What's Your Real CCW?/Mr. Colion Noir

[peacemaker45]

And now it's happening in this thread.

Yet the sales figures on .380s in the past five years, and now micro 9's, say a lot of folks aren't carrying big frame autos. Add in the snubbies, there's a lot more.

Look at posts around the net, you get a different idea than one thread.

You're familiar with the term selection bias, yes? You've got two of them at work in a threadlike this. Big guns aren't impossible to carry. They aren't even that difficult. It just takes more dedication and commitment to do it. But just hanging around on gun forums is a sign of dedication and commitment to begin with.

The second is that the OP sort of asked for two kinds of response: confirm my thesis, or riseto my challenge.

 

[Warp]

You're familiar with the term selection bias, yes? You've got two of them at work in a threadlike this. Big guns aren't impossible to carry. They aren't even that difficult. It just takes more dedication and commitment to do it. But just hanging around on gun forums is a sign of dedication and commitment to begin with.

The second is that the OP sort of asked for two kinds of response: confirm my thesis, or riseto my challenge.

I knew there was a name to the bias I mentioned earlier! I just didn't know what it was.

Selection bias...that must be it.

Good call.

 

[Loucks]

Since the new "knock out" addition to black culture I started putting the G17 mag into the G26 I carry daily. Might have a whole pack to deal with.

I don't read this forum as often as I once did, but I'm surprised to see that standards here have sunk to the point where a guy can say outright that he carries extra rounds because he expects to have to shoot a "whole pack" of black people. That said, I was surprised to see that "race" isn't listed under the "Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of" section in the rules. In keeping with what I thought the spirit of this forum was I'll just say that I don't much care for the content of that post.

Anyway, I carry a Glock 19 almost all the time. Exceptions include ridiculously hot days and while working out. It's neither large nor expensive, but it suits me just fine.

 

[SC Shooter]

I keep a Bulgarian Makarov in the console of my truck, and on rare occasions I wear it. Other times I carry a S&W Chief's Special if I am wearing a suit or blazer. Often as not though I am not carrying. I do believe that many of those who may have their CWP do not actually carry or like me do so seldom.

 

[stevek]

90% of the time I have my Glock 36 IWB with an extra magazine.

 

[1John1:9]

For carrying in the south, I found that my Walther P99 is as big as I can carry. The P99 is pretty much the size of a Glock 19. I carry in a IWB hybrid holster, and a back up Ruger LCR in pocket or ankle holster.

 

[logical]

I don't carry every day, or even most days, but when I do it is this Rohrbaugh in a front pocket holster. Yes, it's a $1000 gun but I didn't pick it for show...it's in a pocket after all. It's just a good little 9mm.

I'll be more blunt than the OP....I think 50+% of the guns that show up in the EDC threads have never been carried....but that's just how some people are I guess. As for size, which I guess was the real point of the OP...I don't doubt people carry big guns but I think it would be a big hassle. I don't want to have to change how I dress to conceal a Sig 245 even though it would be my choice if I need to draw. If I didn't have something I could just drop in the front pocket of almost anything I'd ever wear, I'd carry even less.

 

[mljdeckard]

Well that's nice. We wouldn't want your lifesaving tool to be an inconvenience.

 

[Nite Ryder]

My daily carry is nothing fancy, up until July of this year I carried a Kimber Ultra Carry in a Dan Blocker inside the waste band holster. In July I bought a used 386PD S&W in 357 Mag, I liked it's light weight so much I decided to start carrying it and use a pancake holster unless I'm going to be driving or wearing a light jacket, then I carry in a shoulder holster. The shoulder holster works much better when you are sitting in a vehicle. In my right hip pocket I carry a Diamondback DB9 (9 MM). The only draw back to carrying the revolver is the magazine for the 1911 was much faster if a reload is needed, carrying speed loaders doesn't work well.

 

[logical]

Well that's nice. We wouldn't want your lifesaving tool to be an inconvenience.

That's a bit snarky don't you think? Feel better?

I'm just being realistic and feel perfectly well protected with a little gun, it isn't as simple as "inconvenient". If I'm on the golf course or at work I can't show up with some un-tucked, 2 sizes too big flannel shirt to cover a big OWB holster full of gun. I guess if I develop a size complex later in life and feel the need to carry a big gun, I'll be sure to get in touch for some advice.

 

[mljdeckard]

This isn't an accessory. It's a lifestyle.

 

[JohnKSa]

We wouldn't want your lifesaving tool to be an inconvenience.

I participated on a thread on another forum in which one person was accusing everyone who took preparation any farther than he did of being paranoid and living in constant fear.

