The handgun world seems bent on making the smallest micro blaster possible. Interest in concealed carry is skyrocketing, and companies are scrambling to meet consumer demand. However, I believe we should buck this micro trend when possible. I firmly believe that you should consider full-size concealed carry.

Consider Carrying a Full-Size Handgun

Now, before you have a stroke, I will make some qualifying statements. First, the laws of physics and body size are real. Some people, both men and women alike, simply cannot carry a full-size handgun and conceal it. Their frame size makes it almost impossible. However, most people are large enough to conceal a full-size pistol easily.

I will add to my qualifying statement that I understand women will have more difficulty doing this. Not because of weakness or lack of skill but rather because of wardrobe challenges. Sometimes, it is hard for women to carry full-size pistols because their clothes simply won’t conceal them. In the same breath, though, I will also say that we need to dress around our guns.

Handguns Are Difficult to Master

Handguns are one of the most difficult platforms to run. They are small, prone to accuracy affecting recoil, and have triggers that require more weight to fire than the gun weighs. If we are going to carry a handgun, we need all the help we can get. There are many benefits to carrying a full-size pistol. First, they provide a longer slide radius, which helps with accuracy. They have a larger grip surface, which allows us to maintain better control of the gun. They also tend to have higher magazine capacity, which is critical.

Another secondary benefit of a large-frame handgun is that it is easier to train with. If you have spent much time firing a sub-compact pistol with Plus+P loads, you know how unpleasant it is. I find that people who carry compact and sub-compact handguns rarely train with them. This can have lethal consequences.  Shooting is a perishable skill, and we need to stay sharp.

Find Your Balance

Clint Smith, gun guru and founder of Thunder Ranch firearms training center, famously declared that “carrying a gun is not supposed to be comfortable; it’s supposed to be comforting. There is a great deal of truth to this. The key to finding a balance is the rig you use and how you carry it. While I can drop a sub-compact pistol in my pocket and walk out the door, a full-size pistol requires more thought. I encourage you to experiment with different positions and rigs.

Full-Size Concealed Carry

Yes, I agree that any handgun is better than no handgun. But given the chance, I want to carry a gun that gives me the best chance of protecting my life or my loved ones. If you can’t carry a full-size gun, consider stepping down to a compact size. If that is too big, then we can consider going smaller. The choice is yours, and I applaud you for carrying it to begin with. My ultimate wish, though, is for you to have a gun that will help you win the day should the worst happen.