The G42 is getting a lot of love, but I fear it is distracting 9mm carriers away from the best caliber they could choose. Photo: Glock
The manufacturers are in a tough spot: they’ve got last year’s trends, their competition, the engineers, their existing model lines and, last and often least, their customers all driving their next projects. Who will produce the unicorn gun that is engineered for efficiency in defensive situations, gets everyone excited, and is delivered on time, fairly priced and works reliably? Which is the, “Best Handgun?” I don’t know … but I say “Good luck!” to everyone who is trying.I have seen what I consider to be good trends from both the manufacturers and the marketplace that encompass three major themes when it comes to self-defense guns.
I am currently using the XD-S 4? 9mm as my everyday carry. I have been very impressed with it. Photo: author
BIGGER IS NOT BETTER: CARRYABILITY
When it comes to the best self defense handgun for concealed carry, neither the gun itself nor the round being loaded into it need to be the stuff of 1980s action movies or 1970s police dramas. The days of the .45 ACP and the Magnum revolver being the image of defensive handguns are gone. The new crop of first-time gun owners, the number of women obtaining concealed-carry permits, and the incredible amount of information and education available to the gun-buying public can all be credited with establishing the 9mm as the most preferred personal defense caliber and the increased interest in mid-sized and compact single-stack firearms. The person who carries regularly today is very likely not a life-long gun enthusiast. They may only own one gun for a specific purpose: personal defense. They aren’t shooting on the weekends with their family, they aren’t hunters, and they aren’t willing to wear a tan vest every day or otherwise dress around their gun. They want something with a high degree of what I call carryability, and slim 9mms are very carryable.
FIT IS PARAMOUNT: SHOOTABILITY OF CONCEAL CARRY HANDGUNS
Manufacturers are realizing that their guns need to fit as many types of hands as possible. Thankfully, the ego-driven days of “any gun will do, if you will do” have also passed. While that sentiment may be fundamentally true, if we get to pick the gun we’ll be using days, months or even years in advance (and those seeking out CCW permits and training do!) of our defensive shooting, we should pick a gun that fits our hand well. That means two things: smaller grips that will accommodate both small and large hands, and modular grips that can be quickly and easily adjusted to a more perfect fit for everyone.
Having taught thousands of students in thousands of classes, I can assure you that when it comes to holding a gun intuitively, small grips can be held by large hands much more easily than small hands can manage a large gun. Manufacturers have been responding not only with single-stack designs, but also with less girth in the area of the grip that is held between the thumb and index finger of the strong hand and with deeper in-cuts at the top of the back of the grip area. The XD and M&P firearms exemplify these traits and tend to fit more people well because of them. Fit is the primary driver of shootability. If a gun doesn’t fit a person’s hand well, they will not be able to shoot it intuitively or naturally. Their shooting will be forced and mechanical, which means their efficiency will suffer.
Unfortunately, my Glock 26L custom started having reliability issues last year because the slide was damaged. The gun wouldn’t lock open anymore on an empty mag, so I retired it. Now I’m on a quest for the perfect single stack with the same number of rounds. Photo: author
There is no replacement for reliability from the best handgun
People are making excuses for their guns less and less often … and this is critical. If a gun isn’t reliable, you shouldn’t be carrying it for personal defense. With my students, I often make the comparison between guns and cars. People generally need their cars everyday. People rely on their cars to get them to work, to move their families around, and to meet their obligations. Cars must be reliable and functional. You may want a 1968 Corvette Stingray, but if you live in New Hampshire and have a family of four, there is no way you will have that car as your primary vehicle.
Thankfully, we don’t need our guns every day, but that means people can buy and carry eccentric choices that they “like,” and they’ll probably never have to confront their illogical fetish-driven decision. But as I mentioned earlier, fewer and fewer people carrying guns for self-defense are gun collectors today. They aren’t looking for something to impress their friends with during Open Carry Day at Cracker Barrel or to post cool pictures of on Instagram… they just want a reliable tool they can have at the ready to protect themselves and their families with.
