Concealed Carry Corner: Why Less Really Is More

Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we had some fun talking about what people carry depending on the car they drive. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a closer look at some trends when it comes to customizing guns as well as the overall size of carry guns. I get a fair amount of questions from readers about what size handgun they should pick when it comes to carrying a concealed handgun. Let’s take a look at how, in most cases, it’s better to carry fewer items and why less really is more.

Size Versus Time

When it comes to carrying a concealed firearm, size and weight are two of the biggest factors to being able to carry it comfortably all day long. Sure, you can carry just about anything for one full day, but by the end of the day, you may have hot spots so bad you can’t comfortably carry next day. Various upgrades like a better belt and properly fitting pants can help tremendously, but these items don’t automatically make carrying a larger gun easier. No matter what tricks or upgrades you use, there’s no overcoming just how heavy some guns can be, especially on hot summer days when your skin may be more irritated.

Having a smaller carry pistol like a Glock 48 or 43X allows you to carry a handgun comfortably all day long without having major issues with fatiguing. Generally, the rule with carrying a concealed firearm is that your time carrying comfortably will be directly affected by the overall size of your carry gun. Lighter guns will always be easier to carry for a longer time, whereas heavier guns will make you fatigued at a faster rate. This is true, no matter if you have a thicker belt and pants designed for carrying concealed. There’s no defeating gravity and making that full-size pistol weigh less. When you’re looking at your carry gun, it’s important to be realistic about the overall size and then see what the realistic time it is to comfortably carry that firearm before fatigue sets in and you start to become uncomfortable.

Bulk Is The Enemy

The number one force behind fatiguing is the weight of your carry gun. Size isn’t as big of a factor as bulk since most people can carry a Glock 17 or 19 longer than a heavier full-size or commander 1911. The weight of an all steel pistol is hard to combat, and even when you do everything possible, the weight will still become an issue after a few hours. Trust me, I love nothing more than carrying my full-size metal framed handguns. If anyone has a hard time admitting that metal guns fatigue you faster, it’s me, but at the end of the day, it’s the truth.

What most people don’t realize is that accessories can create a decent amount of bulk as well. Weapon-mounted lights, red dots, compensators, and threaded barrels all add weight and extra bulk. You could be carrying a lightweight handgun, but by adding a different frame, light, and red dot, you can genuinely double the weight of that particular firearm. The point of having a smaller handgun is to have something that can be easily carried for a long period of time, but adding so many accessories has completely defeated the original purpose of that specific carry gun. Now, certain upgrades like red dots may be a necessity for some, especially those of you with aging eyes. Those upgrades are a trade-off to make you more effective with a handgun, but looking at what you need in a carry gun and only having the essentials is what more people need to see. Adding lights when you usually carry in the day is unnecessary. The less you have on your gun, the easier it will end up being to carry all day, every day.

Choosing What’s Best

The point of this week’s article isn’t to scold you for what you carry; it’s more about challenging you to look at your carry gun and crtically ask yourself if the gun and attachments fulfil your needs and if they are more of a want or need in your personal life. I carried a weapon-mounted light on my guns for years when, in reality, I carried at night maybe 15% of the time. If you plan on carrying at night, then those firearms are set up perfectly, but if you’re carrying at 8:00 AM and won’t be out at dark, that extra weight and bulk are really not necessary.

There’s nothing wrong with carrying a heavier carry gun if you shoot it better than other options. I’ve had this chat with multiple people in the past, where we start talking about the rationale behind carrying their set up, and after that conversation, they will typically take the light off or switch it up to become lighter. The key to carrying comfortably is carrying the least amount of items you need to ensure you can make it through the entire day with no issues of fatigue. At the end of the day, you have to carry what's best for you and it's never a bad idea to reassess your choices to see if they are worth hauling around.

Overall Thoughts

I will be the first to admit, it's always fun to try out new options and add the latest and greatest to your handgun. I’m one of the first people to throw on lights or a new red dot to my full-size gun to test it out. The biggest thing I’m trying to help you guys avoid though is fatigue, which may persuade some of you not to carry when a simple fix of keeping the guns standard is the only changes that need to happen in order to carry it all day without fatigue.

What are some of your daily carry options? Do you prefer something with accessories or more streamlined? Let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying concealed or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you next week for another edition of Concealed Carry Corner.

TFB’s Concealed Carry Corner is brought to you by GLOCK