{"id":92325,"date":"2019-06-10T19:56:02","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T19:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/10\/the-2019-gearscout-guide-to-modern-concealed-carry-pistols-and-holsters\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T09:41:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T09:41:01","slug":"the-2019-gearscout-guide-to-modern-concealed-carry-pistols-and-holsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/skillz\/2019\/06\/10\/the-2019-gearscout-guide-to-modern-concealed-carry-pistols-and-holsters\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2019 GearScout guide to modern concealed carry pistols and holsters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Having carried a concealed handgun<\/a> daily since the early 1980s it is anything but \u201cconvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, it\u2019s a never-ending compromise with an ever-growing set of conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You must constantly choose between availability, convenience, comfort, usability, practicality, and effectiveness \u2014 and in many cases affordability. Early on that was easy, for the most part there was no convenience, nothing was comfortable or affordable, and anything effective was impractical with limited availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, times have changed! At no time in my three plus decades carrying a pistol have there been more choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may be the industry\u2019s crowning achievement in providing users what they need. In a sea of mostly useless range toys, these days the firearms industry provides a huge selection of practical, useful, effective and affordable concealed carry options meeting just about anyone\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Availability<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every major manufacturer offers a complete line of pistols designed specifically for concealed carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the key factors critical to every day carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Capacity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Comfort of carry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Practicality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Usability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Proven calibers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everything from slim-line pistols with 8-10 rounds, to usable compacts carrying 12-15 rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glock\u2019s<\/a> slimline G43X and G48<\/a> offer an easily concealable 10+1 handgun with proven reliability and capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sig Sauer\u2019s P365<\/a> has shaken this industry offering one of the smallest 10 round sub-compacts<\/a> available. Small, light, yet capable of hard use, it is a sub-compact that shoots like a compact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mossberg just introduced its MC1SC<\/a> \u2014 a slim 9mm holding 7+1 rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Springfield Armory\u2019s XD-E<\/a> provides comfortable carry and reliable operation in both 9mm and 45ACP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith and Wesson\u2019s M&P series<\/a> offers several choices along with their tried and true revolvers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kimber not only offers 1911s <\/a>but an excellent revolver in their K6<\/a> and their latest Micro-9.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCCY offers simple 9mm and .380 ACP<\/a> pistols built to the highest standards for an incredibly affordable price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heckler and Koch<\/a>, Walther<\/a>, Ruger<\/a>, Kahr<\/a>, and several others offer easily concealed, reliable, effective, and usable compact and sub-compact<\/a> handguns that meet any need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affordability<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concealed carry pistols<\/a> have never been as affordable. Some of the very best sub-compacts retail in the $500.00 price range, in some cases less. Many have night sights<\/a>, even machining for an MRDS <\/a>(Micro Red Dost Sight).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most contain two magazines, perfect for concealed carry. You can spend more for sure, but you really don\u2019t have to, just not the case even ten years ago. Ruger LC and EC line<\/a> offers some of the most popular and affordable models from $250.00 to $350.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCCY\u2019s CPX series <\/a>offer unparalleled CNC machining and quality of construction for under $300.00. Affordable used to mean cheap, unreliable, or practically unusable, not so today and it just seems to get better each and every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes some time to work through the myriad of choices, but the market is littered with high quality affordable handguns for concealed carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do I choose?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s \u201cbest\u201d for you may not be the same for others. The most critical part in the decision making process is honesty about what you will carry, why you need it, and what you need it to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bottom line, keep it real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you looking for simple self-defense<\/a>, or will you be intervening in outside events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most pure self-defense encounters have low round counts making capacity less critical. But if you\u2019re off duty or are inclined to \u201cfight\u201d that aggressor, things change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you protecting yourself, or you and a large family? How vulnerable are you to the need for protection?<\/p>\n\n\n\n