The Gun That Goes With You: Questioning Traditional CCW Wisdom

Or: Why "G19 or stay home" might be missing the point entirely

There's a persistent orthodoxy in concealed carry circles that sounds something like this: "Carry the biggest gun you can conceal. If you can't carry a Glock 19 (or an M&P or a similar "duty" handgun, although the P320 is getting a lot of side eye at the moment), you're not trying hard enough. Anything smaller is a compromise you'll regret."

It's repeated in forums, YouTube channels, and training classes with the confidence of gospel truth. But what if this conventional wisdom is actually keeping people from being optimally prepared?

The Myth of Bigger is Always Better

Don't get me wrong—the Glock 19 is an excellent pistol. Reliable, shootable, proven. But the "G19 or stay home" mentality makes a critical error: it prioritizes theoretical capability over practical reality.

Here's what that mindset often overlooks:

The gun you actually carry beats the gun you leave at home. Every time. Without exception.

Comfort drives consistency. If your carry setup is uncomfortable, requires wardrobe compromises, or makes you constantly aware of the gun's presence, you're less likely to carry it consistently.

Real-world performance trumps range performance. A smaller gun you can draw smoothly and shoot accurately under stress beats a larger gun that prints, shifts, or gets left in the safe.

It's reminiscent of that scene from Men in Black—everyone expects Will Smith's "Noisy Cricket" to be inadequate until it proves otherwise. Sometimes the "compromise" choice is actually the right tool for the job.

A Case Study in "Compromise"

Let me share a personal example that challenges this bigger-is-better assumption.

I carry an LCP Max in appendix position at 1 o'clock. It's a .380 ACP with a 2.8-inch barrel—everything the internet says you shouldn't rely on for serious defensive use.

But here's what happened on a recent overnight trip: 8 hours of driving in a Mini Cooper, wearing a tucked-in button-down shirt, visiting shops, restaurants, a bar, and a psychedelic world-funk concert. Zero printing. Zero discomfort. Zero awareness issues.

The gun disappeared into my day completely.

A while back I tested my draw and accuracy from AIWB at 7 yards.

Those aren't "compromise" results. That's effective defensive shooting from a gun that weighs 10.6 ounces loaded.

The Aha Moment: When It Actually Disappears

The real revelation wasn't on the range—it was standing in front of a mirror, tucking in my shirt, and realizing I didn't have to choose between looking normal and being prepared.

That's when it clicked: this is a carry setup I can live with.

This wasn't a tactical cosplay weekend. It was just life. And the tool came with me—quietly, effectively, without demanding anything in return.

That's when you know you've found the right setup: when the weapon integrates so seamlessly into your life that you nearly forget it's there. When you can attend a business meeting, go out to dinner, or visit family without your carry choice dictating your clothing, posture, or behavior.

Rethinking "Reasonable" Defensive Scenarios

The traditional wisdom also assumes you'll need maximum firepower for maximum distances. But when you honestly war-game realistic defensive scenarios, a different picture emerges:

• Most defensive shootings happen within 7 yards
• Beyond 15 yards, your best option is usually escape, not engagement
• The goal isn't to win a gunfight—it's to survive a bad situation
• You don't want to be a hero; you want to go home

A compact .380 that you can access quickly and shoot accurately within realistic defensive distances often makes more practical sense than a duty-sized 9mm that compromises your ability to blend in or move freely.

The Training Reality Check

None of this works without the foundation that the traditional wisdom often glosses over:

• Years of training and practice. This isn't plug-and-play.
• Legal preparation. Having a concealed carry license and understanding the laws.
• Financial investment. Not just in the gun, but in quality holsters, training, and ongoing practice.
• Honest assessment of your abilities. Knowing what you can shoot well under stress.

But here's where training culture reveals its own blind spots.

I spent a year and a half completing a 4-class defensive handgun curriculum at Clackamas County's Public Safety Training Center—PST 100, 101, 101A, 102, and 103. The "final exam" was drawing from a holster and putting a shot in the IDPA A-zone at 7 yards in under 1.5 seconds. I passed—but only because I was using an OWB holster setup that would be impossible to conceal under a t-shirt.

(And I don't want to think about how much I spent on ammo for those classes.)

Think about that for a moment: the test that "proved" my defensive readiness involved gear and a scenario that is an extreme edge case for civilians. Open carry where it's legal still makes you a target and a spectacle. Where it's not legal, it makes you a criminal.

Yet this disconnect between training standards and concealed carry reality is rarely acknowledged. We practice and test with duty-style setups, then wonder why people struggle with the transition to actual concealed carry.

The LCP Max works for me because I've put in the work to make it work—including bridging that gap between range performance and real-world concealment. That includes understanding its limitations and staying within them.

The Irony of "Duty Grade"

Here's a telling moment: I was browsing a gaming shop when my phone buzzed with an email from Sig Sauer about their P320 "uncommanded discharge" investigation. A polite corporate notice about ongoing safety concerns with their flagship pistol—the same gun many consider the gold standard for serious carry.

Meanwhile, my supposedly "inadequate" pocket pistol has functioned flawlessly through thousands of rounds and countless carry cycles.

Sometimes the underdog choice is actually the more reliable one.

A Different Definition of Readiness

Real readiness isn't about carrying the most gun possible. It's about carrying a tool you:

1. Can actually conceal in your real-world wardrobe and activities
2. Will consistently carry because it doesn't disrupt your life
3. Can deploy effectively under stress within realistic defensive distances
4. Can shoot accurately when it matters most
5. Trust completely based on your own experience and training

If that's a Glock 19, great. If it's a J-frame revolver, perfect. If it's an LCP Max, that works too.

The best defensive firearm is the one that matches your lifestyle, abilities, and commitment level—not the one that looks impressive on Instagram.

The Quiet Truth About Preparedness

The gun community often glamorizes the carry lifestyle, but real preparedness is remarkably boring. It's about having a contingency plan you hope never to use, carried so discretely that no one notices.

True readiness whispers. It doesn't announce itself. It doesn't demand validation. It just goes where you go, and lets you live your life normally—while staying quietly prepared for the abnormal.

We like boring. Because boring means nothing happened. And nothing happening is exactly the point.

Conclusion: Question Everything

Before you accept the "G19 or stay home" gospel, ask yourself:

• Do I actually carry consistently with my current setup?
• Can I draw and shoot accurately with what I'm carrying?
• Does my gear choice enhance or complicate my daily life?
• Am I carrying for practical protection or peer approval?

The traditional wisdom isn't wrong—it's just incomplete. Sometimes the "compromise" choice is actually the optimal choice for your specific situation.

Your defensive firearm should be a tool that disappears into your routine, not one that defines it. And if that means carrying something smaller, simpler, or less impressive than conventional wisdom suggests?

So be it. The gun that's with you when you need it will always outperform the gun that's not.