[bratch]

I've ran a search for this but the terms are so broad too large a selection comes up.

What should one look for in a carry pistol? I know this is a very very broad topic but I'm looking for basic principles with percise examples. Such as "Flat sights such as a Glock/HK/Sig".

If you can follow my logic your doing better than me:D

Gracias

[Standing Wolf]

I'd suggest reliability, reliability, and reliability: your life may depend on it.

[berettaman]

RELIABILTY!RELIABILITY!RELIABILITY!
What you shoot well and are able to trust your life with.I love guns of all kinds but I carry a 92G Centurian because it's a good size for me.I have big hands and it fills them up perfectly for me.It has night sights so I can pickup the sights in low light,my eyes aren't young anymore.It's a 15+1 capacity of 9mm 147gr JHP for good stopping ability and I know it will go BANG if and when I need it.I carry it IWB and dress accordingly,yeah I could find something smaller but I like it.
It comes down to what you feel comfortable with,nothing else matters,really.

[mpthole]

Reliable, accurate and comfortable.

If you plan on toting it around for 8 hours or more it has to be comfortable! Of course, a lot of the comfort factor has as much to do with the belt & holster combination you choose as it does the gun. So choose wisely. ;) Like many folks here - including me - you'll probably end up with a box of holsters after a while just from all of the experimenting to see what works. So, I'll try to save you some time and money and just say that in general, "you get what you pay for".

For example: There is a reason people will carry a 1911 in a Milt Sparks VM2 or SS2 for ~$100 versus a Fobus paddle for ~$20. Its because of a superior product and the comfort factor.
I know this is a very very broad topic but I'm looking for basic principles with percise examples. Such as "Flat sights such as a Glock/HK/Sig IMO, any of those choices you listed could be the "ideal" carry gun for you (since they are all considered at least reliable and accurate), as long as they are comfortable - which brings me back to my original point. A good belt and holster will go a l o n g ways in letting you carry an few extra pounds around with you all day.

Whatever gun you choose - it has to be the best for you in terms of fit and accuracy. Like I said in another thread... I love my HKs, but I'm falling in love with my 1911s! I'm just able to draw, aim and shoot them faster and more accurately.

Best of luck in your decision! :)

[Josey]

I put this in simple terms. Budget. How much have you got? How much is your caliber going to cost to feed? Extra mags, custom features, grips, holsters and maybe dies for reloading going to cost? If you already shoot 9MM, why buy a 380? Fit and comfort. Does it fit your hand. Is the recoil OK? Is the holster comfortable for 10-12 hours a day? Upkeep. Have you a cleaning kit? Do you know how to use it? Do you understand how to oil? The final area is security. Where will you secure the CCW? Do you have a cleaning woman, children or overnight visitors? Will you leave it in your car while at work? The choice of a CCW is like getting someone elses dog to mind. That dog has one master.

[Valkman]

To me you pick what features you want in a carry gun, buy one and then make sure it's reliable. For me I wanted .45acp, lightweight and night sights so I got a Kimber Compact CDP. Perfect! Then take it out and put a few hundred rounds through it - not any rounds but the rounds you want to carry. Once it feeds hundreds of those perfectly, with no hangups, then you have yourself a carry gun. :)

[eyz]

That's like asking what's the best suit, shoe or car. I don't know. Whatever fits you.

[bratch]

I wasn't quite looking for say "The Glock is the best gun". More along the lines of a gun with an external safty/etc is preferable because....

But thats all subjective as well.
Thanks guys

[Alan Fud]

... a gun with an external safty/etc is preferable because ...

According Massad Ayoob (an active Police Captain up in New England) if you should ever lose control of your gun, the person who grabs it will need at LEAST a few seconds to figure out where the safety is and how to disengage it. Thus giving you time to either grab the gun back or seek cover or whatever. Ayoob has documented cases where people were saved from being shot with their own gun because the gun had a safety and the safety was engaged.

[MJRW]

I like to add in to all the above requirements the following:

You enjoy firing it.

You are more likely to take it to the range and practice with it if you enjoy it.

[OF]

Specific features are certianly debateable, and many are personal preferrence, but here are some of the qualities I've found to be important in a carry gun:

- Reliable. Not only so it doesn't actually fail you mechanically, but you need to have 100% confidence in your weapon, mental confidence.

- Action type / caliber. It should be of an action type and caliber that you shoot well, manipulate well and are comfortable with. Many people are uncomfortable with certain action types (like single action, 'cocked & locked' for instance) and those weapons are best avoided for those people. Me, I could never get a good handle on shooting DA/SA autos ala Sig or Beretta, etc. As was said earlier, you want to enjoy shooting it so you will be inclined to practice with it.

- Comfortable. I never realized how much flatness had to do with comfort (carrying IWB) until I traded my Glock in for a single-stack 1911. Like night and day. The 1911 is so much more comfortable to carry it is not even funny. The flatness of a gun is going to be more imprtant IWB than OWB, but it's a major consideration. The size of the magazines is also a consideration. When I carried my Glock, I found the spare mag almost harder to conceal than the gun (a G29). Eventually I found myself putting the mag in a pocket instead of a pouch on my belt (bad idea), then I found I wasn't carrying the mag at all (another bad idea). The 1911 mags are so slim, I'm back to carrying a spare on the belt all the time. Big improvement. Your mileage may vary, of course.

