xdglocker

Like Pax and others have said, You have to find YOUR balance point. Mine lies more toward the protection side than the comfort side. But what I did was change my definition of comfortable. Now it includes all the nuances of my concealed carry lifestyle. So now in my head...I do have the best of both worlds and don't have to stress over not being really comfortable.

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Bob

Glock 30sf SA-XDm40 Ruger LCP Remington 870 HD

"I'm not Paranoid.....I'm Prepared"--SGT T

bump

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Long time lurker.....

Thumper

Comfort is a secondary consideration for me... let's face it, carrying at all is at best inconvenient. But with the great holsters available today, there's little reason that you can't carry darn near anything you want in reasonable comfort!

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USMC 1968-1971

ALWAYS carry! - NEVER tell!

"Don't go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things!"

Deanimator

An effective firearm which I can effectively deploy is more important to me than a certain amount of comfort.

Carrying a .25acp or .32acp auto would be "comfortable" for me... until I needed to USE it against somebody trying to kill me with a .38 Special revolver.

I don't and won't carry anything smaller or lighter than an airweight S&W J frame. I routinely carry a 2" Model 36. If that's too big and heavy for you, I don't know what to tell you.

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Life comes at you fast. Be prepared to shoot it in the head when it does.

JimmyC4

You may guess my opinion by looking at my signature.

Early in my carry days, 2003, I sought out "comfy guns"...Glock 26, S&W 642, etc. They are viable for carry, so I'm not knocking those choices, but if I ever get into a gunfight I want the gun I shoot best.

So, increasingly I'm carrying my SIG P229 SAS and now my Beretta 92G-SD. I shoot the Beretta in USPSA, so I'm most skilled with it, and thanks to a great new holster from TT Gunleather it has become a regular carry.

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"It's a big gun when I carry it, it is also a big gun when I take it out” – Clint Smith

ccw9mm

Balance is a very subjective and personal thing.

The awful thing is: nobody can find it for you. That's why many of us end up with drawers full of old, extra holsters we've gone through, ones that weren't quite right; and why we often have a number of belts, some of which weren't quite firm enough, or curved to the body enough; and why we hunt around to find the right length/drape of shirt or jacket, "give" in the slacks, and so on.

For me, much depends on the clothing, the "cut" of them, and placement of the rig. Done right, at the right spot with the right combination of clothing and gear, even a ~1.5" thick CZ P-01 is comfortable and almost disappears on the hip (in terms of my feeling its presence).

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Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense.
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Deal with evil through strength. Affirm the good in Man through trust.
NRA. GOA. OFF.

phantom1984

I agree with you. I carry a full sized beretta 92fs I only started this thread to see what everybody else felt about it. It can be 100 degrees and i will still wear my leather vest hot as all get out but I still have my pistol.

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Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Bark'n

For me it's;

1) Protection
2) Concealability. If I can't conceal it effectively, I won't carry it.
3) Comfort. For me comfort pretty much comes in last.

Now for me, I can pretty much conceal with most my attire a G-23 primary and a XD9sc BUG so I pretty much have items 1 & 2 covered. As far as comfort goes, I have gotten some nice custom holsters which makes all the difference in the world regarding the comfort factor.

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-Bark'n
Semper Fi

"The gun is the great equalizer... For it is the gun, that allows the meek to repel the monsters; Whom are bigger, stronger and without conscience, will prey on those of us who without one, would surely perish."

B1NKS

In my line of work, I need to carry very discreetly. Often, an OWB holster is out of the question, and I never liked IWB holsters, ankle holsters, and bellybands, and I don't think off-body carry is a good idea.

So, I settled for pocket carry, which necessitates a relatively small and comfortable handgun. I have large, deep, and heavily reinforced pockets, which can accomodate any gun with a length of 7'' or less. The gun should also be without sharp edges that snag, and is preferably a slim, single-stack pistol (I prefer pistols to revolvers).

I got used to pocket carry, and realized that it is incredibly comfortable. That means it is easy, and even second-nature, to carry anytime, anywhere. Actually, nothing is more comfortable or natural, in my opinion. And if I'm carrying everyday, everywhere, and I regularly maintain and practice with my weapon, then I certainly feel protected too.

You might say I'm more toward the comfort side, but I believe I have a good balance of both that fits my needs perfectly. Every man must find his balance based on his needs and preferences.

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9mm Walther P5 Compact

.380 and .32 Interarms Walther PPK/S

.380 and .32 Interarms Walther PPK

kentuckycarry

I carry the biggest gun I can for what I'm wearing. Normally its a 40 with a 5"bbl. I dont find it too uncomfortable. As a matter of fact, when I can use my paddle holster, its as comfy as carrying a smaller gun. I carry my 642 when I have to and of course its more comfy. But I'm willing to settle for a little more discomfort to have a big gun on me.

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Prepare for the worst and hope it never happens