Carry - Two little ounces...

Matches yours exactly. Two ounces is easily noticeable.


Cat

It's funny. 35 years ago I was carrying a Colt S70 LW Commander with 10 x .38 Super +P 125 gr Silvertips. Now I carry a M&P M2.0 Compact 4" with 14 x .40 S&W 180 gr Gold Dots. I think the loaded weights are almost identical. I guess I could toss the LCP if I wanted to save some weight.

Weight is certainly a factor but width matters most for comfort in my experience . carry position factors in too, 2 oz difference riding in a shoulder holster would be less noticeable than in the pocket. On the belt I can't tell a huge difference in a couple ounces unless my back is bothering me, then I feel the weight much more. My priorities for a carry gun go in this order- grip length, thickness then weight. All of them are important though.

Kano383 said:

What is your experience?

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My experienced is when I'm looking for a way to justify buying a new gun I usually find it.

I like to carry .45 in the winter, and my Sig Ultra Compact gets the most use for the reasons you describe. It's an aluminum frame with a 3" barrel, like a Defender. Taking a round or two out of the magazine would make a difference, since .45 is heavy stuff, but I haven't needed to do that yet. I find that I can go up to two pounds of weight as long as I'm using an OWB holster. IWB makes that less pleasant for some reason. When I feel like carrying a full-sized steel frame 1911, I usually go to a shoulder holster.

Trunk Monkey said:

My experienced is when I'm looking for a way to justify buying a new gun I usually find it.

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Ain't that the truth. "Sure, it's the same gun I already have, but the barrel length is different." Or it's stainless rather than blued. I can always find a reason.

I have a Colt Lightweight Government .45, as well as a Commander .38 Super, and I also have a Government Model .45 and a Combat Commander .45. I don't notice the weight difference so much when I'm shooting but do feel it a bit when I'm carrying, especially for long periods of time.

I carried a Baer PII 1911 for years up until recently when I purchased a CZ 75B; the CZ feels like nothing is there - all relative I would think.

I guess everyone is different and there are different sensitivities involved. Ive always carried at least a full-sized handgun, and its associated gear, and never found it to be a problem, or uncomfortable. Weight was never really a consideration. It just is what it is.

I think a big key to any of it, is to use proper gear along with it, and in a spot on your body, where its comfortable for you.

Ive always been a firm believer in carrying what you shoot best with, and then figure out how to carry it. Thats more important to me, than carrying something lesser, that may seem to be slightly easier to carry/hide, but is also less effective, for a number of reasons, and usually harder to get to quickly, and not shot as well under stress, when produced that way. Or any way, for that matter.

I've heard hikers say....Ounce equal pounds and pounds equal pain. With that said, I wonder if you would notice if YOU were 2 or 3 ounces lighter from one day to the next? Are you carrying anything else that might be unnecessary that would make up for those extra ounces? Some of the "EDC" folks would drown if they ever feel into water above their head.

@AK103K ^^^ Exactly how I feel, and what I do.

And I have swam -- a couple miles, even -- with more on that what I typically wear for EDC. People are always going to seek out pithy little catchphrases to rationalize cutting corners.

Could look at lighter ammo if you're into cutting weight that much.

My wallet, leatherman, keys, cell phone all weight more than that, heck my ball cap weighs 2.2 oz add a pair of sunglasses and it’s an even 3 oz but I have never noticed any associated neck pain from their weight.

When I drink a glass of water I don’t feel over burdened and when I take a leak I don’t feel like a weight has been lifted off me (unless I’ve been holding it too long) both change my weight by more than 2 oz.

I lost about 50 pounds awhile back and that I could feel the difference in both my feet and back at the end of the day.

