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Concealed Carry Myths

Shooting Illustrated online recently posted an excellent article on Concealed Carry Myths. In it, they detail some of biggest myths of concealed carry, and explain the why behind the myth.

Myths Discussed

  • Carry Only When Needed
  • Empty Chambers are Happy Chambers
  • Women Should Only Shoot .22s
  • Practice Gun Zen
  • Hand Me Down That Gun

I think this is a great start, but there are some others that I think would be good additions to the list.

New Shooters/Women Should Buy Small Guns

This one is pretty common, and could maybe be classified as “bad advice” rather than a myth. It branches off of “Women Should Only Shoot .22s”, and it’s pretty simple. When comparing two guns, one large and one small, if the caliber is the same, the smaller gun will be harder to shoot.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen small pocket .380’s purchased for women as their first gun, or gun shop workers recommending a small gun to a woman for concealed carry who has never fired a gun before. This is bad advice.

Yes, small guns are easier to conceal, but if the gun is hard to shoot, how often will the shooter practice? If they are a new shooter, how enjoyable of an experience is the shooter likely to have? If they can’t shoot the gun well and they don’t practice, the gun will get left at home.

You Must Buy an Expensive Gun

This one is partly perceived quality, and partly myth. Sometimes I see this myth manifested as a justification “my life is worth it”. Yes, your life IS worth it, but just because a gun costs $1,000 doesn’t mean it’s a better gun than the one that costs $500. The gun could be complete crap. Price alone doesn’t tell you anything. There are great guns in virtually every price range, from just a couple hundred dollars to multiple thousands of dollars.

Bigger/Smaller is Better

For concealed carry, “Bigger is Better” is just as wrong as “Smaller is Better”. Size is completely relative and situation dependent. If you live in a hot and humid climate and you typically wear shorts and a t-shirt, then bigger is not going to be better for you because you won’t be able to properly conceal the gun. And as we have already discussed, smaller is not always better either. Sure, small guns are easier to conceal, but they are harder to shoot, meaning they are harder to train with and harder to fight with.

The key is the find the right balance for YOU. What’s right for me and what’s right for you may not be the same thing.

Wrapping Up

So there you go, a couple myths I feel are worthy additions to the list. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

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4 Responses to Concealed Carry Myths

  1. Dr. L. February 6, 2012 at 12:54 pm #

    Your comments are thoughtful and appreciated. Your blog is well thought out and extremely helpful. I will keep reading.
    Dr. L.

    • Brandon February 6, 2012 at 12:58 pm #

      Thanks!

  2. Nathen February 8, 2012 at 12:59 am #

    The Kel Tec PF-9 has been a good choice for me, it is small and concealable in AZ, and packs a punch with Remington HP’s. I traded in my LCP for it.

    • Brandon February 8, 2012 at 8:19 am #

      I like the PF-9 too, great gun at a great price. How do you like the trigger?