This is the other side of the coin--a person making the point that anyone who doesn't take preparation as far as he does is clueless and needs to get his priorities straight.

There was a comedian years ago who used to joke that there were only two kinds of drivers on the road. The maniacs who drive faster than you and the idiots who drive slower than you. No matter how they drive, unless they drive exactly as you do, they are worthy of denigration. And it was funny, because everyone understands that aspect of human nature.

Here we see the same joke played out in another context.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I can't imagine having a $800-1500 gun and throwing it in and out of a holster daily.

Why not? If that's what they bought it for, then what bearing does the price have to do with it?

There is also a bit of difference between a high-dollar target gun and a high-dollar carry gun, too, which I'm sure you know. Obviously the carry gun is (should be) optimized with factors which enhance its use as a carry weapon, and some of those may add quite a bit to the baseline cost of any given firearm.

If I spent four figures on a handgun, it would still be a handgun that I'd shoot. And if I bought it as a concealed carry, it would get that, too. (Unless, of course, it was bought specifically as a collector's item. Different beastie, though.)

Otherwise, why would I buy the gun? If it was just to look at, there is plenty of gun porn on the internet for free.

 

[Nite Ryder]

I might add that personally I don't give a hoot what anyone else carries. I'm 75 years old and have been carrying a concealed weapon most of my adult life. When I worked traffic for the OSP in the 70's I carried a model 19 with a 2.5" barrel most of the time. The rest of the time I carried a Chief's Special. After watching a lawyer being shot five times at close range on national TV with a 38 Special and not suffering any ill effects, I decided a small gun was not what I would use. I do have a 9 MM in my back pocket, but it is not my primary defensive gun, and if it were I'd get something else. A 1911 may be considered a big gun, the one I used to carry and still own is not heavy and has only a 3.5" barrel, so it was no trouble to carry on a daily basis, it's just what you choose to do and get used to.

 

[Old Dog]

This is the type of statement that makes me wonder sometimes:

I'll be more blunt than the OP....I think 50+% of the guns that show up in the EDC threads have never been carried....but that's just how some people are I guess. As for size, which I guess was the real point of the OP...I don't doubt people carry big guns but I think it would be a big hassle.

No matter how many people attempt to explain that it's entirely possible to effectively conceal a "full-sized" handgun, there are many more people out there who simply refuse to believe that it can be done ...

It's really not a "big hassle" to carry a "big gun." Really. But, one guy on the internet says that it is. Since this guy has called out 50% of us as liars, I guess I'll just have to say that there's at least 50% of the posters here who aren't committed to carry the most effective means of self-defense.

Like Nite Ryder, I really don't care what anyone else carries. But I still can't understand folks who drive 45,000 dollar trucks, watch 3,000 TVs, maintain a horrendously expensive cigarette-smoking habit yet believe that an 800 dollar gun is expensive and they wouldn't carry one because it would get "worn?" And folks that seem to think one has to wear

some un-tucked, 2 sizes too big flannel shirt

to conceal his handgun? Seems to boil down to now matter how much we try to share effective methods of concealment that don't involve subscribing to current urban fashion, many still don't believe it can be done ...

 

[logical]

This is the type of statement that makes me wonder sometimes:

Quote:
I'll be more blunt than the OP....I think 50+% of the guns that show up in the EDC threads have never been carried....but that's just how some people are I guess. As for size, which I guess was the real point of the OP...I don't doubt people carry big guns but I think it would be a big hassle.

No matter how many people attempt to explain that it's entirely possible to effectively conceal a "full-sized" handgun, there are many more people out there who simply refuse to believe that it can be done ...

It's really not a "big hassle" to carry a "big gun." Really. But, one guy on the internet says that it is. Since this guy has called out 50% of us as liars, I guess I'll just have to say that there's at least 50% of the posters here who aren't committed to carry the most effective means of self-defense.

Like Nite Ryder, I really don't care what anyone else carries. But I still can't understand folks who drive 45,000 dollar trucks, watch 3,000 TVs, maintain a horrendously expensive cigarette-smoking habit yet believe that an 800 dollar gun is expensive and they wouldn't carry one because it would get "worn?" And folks that seem to think one has to wear
Quote:
some un-tucked, 2 sizes too big flannel shirt

to conceal his handgun? Seems to boil down to now matter how much we try to share effective methods of concealment that don't involve subscribing to current urban fashion, many still don't believe it can be done ...

C'mon now, not interested in a big fight over this. I never said it wasn't possible to conceal a big gun. We all have to do what works best for ourselves. A pocket gun works for me, big guns generally don't.

