[10-Ring]

I've got a couple j frames - one steel, one alloy, a poly compact 9mm, and a full size poly 45. I keep going back to the alloy j frame because it's so easy to carry. Of the bunch the fullsize 45 is the hands down winner but not the easiest to conceal.
So, how did you make the compromise between easier to carry & the better shooter?

[Floppy_D]

For me, it's what I know I will carry all the time. On the one chance I will ever need it, it had better be on me. Someone on here said a Keltec in the pocket beats a Desert Eagle in the safe... that sums it up.

For me, it's a P229, but somedays I wish it was a P239.

[W.E.G.]

Thousands of rounds through dozens of guns.

Against my visceral judgment, I settled on the Glock for practical reasons.

I have other "carry guns." But, if I had to limit it to one, the choice would be the Glock by furlongs.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd7/rkba2da/pistol%20pics/Glock/kool_aidGlock.jpg

[Lou22]

What is reliable, will carry in a pocket comfortably, is of an adequate caliber, is affordable, and is easy and accurate to shoot. My Kahr PM9 and S&W 642 fit that description. I also carry a Kel-Tec P3AT where pockets are too small for the other two.

I might also get a Kahr PM45 when I can afford it. I like .45s but haven't found one quite compact enough.

Lou

[CWL]

I had it custom built to my specs. It was worth the wait. Had plenty of 'spares' to play with until it came back from the gunsmith.

[Monkeybear]

"Ease of carry" can be augmented though better holsters and different attire.

"Better shooter" can be augmented though practice.


The right compromise is the one you can shoot well, comfortably carry and that you feel confident with. Confidence is important. If you don't feel confident in the abilities of your chosen firearm get a different firearm. This applies to anything; reliability, capacity, ergonomics, or caliber. Get the smallest thing you feel confident with and them move on to practice.

Practice is the most important, essential aspect of your conceal carry rig. Practice, practice, practice. Attempt to become every bit as reliable and accurate as your firearm.

[9mmepiphany]

i went with the biggest gun i could conceal and then practiced enough to be comfortable with it

i have a S&W 642 for casual carry...but i'm looking to replace it with a Kahr PM9 because it's flatter

for more serious carry i lean toward a Sig 220 or Beretta 92/96

but the size that seems to work most of the time is my HK P-7 or my Glock 19...depending on what i'm wearing

[loop]

I always carry a KelTec P32, but when conditions permit I will add a Kahr MK40, a Tanfoglio compact poly in .45 ACP, a Para P12-45, a Tanfoglio full-size .45 ACP, a Kimber Custom .45 or sometimes a SIG P220.

Sometimes I'll carry the KT, the Kahr and one of the other above.

I pretty much always have something in addition to the KT. The Kahr and the Para are the most frequent because they are the easiest to hide.

It really just depends on how I'm going to dress and where I'm going.

[Black Adder LXX]

How did you decide on your perfect carry gun?

-I'll let you know when I find it :)

I've been carrying and M&P compact, but just got a 642 to try it out.

[P97]

I took what I could shoot best, and was the most reliable, and figured out a way to carry it. After getting used to it, I hardly notice I have it on. Wouldn't feel comfortable without it. The Holster stays on the belt all the time and I put the gun in when I put my clothes on, and take it out and put it on the headboard when I undress. Its just a part of my every day dress.

[ZeSpectre]

For the primary, it was the smallest gun I didn't mind doing regular practice with in the caliber I prefer.

For the BUG, it was the smallest -reliable- package I could find that could still reasonably hide in a pocket holster.

Good belts and holsters make ALL the difference!

[tinygnat219]

Perfect carry gun was selected for reliability, shootability, and concealability.
I ended up with the S&W 3913 Single Stack 9MM. It's got an aluminum frame and stainless steel slide. The Magazine holds 8, plus 1 in the chamber. This is the most reliable, comfortable shooting 9MM handgun I have ever held. It's never jammed, or failed me in any way.

