Confidence in your Carry Piece

[Hypnogator]

I have been looking for a long time for a carry piece I have confidence in. I upgraded my Kel-Tec P-32 to a Ruger LCP, but still consider the .380 ACP marginal for defense, and the trigger-pulls on both weapons detracted seriously from my ability to shoot them accurately. Oh, I can keep all shots within about a 4" circle at 7 yds, but that doesn't give me confidence in taking head shots at longer ranges, in the unlikely event that I'm required to.

Then, I got a Kel-Tec PF-9 that is almost as handy to carry as the LCP. Still, 9mm is not as powerful as I would like, and the trigger-pull on it is almost as bad as the LCP.

Yesterday, after finally having adjusted the rear sight (was shooting left) and mounting an Armalaser on it, I put 100 rds through my new Walther PPS. Although I'm not a big fan of the Glock-type trigger-pull, it's orders of magnitude better than the long DAO triggers on my other weapons. After zeroing the laser, I put two magazines into one ragged quarter-sized hole in the bottom half of the silver dollar-sized black on the sight-in target, with one flyer less than 1/2" out to the lower left, at 7 yds. Using the laser, I hit the head-sized target every time at 25 yds. I finished up the 100-rd box on some discarded "dirty bird" targets at 7 yds by aiming for the numbers in the scoring rings and shooting them out. Obliterated the numbers about half the time, shot less than 1" from them every time. The gun functioned flawlessly.

It just melts into my side in an IWB holster, even under a compression-type T-shirt (albeit not a tight one), and the .40 S&W stoked with Federal 165-gr HSTs are second only to premium 230-gr .45 JHPs in stopping power.

I still love my Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro for winter or formal wear under a jacket or suit coat, and will carry my LCP as my "always" gun, but for routine carry under the lightest of clothing, my PPS will be my go-to gun for the foreseeable future!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have confidence in every gun that I carry. I shot back to back Modified Double Action courses a few weeks ago using several different guns of different makes and barrel lengths. 3 of the guns I had only shot a hand full of shells through before, but still scored well with them.

 

[psyshack]

I have 100% confidence in my PF-9.

While I can change up and do, say J-Frame or other semi's. The PF-9 and it's ability's with practice make it my near perfect personnel combat weapon of choice.

Yeah the 9mm seems a tad light to some. But for up front in your face work. And that is the only work I feel I should be doing as a cc holder. The pistol is the very last option.

If I thought I needed a small feather weight sort-a want to be conceal pistol other than my PF-9 in a different caliber. Theres not one made that meets my needs. If I wanted more bang in a auto. I would hands down go with small Glock 10mm. If I had to have a revolver I would pick up a 60 Pro like my wife has.

 

[gbran]

I have 14 handguns. My main carry pieces are my Glock G26 and my Colt Series 80. Both have been rock solid dependable, easy and accurate to shoot.

 

[orionengnr]

I carry every handgun I own. If it doesn't get carried or shot frequently, it gets sold. Oops...my .22s don't get carried, but they sure get shot.

I try to go to the range once a week, and am mostly successful in doing so.
Today I put 50 rounds through my Ruger MkII, 50 rounds of my handloads through my LCP, 50 rounds of my handloads through my EDC Kimber Eclipse Pro II, five rounds through my DW 10mm CBOB (front sight pin disappeared, grrr...).

I have confidence in each of my carrry guns because I shoot them frequently.

 

[riseagainstforme]

I'm 100% confident with my S&W M&P .40 full size. I carry it everyday except while working. I gotta find something smaller that I can carry in the front of my pants. Looking at a LCP.

 

[MikeNice]

I'm 100% on my carry gun or it stops being my carry gun. I think it should be always be that way.

 

[hardluk1]

In a hangun for carry caliber is not nearly as big a deal as most make it out to be it's more about shot placement and getting that 2ud quick followup shot on target. To many BG get hit muti times from a 45 with pore shoot placement and end up home in a few days . Just learn to shoot what feels best to better. My rotation is all 9mm. pf-9 or now a kahr cw9. Maybe one day my baby glock .

 

[wow6599]

3 guns I carry most - 3" SP101, LCP and M&P9. Only the LCP makes me nervous.......and only the LCP is for sale.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Can you post a picture showing the comparison between your Ruger LCP and Walther PPS? These are two guns I am looking at buying. How much more difficult is it to conceal the Walther PPS in shorts and a t-shirt? Thanks.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Can you post a picture showing the comparison between your Ruger LCP and Walther PPS? These are two guns I am looking at buying. How much more difficult is it to conceal the Walther PPS in shorts and a t-shirt? Thanks.

 

[Nushif]

I love my PT911. The trigger is kind of like a Beretta and the lines are like a nicely aggressive new combat pistol. Couple that with a really nice grip and you have a winning combination.
Just last weekend I took it out with about 60 truly junk rounds and just to get rid of them I simply emptied them into a bank as fast as I could. They landed in a neat and partially rusted brass, aluminium and steel pile.
The weakest link in this equation most definitely is not the gun
love that thing.

