I am asked daily on what is the bet handgun for concealed carry... My answer is my opinion with a little bit reason and common sense thrown in there too. Hand guns and holsters flood the market.
Pancake Holsters, Paddle Holsters, 0 Bulk Holsters, Hybrid Holsters, Side Draw, Cross Draw, Shoulder Holsters, etc... then there are the pistols: Semi, Revolver, Double Action, Single Action, Double/Single Action, Hammer Fired, Striker Fired, Double Stack, Single Stack, Compact, Sub-Compact... This can be very daunting to a first tie pistol buyer. Now here is my opinion.
There are two factors to consider; the type of gun and the holster it will be carried in. Let's start with the holster. Men and women may carry differently, in fact everybody will carry differently. First you choose for comfort, where on your body can your put a handgun that it doesn't impede your daily life. Belt, Horizontal Shoulder, In-the-Pant (IP), Belly Band, and Bra holster are some of the more common styles (We will get to WHY NOT TO CARRY A GUN IN YOUR PURSE later). Most IP and Belt holster point to the ground, a generally safe direction. H. Shoulder, Bra, and B. Band Holster typically point at your self or everybody around you. This is an important factor that most people do not take into account.
Depending on the style, comfort, and orientation of the holster you need to choose a pistol accordingly... Now we are going to Striker vs. Hammer fired and Double vs. Single action, Striker vs. Hammer fired, and how they relate to how you want to carry your concealed handgun.
Definition: Double action (DA) refers to any gun which can be cocked and fired by a single pull of the trigger. This term most often refers to handguns (pistols and revolvers), but properly applies to any gun that works the same way.
When a double action gun is uncocked and loaded, it may be fired by pulling the trigger. The trigger usually travels a good ways in double action, and during its travel it is cocking the hammer (moving it backwards against spring tension). When the hammer reaches a point far enough back in its travel, it is released and allowed to fall, thus firing the gun.
Definition: Single action (SA) refers to any firearm that must be manually cocked before each shot. In such guns, the trigger performs a single function (firing the gun), thus the "single" in the name.
Single action most often refers to handguns, but may also refer to long guns (rifles and shotguns) as well.
Most firearms of single action design are revolvers, but some semi-automatic pistols fit the bill, such as the Colt 1911, which must be manually cocked before the first shot may be fired, and is automatically cocked for successive shots. Such pistols are sometimes referred to as SAO, meaning "single action only."
** Definitions by Russell Chastain (Hunting Expert) www.about.com
Striker vs. Hammer Fired
In a hammer-fired pistol the firing-pin spring is located in front of the firing-pin and holds the firing-pin to the rear. When the hammer strikes the firing-pin the firing-pin is driven forward into the primer and then rebounds to the rear.
A striker is similar to a firing-pin with the exception of the spring being located in back of the striker and forcing it to the front. When the pistol is cocked the sear holds the striker in a rearward position. When the pistol is fired the sear releases the striker, which flies forward under the impetus of its spring and strikes the primer.
** by HammerBite @ The Firing Line
Blah, Blah, Blah... I know... But this next part is the point i want to make.
A striker fired pistol (Glock, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, FNS to name a few) is always cocked and ready to fire. Meaning if your pistol is in a H. Shoulder holster it is loaded and cocked and pointed at the person behind you. In a Belly or Bra holster you re pointing a loaded and cocked pistol at yourself. The sear holds the striker back , this a mechanical device that can fail. Failure is unlikely but possible. More probable is that the carrier can shoot themself while removing, moving, or adjusting the holster. Recently there was an unfortunate story of a woman who fatally shot herself in the eye while adjusting a bra holster. Tragic, but preventable... Striker fired pistols, IN MY OPINION, should always be carried muzzle down. Unless the carrier chooses to carry without a round in the chamber (I have an opinion about that too...).
If you choose to carry in a pistol in a holster does not aim the muzzle at the ground then choose a hammer fired pistol. They are available in SAO, DAO, and SA/DA (Beretta PX4 Storm, Sig Sauer P Series, SCCY CPX, 1911 Styled are a few examples). When the hammer is at rest the firearm is NOT cocked and is NOT ready to fire. That coupled with a little bit of "Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot" should keep you and everybody around you safe.
This probably raises for questions then answers BUT that is a good thing. Ask the questions! Local Rifle & Pistol Clubs, Gun Shops, and Local NRA chapters and Instructors are good sources of info. Remember that these are opinions, all you can do is make the best decision you can with the information provided. OH! PURSES!!! If you have another minute here is another thought...
I was a manager in several local Walmart Stores and have responded to many stolen purse calls. I noticed that purse discipline, not absolutely, is poor at best. people walk away from them, leave them at checkouts, on top of their cars etc. just recently a woman was shot by a toddler in a Walmart while shopping. Gun in purse + kid in purse = tragic (preventable) accident. Typically keys for your car can not be found in 2 seconds in a purse (you use them several times a day), how fast can you access your hand gun that you may not have thought about in weeks, and as soon as you go for your purse in self defense (god forbid) the assaulter can separate you from your means of defense by separating you from your purse. Remember, They have a plan. You are reacting Keep It Simple. Don't put your gun in your purse. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I won't rant on this anymore, you get the idea.
If you made it this far... Thank You for your time, I hope it helps.
Dustin Walker
FFL Dealer
Reel Field Sports Owner
