Concealed carry~what should he pick?

As others have suggested... a small revolver in 38 or 357 or 9mm. Sure, they take a bit of practice, but the practice is focused on the trigger --- there's no need to learn how to clear jams, FTF, FTE, stovepipes, etc. Sure, the lightweight revolvers kick, so get a heavier gun or deal with it - it's not something you're going to take to the range and go through hundreds of rounds. Sure, you've only got 5 or 6 shots instead of 15+, but a revolver can be reloaded quickly with a bit of practice. Honestly, if an "average Joe" with little handgun experience finds himself in a situation where 6 shots isn't enough..... he's in waaaaay over his head.

I'm more of an auto guy, and would have to say that I enjoy shooting autos more than wheelguns. If I was in a bad neighbourhood and/or an LEO on duty, I'd want as much firepower as I could get.

But the OP is asking about a CCW for an inexperienced shooter (that will take training), with the potential of having to use the gun in a stressful situation. The simplicity and reliability of a revolver is hard to beat in this instance.
 
22lrguy, for your brothers situation, ie. non-enthusiast first time shooter, I suggest a hammerless J frame S&W in .38spl.

If he cannot learn to shoot it well, he can always try a Glock 19. Or a 26 if he is comfortable with the short grip.
 
In my experience - and I started with revolvers - revolvers are LESS reliable and MORE complicated than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Revolvers need to cleaned regularly, or they don't work. Efficient manipulation of the revolver requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Stoppages in a revolver often take MORE time, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Accurate marksmanship with a small-frame revolver trigger requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Anyone making the generalization that a revolver offers "simplicity and reliability" (over a Glock) doesn't know what he's talking about. The revolver does have a place; it is well-suited to a backup gun (BUG) role, as 'back-up' to a 'primary' quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Even professional users employ the revolver in the BUG role. The revolver in a primary role, however, is a losing proposition.
 
Having shot both full frame pistols like the 226 on down to some the of the smallest conceal guns like the G43, I can tell you that the more concealable pistols are harder to shoot. Shorter sight radius, snappier recoil.

Just cause it hasn't been said yet, why not get him to ask his instructors on his concealed carry course for their thoughts? This should further reinforce the value of getting the training, and putting him in contact with presumably knowledgeable people.
 
.22LRGUY said:
.. My brother lives/works in the southern US in a state where he can apply for concealed carry. Other than handling (not firing) some handguns in a few shops down there, he has no experience shooting them. However, he has himself convinced that he needs one, and is looking into training courses to make sure he'll be able to use the thing safely...
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Well, you'll get a lot of opinions here on CGN, but 98% will be from people with no CCW experience, although a few have CCW permits for the US. We're pretty much armchair experts here. The advice you get won't likely be wrong, but he should start reading the CCW sections of the S&W Forum, 1911 Forum and other US-run websites like Defensivecarry. (And even there, there are lots of divergent opinions!) There are DVDs by Clint Smith (of Thunder Ranch) and books & articles by Massad Ayoob, etc. Surely there must be some NRA-sponsored training courses in his area which could give him solid advice from people who have first-hand experience. Some have even been unfortunate enough to draw or use their weapon.

Your advice to "get proper training" is spot on. As Jeff Cooper said, "Having a gun doesn't make you armed any more than having a guitar makes you a musician." From what I've read, the general consensus is that your ability with whatever you decide to carry is ultimately more important than the gun itself. (There's a current thread on the CCW section of the S&W Forum entitled "Do any but old guys EDC revolvers?" or something like that. Quite a few feel adequately armed with a .38.)
 
I carry an LCP for pocket carry and a S&W m&p40c for the rest of the time.

Sigs may be nice range pistols but they're useless as a carry gun IMO. Even the sig p225 is a single stack and larger than a Glock 19.

Skip revolvers unless you're willing to die if you can't resolve the threat in 5 rounds. Even my LCP holds 7 and I can reload much faster.
 
Wendell said:
In my experience - and I started with revolvers - revolvers are LESS reliable and MORE complicated than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Revolvers need to cleaned regularly, or they don't work. Efficient manipulation of the revolver requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Stoppages in a revolver often take MORE time, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Accurate marksmanship with a small-frame revolver trigger requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Anyone making the generalization that a revolver offers "simplicity and reliability" (over a Glock) doesn't know what he's talking about. The revolver does have a place; it is well-suited to a backup gun (BUG) role, as 'back-up' to a 'primary' quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Even professional users employ the revolver in the BUG role. The revolver in a primary role, however, is a losing proposition.
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I don't know how I missed this. Pretty much sums up my thoughts on revolvers.
 
mudgunner49 said:
Bad idea. Great to carry, not so great to shoot, either in practice or for real. I've talked to more than a few guys and girls who have been in "for real, putting metal in to meat" gunfights, and not one of them ever said "I wish I had a smaller gun that held less rounds". Just getting marginally competent with a J requires some serious effort, let alone maintaining those skills - a G19 is exponentially easier to shoot well, less abusive and there is good market support for it (holsters, mags, ammo, sights, etc).

