WHY DO YOU PREFER A COMACT PISTOL ?

[Empty Quiver]

I am going to assume by compact you are refering to those that are neither full size nor sub compact and especially not mouse guns.
 
A compact is small and light enough to encourage a person to carry one, in a holster, just about any place they go. You sacrifice capacity and sight radius while not really sacrificing performance to a great extent.
 
If you operate in polite society, a sub might be your idea of compact.

[SHOOTALL]

If I got to carry anything ( gun ) I want it small as possible but still able to do the job. If something has to carry me ( car /truck) I want it big .

[Spirithawk]

I've had bigger, heavier 9mm's. Felt like carrying a lead brick on my belt. Not only heavy but too bulky to easily hide. Often they just got left at home. I bought my PF-9 and now even here at home it's always on my belt. Not a single excuse not to carry it. With the many small light weight handguns available in quite lethal calibers why carry a brick around? I guess if you run out of bullets you could throw it like a brick. Might make a good club but if things get to that point you're in crap lip deep and if you feel the need for a club might be better to just carry a club!

[Empty Quiver]

I've had bigger, heavier 9mm's. Felt like carrying a lead brick on my belt. Not only heavy but too bulky to easily hide. Often they just got left at home. I bought my PF-9 and now even here at home it's always on my belt. Not a single excuse not to carry it. With the many small light weight handguns available in quite lethal calibers why carry a brick around? I guess if you run out of bullets you could throw it like a brick. Might make a good club but if things get to that point you're in crap lip deep and if you feel the need for a club might be better to just carry a club!

I agree with the weight issue. I find people talking about how you can't hit the target with such a short gun or that the bullet will fall to the ground from the short barrels.
 
I think you are going to have a hard time justifying a shot much past 10'. There are always going to be exceptions to anything, but unless you ar LE the nogoodnik had better be dang near in your pocket before you start shooting. A duty size high-cap pistol would be nice to have when the shooting starts but getting it to the scene will be way too much trouble for me. I have split the difference with a single stack mag and a shorter barrel. The gun is readily carried and is fun for a day at the range as well.

[FPH]

Weight, concealability.

[Ranger99]

i don't prefer a compact pistola
i do carry some different ones because
i stick 'em in my pocket.


officer's acp for jeans or overalls
naa .22 mag for shorts or overall bib pocket
colt agent w/ hammer shroud for shorts
pocket for get-up-at-3am-and-see-what-the-hell


is that what you're asking for sir?

[quasne.inc]

Weight is a sign of reliability.  If it does not work, you can hit him with it.

[Ranger99]

just now had to get up go outside
to run off some space-wasting
neanderthals.
hammer-shrouded agent in shorts
pocket- XD45 in one hand
flashlight in other 

[Spirithawk]

Weight is a sign of reliability.  If it does not work, you can hit him with it.

Hmmmm, heavy? Hit him with it? That sounds a lot like a rock!

[Brett]

Weight is a sign of reliability.  If it does not work, you can hit him with it.

Hmmmm, heavy? Hit him with it? That sounds a lot like a rock!

Dang it... you made me spit coffee all over my keyboard.     

Maybe rocks will be the next big thing in SD.  I can just see the ads:

Carry the new ROCK by GLOCK

No moving parts for the ultimate in reliability.
No licenses or permits required.
No complicated safeties or other controls to fumble with.
No costly ammo required. 
Safely carried with or without a holster. 
Can't discharge accidentally while cleaning or reholstering.
Comes in three calibers (sizes small, medium and large) to meet every SD situation.

The new ROCK by GLOCK: So simple a cave man can use it.   

 

[tt4617]

The libs will just try to regulate them to death because ROCKS KILL PEOPLE!
Will a handfull of rocks be considered an assault weapon?
People within 100 yards of a school will be forced to pave their drive ways!
If you get a rock in your shoe, will it be considered conceal carry?
Ok, I have to stop.
 

[FPH]

The libs will just try to regulate them to death because ROCKS KILL PEOPLE!
Will a handfull of rocks be considered an assault weapon?
People within 100 yards of a school will be forced to pave their drive ways!
If you get a rock in your shoe, will it be considered conceal carry?
Ok, I have to stop.
 

The libs sure don't consider a rock a deadly weapon when the Border Patrol is being pelted by them here..........(poor boys were just playing).  Mean ole BP fired without cause.  Right.

[45-70.gov]

Weight is a sign of reliability.  If it does not work, you can hit him with it.

Hmmmm, heavy? Hit him with it? That sounds a lot like a rock!

Dang it... you made me spit coffee all over my keyboard.     

Maybe rocks will be the next big thing in SD.  I can just see the ads:

Carry the new ROCK by GLOCK

No moving parts for the ultimate in reliability.
No licenses or permits required.
No complicated safeties or other controls to fumble with.
No costly ammo required. 
Safely carried with or without a holster. 
Can't discharge accidentally while cleaning or reholstering.
Comes in three calibers (sizes small, medium and large) to meet every SD situation.

