Handgun Size. Does it Matter?

Does Size Matter?

Yes, size does matter and if someone told you otherwise then they were lying to you. Today we are talking about Full-size, Compact, and Sub-Compact handguns. I believe that the size of your handgun does play an important part in how your handgun shoots but it also plays a big part in how much you can/want to carry with that handgun. So I wanted to talk about the Pros and Cons of each size. 

I do want to preface that this blog will not contain any groundbreaking information. The purpose of this blog is to help people who are looking for a new handgun and need help deciding what size of handgun they truly want. So if you think that I missed anything then shoot me an email and let me know what I missed. At the end of the day, I am one person who has one opinion so my opinion is not the end all be all. 

Full-sized Handguns:

When we are talking about full-size guns we are referring to the Glock 34, Glock 17, Sig 320 Full-size, M&P full-size, and similar-sized handguns. Generally speaking, these types of handguns will be the most controllable and fun to shoot. Since they have a longer slide they also have a longer sight radius which means they are easier to shoot if you are using iron sights (if you’re using a red dot then there is no difference, and you should be using a red dot). They also have a longer grip giving you more ammo capacity which is always a plus. Now, all of this might not be groundbreaking information but what does this mean from the end users' experience? Typically, there is less felt recoil, which means you have an easier time shooting them. Add in some ports or a comp and you, my friend, just created a laser beam that slings lead down range. 

Now there are some cons as well. While a full-sized gun is going to be nicer to shoot, has a higher capacity, and is more comfortable in a lot of people's hands it does make it harder to conceal carry daily. Now there are plenty of people who carry a full-size gun with a light and optic and have no issues. However, if you are looking for comfort a full-size handgun might not be your thing, because the grip of a full-size handgun is longer you will have a harder time concealing the grip specifically. If you are looking at getting a full-size for a do-it-all handgun to start off with then you’ll want to take all of that into consideration. However, if you are just looking for a duty or competition handgun then a full-size handgun will be your best option. 

Compact Handguns:

Now when we are talking about compacts we are referring to the Glock 19, M&P Compact, Sig Sauer P320 Compact, and most guns that take 15-round magazines. I consider this to be the goldilocks size. It is slightly easier to conceal carry because the grip is shorter. Now you are sacrificing capacity but usually only 2 rounds. They are still pleasant and nice to shoot but will have more felt recoil than the full-sized. Take all the pros of the full-size and make them slight cons, and take the cons and make those pros. Simply put, that is what you are getting out of a compact handgun. 

If you do not have the budget for a compact and full-size gun then in my opinion go for the compact. You can conceal carry it daily, you can use it for competitions, on a battle belt, and pretty much everything in between. Now it won’t be as nice to shoot, or as fast but if you get out and train then you won't be able to notice a difference. If someone outshoots you with a full-sized gun it’s not the gun, just saying. 

Sub-Compact Handguns:

Sub-compact handguns were designed from the ground up to be concealed carry handguns. Things like the Sig Sauer P365, Glock 43, Springfield Hellcat, and the M&P shield. Now if you know these guns then you will know people and companies have been making them bigger and bigger over the last few years. We now have the Sig P365 FUSE, which is just the size of a compact handgun, just slightly thinner. Now if you stick to true sub-compacts they are always going to be more comfortable than a compact and full-sized. They are going to be the hardest to shoot because of their small grips and slides, this means a lot more felt recoil to the shooter.

Sub-compact guns are amazing for concealed carry and people who have smaller hands. Smaller guns are amazing at getting people to carry a firearm all day every day because they are “easy to forget” since they are so small and comfortable to carry. That is truly what makes sub-compacts amazing. However, you will not be able to shoot a sub-compact nearly as fast as a full-size handgun and don’t lie to yourself either. 

Conclusion: 

The reason that I write these blogs isn’t to tell you what gun to go buy or what piece of gear you should get. The point of these blogs is to cause you to take a step back and think about what you are looking for in a handgun. If you already own a handgun and are looking for something different then hopefully this article shed some light on your decision. When it comes down to it, what are you planning on doing with that handgun 80% of the time? If you are strictly looking for a bedside gun that you can throw on a battle belt or carry once in a while then get the full-sized. If you are looking for a gun that can do everything decently but doesn’t excel at a specific thing then get the compact. If you want a dedicated concealed carry gun that is comfortable to carry and will get the job done then get the sub-compact. At the end of the day, go out and train and become an asset to your family and community!