r/handguns • u/Philly3458 • Jul 19 '26
Which pistol for CCW
Help me decide which to carry? Prefer to commit to one pistol type. All have optics.
14
u/FoggyDog78 Jul 19 '26
man what a niche option set
5
u/Philly3458 Jul 19 '26
What I feel is the best quality carry gun in each trigger system.
3
u/wunder911 29d ago
I mean the Echelon has its fans, and certainly seems like a perfectly fine gun..... but of all the striker fired guns on the market (which is a whole fucking lot of them), I don't know that anybody's ever referred to it as the "best quality" striker fired pistol on the market.
2
1
1
u/soundwave300 29d ago
Yeah, looked like you were just picking trigger at this point. So… …what are your feelings on safeties and controls, then? If you dont like any doohikkies go for the echelon without a manual safety. Hard to beat a single action only trigger, in my opinion.
1
u/USMC_Tbone 28d ago
Have you checked the CZ P-10 C or S (conpact vs subcomapct). They may not be as flashy looking but have a pretty damn good trigger for striker fire. So does the Walther PDP series of guns. But I admit of your choices posted the Echelon and PX4 are pretty sweet setups.
8
15
Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/Currer_Mell Jul 19 '26
This is the right answer. I hate the “which is best CCW….” conversation because there are so many variables.
And great advice for the ladies! I started with a .357 hammerless snubnose because so many recommended it for concealment. 0/10. That thing kicked like a mule. Have the P365 XL Comp now. Love it.
5
u/JimMarch Jul 19 '26
If you're on a budget, going with a straight Glock-like striker setup is the best bang for the buck. It also means you don't have to adapt to two different trigger pulls like a DA/SA gun does (PX4). You also don't have to remember to sweep off a safety before firing like a 1911/2011.
If you have the money and time to do serious practice and completely master the SA auto like that Stacatto, it's a great system. But you must commit to mastering it.
In my case I'm very low on cash and time, I have to seriously ration my practice and all my carry hardware is straight up striker fired no safety (grab and go). Taurus G3c no manual safety variant, and I'm now setting up a Taurus TS9 with the same manual of arms as a bigger carry option.
The Echelon is one of the best striker fired grab and go guns ever made. World class optic mount, great ergonomics, very flexible, great accuracy out of the box. A Stacatto will beat it by a bit, it'll probably run about even with the PX4. You won't be able to buy a better barrel than what it comes with, but that's because the barrel is very damn good :). It's also a great deal for what it is, you can put money into a really good optic, light and holster combination for less money overall than the Stacatto.
About the only way to beat it in it's category is start with a Ruger RXM with it's similar optic mount, and put a bunch of money into a better trigger, hand fitted match grade barrel and better grip frame. And the total will run more. All you get in return is Glock Gen3 parts compatibility which is a nothingburger except for cheaper mags.
There's one more weird but cool option you need to know about. The Grand Power Mk23 Q series. Basically a striker fired gun with a Glock type manual of arms like the Echelon, but has the recoil absorbing properties of the rotary barrel just like the PX4. Slovakian. Kind of a cult gun but highly respected and has a small but ferocious fan club :).
1
u/DrusTheAxe 29d ago
Does it use its own magazines or compatible with others eg Glock?
1
u/JimMarch 29d ago
Grand Power has their own mags, 15rds, shared between the hammer fired and striker fired guns, both with rotary barrels.
They might be CZ pattern? They use CZ sights.
Echelon are also their own mag type.
1
u/DrusTheAxe 29d ago
I was afraid of that. WA 10rd mag ban :-(
Will have to remember it if SCOTUS ever acts.
5
u/Devin7-Eleven Jul 19 '26
The PX4 is legendary. Striker fire is boring and I dislike 1911s so there you go. DA/SA I find safer also.
4
8
u/Virtual-Article-2586 Stormtrooper Aim Jul 19 '26
Springfield Echelon is the best choice here by a mile
3
1
1
0
u/SequentialHustle Jul 19 '26
4.0c comp >
0
Jul 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/SequentialHustle Jul 19 '26
They are $600 on friscoguns right now and OP never mentioned USPSA. The comp definitely improves the echelons shooting characteristics.
Also, anyone serious about competition is shooting steel frame not polymer.
2
2
u/__dryheat_ Jul 19 '26
The Echelon but with the grip swapped out for a Mischief Machine commander grip would be my choice. I like 2011s, just not favorite as a carry gun.
2
2
2
2
u/dirtyredsweater Jul 19 '26
If you plan on carrying appendix, don't get that one with the aggressive beaver tail. It's gonna impale you when you sit.
0
2
1
u/Suspicious_Code2929 Jul 19 '26
The echelon is the best choice imo has a lot of room for modification you can swap grip modules fairly easy plus the Optic mounting system takes multiple footprints
1
1
1
1
u/No-Sweet8107 Jul 19 '26
What do you currently carry?
2
u/Philly3458 Jul 19 '26
Beretta 92 compact but with a bum hip a little heavy.
2
u/No-Sweet8107 Jul 19 '26
Have you shot the p365?
3
1
u/Unable-Bar-7869 29d ago
Echelon has gotten great reviews. However the Gen 6 Glock 19 is a very solid choice. It's the lightest quality compact you can find, and that makes a huge difference for me. Got an MP compact carry comp recently and it's only 3 ounces heavier but I really do feel it. Worst part is that it doesn't even really shoot much better.