- Comforting. The gun should make you feel comforted that it's there. You should be proficient in it's use and handling, and have the gun in a caliber you shoot well and personally have confidence in. Get a weapon you feel is effective.

- Affordable. This means different things to different people. It means not only can you afford the gun, but the ammunition - both carry and practice - in quantities needed to become proficient and maintain that proficiency. This also means that the accessories and such are affordable. A good belt, good magazines, holster, spare parts, etc.

Happy hunting! Try out as many guns of different types as you can before making your decision.

- Gabe

[OF]

the person who grabs it will need at LEAST a few seconds to figure out where the safety is and how to disengage it.This is my argument against Glocks for LE use. I don't think it's as big a deal with CC'ers, due to the 'concealed' part. But a manual safety is a real good idea on a gun that's likely to be snatched away from you...as cops guns routinely are.

- Gabe

[popbang]

One issue I haven't seen here is does the gun fit you. Is comfortable to shoot? Does it point easy? Try and shoot many brands and types to see what just feels right.

[OF]

Good point, Fred. Make sure the gun fits - just like a tailored shirt: how's the grip size? The reach to the trigger? Can you reach the controls without contorting your hand?

Good stuff.

- Gabe

[SpikeEVO]

Many people will disagree with me, but I think weight and size are the most important... and by that I mean that I would eliminate full size guns or heavy guns from my list of possible CCW weapons first.

Murphy's law applies to everything in life, so even though you think you'll be perfectly safe making that trip to the 7-11 store unarmed on July 4th to pick up ice (since it's "too hot to carry and hide that big heavy pistol"), that is the day Murphy's law will strike and you will need it to save your life.

In a life or death situation away from home where you need it, a gun in your nightstand instead of on your hip can/will lead to your death...

The absolute most important aspect of any CCW piece (to me) is that it be with you at ALL TIMES POSSIBLE, and that means that it has to be small and light so that it can be concealed at all times almost irregardless of what I am wearing. Guns like the Kahr PM9 or PM40 and the Jframe S&W revolvers are ideal CCW pieces in my opinion, good 12 months out of the year with the right holsters, even in July and August when your wearing only shorts and a t-shirt.

Everything else comes after that to me...

Now, if you can afford multiple CCW guns, then a "winter carry" CCW can break this rule of mine, and I might go looking at action types first and foremost, and then calibers and loadings. 9x19? .40? .357? .45acp? double action? single action? DAO? glock style striker fired? These are the things I would start my list with, then I would go shopping within that list for the gun that has a great reliability record, that fits my hand best, and which are cheapest to purchase, probably narrowing my choices in that order.


FWIW, YMMV, insert legal disclaimers, etc :)

[Archie]

Has to be small enough to hide, but big enough to hold on to and control.

Has to be light enough to hide, but heavy enough not to beat you with recoil.

Has to be powerful enough to incapacitate an adversay, but not too hard to control.

Has to be 'smooth' enough to not snag on clothes and holsters and yet have enough sights to aim with.

Has to be simple to operate (shoot, load and make safe) under stress.

Has to work all the time.

[45+]

I look for the following things in a CCW, in this order:

Safe – fully loaded and ready to fire!
Concealable – it’s not legal if it is visible!
Reliable – no jams, misfeeds, or misfires!
Available – “packable” enough to be with me all the time!
Powerful – It must be capable of stopping a perpetrator!

There is nothing wrong with switching Concealable and Reliable, but SRCAP does not spell anything I recognize. And if I am going to carry it, it has to meet all of these criteria or I start over.

I carry a Glock 21 primary and either a Taurus 455 45 ACP 2” or a Taurus 605 .357 2” with Laser Grips as BUG. I can, in a pinch use either BUG as a primary if the dress code prohibits the G21, but I try to always carry 2. or more…

[Flashpoint]

Reliable- nuf said

comfortabel-if it's not comfortable then you'll be reluctant to carry it. A good holster can have a lot to do with this

shootable-if you can't shoot it naturally, then it'll be hard to use under stress. What I mean is a gun you can hit the target with fast without having to use the sites, and can do it more than once.

size-make sure it's big enough to get the job done.

[SkaerE]

Concealable – it’s not legal if it is visible!

bwaaa?

maybe not in Texas, but its perfectly legal here in Virginia. In fact, its the only way you can carry into a place that serves alcohol.

[Nick96]

I assume you are not particularly "into" shooting 500 rounds per week, or spending thousands of dollars to obtain & "race tune" a handgun. Or invest considerable time & money in handloading custom loads for competition use. Or significantly alter your wardrobe & obtain "situation specific" carry rigs.

I expect you want something that's likely to be there when you need it (light, small & easy to carry), is absolutely reliable, you don't have to "fuss over" it much, is simple & safe to operate under stress, is of a substantial caliber, controllable & accurate to about 20 feet.

