• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • m243The M24: America’s Headhunter
        • skorpFull-Auto Fun — Shooting the full-Auto vz. 61 Škorpion
        • p320-full-leftSIG Sauer M17/M18/P320 Pistol Just Can’t Seem to Escape Safety Controversies
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Hunting in TexasThese 5 ATV Dealers Will Get You Ready For Hunting Season in Texas
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Tom and Blake Sell TeaHow Sasquatch Tea Is Revitalizing a Stagnant Tea Market With Veterans and Outdoorsmen in Mind
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Concealed Carry

Choosing a Concealed Carry Pistol – Reliability

April 8, 2018 by The Arms Guide Guest Writer Leave a Comment

5 Concealed Carry Revolvers For Less Than $500

There are several factors to consider when evaluating a pistol for concealed carry, including ergonomics, size, capacity, and reliability. Reliability is the subject of this post, but I will also discuss some of the other elements that come into play when choosing a concealed carry pistol.

If there arises a self defense situation where a concealed carrier needs to draw their pistol and they find that it doesn’t function, the situation becomes even more dire. So, reliability is a very important factor when choosing a handgun specifically for CCW. But, how does one determine a firearm’s reliability?

There are several guns that are generally accepted as “reliable” because of their manufacturer’s reputation. An excellent example would be Glock. Glock has established this reputation over time, especially with their use in law enforcement and through “torture tests.” In these “torture tests,” people subject their firearms through extreme use. One of the more well known examples is the testing Chuck Taylor subjected upon his Glock 17. He fired 100,000 rounds through it and noted how the Glock performed through that use (quite well).

Reliability can be somewhat subjective, though. Some demand performance like Taylor’s Glock, while others are contented by hearsay or brand reputation. Personally, when I am looking to make a firearm purchase, I read at least a dozen reviews and I search through YouTube videos to see how the particular firearm I’m considering performs. In this search, there are some sources I trust above others, such as Hickok45 or the Military Arms Channel, but I compare their experience against that of others to get a more thorough understanding of the firearm’s performance with as little bias as possible.

Although it may not always be an option, if I have access to the pistol (whether through a friend or through renting at a local range), I try to put as many rounds through the fireram I’m considering as possible before making that final purchasing decision. When shooting to evaluate reliability, I select several kinds of ammunition (from bottom shelf FMJ through the types of self defense ammo I plan to carry) for testing. It’s most important to me that the gun will shoot reliably with the ammo I plan to carry in it, but I also want to know that the pistol will perform without error with ammo that I may use to train. I’m not likely going to carry with the cheapest ammo I can find, but it does make it easier to train more when I can afford more rounds.

Whether I’m shooting, or I’m counting on the reviews of others, I want to know, with every shot fired, that the round feeds, the slide cycles, and then the casing ejects successfully. Military or law enforcement evaluations are sources I seek out (if the option is available), and I compare performance through the experience of others and my own trigger time. How do you determine reliability?

by Destinee

Destinee is also a vlogger. She publishes videos on weapons, gear, and fitness on her YouTube channel every Tuesday and Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Taurus

Share This

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
    Mossberg Shockwave Versus Remington Tac 14
  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
    Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
  • The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
    The Biggest Little Roundgun: The 3-Inch Kimber K6s
  • Smith and Wesson Governor Range Review
    Smith and Wesson Governor Range Review

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Leland on Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
  • Winston Smiths on Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
  • Jared Mize on The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife: A Commando Blade That Changed Special Forces Forever

Latest From SOFREP

News

Evening Brief: Hollywood Driver Slams Into Crowd, Americans Freed From Venezuela

Military

Russia’s War of Exhaustion: Bleeding Ukraine by Design

SOF

US Army Special Operations Command Issues “Duty To Warn” Notification Regarding Possible Terrorist Threat

Editorial Cartoon

Justice: Delayed, Denied or Redacted?

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers