What's the ultimate Carry handgun
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fireman 9731
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One that is small and lightweight but still has all the good attributes of a full size gun.
You can't name anything specific since what "fits" you may not "fit" me.
You can sketch the properties, though.
Not uncomfortable to carry, so light with no sharp edges to gouge or cut you.
Accurate at typical self defense range.
110% reliable. It has to go BANG every time.
Reasonable capacity for ammo. 10 rounds at least.
You can sketch the properties, though.
Not uncomfortable to carry, so light with no sharp edges to gouge or cut you.
Accurate at typical self defense range.
110% reliable. It has to go BANG every time.
Reasonable capacity for ammo. 10 rounds at least.
kda
Member
I can only answer for myself but that seems to be what you are asking.
I can afford what I want and I do carry all the time and my choice eventually settled down to a Glock G26. But hey, even that might change if I had employment that required me to dress differently or if I changed body size dramatically (put on weight). But under my existing circumstances, the balance of size, caliber, rounds immediately available, etc. eventually brought me to the G26. Oh all of that but most importantly, utter reliability. Most of all, utter reliability.
I can afford what I want and I do carry all the time and my choice eventually settled down to a Glock G26. But hey, even that might change if I had employment that required me to dress differently or if I changed body size dramatically (put on weight). But under my existing circumstances, the balance of size, caliber, rounds immediately available, etc. eventually brought me to the G26. Oh all of that but most importantly, utter reliability. Most of all, utter reliability.
It needs to hit like a .500 Magnum but carry like a Ruger LCP.
It ought to shoot a round that is cheap and easy to get.
It needs to have holster, sights, and magazines easily available.
It should have the reliability of a revolver and the capacity of a semi auto.
Fair enough?
It ought to shoot a round that is cheap and easy to get.
It needs to have holster, sights, and magazines easily available.
It should have the reliability of a revolver and the capacity of a semi auto.
Fair enough?
What a good answer. A carry handgun is the sum total of compromises the owner is willing to make. Those who carry full-size 1911s or large frame revolvers refuse to compromise on accuracy and firepower, but pay a price in portability. Mousegun carriers sacrifice firepower to gain ease of concealment. As you work through the trade-offs you'll zero in on a selection.
Spencer_OKC
Member
Glock 23
Large enough to control easily, small enough to conceal. Chambered in a competent round with good magazine capacity. Highly durable, reliable, no manual safety, and reasonably priced.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I own a Glock 23, and about two dozen other S&Ws, Colts, SIGs, and others.
The gun I carry about 95% of the time is a Kel-Tec .380.
Is it the best of the bunch in accuracy, capacity, power, quality, pride of ownership, or anything else?
Heck no!
But it's the only one that will fit in my shirt pocket, or jocky shorts if necessary.
So I am more likely to have it when I need it then any other handgun I own.
I guess that makes it the ultimate Carry handgun for me!
rc
The gun I carry about 95% of the time is a Kel-Tec .380.
Is it the best of the bunch in accuracy, capacity, power, quality, pride of ownership, or anything else?
Heck no!
But it's the only one that will fit in my shirt pocket, or jocky shorts if necessary.
So I am more likely to have it when I need it then any other handgun I own.
I guess that makes it the ultimate Carry handgun for me!
rc
Tom Fury
Member
LW Commander
cheers, TF
cheers, TF
I don't know that I have one ultimate carry gun. Different guns fit my exact needs of a given occasion better or worse depending on what that occasion is. I agree with the poster that said it is always a matter of trade offs.
That said any carry gun for me should have the following in order of importance:
Reliability: If it doesn't go bang when you need it to all its other great attributes are totally superfluous.
Shootability: I need to be able to shoot it well. I don't care if it is a death ray if I cannot put shots on target then the effect is not had. Getting lead on target is very important and thus I want a gun I shoot well. There is a good chance this will correlate to how much you practice with it but some guns are just inherently easier for some people to shoot.
It needs to be a gun I can run well: Again this is largely a matter of practice but some guns are going to be easier for some people to run. I can run my glock or my 1911 or a bunch of others better than my LCP or my single action revolver. The LCP is small enough that doing certain manipulations is just more difficult fore me, for example a one handed double feed clearance. My single action revolver while dead nuts reliable, a good shooter, and offering lots of power is just a lot slower to make follow shots and reload than my autos.
Power: I want to carry a gun that is an adequate round. For me I don't really lose much sleep over having a 9mm versus a 357 mag or a .45 etc. Personally I do like my primary to be at least a 9x19.
Concealability: The better the gun conceals the more places I am likely to take it.
Comfort: I like to carry everywhere I legally can and doing so is much more enjoyable if your set up is comfortable enough you can forget its there. This is of course not just a gun issue but also relates to your holster belt etc. Comfort is also a product of weight, size, shape and textures. A gun that has sharp edges or sandpaper grip can be uncomfortable.
Capacity: All other things being equal I'd just as soon have more rounds than less. This is way down the list though. I don't worry too much about a 1911 carrying only 8-9 rounds.
That said any carry gun for me should have the following in order of importance:
Reliability: If it doesn't go bang when you need it to all its other great attributes are totally superfluous.