Tell me again why S&W took a huge leap backward with the Shield model by putting a hard-to-use manual safety lever on it? Photo: Smith & Wesson
GOOD OR GREAT CONCEALED CARRY HANDGUNS DESIGNS
A plethora of firearm designs do a good job of meeting the needs of those interested in personal defense. There are a handful that I consider great choices. For years, I’ve consistently recommended three to those looking for an efficient defensive handgun: Glock, M&P, and the Springfield XD series. All those brands have entered the single-stack arena in the last couple of years. Most people agree that Glock missed the mark by going .380 instead of 9mm. As much as people love the M&P Shield, I think that their inclusion of an almost-impossible-to-use-efficiently manual safety was a fail. Springfield faltered with an early recall of the 9mm XD-S, but has now rallied to offer what I think is the best single stack from the three major manufacturers of modern striker-fired defensive handguns: the XD-S 4? model. I think the trend will continue and we’ll see more great options for those looking for guns with the right combination of reliability, shootability and carryability.
MY PERFECT SELF-DEFENSIVE CARRY GUN
Who’s going to come out with the perfect defensive carry gun? What will it look like? When will it get here? I don’t know, but if I get to vote, here’s what I want:
To date, exactly zero manufacturers have asked to ship defensive guns with our I.C.E. Claw Sights… maybe someday? Photo: author
- 10+1 round single-stack 9mm defensive pistol
- Striker fired
- No manual safety (outside of trigger block and possibly a grip safety)
- Low bore height relative to hand
- 4- to 5-inch barrel
- Magazine must extend beyond mag well and not contact hand during standard firing with proper grip
- Large ejection port
- Non-sloped stock sights with wide rear notch (.180) and square painted front (.140) … I.C.E. Claws perhaps?
- Trigger pull around five pounds
- First shot trigger travel of .4-.6 inch, little over-travel and relatively short reset
- Ambidextrous mag release (or easily switchable by user)
- Aggressive rear slide serrations
- Rounded front of trigger guard
- Tapered leading edge of slide at muzzle
- Simple take-down and minimal number of fieldstripped parts
I think that would be a nice package. If any manufacturers print this out and give it to the engineers, do me a favor and mention me in the credits, after you make sure it is actually reliable … with Winchester Defender ammunition. Also please don’t announce it until it is actually ready. Maybe we could do a chopped grip 7+1 I.C.E. Limited Edition for those who choose center-line carry?
That would be cool.
Good luck!
Kimber is severely underrated imo, one of the best carries I've had!
Ruger
I can agree with most of your article. I personally carry my favorite the Kruger Security 9 with a mag consisting 15 9 mm rounds plus 1. It is a sweet weapon very easy to fire, breakdown, clean and of coarse shoot.
I can happily agree with most of your list except, of course, the modest issue of caliber. I too have a slim little Taurus G2C offering 12 rounds of 9MM for funlicious targeting and plinking. BUT (here it comes layze an’ gemmun) for sterner stay-alive stuff puhleeze gimme my pudgy little Glock 30 and a pair of late-model earplugs. Nothin’ like the symphony of some 45 ACP to cheer a boy up, particularly with the knowledge that the aforesaid G30 can neatly remove the rusty couplings from abandoned railcars at 50 yards.
My EDC is a Sig M11 A1, or a Glock 43. I find the Federal Hydro shock 124 grn rounds are the most accurate in both pistols. I had a Glock 19 for awhile but gave it to a friend for a birthday present because he really liked the feel. I have just purchased a gen 4 G19 which should arrive shortly. going to put a big front sight on it and leave the rest stock, then practice until I can hit point of aim. The 19 and the 43 are easy to conceal and have adequate knock down power with the 124 grn bullet. I have also carried a Sig P230 which was quite comfortable and easy to conceal but my wife decided she needed it more than me. I have always believed that the best concealed carry gun is the one you shoot the most accurate with the round you wish to carry. Bullet placement is still the most important factor in stopping an attack. Thanks for all the great videos. Love PDN.
Personally, I've been carrying a Glock model 22. It's been serving me well. I choose the .40 caliber because, in my opinion, it's not too big or too small. I think if about 85% of LEO's carry them, they must be a good choice. The question one should ask themselves about which is the best CCW is; which reliable handgun can I shoot the best? It doesn't matter how pretty it is or what other people think about it. All that matters is can I depend on it, and can I run the gun well in a stressful situation! Train well, Randy
Why no mention of the Sig P320?
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Thanks for the great discussion. I am carrying the Beretta PX4 Storm compact .40 - 12 rds, but can use the large mags from the fulls size Storm. As a larger person 6'4" 250, most anything I can conceal. As a DA/SA pistol that presents need for more training. I do like the DA for the first shot. The safety on the slide needs familiarization and training. I also have a Sig 2002 pro 9mm [of course no safety] that carries easily. Your thoughts and comments would be welcome.
I think I will stay with my Ruger 9MM ..Love it ...I have had a lot of handguns but I like it best...