My BUG is a KT P3AT. It was purchased for two reasons: Reliability (at least mine's been good), and concealability. It's my "go everywhere" gun.

[Vern Humphrey]

Uncle Sam issued me an M1911A1. I never found anything better.

[Black Majik]

I wish I could say the 1911, since it's what I'm most comfortable with. But the weight would wear me down towards the end of the day, even with a quality gunbelt and holster.

My next option was to find a compact, lightweight, polymer framed 9mm. I chose 9mm over .40 since it was easier to shoot. Shot placement over caliber. I narrowed down the action between condition 1, or DA/SA. A few choices came up:

Walther P99
HK USPc
HK P2000
SIG Pro

XD, Glock and M&P were already ruled out due to the action. The SIG and Walther was later ruled out due to how difficult it was to find accessories for it.

It came down to the USP and P2000. The USP had a huge advantage of being able to carry cocked and locked. But everything else favored towards the P2000. The P2000 had a better trigger, more ergonomic, thinner (well not on paper), and shared the USPc magazines and leather holsters.

I ended up with a P2000 V3 9mm, and am still happy with the decision.

[bigdaddydan]

the easiset to carry for each individual will vary the one that you can count on you know that in a life or death situation will fire no matter what would definitely only go with a well known named manufacturer who has torture tested their weapons and put them through hell and back

[jgo296]

s&w 296 because its a bad mambajamba
no its light serious firepower (i think j-frames are too small)
i carry it with out holster in pocket

[Monkeybear]

The P2000 is a hell of a gun, I second that recommendation.

[Tylden]

my old middle aged back (made out of old worn out parts) decided the Smith & Wesson 442 was the perfect CCW for me. I prefer the Barami hip grip / Tyler T grip combination instead of a holster and it is by far the most comfortable, very secure, and least PITA to deal with. I've carried this set up for almost 2 years now with no problems whatsoever. Oh...and at the end of the day I'm still walking in an upright position :)

[Drail]

I made the decision after building and shooting IPSC pistols for years. I watched all the big money pro sponsored shooters at all the National and regional matches. After seeing these unlimited high dollar guns choke and jam in the hands of the pros I decided my carry piece would have to be a revolver. All steel. 5 rounds of .44 Spl. Never failed once in twelve years. I have absolute confidence in it.

[CountGlockula]

Through self defense and ccw training.

[gretske]

I hate my Glock 27. It is plug ugly. Can't pretty up it with grips, etc. It is pedestrian; every swinging tie has one, so there is nothing special about it. Tell someone you have a Glock, and they go, “oh.” End of conversation.

It is OK to hate my Glock, but I always carry it. Nothing else works as well, conceals as well or is as reliable.

[bps3040]

I have to pocket carry during summer, so, the choice was easy. 642 in Mika holster. I did not trust the P3AT, because of all the problems they had. PM 9 is up next to try, but love my 642. Forget it is there...and no one has noticed.

[chris in va]

I haven't found it yet, and not rich enough to do so.

In the meantime I carry a SP101, Sig 220, CZ 75 or KelTec P11 depending on conditions.

[REPOMAN]

One that's comfortable carrying and goes bang everytime
the trigger is pulled.....:)
It can be big-small-black-stainless-big caliber-small caliber-plastic (sorry polymer)-steel----- all these don't matter as long as it meets the 2 main reasons.....

[mattk]

I have several depending on what I am wearing, what is like outside, etc.
Most often its a Colt Government .380 pocketlite. I know I know .380 is marginal but its easy to carry, easy to shoot and reliable.

Second most often is my BHP. Big but THIN. Lots of bullets in what I consider an excellent caliber when using hollow points.

Third is my Kimber 1911 in 9mm. I use this when I carry all day long. The alloy frame makes it nice on the old body.

All guns are single action. All my USPSA shooting and IDPA shooting led me to love the SA auto.

My wife carries a Colt Mustang and uses a BHP for her house gun.

AH commonality.

