19
Discrete EDC without wardrobe update? (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 month ago by hungrybread@hexbear.net to c/guns@hexbear.net
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Yo, questions regarding EDC. I currently own a handgun but its definitely too large to use as a CCW or EDC. What are folks thoughts and experiences with compact and micro compact pistols?

My main concern is concealment while wearing t-shirts, sweat shorts, or thinner fabrics (think 'fem' clothes on a 'male' body type). I do wear a wait purse / fanny pack when I go out and would entertain getting one for cc purposes (it better be cute though).

I'm very interested in the Canik Mete MC9 for its size, trigger, price, and because my pistol is another Canik. Ive shot the Mete Prime (couldn't rent the mc9) and liked it, but besides the grip texture I'm unsure how much of an upgrade it is over the mc9, plus besides width it is much larger.

Also tried the sig sauer p365x (hard pass, hated the trigger), PDP 9 compact (nice but def feels like it will print) recently while testing things for edc, and an RXM, and some glocks just generally while browsing a few months ago. Not married to canik but like what ive felt + the convenience of having a couple of guns that can use the same mags and ammo.

Any tips for things to look for or try? Anyone have experience with the Mete Prime and Mete MC9 that has extra insight? Any tips on things new edc folks tend to overlook?

Thanks so much in advance!

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] no_pretext@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Enigma is the only choice for clothes-independant AIWB. Check out Tessa Booth for examples and Deep Carry theory.

The Mete should be good, just make sure whichever one you pick fits. The Prime is roughly the size of a Glock 43x MOS which is the sweet spot for many people. I find the G43 conceals better (MC9 size).

Fits as in, there is room for your support hand on the grip between your strong hand fingers and strong hand heel, and the trigger reach isn't too much or too little. If you are gripping your fingers or cranking down on your strong hand you won't be able to hit anything or recover consistantly between shots. Joel Park explains this well. Many gun counter workers think that fit is how good a gun feels in your hand, this does not affect how it will shoot.

Tenicor and Joel Park are excellent resources for shooting technique, they promote a progressive style that is easy to learn and apply and gets results.

If you don't already plan to get one, an optic will increase your functional ability by a lot compared to iron sights.

Hornady Critical Defense 124gr +P and Federal HST ammo was found to be the best by probably the most comprehensive and scientific study of handgun ballistics ever, the one the FBI did in the 90s/2000s.

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Enigma is the only choice for clothes-independant AIWB. Check out Tessa Booth for examples and Deep Carry theory.

Haven't checked out Tessa Booth or Deep Carry theory yet but from the little reading i've done on the engima it definitely looks like the route i'll be taking when getting a cc weapon.

The Mete should be good, just make sure whichever one you pick fits. The Prime is roughly the size of a Glock 43x MOS which is the sweet spot for many people. I find the G43 conceals better (MC9 size).

Yeah, the grip on the prime and the 43x both seem like they would print on most of my wardrobe without some noticeable changes (maybe the enigma would handle that better than I expect though). After checking out some forums it seems like the MC9 has some quality control issues that were never really sorted out, so i'm leaning away from it now. The G43 seems pretty nice, although i can understand complaints about the capacity.

Tenicor and Joel Park are excellent resources for shooting technique ... Hornady Critical Defense 124gr +P and Federal HST ammo was found to be the best by probably the most comprehensive and scientific study of handgun ballistics ever, the one the FBI did in the 90s/2000s.

Thanks so much for these tips, will be checking them out.

Fits as in, there is room for your support hand on the grip between your strong hand fingers and strong hand heel, and the trigger reach isn't too much or too little. If you are gripping your fingers or cranking down on your strong hand you won't be able to hit anything or recover consistantly between shots.

Took me a min but pretty sure i'm picking up what you're saying. I'll check out what Park said about this too.

If you don't already plan to get one, an optic will increase your functional ability by a lot compared to iron sights.

thanks for the reminder - pricing out optics is on the todo list still. Do you find that optics impact usability of your enigma system much? Or reduce concealability considerably?

[-] no_pretext@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

I really can't say enough good things about the Enigma, it's surprisingly flexible and makes carrying low enough effort that I can devote my energy elsewhere and get on with my life instead of worrying about my shirt material or reaching too high.