 

[cwp3420]

I usually carry my HK45CT every day because I like the .45ACP round, and the recoil is very light on the HK. When it gets really hot here in NM, I carry my HK P2000SK in .40S&W, mainly because it's quite a bit smaller. The only gun that failed the test in carrying was a Kahr PM9 I bought specifically for concealed carry. That thing was a POS from day one. It even went back to the factory twice and it was still a POS. I sold it to a guy who just wanted a small pistol but wasn't going to carry concealed, so we both won. I told him that in every magazine at least once it wouldn't go into battery but he didn't care. I feel your pistol needs to go bang every time you pull the trigger. If it doesn't, I get rid of it.

 

[txhoghunter]

taking head shots at longer ranges

In the unfortunate situation that you might find yourself in a gunfight, your target will not be sitting still as it is in the range. Practicing headshots is good and all, but if you end up needing to use a gun to defend your life your best bet would probably be to aim center mass. In the field, police officers average about a 15% hit percentage and they are instructed to aim center mass. Expecting to hit a moving head in that situation is just not very practical (or safe for you).

Something I practice is two to the chest and then my third shot to the head. That way, you are practicing hitting a larger and still vital area of the body, and practicing transitioning to an instantly incapacitating shot should you need to. I never recommend just practicing aiming for a head and expecting to do it if you need to, no matter how confident you are with it.

Also, if I am shooting one ragged hole while practicing a SD scenario, then I am shooting too slowly IMO. Self defense is not trying to get the best grouping in the world, it is trying to put as many rounds on target as necessary, in the shortest amount of time. If I am practicing and I shoot 5 rounds inside of a 2" circle at 7 yds I feel that I was firing too slowly. Now the opposite is also true, if I fire 5 shots into a 9" circle at 7 yds I am firing too fast. (That is just how I prepare myself, but to each his own)

And now that you know the gun will shoot where you aim, go out and run some drills. Figure out what works for you, and practice practice practice.

 

[doc540]

Confidence defined:

 

[kawtech87]

Ill throw my hat in the ring here with a vote for the M&P. I sold my g22 to get my M&P .40 pro series and have never been happier to get rid of one gun for a new one. Not that glocks are bad, they most certaintly are not, they just dont feel right in my hand. Like going from holding a brick to holding a sexy woman.....almost.

 

[UpTheHill]

full confidence in my 2 CZ-82.
easy to conceal, good triggers, good sights, always goes bang with whatever I load them with.

 

[NMGonzo]

I was shooting my p3at the other day.

It failed to fire.

Looking at the slide from underneath indicates that the slide is worn out, and the gun does not want to fire due slots in the slide being deformed by use.

I am going to take the receiver and destroy it. Bought it used, had my fun, but I am not going to "unload it" to the next person and taint my reputation. The person that sold it to me did it in good faith and the gun fired to everyone's satisfaction. Couple hundred rounds later the gun will not fire.

Even if I buy a new slide, I am not even remotely sure that it will work to my satisfaction anymore.

 

[Zach S]

I bought a 5" Kimber off of a buddy of mine for $500. I decided to shoot it, without cleaning it, until it choked...

5000 rounds later, I gave up on it choking. I detail stripped it, used two or three cans of brake cleaner, and finally had to bead blast it to get it clean. Its a stainless pistol, but the inside of it looked parkerized when I finally cleaned it.

 

[bcp280z]

Out of my vast collection of 5 guns, 4 of them being handguns, I alternate thru 438 IWB, M&P40 OWB/Bellyband, and my recent acquired Glock 27 IWB/BellyBand. All are rock solid in performance/reliability and both calibers are superior to 380 and 9mm IMO. No trigger work yet but that's on my list. I personally like a trigger with greater than 4lbs/force for CC, since none of them have safeties.

 

[PabloJ]

Why head shots at longer ranges? Do BGs now wear body armor?

 

[SwampWolf]

How much more difficult is it to conceal the Walther PPS in shorts and a t-shirt?

Not much; certainly not enough difference imo to choose an LCP over the Walther. However, here's the rub: If you plan on carrying a pistol in your pocket for any length of time, it's my opinion that the pistol has to be as small as practical and as light (nothing much over ten ounces or so) as possible. Criterias in terms of size and weight that make the LCP a very viable option when deciding on which pocket pistol is best.

 

[loneviking]

Confidence, to me, is about both fit and function. There's a lot of absolutely reliable guns out there, but that doesn't mean they are comfortable to shoot. Finding a gun that is reliable; that is comfortable and accurate for you; and with a lot of aftermarket choices for personalization is key.

I carry a Sig P6 that has an SRT trigger, rubber Pachmyer grips and fiberoptic sights. I took a great gun and made it fit me.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Confidence is key -- after all, why would you carry a gun you weren't confident of?

Reminds me of an encounter I once had with an anti who sneeringly said, "What are you afraid of?"

And I said, "I dunno -- what can swallow 25 230-grain hollowpoints and spit them back at me?"

 

[Strahley]

If you "need" more power than a 9mm, you need a long gun, not a .45