Wife and I are taking a CCW class in a couple weeks. We have looked at handguns a lot lately and decided on a few. She's content on a S&W M&P9 Sheild in 9mm. I'm thinking on a Sig Sauer P320 in S&W 40. I like the S&W40 for medium balance on velocity and stopping power. Also considered 9mm and 357 Sig. I like 9mm and 357 Sig for velocity and penetration. Then there is over penetration as a possible issue with those. Thoughts on any of this?
Yeppers. Definitely some thoughts with respect to people's concerns with "over penetration".
Here's my opinion on this particular subject:
QUIT WORRYING ABOUT IT.
"Over penetration" is ONLY a concern IF you hit your target in the first place. Given that the vast majority of shots fired in self-defense AND by police do not, in fact, penetrate the intended target in the first place, "over penetration" is NOT the primary concern.
For concealed carry, my opinion is this: Carry the largest caliber you can reasonably conceal AND shoot effectively. Why? Because in terms of self-defense, bigger and more powerful is better. But it's ONLY better to the extent that you can handle and conceal it in the first place.
This encompasses many aspects that ONLY the person doing the carrying is to be concerned about. Some of these are (not limited to):
- Size of the gun. If you cannot properly grip the gun, nor conceal it properly, then it's too big for your intended use.
- Power of the gun. If you cannot properly handle and control the gun, then it's too much for your intended use.
- Ammunition. If it's not powerful enough to penetrate adequately, then it's not enough. If it's too powerful to effectively control, then it's too much.
- Your capability to carry the weapon of choice. This is subject to many things...if your required dress code won't allow IWB as a practical option, for example, then you need something more suitable for another concealed carry method.
SO:
1. Pick a gun you like that you can shoot effectively and conceal.
2. Pick an ammunition that will provide at least the minimum penetration suitable for self-defense (preferably something that matches your chosen target ammunition in mass and velocity). AND that you can control.
3. Pick a concealed carry means suitable for your choice in weapon(s) AND a proper holster/belt combination.
4. Practice. Practice a lot. Then practice some more.
5. If, after doing the above things, you find another suitable combination of everything...feel free to carry it if you wish. 'Cause that's the beauty of our country: you can own more than one of anything you want.
