Here goes the final (for now) article of the replacement CCW update newsletter continued from last week. If you missed that issue you can read it on our newsletter website. The abridged version is the gun industry has provided enough tech improvements in gun, light, and sights (RDS) to warrant a workover of my current CCW setup. A workover in the form of an entirely new gun.

A reminder to please keep in mind this series is about the process, requirements, and philosophy, not about the specific hardware or brand choices I make. As always you do you; this is not a recommended solution - it is simply how I attacked the problem set based on requirements and personal preference. Your choices will differ from mine. These differences do not make one choice less valid - as long as the end user determined requirements are met. Please don’t get distracted by the specifics of the hardware solutions we talk about, focus on the thought process.

As with all material solutions to meet requirements there are tradeoffs. The “shootability” vs concealability is always at the heart of the matter. Second to that is ammo capacity. For my two final contenders of the 43X MOS and the 48 MOS the capacity was a non-issue since they are equal. They even use the same mags, so that was not a decision criterion. Budgetary tradeoffs are out of the equation as well since they are within a few dollars of each other.

Both guns meet the screening criteria (used to screen out or dismiss solutions that do not meet basic requirements). Reliability, capacity etc are both at or above minimums. For general comparison criteria it came down to:

Size. For arguments sake and to put it in terms a non-Glock end using reader can use let’s call it short vs long. The concealment challenge is more about grip length than barrel length (up to a point). So yet again they are on fairly equal footing. However, the 48 is sooo much easier to shoot well compared to the 43X. That little bit of extra barrel is a game changer. I argued with myself and considered adding a Ramjet Afterburner combo to the 43 to tame it a bit, but that puts us right back to a G48 size gun. What that boiled down to was a $400 dollar expenditure for little to no real advantage over its G48 competitor. Hard pass. So based on size - considered as a discrete attribute - the 43X wins that one.

Shootability and “Accuracy”. We talked about requirements and metrics in Part 2, that really brought me around to the nut-cutting. Based on the high percentage of defensive shootings that happen at close range we can legitimately accept a good enough solution when it comes to the accuracy of the gun. While the 48 is far more accurate and easier to shoot, the 43 found itself in second place - but still more than adequate.

So I find myself in this weird place where there are requirements being met by both with a significant advantage by one (48 accuracy) and a slight advantage by the other (43X size). It requires a decision to determine what matters more. With all things considered I really enjoy shooting the 48. In fact, it is a pleasure to on the range. The 43X on the other hand feels like a chore to shoot. But it carries so much better for me. It shouldn’t, with the similar size and weight to the 48. But some things are perceived to be greater/lesser even when the numbers don’t support it. A good comparison is a 14.5 pinned and welded carbine compared to a 16 inch, the perceived difference outweighs the measurements. Subjectively that is how this difference in barrel length was (and is) for me.

Running a mag at speed through the 43X is akin to holding a rabid Chihuahua while cutting his nails. I need to gain as much advantage over it I can without a. negatively impacting reliability and b. turning it into a bastardized and far more expensive version of my Glock 48. A better trigger experience will go a long way to managing the negative input of the muzzle rise as well, the Overwatch Precision trigger I scavenged from my G43 helps a lot. But yet again it must be done without negatively impacting reliability. Reliability is the primo requirement. With that we will take a break from the CCW discussions for a while as I shake out the new setup and verify it is unquestionably reliable as a CCW. I know this won’t be a long 40 yard shot across the shopping mall to stop an active shooter kinda’ thing. This is the epitome of a blaster, easy to carry and just flat out nasty and fast inside of a few yards. Finding a reliable 15 round mag solution is on the short list as well, more is better with the requirements and capabilities balanced out. Look for Part 4 in a few weeks, we will hit a new topic next week for ya.

You may be tired of hearing this from me, but I will keep saying it. J Frames keep you honest. CCW carriers need an option to fill the gap between belting up your primary CCW and walking outside to do a little yard work. Or walk the dog. Or go check the mail. Get yourself a pocket gun that you can throw in your gym shorts or cutoff GWOT pants you mow the lawn in. Keep yourself honest as a CCW carrier. I don’t know if it would have made a difference for the poor soul in the case below. But it is a sad example of why you must give yourself an advantage in a fight. Situational awareness is paramount and can prevent a lot of issues - but it is not an either/or proposition. We also need the tools. Having a J Frame or small frame auto in a proper pocket holster while you change the oil in your driveway is far more useful than your M&P and two mags sitting in your house.

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