A better conceal gun

Question
I'm looking to pick up another gun for conceal carry.Right now i carry a 40.cal XD 4"{nice gun}, but i"m looking at going to a 1911 frame.my question is what size{3"-4"} would you recommend? I want to stay with a in the waist holster. maybe you can recommend brand of holster to?

thank you,
Don  

Answer
Hi Don.

There are many, many variables to consider when choosing a handgun for concealed carry.  It is not possible for me to gather enough information from you over the web to make a proper recommendation so I will only give you some basic info that might help when you make your decision.

For concealed carry most people prefer a small profile and light-weight.  Unfortunately many of the 1911-style handguns are big, long, heavy, and they can be more difficult to operate or even unsafe under stress unless you practice with them frequently.  If you still decide to get a 1911-style handgun then you might check out the smaller Para-Carry, Nite Hawg, Slim Hawg, or Warthog models which are made by Para Ordnance.  I have the larger Tac-Four model which is nearly identical to most of their other models but it is bigger and it is one of my favorite guns.  Here is a link to their catalog and website which contains all the info:

http://www.para-lda.com/catalog.html

I have done a lot of shopping for high-quality pistols and I have owned and shot many but Para Ordnance makes some of the best with a lifetime warranty to back them up.

Another good option for a semi-auto non-1911 would be any of the smaller Glock or Sig Sauer pistols which are also at the top of my list for quality and reliability.  When I teach handgun classes I let everyone take their pick from my arsenal and so far the Sig Sauer P-229 has been the clear favorite by far.  I have to admit this would be the one semi-auto that I would bet my life on before all other choices.

After many years of carry with all sorts of pistols I have come back to a preference for small light-weight revolvers which hold 7 or more rounds of serious ammo.  One model which fits the bill is the Taurus 617 which holds 7 rounds of .357 magnum and only weighs 19.9 oz!  It is easy to conceal and carry, super-reliable, and easy to shoot under stress.  I was reluctant to get it at first since some reviews said that it would kick or be hard to shoot but that is pure BS.  My small petite wife shoots it with full power loads without any problem at all and she is far from being a gun nut.  Kids as young as 10 years old have shot it in my class and they do fine too.  I think the combination of the ported barrel and ribbed grips make it easy to handle.

As far as holsters go it all depends on the carry mode, your body style, concealment method, etc.  In general I have found most of the good belt holsters (Galco, Fobus, Desantis, etc.) are great at the range but not very practical in real life.  You have to wear a heavy thick belt and a jacket or vest to cover the holster which makes it slower to draw and it is uncomfortable to keep the jacket on during hot summer days or while in restaurants or stores.  I have tried shoulder holsters too (Galco, Uncle Mikes, a few others) but they also require the a cover garment and they only offer a little improvement in the draw when you are seated in a car.  They can also be uncomfortable when running, bending over, or in use all day long.

After many years of using nearly every holster type available including several which I made myself, I have finally settled on three basic options which I use nearly every day:  small gun with a pocket holster for pants or jacket pockets, small-to-medium gun in a fanny pack or inside the waistband belt clip, and medium-to-large gun in a backpack, briefcase, camera bag, or other similar container.  The small guns can then be worn with shorts, sweats, or jeans even without a belt or carry garment, and they don't weigh you down or show through when carried properly.  The medium or large guns take a little more training and time to get in to play when under stress but it is good to have them around as a second gun in case the small gun is lost, damaged, or doesn't do the job.

Hope this helps!

Bob