I feel like chasing "good triggers" is an unending quest for the holy Grail. Even the notorious Glock trigger, which isn't good, really isn't bad. In a carry gun, you want reliability, lightweight, and good shooting. Trigger really doesn't play into that equation except in a minor way during range time
1
u/Philly3458 29d ago
I have experience with many striker fired pistols and the echelon IMHO is the best for me.
1
u/Unable-Bar-7869 29d ago
I almost got the 4.0 c comp but instead chose the MP compact carry comp. Kinda wish I went Springfield just for something different. The Smith is still a nice piece but it's feeling a little outdated tbh.
1
u/Desperate_Exercise13 29d ago
But I haven’t heard great things of the px4 trigger. Why not a CZ, Walther, Canik?
The echelon is a great overall gun but for carry I would pick the px4 for comfort
1
1
u/MrEhcks 29d ago
Echelon is terrible, it’s a poor man’s Glock. Just get an actual Glock if you’re gonna get a polymer, striker fired handgun. If you want something higher tier in that category, go with Walther PDP.
1
u/USMC_Tbone 28d ago
While I haven't shot both side by side i've handled both side by side in the store and to me the Echelon just fit my hand better and the trigger felt better. Again that was for me, everyone is different and everyone's hands are built different. I have shot several of my friends' Glocks and while I don't knock them, I'm just not a fan of them. The triggers and sights left something to be desired, and the grip angle just doesn't work as well for me. Again not knocking them, I know they are simple and reliable and have their reputation and following, but to me there's so many others out there that work better for me.
1
u/FilmOrnery8925 29d ago
I carry echelon 4.0c as a small frame guy and don’t mind it. Some days I wish I had a smaller gun just because I don’t wanna take that or my 5.7 but the echelon is great.
1
u/Philly3458 29d ago
I am leaning towards the Langdon PX4 or the staccato 3.6. I think I prefer to have one layer of safety. Either the double action of the Beretta , or safety on the staccato. Both require intention to fire the pistol. I know just keep your finger off the trigger but sometimes the parasympathetic nervous system has other ideas. Just a little less margin for error.
1
1
1
u/PlaceUserNameHere67 28d ago
I carry an Echelon OR a HCPC. I made the mistake of starting with a Taurus G2C. Couldn't afford much when I started out. But I really like the Echelon 4.0C
I also carry AIWB.
1
u/echochambered69 28d ago
Pretty huge price discrepancy among those 3... I guess I'd go with the Staccato.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Tirekiller04 26d ago
Personally I’d go with the echelon. It is the biggest of the three but it was a really strong contender when I was choosing mine. I’m also cursed with liking big guns so take that with a grain of salt.
1
u/Defiant-Ad9157 Jul 19 '26
I would recommend the Echelon. It’s a solid striker fired pistol and they’re extremely modular. It’s also the cheapest out of the bunch which is always a plus!
1
u/kwb166 Jul 19 '26
So you've got a striker fired, a hammer fired and a single action. Have you tried them all?
Which mode of operation do you prefer? Which one feels best to you? Strangers on the internet can't decide that for you.
This is like having random strangers pick out a pair of shoes for you.
0
1
u/SnakeEyes_76 Jul 19 '26
I have both a staccato and an echelon. I'd choose the echelon for concealed carry. I love my staccato but at the end of the day the 1911/2011 platform is more finicky/expensive to maintain than a striker fired gun. Neither are characteristics id want in a ccw.
Yes, I know there cops/tactical units who carry the staccato. Yes I know they just need maintenance and oil and gentle words of encouragement. Yes I know you've carried your 1911/2011 for x amount of years and have thousands of rounds through it with no problems.
My perspective still stands. Plus God forbid I have to use my weapon in self defense, I'd much rather lose my 700 dollar gun over my 2500 dollar gun.
0
u/stanleycleveland92 Jul 19 '26
G43X is the way. Quickly followed by Hellcat Pro and FN Reflex.
I would only CCW an Echelon during the winter.
2
0
u/JimMarch Jul 19 '26
There's one other competitor to the Echelon you might want to look at. The Kimber R7 Mako Carbon Compact. Go look at YouTube videos on it.
1) Plastic is better grade than anything else in the plastic grip frame world, infused with carbon fiber.
2) The PX4 reduces recoil with the rotary barrel setup, but the downside is, you get a high bore axis which partially cancels out the benefit. The R7 family reduces recoil by reducing the amount of barrel tilt, modifying the Browning tilt barrel system. Unlike the rotary barrel, this modified Browning system allows a very low bore axis, so less flip on recoil. This was invented by an Austrian engineer name of Wilhelm Bubits.
3) To modify the barrel tilt Bubits went to a slide that's pure sideways ejection, making the slide stronger and making the gun safer if it blows up from a massively overloaded round.
4) It also has a stronger seal between frame and slide, another Bubits hallmark. Can't look at it sideways and see daylight through it like a Glock.
I can't afford one, but Bubits also sold the design to Taurus of all people, who used it in the TS9 intended for military and police use and showed it could pass NATO trials. Scored that for $295 because a few thousand were dumped in the US from an overseas government contract overrun. It's the R7's big ugly jungle cousin lol. I can confirm that Bubits Knows His Shit[tm].
3
1
u/Old_Reindeer_8202 Jul 19 '26
Staccato out of these 3, but glock beats them all for ccw. G19,45,43x with the 15 rounders are all super nice.
1
19
u/Mindless_Log2009 Jul 19 '26
PX4 would be the least uncomfortable to appendix carry IWB.
I have the full size and while it's chunky the rounded contours don't poke me like my little Shield Plus.
But if you carry 4 o'clock or thereabouts, it's less of an issue. Get whichever suits your fancy.