GUN CARRY WHILE RIDING
There is a question we get asked from time to time, usually by new gun holders, so we thought we’d answer it here. What is the best handgun to carry while riding? The answer is we don’t know. I know what I carry, and it’s the best one for me, but the only one that can answer that question is you. The first step in choosing a firearm should be deciding your realistic budget; keep in mind that you usually get what you pay for. Most shops have layaway, or you can save up, but I don’t think personal protection is the place to pinch pennies. Inexpensive guns tend to suffer from reliability problems and have fewer accessories like holsters, sights, and extra magazines. When carrying your weapon, a secure holster is a must; watching your shiny new handgun bouncing and sliding down the road because you stuck it in your waistband or a cheap, one-size-fits-most holster is not a good idea. Once you have decided how you will carry it and what your budget is, you can begin the search. Deciding on a caliber isn’t as important as it used to be. Modern ammunition has made that question irrelevant. There are good personal defense rounds available for almost every caliber out there, and the differences are getting smaller. You can pore over all the dimensions, statistics, and photo comparisons you want, but there’s no way to really know how the gun will feel in a holster or in your hand until you try it. I like to go to a full-service gun shop with a range onsite like our page sponsor Tennessee Gun Country. You can rent several different guns and even the same gun in different sizes and calibers and spend some quality time with each one to see which ones you like and can shoot well. Most popular handguns from quality manufacturers come in at least 3, sometimes four sizes. There are no industry standards that define a full-size, compact, subcompact, or micro gun, but here are some general guidelines. Full size, or duty guns, are usually the biggest. Usually, the easiest to shoot due to the longer sight radius, added mass to help control recoil, and increased magazine capacity. Still, because of their size, they are much harder to conceal.
BULLET POINTS Compacts are usually slightly smaller than full size in every dimension; most compact guns are just chopped-down versions of their full-size brothers. Shorter barrels and shorter grips with the smaller magazine capacities but similar in almost every way. Some even share internal parts with the larger versions. They are a little easier to conceal than full size, and they are still very easy to shoot. Sub compacts, in most cases, are different guns and not just cut-down versions of larger guns. They have smaller magazines and shorter barrels, and they are usually much lighter, so recoil can start to become a problem depending on the caliber you choose. The subs are very easy to conceal and can be carried almost anywhere on your person. Shooting them isn’t difficult, but they have a shorter sight radius, making distance shooting more challenging. The smallest are micro compacts. These are sometimes referred to as “Pocket Pistols.” There are some excellent pocket guns, and no, you don’t have to carry them in your pocket, but you can. If you have larger hands, some of these guns are too small, they have tiny magazines, the short barrels make them hard to aim, so some don’t even bother with sights, and being lightweight can make recoil a problem. Still, the biggest knock I hear against the micro compact guns is magazine capacity. Countless studies show most personal defense shootings happen inside 21 feet, and three or fewer rounds are fired, so magazine capacity doesn’t seem as crucial as some believe. So, the short answer to the question “what is the best handgun to concealed carry while riding?” Whatever you are most comfortable with! Ride easy and shoot straight.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Thunder Roads® Magazine Owners/Publishers. Any content provided by our authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
JUNE 2022
ThunderRoadsTennessee.com
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