If you really feel I called 50% of "us" liars, I really can't help you. I meant exactly what I wrote, not what you have decided is more interesting and outrageous. When you read stuff you don't understand, it's best sometimes to just not try to comment on it.

 

[mnhntr]

My daily carry is a XDM 3.8

 

[mnhntr]

I don't read this forum as often as I once did, but I'm surprised to see that standards here have sunk to the point where a guy can say outright that he carries extra rounds because he expects to have to shoot a "whole pack" of black people. That said, I was surprised to see that "race" isn't listed under the "Everyone is welcome to participate, regardless of" section in the rules. In keeping with what I thought the spirit of this forum was I'll just say that I don't much care for the content of that post.

So your offended that a guy would choose to carry more bullets because groups of thugs, who by the way have been shown to be black in almost every case, are going around playing a game with peoples lives by knocking them out? I carry an extra mag when I go into bad neighborhoods, which must mean I am racist too. Get a life.

 

[Dirty Bob]

I chose a sub-compact 9mm -- the Kel-Tec P-11 -- because it can be carried in one of the most difficult environments: business attire with tucked-in dress shirt, summer-weight wool slacks, and a tie (no jacket). With a Galco "USA" IWB holster in appendix carry, I can carry with the shirt tucked, yet have good concealment and quick access. I am sometimes able to add a BUG: either a back-pocket P-32 (with pants of heavier material), or a revolver behind the right hip if I can wear a cover garment.

It works for me.

Regards,
Dirty Bob

 

[tarosean]

Carry what is comfortable for you and reliable..doesn't matter if it's a 100 dollar gun or 10,000 dollar one.
I personally don't care for anything I cannot get all fingers on the magwell... I don't buy em, nor criticise anyone whom does. That leaves me larger guns as grip extensions tend to pinch me. I carry a 4" 1911 BTW

 

[mljdeckard]

Its not the amount or the degree I mind. It's the REASONING.

 

[KTXdm9]

Not really sure why it would "bother" anyone that people carry full-size and/or expensive guns. I buy guns to use, as do many other folks. I personally prefer to carry an M&P Shield, but I do carry full-size on occasion.

 

[KevininPa]

My "real" daily carry guns:

Wow! Took that long for a High Power to pop up. During cooler months such as now and when going into the city anytime, I carry a FEG High Power. Warmer months with less or thinner clothing I switch to an Astra A70 (got this around the end of summer and love it!). These are carried in Triple K holsters. My Sig 232SL still gets carried during dressier affairs as it's still slightly slimmer than the Astra. That typically is carried in a tuckable made out of glove leather. Forget the brand offhand, but had it for ages.

Not sure about high end, but yeah, I try to carry my High Power as much as possible.

 

[saturdaynightpolitics]

Not really sure why it would "bother" anyone that people carry full-size and/or expensive guns. I buy guns to use, as do many other folks. I personally prefer to carry an M&P Shield, but I do carry full-size on occasion.

Maybe I didn't clarify that point well enough, you carry what ever you want and what your are comfortable with. What was 'bothering' me was whether or not my personal perception of the CCW community, as outlined in my original post, (big gun vs little gun) was correct or not, that's all.

Also while I am at it, I want to clarify, I really only wanted to know weather people were carrying such expensive weapons or just showing off their best, not spark off a class war LOL. Surely I can understand the appeal of carrying a higher priced weapon as much as I can understand the arguments against it.

Also just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has participated, it has been an enlightening experience.

 

[Old Dog]

Actually, you said in your original post that it appears to you that many people are just showing off their "coolest" or "most drool-worthy" pieces.

I don't believe your perception is correct, and many who've posted here attempted to correct it. I also haven't seen any reasonable arguments against carrying expensive weapons showing up in this thread ...

... although, as an aside, comes now members such as "logical" trying to display his wordsmithing ability to call another member stupid

When you read stuff you don't understand, it's best sometimes to just not try to comment on it.

The OP said

Maybe I didn't clarify that point well enough,

Evidently not. I didn't get your intent to explore the big gun vs. little gun as the most common CCW. Perhaps a poll -- what do most people really carry? -- is in order.

Yes, people exaggerate, embellish, prevaricate and outright lie on the internet. But it also seems that most are pretty honest when it comes to showing what they carry most; that has been indicated time and again in other threads.

And yeah, I suspect most folks -- those being the least dedicated gun-carriers -- carry the smallest gun with which they feel comfortable. But the folks who are really serious -- the most dedicated gun-carriers, which is for sure the minority of concealed-carriers -- carry the largest gun with which they feel comfortable, which typically is a pretty good-sized handgun ...