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I think the real decision is between IWB and OWB since you are considering which holster to buy. CC vs OC is an element in that decision, since it is usually a little bit easier to CC if you are using an IWB holster. If you are using an OWB holster, then you need some type of cover garment in order to CC. But if you want to use an IWB holster, then you need some looser fitting pants, and unless you are comfortable wearing a tuckable holster you still need to un-tuck your shirt. Personally, I feel like more of a slob when wearing loose fitting jeans than I do when my shirt is untucked. So I use an OWB almost always when CC'ing.

It also depends on what you mean by concealed carry. To qualify, you just need to have the butt of the gun concealed by a cover garment and the rest of the gun can be concealed by your holster. Some may not consider it true "concealed" carry if part of their holster is visible, so if you are in that camp, then IWB may be a better choice. Obviously if you are using an open muzzle OWB holster, then you need a much longer cover garment.

Fluidic wrote:Thanks for the replies. I'm mainly asking because I would like to carry a full size pistol over a compact one. Most compact pistols I've held/shot always seem to be too small for my hands. For instance, my friend's wife has an M&P Shield and my pinky hangs off the bottom of the mag well making it something I wouldn't want to use in a life or death situation.
Aside from that, I've read a lot that compacts are usually more comfortable to carry concealed. I'm open to suggestions on some compact pistols for those with bigger hands. Hopefully I don't find one I really like or my wife will kill me.

I have big hands and I have found that a 1911 with an Officer's size frame fits my whole hand and is very easy to conceal. I have found that this size frame is a great mix of accuracy, capacity (8 rounds of .45), shooting comfort, and concealment. You can also get the same frame with a Commander size slide for better accuracy.

That said, if you aren't too worried about possibly printing, then it is pretty easy to carry something like a full sized 1911 or a Glock 19 / 17.

I don't really have a problem shooting compacts, even though one finger is hanging off the grip. J-frame revolvers work, as does my Kahr PM-9 and even my Kel-Tec P3AT. Generally though, bigger is better. Larger guns = more accuracy, more capacity, and less recoil, with the trade off being comfort and concealment.