The regular 43's capacity is definitely it's worst aspect, Shield Arms and Magguts make magazines/follower assemblys respectively that increase the capacity to 9+1 or 8+1. Shield Arms also makes 15 round mags for the 43x although 43x and 43 mags are incompatible.

It's also worth mentioning that the 43 needs to be milled for an optic, adding an extra $100 to it's price tag.

The S&W Shield Plus Optics Ready is between the two in size, has a better trigger than the Glock, and has 10+1 capacity.

I find that optics do not negatively impact concealment at all. They actually kind of smooth things out if that makes sense, helping to round out the top of the slide and filling in the drop between the slide and the top edge of the holster/inner Enigma belt.

Something like a Holosun EPS Carry is only about 60% larger than a sugar cube for reference, the RMSc/Holosun K footprint CC optics are smaller than full sized ones.

Vortex Defender CCW ($250) and Swampfox Sentinel ($50!) are some cheap options for CC optics, but you can find a used EPS Carry on TacSwap or eBay for $280 if you look for a couple weeks.

[-] Vingst@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Phlster Enigma is nice to wear with anything and you can hide the gun in your waistband if you want deep concealment. I think there are homebrew options like it too.

Smallest gun I like is the Smith and Wesson Bodyguard 2.0.

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 2 points 1 month ago

Thanks for the tips! The enigma looks pretty nice, I'll definitely be looking into it. Have you usually used the express or os variant?

How are your experiences with the bodyguard 2?

[-] no_pretext@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Not OP, the Enigma Express comes with a holster and the Enigma OS you provide your own. I use the Express for the P365 and G43, the PHLster holster is really nice, cheap and has everything I'm looking for.

[-] Vingst@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Express is what I have used. I got the stretchy comfort band for it. I don't like scraping my cuticles and knuckles on the carbon fiber when drawing, so I covered the edge with a strip of moleskin. The non-Express might be more adjustable but the Express is more compact overall.

Bodyguard 2.0 is just incredibly small but it shoots well for me. Nice, easy to pick up iron sights. One of the magazines had a follower installed backwards, but that was easy to fix myself. One failure to feed on the first few rounds through it and has been running fine since. I haven't shot it that much though. Like maybe 200 rounds. It shoots .380acp instead of 9mm, so it's not quite as powerful but I think 10 easy to aim rounds is enough stopping power. Bear in mind James Bond and most European police forces used the even less powerful .32acp for most of the 20th century. Pick out defensive ammo that performed well here https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/#380ACP

[-] no_pretext@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Love the moleskin on my Enigma, I put it on the body side as well

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago

I had a chance to try out the Bodyguard 2.0 today and was really impressed! Definitely strongly considering picking one up now.

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 1 points 4 weeks ago

Hello again! After much deliberation, price hunting, and renting I ended up picking up both the Bodyguard 2.0 and an Enigma Express. Both are in my hands as of yesterday, so far really impressed with the enigma! still need to dial it in but its pretty slick.

did you find that the bodyguard 2.0 takes a little time to break in? When renting I felt like I could hit anything but with the brand new gun (shot 50 rounds at a range) I felt a little off. Not particularly worried about that b/c i'll practice with it, just curious.

[-] Vingst@hexbear.net 2 points 3 weeks ago

Is it a consistent group off center?

One thing I forgot to mention was that if I press too high on the trigger, the trigger safety paddle doesn't depress enough before catching on the frame. Seems like a bad flaw actually if an unpracticed shooter is trying to shoot under stress. Seems like the hinge point for the trigger safety is too low. Does yours do that?

[-] Vingst@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Also with any conceal carry holster I like to attach a wedge of foam on the body side of the holster near the bottom, in order to lever the top grip part of the gun in toward my body.

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago

Is that for comfort or access?

[-] no_pretext@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

It's to push the grip of the gun into your lower abdomen, using your belt as a fulcrum. This reduces printing with traditional AIWB.

[-] hungrybread@hexbear.net 3 points 1 month ago

Makes sense, good to know!

this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2026
19 points (100.0% liked)

guns

2709 readers
109 users here now

“Under no pretext"

Rules (Under review):

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
Wake@hexbear.net
Sulvy@hexbear.net