I often carry a lightweight Commander. The weight is about the same as my PCR, but the width makes up for the added weight. It carries very well. Do it. I had a Colt lightweight Commander (recent line) and sold it for no reason other than "because". It was a fine gun and was 100% reliable from the first shot to the last (caveat that this was the first 1911 I purchased after following the advice to load all mags for a few days before firing....it worked and now I don't ever shoot a 1911 mag without letting it sit loaded for a few days). I trecommend the colt for $900.

Trunk Monkey said:

My experienced is when I'm looking for a way to justify buying a new gun I usually find it.

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Indeed. I can't stand it when I do that.

I thought the same that 2-3 oz difference wouldn't be all that noticeable. My Sig P938 is 2.5oz heavier than my Kel-Tec PF9 according to my kitchen scale. I do notice the difference but would rather carry my Sig anyway. And as others have said, a good holster and belt makes a difference.

The weight is noticeable, but so subjective. For me the sweet spot has been roughly 26 ounces give or take. My G48 weighs 26 ounces 10+1. With newly acquired S15 flush mag, 15+1 weighs 28 ounces. I don't think the extra 2 oz is going to matter to me, but add a few more and it may be time for perry suspenders

When I was in the Army anytime I was in uniform I was required to have on my person my dog tags, a pen and notebook, a watch, my earplug case (in Germany there had to be a Mark in it), my SMLM card, my ration card, my military drivers license (I was licensed to drive a Humvee, an M110A2, an M548, 2& 1/2 ton truck and a Toro Lawnmower), my weapons card and Military ID. I also carried a Buck 110 and a Multi-tool.

Anytime I was in the field (when they say FIELD Artillery they mean it) I had all that and my kevlar, and that stupid old school flak vest, my LBE, my "first aid kit", a red lensed Army flashlight, two canteens (and they'd better be full), my wet weather jacket, my M16, (never a bayonet though), 7 magazines, a gas mask, since I was a driver my NOGs had to be on my person at all times and usually an MRE in my pocket.

When I worked for G4S I had body armor, a duty belt, an M&P40, 2 reloads, the same Buck Knife and Multi-tool, 2 flash lights, a big old Motorola brick radio, a notebook and pen, my phone, their phone, handcuffs, at least 3 handcuff keys, OC spray keys to the G4S car and keys to every city owned building, electrical substation and both cemeteries in Colorado Springs (and may God have mercy on your soul if you lost them), a CPR barrier device, the G4S employee manual and I had to have my security license at all times.

After lugging all that crap around I hardly notice my EDC

At work a Glock 26, 1 reload, notebook and pen, Security license, my phone, their phone, same Buck Knife, different multitool, two flashlights, watch, can of OC and usually a bag of cat treats.

Not at work Glock 19, 2 reloads, watch, phone, same Buck Knife, same multi-tool, one flashlight (Fenix RC05) no OC, no cat treats (my cat is not pleased) and my wallet.

jmorris said:

I lost about 50 pounds awhile back and that I could feel the difference in both my feet and back at the end of the day.

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I bet you sleep better too

To me, sensitivity in weight depends on what you are wearing and how rock solid your support is.

If I’m wearing a business suit where the belt is NOT snug in the loops then the gun/holster will have some play. That is where a few ounces can make a difference.

If I’m wearing jeans with a nice thick and snug in the belt loops belt then a few ounces will go unnoticed.

If I’m wearing basketball shorts a Glock 26 In the pocket will pull down on the garment and flop immensely with my movement. If I place a KelTec 3AT or Ruger 380 then there are no problems.

Just as mentioned in another thread, dress plays a huge part and how you wear it.

Slimming down your person will do way more for you than slimming down your pistol.

I always wondered why Supervel always commented on the accolades of ludicrous speed instead of playing up the talk of X rounds at Y grains less in a magazine yields Z weight savings on the belt.

Walther PPS has replaced my CZ P01 as an EDC. The P01 replaced my Sig 239. The Sig 239 replaced my Colt Officers Model .45 the PPS weighs 19.1 .oz . I tried an S&W Shield for awhile but greatly prefer the PPS M1 for EDC .