Shootability: I need to be able to shoot it well. I don't care if it is a death ray if I cannot put shots on target then the effect is not had. Getting lead on target is very important and thus I want a gun I shoot well. There is a good chance this will correlate to how much you practice with it but some guns are just inherently easier for some people to shoot.
It needs to be a gun I can run well: Again this is largely a matter of practice but some guns are going to be easier for some people to run. I can run my glock or my 1911 or a bunch of others better than my LCP or my single action revolver. The LCP is small enough that doing certain manipulations is just more difficult fore me, for example a one handed double feed clearance. My single action revolver while dead nuts reliable, a good shooter, and offering lots of power is just a lot slower to make follow shots and reload than my autos.
Power: I want to carry a gun that is an adequate round. For me I don't really lose much sleep over having a 9mm versus a 357 mag or a .45 etc. Personally I do like my primary to be at least a 9x19.
Concealability: The better the gun conceals the more places I am likely to take it.
Comfort: I like to carry everywhere I legally can and doing so is much more enjoyable if your set up is comfortable enough you can forget its there. This is of course not just a gun issue but also relates to your holster belt etc. Comfort is also a product of weight, size, shape and textures. A gun that has sharp edges or sandpaper grip can be uncomfortable.
Capacity: All other things being equal I'd just as soon have more rounds than less. This is way down the list though. I don't worry too much about a 1911 carrying only 8-9 rounds.
FruitCake
Member
Out of all my guns that I have, I carry my Keltec P32 99 percent of the time. The other 1 percent I will carry my 9mm. I know its not a big caliber but 8 well placed rounds should suffice. If I am going to a bad area to visit a friend I will bring my 9mm. I don't go to places where zombies exist so I don't need to carry a cannon with me.
Bullseye_shooter
Member
That are all equally amazing
Kahr PM40 Custom Carry- Mods done by Cylinder and slide
its very light, small enough for pocket carry, and has a 6+1 mag
Glock 36
love it, stock, very light as well, 6+1 .45 acp
Glock 33
almost identical to 36 except its .357 sig and has 9 +1 mag
id have to go with the PM40 though its just feels perfect
i load them all with Extreme shock enhanced penatration when i carry
Kahr PM40 Custom Carry- Mods done by Cylinder and slide
its very light, small enough for pocket carry, and has a 6+1 mag
Glock 36
love it, stock, very light as well, 6+1 .45 acp
Glock 33
almost identical to 36 except its .357 sig and has 9 +1 mag
id have to go with the PM40 though its just feels perfect
i load them all with Extreme shock enhanced penatration when i carry
Buck Snort
Member
The "ultimate carry hand gun" is somewhere between and single shot derringer loaded with a .22 short and a .500 S&W magnum!
Bullseye_shooter
Member
Perfect Carry Pistol
easy to load mag
at least 12 rounds
polymer frame
light rail
10mm
the least number of parts possible
has to go bang every time
striker fire
no little buttons that snag
easy to load mag
at least 12 rounds
polymer frame
light rail
10mm
the least number of parts possible
has to go bang every time
striker fire
no little buttons that snag
for me it's the glock 26 9mm. it's small, comfortable, and can use larger model magazines of the same caliber. if i can't carry it i have my kel tec pf9 in a pocket holster in my back pocket. personally i won't go smaller than a 9mm for a defensive round.
MICHAEL T
Member
Bobtail LW Commander
M2 Carbine
member
I haven't owned or shot all guns, so I don't know that that there is a ultimate carry gun.
I just have to pick the best ones I know.
Crimson Trace laser equipped Tactical Ultra and SIG P238 for pocket carry.
Zerodefect
member
I'd buy Glock and make them desighn a single stack 9mm. Glock needs to make a PM9 type pistol bad!
Otherwise my perfect CCW:
Glock 23
Glockworx/Zevtech Fulcrum Trigger (with a little gunsmithing and a majic file)
Zevteck Lite Skelotonized Striker (soo smooth)
Zevteck Comp spring Kit (give or take the striker spring)
Lonewolf 3.5 connector (good reset, I'm waiting for the Zevtech 3.0 race connector)
Zevtech Ti FP safety (don't forget the comp FR safety spring, that's key!)
Lonewolf SS guide rod (captured, with stock Glock recoil spring)
XS Big dot Sights or Weaver Sevigney Target sights.
2 Glock 22 mags for reloads
Winchester Ranger T 180gn
Crossbreed Supertuck holster
This setup made all my 1911's completely obsolete. So even If I could afford more, this under $1000 pistol is still my top pick.
Otherwise my perfect CCW:
Glock 23
Glockworx/Zevtech Fulcrum Trigger (with a little gunsmithing and a majic file)
Zevteck Lite Skelotonized Striker (soo smooth)
Zevteck Comp spring Kit (give or take the striker spring)
Lonewolf 3.5 connector (good reset, I'm waiting for the Zevtech 3.0 race connector)
Zevtech Ti FP safety (don't forget the comp FR safety spring, that's key!)
Lonewolf SS guide rod (captured, with stock Glock recoil spring)
XS Big dot Sights or Weaver Sevigney Target sights.
2 Glock 22 mags for reloads
Winchester Ranger T 180gn
Crossbreed Supertuck holster
This setup made all my 1911's completely obsolete. So even If I could afford more, this under $1000 pistol is still my top pick.
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inherentical
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