Handgun selection?

the best handgun for concealed carry is the one that you have trained the most with, a handgun is only as effective as the user, maintaining concealment, a quick draw and above all making controlled well placed shots under pressure are not things that just anybody can do without practice, that being said.

as for concealment, that depends on how well your body can hide a handgun, generally full sized frames (handguns) are easier to handle and make accurate shots with, but dont hide easy. the hard part is finding the balance between the two, find the largest size and best carry method that your body can comfortably conceal.

the single stack 1911's actually conceal very well for most people, the Para wart-hogs are a double stack compact 1911 that actually hide well also.

the trouble with .40s is that most are double stacks and are therefore wide making them a little more difficult to conceal, the SIG P239 being the most notable exception to this, the .40 (K40,P40,PM40,CW40) kahrs are very concealable however most people cant handle the recoil and as a result shooter error causes them to be unreliable.

if you happen to be one of those people who find it easy to conceal just about anything then you have lots of options, I'd say anything from sig sauer, h&k, springfield xd

if your willing to carry a 9mm there also alot more options available.

Handguns are not easy to shoot well. The ability to consistently put bullets into a target quickly and in the places which will stop an attacker is a skill that requires a lot of practice. Too many people have the notion that a pistol is a kind of magical talisman and the user need only take it out and wave it around and the problem will magically disappear. Nothing could be further from the truth. A gun brandished at the wrong time and without the fighting skills necessary to employ it effectively will make a whole bunch of new problems, including getting you killed or arrested and charged with some very serious crimes. Hence, making the decision to carry a gun should be made only with the commitment to practice and learn.

that being said I prefer a Para Ordanance Model P14 .45 cal

There isn't really a best handgun for concealed carry, but there are many really good ones. Go to a range which hosts the concealed carry classes and talk to the instructor. Then rent and try several different models. You will probably find one which fits your hand and shoots best for you. Talk to the instructor again and ask him/her about the most common methods and holsters. Where you are most comfortable with carrying the gun makes a huge difference in the type you will want. The advice about how slim the gun is was very good. That is a big deal when carrying inside the waist.

IMNSHO, the best serious concealment handguns are small frame revolvers from Smith & Wesson, chambered for either .38 S&W SPL or .357 Magnum.

If this is your first handgun purchase, you need to get a .22 LR pistol or revolver to learn how to handle and shoot a handgun.

Doc

a .45 is the best because it has a bigger punch but depending on your gun, say a Colt 1911, itll hold less.

a .40 is pretty gun and has a bigger capacity.

i would suggest either an XD or a Judge by Taurus the Judge can either shoot five .45 or .410. its a five shot revolver so u could have 3 .45 shell and 2 .410 shot shells

id perfer the Judge but find a gun u lik and see it u can test fire it to get a feel of it

I like the looks of the newest Para Ordnance sub-compact 45's.

You'll want a handgun that...

-- fits you like a proverbial glove.

-- is comfortable to wear on your person 24 hrs. a day.

-- provides all the capabilities you need and want.

-- satisfies all your desires for ergonomics and style.

Try several makes and models for comparison.

The selection will be your personal choice.

hey buddy, it's whatever works for you. xd's are hit or miss let me tell you. i'm kind of a fan of glocks. tons of accessories and holsters are available for the glock line. go to your local gun shop, tell them what you need and get a good look at all the guns. the one that fits your needs is the one you want. i also recommend a laser sight. and a spare holster for spare mags. don't be afraid to pay a high price for the gun that you want, because your life is worth every penny of it.

I love the Springfield XD models, i own the XD-9, XD-40 and the XD- .45 acp, none of them have ever failed me.