What were you thinking??!!

[Amadeus]

So you're a CCW/CHL holder or a professional whose job demands the daily carrying of a handgun.

But why are you carrying that gun? No no. Not the big reason. Not that one. The other reasons. The reasons for carrying that specific gun. Why did you choose that gun for carry? What were your considerations when picking a sidearm and how does the gun you chose fulfill those requirements?

 

[Chip Dixon]

I think the checklist goes like:

Does it conceal well?
Is it in an adequate caliber?
Is it reliable?
Does it fit my hand well?
Am I accurate with this gun?

1911 Government model for me, IWB w/ a Brommeland Max Con V, please.
5/5

 

[dairycreek]

Good checklist

"Does it conceal well?
Is it in an adequate caliber?
Is it reliable?
Does it fit my hand well?
Am I accurate with this gun?"

That says what needs to be said. For me it is a 1911Sc!

 

[pax]

I wanted something that was

• reliable
• resistant to wet stuff since I live in a wet climate
• simple to operate
• easily maintained
• easy to conceal
• easy to find accessories for
• comfortable to hold and shoot
• and reliable.

I chose a Glock 26, and have been very happy with it.

pax

 

[Billy Sparks]

I think the biggest thing is can I conceal it well. Let's face facts if I can't conceal it easily then I can't carry it. That usually narrows it down to barrel/grip length. They I start thinking about width. Some of my pistols I can easily conceal in the dead of winter. Heck I could probably conceal a M4 the day it was 6 degrees. But when the wonderful NC humid summer arrives it is a little different. As a civilian concealed carry means concealed altough we have open carry here the area I live, I prefer to carry concealed.

 

[GreenFurniture]

Goes "bang" when trigger is pulled.
Very concealable.
Makes orange circle a giant hole everytime.

 

[Wakal]

Switched to an STI because that was the frame I was running 40k/year from, in practice and competition. Chose a Commander because I like IWB with the shorter slide. Chose 9 by 23 because (1) I reload that caliber for Open competition, (2) Winchester loads Silvertips in it, (3) 9mm diameter rounds will let me cram 18 in a flush-fit magazine, and (4) 9 by 19 isn't even good enough for a girl's gun (my wife carries a .40 ).




Alex

 

[Spackler]

At the time, I wanted something that was:

Under 32 oz. unloaded
No more than 7" overall length
Traditional DA/SA action with safety and/or decocker
Stainless steel slide
.40 S&W
Capacity > or = 8+1
Full grip frame, no dangling pinky
Good sights right out of the box
Reliable
Good fit for my hand (grip not too thick)

Bought a 4013TSW when they first came out. Fits those requirements pretty well.

 

[Buck Snort]

I wanted something that was big enough to impress my girlfriend but small enough to conceal from my wife!!

 

[armoredman]

Fits me like a custom made glove, works like a charm, effective, and hides well. All I need is it's brother in 40 to complete the PO1 collection!

 

[artech]

I carry a BHP because I can hit what I'm aiming at with it. If you don't think a 9mm will do the job, take two to the chest and call me in the morning...

 

[BluesBear]

1) Will it go BOOM each and every time I want it to?

2) Will it go THUMP when it hits whatever is where I have it pointed?

3) Does it suit me?

 

[Black Snowman]

1) Is it realiable?
2) Can I hit what I need to?
3) Is it Reliable?
4) Does it have enough penetration?
5) Is it RELIABLE?
6) Is it quick to bring into action?
7) IS IT RELIABLE?!
8) Is it comfortable enough to carry that I won't leave it behind?
9) IS IT RELIABLE?!
10) Will it wound well?

I have several guns that fit my needs. For optimum confidence I have my CZ 85 Compact. For better concealability I have my CZ RAMI, and for light weight I have a Ti Taurus 455.

 

[GEM]

Pax's reasons for a Glock.

When dress mandates a 642 for pocket carry - conceable, adequate power and reliable.

 

[albanian]

I carry a S&W 642 because to me, NOTHING is as important as reliability. Any other factor comes a distant second to reliability.

I wish it was even lighter and thinner though. I may have to look at the Ultra light S&W snubbies. The Kahr PM9 seems like it would be a good choice but I can't imagine that it is as reliable as a snubbie.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I can shoot my 642 from inside my coat pocket! That is something that a semi-auto can't do for more than one shot.

 

[pezo]

1st will it be reliable, 2nd can I hit with it and 3rd will it drop the badguy when he gets hit with it.

 

[Brass Balls]

I like the 1911 platform better than other pistols.

I like an aluminum frame for carry due to its considerably lighter weight.

Reliability is paramount and I want a carry gun to be pretty accurate too.

I chose the full size and compact Kimber CDPs because they meet the above criteria while also being nicely equiped with night sights, a good trigger, an ambi safety, front strap checkering and a nice melt job to smooth the sharp edges.

My third carry gun gets the nod when I need something small and light weight. It's reliable and shoots what I consider my baseline for a defensive caliber. It's a Kahr PM9.

 

[sm]

My criteria -

Gun fit to ME , in a platform I do best with MOA , that is reliable with ammo in the largest caliber that I can get quick accurate hits.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

While I really like Black Snowman's list, I unfortunately have to add an eleventh:

11) Is it on the California approved list?

It usually ends up being a 1911 variant -- the S&W 1911Sc is the latest -- or a Kahr P9 for ultimate concealability.

 

[InfernoMDM]

Brass Balls... nice freaking Pen you CIA bastard you My ex has two of those and I watched her nearly stab some asholes hand to a desk.

1. GRIP (got small girly hands)
2. The ability to clear a jam easily, even though it never should happen
3. A weapon that presents the least amount of safeties between drawing and fireing without sacrificing safety.
4. Can I double tap with it(when my skills get good enough)
5. Capacity

Being left handed sucks theres about 3-4 standard weapons built for a left hander to easily use. Of those right out of the box only two are really easy to reload.

The HK USP with left hand safety
The Walther P99 (went with this because of the ability to easily modify grip)

There are also the Glocks everyone loves. Even though you can buy the big slide release bar, at the time I didnt know that. Any of you that have ever tried to realease the slide in the dark not looking on a standard glock maybe suprised, especially compared to one with the big slide release. Also I despise the trigger safety.

As for other considerations

1You can conceal nearly anything and so can I. Im 155-160 and can conceal most full size guns. My friend who is 200 can conceal his desert eagle.

2With the guns I originally looked at I knew GLOCK WALTHER SIG HK were all reliable and accurate.

3Wound balistics.... not that big of a deal as I figure I'll pump a lot of rounds down range. Basicly at the time my shooting sucked and I knew it. Plus I cant miss much at a average of 15-30 feet. So a semi consideration was bullet price.

4Pentration.... I dont want things penetrating to much as I may hit a innocent and boom Im a murder because the idiot was behind the perp. No thanks.

 

[pete f]

hmmmm

para ord P-13

Because when i got home from the post office after signing for my permit, it was in my drawer.