Now if you're the reincarnation of Jelly Bryce and can knock plates at 25m all day long under time and never miss?? Carry on...
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I owned a model 60 years ago, along with some now 12-6 prohibs. I had no difficulty shooting it well. It just wasn't that difficult if you learned the fundamentals of shooting a handgun first. Just don't use the cylinder release as a thumbrest. (ouch)
Also, most civilians carrying a handgun for self protection aren't going to get into an extended firefight with multiple magazine changes, except in bad movies.
Most likely they will be firing a few rounds at close range. Also, with a couple of quick loaders in your pocket, you won't run out of ammunition.
If you don't settle the matter with 5 rounds, you will probably be laying on the ground bleeding or dead, even if you still have rounds in the magazine of your high capacity autoloader.
You are defending yourself, not fighting a battle, despite what the Glock apostles may preach.
 
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I agree with Wendell, Cameron and Cadgo. I would never want to have to conceal my P226 or 1911 (even a Commander - although I know dudes who do) down south in the summer...I travel stateside monthly and while I don't always carry, when I do it's either a G19 (warm weather) or a G22 (cooler weather). Never have issues printing since I picked up a quality holster (Alien Gear Cloak Tuck in case you are wondering) and they are easy to train with...Picking a gun that's either too much hassle to carry or unpleasant to shoot means that your brother won't train with it as much as he should or he won't even bother carrying it...which defeats the whole purpose.
 
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cadgo said:
I carry an LCP for pocket carry and a S&W m&p40c for the rest of the time.

Sigs may be nice range pistols but they're useless as a carry gun IMO. Even the sig p225 is a single stack and larger than a Glock 19.

Skip revolvers unless you're willing to die if you can't resolve the threat in 5 rounds. Even my LCP holds 7 and I can reload much faster.
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LCP is a fun little gun. I got to shoot a colleagues a few times and once you get used to the size, they are neat. He has the Lasermax model...Great feature, especially for point shooting. If only I could, I'd get one in a heartbeat.
 
Wendell said:
In my experience - and I started with revolvers - revolvers are LESS reliable and MORE complicated than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Revolvers need to cleaned regularly, or they don't work. Efficient manipulation of the revolver requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Stoppages in a revolver often take MORE time, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Accurate marksmanship with a small-frame revolver trigger requires MORE practice, not less, than a quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Anyone making the generalization that a revolver offers "simplicity and reliability" (over a Glock) doesn't know what he's talking about. The revolver does have a place; it is well-suited to a backup gun (BUG) role, as 'back-up' to a 'primary' quality safe-action/DAO semi-automatic pistol. Even professional users employ the revolver in the BUG role. The revolver in a primary role, however, is a losing proposition.
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I've used revolvers for over 40 years.
I've never experienced stoppages or cylinder dragging with quality ammunition.
And, you need quality ammunition for any handgun to be reliable, including Glocks.
A DA revolver is quick, easy, and simple to shoot, and reload, if not as fast to reload with a quick loader.
But then, you are carrying it for self-defense, not combat missions or firefights.
Shooting double action takes some practice at ranges more than 10 yards, but most civilian self-defense situations will occur at lesser distances.
And certainly, whatever weapon that you choose, you will practice with it.
As for the cleaning comment, nobody is going to carry a revolver for self-defense without regular cleaning and oiling, and it would take hundreds of fired rounds to affect the operation of any good DA revolver in any case.
And nobody is going to leave any self-defense handgun uncleaned for that long.
I wouldn't suggest that Glock is less reliable than a revolver. They have proven themselves.
But I think that revolvers have become the victim of revisionist history with regards to their suitability for civilian self-defense.
 
He will probably wind up buying more than 1. So I suggest he buy one that is part of a "family" of guns. Glock and M&P come to mind.

The Glock 19 or the M&P 9 2.0 are about as big as he would want to carry. He should try the feel of both, with the small backstrap installed.

Both Glock and M&P make a smaller pistol that is excellent for CCW. He might prefer to carry the small one and have the bigger one in the house.

If he is not a gun nut who shoots once or twice a week, it is important that the function of the pistols is identical. It could be a disaster, for example, if one had a safety and one did not.

The gun should be light and easy to carry. The gun left at home is NFG.
 
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