The new ROCK by GLOCK: So simple a cave man can use it.

there will still  be those that claim rocks are  tooo un-safe  because they don't have a safety

[mcwoodduck]

Didn't the whole thing start with Rocks and then move to rocks with a stick (tomahawk - High capacity multiple hit weapon) then rocks with a string (sling shot- Sniper Rock) to rocks with black powder (origninal cannons) to devoloping better rocks made out of metal, to making smaller cannons to be carried on your person.  and back to the topic.
The chopped and bobbed full size guns (compact- commander - mid sized) are a little more compact than the full size.  Able to get your hole hand on them and are usually designed or contoured for CCW where as the full size are made for a duty or exposed carry.
I have four of what I would consider a compact gun.  The first is a Sig Pro, the second is a Sig P229, third is a Sig P230 and finally the last is a Colt Detective Special.  These guns are just too big to carry in a pocket unlike my J frame or the Tiny Walther TPH I have.
I also have a Walther PP that is the same size as the Sig P230 but it is in 32 ACP and some how I think the 380 starts the compact class with the Beratta 85 cheeta or Browning variant  that has the ability to take a double stack mag.

[Blue Duck]

All things being equal, I prefer a larger handgun with a 4 to 6 inch barrel for shooting in general.  But all things are never equal.  I want a gun with me when I need it and not back in the truck. 

[williamlayton]

Being the OP with designs on understanding the thought process, I have come to these conclusions:
NOW--- a basic disclaimer: I cannot abide by the thought that any gun or pstol cannot be concealed.
For most of us, the weight of carrying it all day is not the problem.
I guess what I am saying is that no one has fully explained why a person would consider carrying a small gun. NOW---I didn't say that you are  a bad person, nor that you are an idiot.
I just am not covinced that you have a better idea.
Blessings
 

[Empty Quiver]

I have no ass. There I've said it, it's gone don't know where I left it but it is long gone. A full size gun has me de-pantsed within a few minutes of walking. I'm not gonna try the hip hop gansta look, pulling up my britches every few steps (been there done that got the braces). This is what I'm refering to when I say weight is an issue.
 
I carried a 6 1/2" Blackhawk all last week. It was on the belt of my pack, along with some 18#s of other crap that in the end I only lent out to more successful hunters. The weight was only an issue as I was getting buckled up. I tried it on my belt for a few hours around camp... pancake style is better but was not the solution.
 
If someone runs across a slightly used ass, size 40 please contact me. I think I lost it somewhere in Indiana but I'm not really sure.

[FPH]

When I say a compact, I'm talking a H & K USP compact in .40 S&W.  As my ass has departed also, I will need suspenders now to carry a full sized 1911. 

[jimster]

I have no ass. There I've said it

Another wet keyboard here!

Dang it... you made me spit coffee all over my keyboard.

[williamlayton]

I was born with no ass--you can't lose something never possessed.
It was a funny statement though---I don't care what anybody says.
 
Blessings

[SHOOTALL]

I also suffer from noazzatall and feel the shoulder rig was invented by someone with it also.

[mcwoodduck]

Being the OP with designs on understanding the thought process, I have come to these conclusions:
NOW--- a basic disclaimer: I cannot abide by the thought that any gun or pstol cannot be concealed.
For most of us, the weight of carrying it all day is not the problem.
I guess what I am saying is that no one has fully explained why a person would consider carrying a small gun. NOW---I didn't say that you are  a bad person, nor that you are an idiot.
I just am not covinced that you have a better idea.
Blessings

I guess a better question to you is.
What do you consider a compact pistol?
I think there are different sizes of pistol and depending on your size some things move.
But lets take a typical person. 
Hunting guns 4 to 10" barrels large frames
Duty guns - Full size frames with 4 to 6" barrels
Compact guns 3 to 4" guns medium revolver frames or chopped and bobbed full sized or meduim frame (380) autos
Sub Compact 2 to 3.5" revolvers and autos that are specially built for being concealed.
Hide guns - 1.5 to 2.5" revolvers, derrengers, tiny autos, and other specility built deep cover guns.
Novelty guns- anything that you show your friends and say look at this and can not make a double tap at 7 feet.
I think if we all have the same idea of what a compact, sub compact, and full size are we can then talk about what is easier to conceal, carry, draw and make multiple hits at close ranges in short time.

[Empty Quiver]

Being the OP with designs on understanding the thought process, I have come to these conclusions:
NOW--- a basic disclaimer: I cannot abide by the thought that any gun or pstol cannot be concealed.
For most of us, the weight of carrying it all day is not the problem.
I guess what I am saying is that no one has fully explained why a person would consider carrying a small gun. NOW---I didn't say that you are  a bad person, nor that you are an idiot.
I just am not covinced that you have a better idea.
Blessings

I guess a better question to you is.
What do you consider a compact pistol?
I think there are different sizes of pistol and depending on your size some things move.
But lets take a typical person. 
Hunting guns 4 to 10" barrels large frames
Duty guns - Full size frames with 4 to 6" barrels
Compact guns 3 to 4" guns medium revolver frames or chopped and bobbed full sized or meduim frame (380) autos
Sub Compact 2 to 3.5" revolvers and autos that are specially built for being concealed.
Hide guns - 1.5 to 2.5" revolvers, derrengers, tiny autos, and other specility built deep cover guns.
Novelty guns- anything that you show your friends and say look at this and can not make a double tap at 7 feet.
I think if we all have the same idea of what a compact, sub compact, and full size are we can then talk about what is easier to conceal, carry, draw and make multiple hits at close ranges in short time.

P-239 SIG, compact in my world. Pretty much just right for normal about town use, and doesn't give up much for rural duty ( 'cept maybe capacity ). A touch heavy for my predicament but I cope. I do eyeball the wifes XD 9mmSC once in a while but a range trip with the P-239 generaly pleases me with my choice.