[1911 guy]

Been shooting the same type of handgun for years and it's pretty concealable, so why change?

I'd like to be able to say that I had a rigorous testing and trial procedure for deciding what gun to CCW, but I'd be telling a lie and my Grandad would come back from the grave and smack me. To avoid posthumous smacking, refer to the above paragraph.

[Zach S]

It was kind of an evolution.

At first it was a 3.5" 1911, then a 4", and for the past few years, its been a 5." I got a Model 85 for pocket carry/BUG, but it rarely gets used for either one. I havent fired it in years. I had a Kahr PM9, but traded it off.

I guess at first I leaned towards the smaller pistols for ease of concealment. Over time my carry gun has grown. With my attire, I can carry a government 1911 just as easily as a officer's model, so I carry a government model.

And to be honest, I dont worry too much about concealment. No one is going to notice other than CCWers anyway. If a LEO has ever made me they didnt say anything.

[Oro]

I go finally settled on what was the to me the best trade-off in these categories and in this order:

1) concealability/carryability (better be there instead of left at home)
2) reliability (better go bang every time)
3) power (the more the better, but controllable)

The "trifecta" for this was a S&W K-frame 2.5" .357 magnum. Power, controllable, concealable.

For woods carry/open carry, a 1911 or a .44mag are my choices. But for concealed, this is the ticket.

[frogger42]

For me, it was just years of trial and error.

[DWARREN123]

After owning/trying many calibers and paltforms I settled on GLOCK's, 23/27 in 40 S&W.

[Revolver Ocelot]

ask the people on thr ofcourse......oh wait thats us, well in that case I always pick my carry weapon based on the following:

what I have at my disposal gun wise.

what I am most comfortable shooting

what method of carry is most appropriate for weather and gun I choose to carry etc.

[possum]

i started with the xd service model, and loved it so much the decision to stay with the same type, make and company was easy, i just went with the .40 xd sc same mags etc. and it is great and what i carry everyday.

[Huckle2]

I started with S&W J-Frame, 340PD. Very light weight, very comfortable, creates big holes. I recently switched to a 4" 1911, 45 ACP. Tripled the weight but to me it's about "thin". The 1911 is thin. I purchased the Comp Tac C-T.A.C. (IWB) with a good belt. It's supports the weight which makes it comfortable. Not as comfortable as the J-frame admittedly, but I'm willing to give a little for 3 more rounds and faster reload (for me anyway.) It also allows me to be a little more accurate even at the 7-10 yd range.

[mortdooley]

I go against the common wisdom and carry in an ankle holster. When I carry anywhere else the gun is too small a caliber or too heavy to be comfortable so I can carry a 11 round 9mm rather then a 8 round .32. The real solution would be for me to dress in a way that makes concealed carry of a large handgun practical but I choose comfortable instead.

[doc2rn]

I can shoot it well, and I can carry it comfortably. If I can carry it comfortably I will take it with me, so I will always have it. Simple, hunh. Now go find the right one for you.

[AZHighCountry]

I have many to chose from but my Glock is carried about 90% of the time, my SP101 357 about 9% and other about 1%.

Glock is chosen mostly because it always works and is the one I would miss the least if it was used and if you use it you will most likely loose it. Even if completely justified without question it will be held and the chances of getting it back are slim.

Apparently one of the departments in northern AZ (I think it was Prescott), know this. Ther was a story a while back about them buying a new gun for a citizen that used his to defend a police officer that needed help. They knew he would probably never get it back and replaced it.

[orionengnr]

After I got my CHL, I bought one of everything. :) Seems that way, anyway.

Not all at once, but buy, try, sell. Only ended up keeping a few, and of those, I am so comfortable and confident in my Kahr PM9 that I carry it about nine months of the year.

When "winter" (such as it is in TX) rolls around and I can wear more clothing, I turn to my Kahr P45, or my alloy-framed 3" Kimber 1911. Or, once in a blue moon, my S&W 4" M-66.

But the PM9 gets more carry time than all the others put together...