits are outweigh the inconvenience most of the time.

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What I don’t miss are the cuffs, radio, asp, etc, etc. I too own a 642, it was a gift from my son a few years ago. I like the gun, but I just feel uneasy limited to 5 shots, and bulky reloading gear. It was a back-up for a few years when I was working executive protection. Definitely a keeper, just don’t carry it often any more.

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