First hand gun: concealed or not?

Researching hand guns and wondering what thoughts people have on buying a model that’s good for concealed carry vs something bigger.

Leaning toward 9mm.

For the record, I’m in California so the topic is a bit moot, but what are some of the less obvious advantages and disadvantages of a larger vs smaller weapon? My inexperienced understandings are that a smaller weapon will be harder to control both in terms of accuracy as well as recoil. A larger weapon will likely be heavier and obviously less portable, but will be easier to shoot accurately and will be more stable under recoil. What else?

 

That's about it. Plus number of rounds.

 

I should mention this will be for home and personal defense.

Also if anyone can link to any articles that discuss this that’d be great. I’ve been reading over what guns.com has to say but wanted to ask here as well

 

I wouldn't recommend a SC as your first gun

 

I bought a .380 bodyguard. If you are looking for concealed carry most are .380 and super small. Fits in the tacoma glove box 3rd gen with barrel down.

I went with the bodyguard because its the only one with a manual safety that has the small profile I was looking for. The Ruger lcp2 is very popular but has no safety.

 

Leaning toward a HiPoint C9 for the cost and to just go ahead and get something to take to the range while I consider other options.

 

What’s sc?

 

subcompact

 

Ok. Why not?

 

Take the money you'd spend on a HiPoint and just buy more ammo for whatever gun you really want to get.

 

Sub Compact. You will feel more recoil.

I'm in agreement with not wasting your money on a Hi Point.

 

well most subcompacts really are belly guns. meaning they are meant to be used when someone is up and close to you and you stick it in their belly.

they shoot kinda crappy at anything over 10ish yards really. so they are not that fun to shoot and they only magazine like 4 - 6 bullets.

 

Also, go with a compact at the smallest, better to just get a regular fullsize handgun to develop fundamentals better usually. Smallest I'd go would be Glock 19-ish for your first. (or comparable sized <insert preferred brand here>)

 

Got it. So sc=ccw essentially?

 

S&w shield, glock 43, sig p365

 

i mean not necesarrily theres a lot of guns you can ccw that arent sub compact, but sub compact really arent gonna be good at anything else.

They look like toys they are so small.

 

They suck?

 

I'd vote nothing smaller than a compact like a G19 or the S&W M&P9C for a first handgun. The smaller the gun, the more you're going to 'feel' the recoil, and the shorter your sight radius is going to be. If you're still learning, you don't want to develop a flinch (more likely with more felt recoil) and you want something that'll make it easier to learn to aim with (longer sight radius = more inherent accuracy = faster to learn proper sight alignment).

 

This! Glock 19's are legendary for a reason I also really like the PPQ but much less aftermarket support.

 

My Kimber micro 9 has a manual safety and will fit in my jacket pocket.