The answer is - light weight .38 Special snub nose revolver. You pick the brand - anything from S&W, Ruger, Taurus or Rossi will do. Personally, I think the S&W J frame 642 is the best of the current crop. And right now they can be purchaced brand new most anywhere for under $400. S&W has been producing variations of this basic handgun for over 50 years. Sales and appeal have remained strong regardless of the latest technology and "popular fads" for all that time. That says a lot for the usefulness & appeal of this particular "personal protection" weapon.

Start there first. If personal preferance, interest or special circumstance dictates - try others. Most quality mass production handguns from the major manufacturers aren't really all that expensive - less than $700. And, if you "really need it", this isn't a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. What gets expensive is buying "less than suitable" equipment - then trying to make do with it. Sit down and list the really likely situations where you will need a handgun. Determine the operational features, performance expectations & safety requirements needed - and make your selection from there. For the vast majority of "private citizens" - a quality double action revolver that will chamber .38 Special ammunition is more than adequate.

PS: Need additional validation of my position? Go to the "Revolvers" section of this forum and read the post titled "Old Gun, Old Man".

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=79719

[natedog]

Here's a quote from Tamara. Seems like good advice.

"The purpose of a fighting handgun is to hit your opponent with a projectile that will kill him, and do it many times in rapid succession. Simply put, the 1911 is a superlative tool for doing this."

[45+]

SkaerE -

§ 46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.

(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that
the actor, at the time of the commission of the offense, displayed
the handgun under circumstances in which the actor would have been
justified in the use of deadly force under Chapter 9.


In Texas, display of your CCW in public is a crime, unless you were justified to use deadly force when you displayed it.

Please forgive my ignorance but what is bwaaa?

[Treylis]

Please forgive my ignorance but what is bwaaa?

I believe he was making a bit more of an enthusiastic "bah, that ain't so". ;-)

I would have added a disclaimer that in some states, it's illegal to carry openly instead of just making a blanket statement like that. Personally, concealability is utterly a non-issue with me--I like the big, heavy guns, and I tend to carry openly most of the time anyways. Plus, my body frame and clothing choices allows me to conceal quite easily things that a lot of other people would probably have a problem with.

[SkaerE]

45+,

thats fine bud, your state your laws.

not in Virginia though.

dont think the original poster said where he was from (but i could be wrong) just thought i'd point out that open carry is perfectly legal in many states.

suprisingly not in Texas though (land of the gunslingers) :)

anyhow, no biggie.

and yeah, bwwwaaaaa is my written term for "hey thats not true" or "i dont understand"

:evil:

[45+]

SkaerE and Treylis -

My apologies for making a blanket statement. I will try to qualify such statements in the future.

I, too, like some big guns. A Glock 21 or a Taurus Tracker is my usual CCW.

I do, however, still consider concealability a major issue aside from the legal issue in my jurisdiction. It could earn you the "first guy shot" award if you are openly carrying in the presence of armed felons in the act and they take note of that before the festivities begin.

I also find it interesting that open carry is the only way to carry in an establishment that serves liquor in Virginia, while in Texas CHL'ers can carry if not over 50% of the income is derived from sale of alcohol. If over 50% is from the sale of alcohol, CHL'ers cannot carry there.

I check the laws when traveling in, to, or through another jurisdiction and make every effort to be a law abiding citizen. Since I live in Texas, and for the reason mentioned above, I will continue to think of Concealability as one of the important criteria in my CCW Qualities list.

[Richard]

Let me have a stab at this one. The handgun has to be small enough and light enough that you don't mind having it with you 24/7. It should be a handgun that you can easily find a good holster and belt to use with it. It is no great shakes ordering a custom holster and waiting two months for it.

It's caliber has to be large enough to get the job done; for me the best calibers are .357 and larger. In my minds eye the weapon needs good sights but I am not sure this is a requirement in a self defense situation.

Once you have gotten this far the handgun has to be one that you shoot well. The biggest cannon isn't going to do you any good if you can't put two shots together in short order.

Now is the time for you to laugh. What do I carry on a regular basis? I carry a Bersa Thunder 45. Why? It works for me.

Regards, Richard :D

[dairycreek]

Dear bratch:

Although you have asked for specific kinds of recommendations let me add an important, although admittedly more esoteric than specific, CCW characteristic. No concealed carry weapon exists in the absence of someone to carry it! In short, concealed carry weapons don't just exist in some sore of vacuum by themselves alone. It takes someone to make a choice to conceal, carry, practice with, use, etc. Given that, what weapon will you persistently and consistently choose to carry with you? That is THE best CCW.

For me that has turned out to be a CZ P-01. Good shooting;)

[MrPink]

OK, others may have expressed my sentiment but let me have a go at it:

1) Reliable. The gun must go bang when I need it to and not when I don't. Simple logic here: A gun that won't fire makes for a substandard club.

2) Comfortable. If the gun is not comfortable someday you're gonna leave it a home and who knows that may be the someday you need it. Small and light are the general rules to make it comfortable.

Accuracy kinda counts but if I were to ever need a gun for social purposes I doubt I'll be firing on a 50 foot bullseye range. Any quality gun is fine out to 10 yards.