Like much in life, handgun size is a compromise. There are some people who do carry full-size service pistols, typified by the Glock 17 and the Smith and Wesson M&P. realistically, this is difficult for most people to do if they want to truly conceal the gun. The ubiquitous Glock 19 has been so well-received because it does prove easier to carry than the “full-size” Glock 17 due to slightly reduced dimensions, but it still provides service pistol capability. The Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact also hits the universally heralded Glock 19 dimensions. There is a lot of merit to the argument that the G19-sized “compact” auto is the do-it-all handgun, as they prove more concealable than duty guns but maintain almost the same performance, for most.
Still many, likely a majority, of concealed carriers struggle to conceal the compact sized pistol. Hence, the “micro 9mm” category of handgun is the most often purchased, and most often carried, type of pistol at our current time. Especially now in the guise of higher capacity tiny guns, really brought about by the Sig Sauer P365 pistol, this class of gun dominates the concealed carry market. These micro guns have now morphed into options offering a full-length grip, but maintaining the thin frame of the micro guns, which many people like.
The micro 9 craze has, to a great extent, overshadowed the longer-established class of guns known as “sub-compact” models. But despite the new hotness of micro 9s, I think sub-compact handguns remain optimal carry guns for a variety of reasons. Sub-compact autos are typified by the Smith and Wesson M&P Sub-Compact, the H&K VP9sk, and the OG, the Glock 26.
Sub-compact autos turn many people off due to their truncated grip, as many only feel comfortable with a gun that allows an entire hand purchase. However, the short grip on sub-compacts provides great flexibility, because they can be uber-concealable with a flush-fit magazine, or be far more shootable with an extended magazine that provides a full grip. Sub-compacts, when using an extended mag, typically shoot softer than micro 9s (not always, but often) because they are full-frame guns, wider and heavier, even though they are shortened in grip and slide length. Finally, a true benefit to sub-compact pistols is the fact that they can take any of the larger magazines from their full-size siblings in the lineup, a huge advantage.
I think sub-compacts offer the ideal balance between concealment and capability, as they conceal much easier than full-size guns but offer performance that is, realistically, not far from the duty-sized variants. Sub-Compacts are truncated service pistols, not micro pistols, yet they carry almost as easy as a micro but perform close to a full-size.
For some more detail on the sub-compact class of pistol, take a look at my video about the G26:
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