What model gun is the most popular carry gun

^^^In my experience, people always take those classes <edit: refer one post above> with their Glock or XD, but carry a j-frame or pocket .380 the next day...


As a category, lumping all j-frames together sweeps the whole deal. If we lump all polymer .380s and .32s together, it's still probably second place.

Single model? Who knows? 442, LCP, even G26... that's Impossible to say.

But if the OP allows "Generic J-frame" as an answer, then we're done, IMO.

Of the people I know who CCW, it is J-frame first, LCP second, 1911 third.
Small sample size, but if I had to put down money on it, that's the way I'd bet.

I have read multiple times that the 642 is and has been S&W's best seller for at least several years. Don't know what that equates to in actual numbers, but I would suspect Glock sells a similar number each year.

Oh, and BTW, I know several people who have their CCW and a Glock, but none carries it. Same bit with the Judge--I know four or five who have bought them, nobody carries them (even in their car/truck) and most have never fired them.

I'd have to go with the J frame.

Actually, I do.

Glock 17

My constant carry since 1989.

J frame .38

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My guess also. In fact, a taurus 85 is on my hip as I type this.

greenmtnguy said:

I agree with the J-Frame 38 special being the most carried - there are oodles of them out there, and, it also happens to be what I carry.

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I am a Green Mountain guy also. I carry a G17 here in Hartford, VT.

S&W 460 magnum

I think it depends. Those people with CCW permits who are active in training, shooting, politics, or gun boards tend to have more and higher-end guns. I see more 1911s here, and a much higher percentage of XDs, M&Ps, Sigs, and Glocks.

The people with CCW permits who I see in the classes I've taught tend to not carry guns as often as, say, most THR members. They tend to have fewer guns, and Taurus and Ruger seem to predominate around here, probably because they tend to be decent performers and reliable for relatively low cost.

Of course, I only see the guns that people qualify with, not what they actually carry. I see very few revolvers for the qualification shoot, and of those, even fewer J-frames, actually.

Every now and then I see something a little different. Had a fellow with an EAA compact in 10mm. We moved him to the far right of the shooting line very quickly after one of the instructors got dinged in the temple with one of his hot brass from about 50 feet away on the other end of the line.

Also have seen a S&W 686, a Colt Pony Pocketlite, and a CZ 52. Had a hell of a time with the CZ. Also a Taurus Millenium in 9mm that had aftermarket Heine sights on it with a front sight that was so short all of the guy's shots went over the target hanger at 7 yards.

LCP has got to be up there. That's what I carry myself (that and sometimes a Makarov in .380), and it seems to be selling quite well and I don't see a lot of use for that gun outside of carry.

Of the people that I actually know personally that have CWP's though,

2 have the license but don't carry at all (each only owns 1 handgun - one a Ruger P95 and another a S&W Sigma .40).
1 carries a S&W J-frame
2 carry a Glock 23
1 carries a Glock 36

LCP, Glock 23 mainly size & weight. I dropped down from my 45.

It's been around a long time in various models, and people who have been carrying for decades see no reason to switch.

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While this is true, concealed carry has not been particularly common for nearly as long. Shall issue in many places is of relatively more recent origin and I know based on the stats I've seen in my state the last five years has shown a real uptick in permits. In sum, there are probably more new concealed permit folks than there are ones who've been around a long time.

It still wouldn't surprise me if the J frame was the most popular. I bet there are a lot of Ruger LCPs. What else does someone buy one of those for besides carry? And ruger has sold a lot of them.

I'd be interested to hear what some of the people selling guns sell the most of as intended concealed carry guns.

My guess is that in the last few years the growing number of small semi's in 380 and 9x19 have probbaly stolen a lot of the J-Frame's thunder and market share. I may be wrong though. I'd also bet the LCR has probably taken more of that market share than S&W would have liked. I wonder what the numbers of each being sold are the last couple years.

sub-moa said:

The original question: "What model gun is the most popular carry gun"

Glock 19

"J Frame" isn't a "model"

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Well, there are four (or 5) versions of the Glock 19, I think the variations of the j-frame are pretty much in line with that.

I was just joking, hence the "" BUT...

Not even close...

While there are generations...up to Gen 4, and options...such as Comp/Color, they are all Glock Model 19s of the same caliber, pattern and size...

"J Frame" is a frame size which comes/came in numerous different Models; 36/37/38/40/42/60/442/642/640/YadaYadaYada, each of which is a different Model...and each come/came in different generations and different options...to say nothing of different calibers, barrel lengths, frame and cylinder material, round-butt and square-butt ...

I think its a 1911..../ at least among my buddies....

sub-moa said:

I was just joking,

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I was too.

This is why I have a pile of them they are all different, but the same as far as my wife is concerned.

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If they actually try keep track...they deserve to get confused

Of the twenty or so ccwers I know none carry revolvers. All are under 40, maybe that matters? Myself and 3 others carry Glock 29s. Two more 26s and two 27s. I would guess Glocks. Lcps are quite popular too.

P3AT because it is always there, at home or away, and never seen. I will pat it ocassionally to remind myself it is there. Two gunshop owners I know well both carry S&W 642's and can obviously carry whatever they would want.

I wonder if a significant variation exists between regions? People in warmer climates with less layering carrying 380s and 38s etc, whereas those of us in the snow regions carry larger guns. I know I tend to carry full-sized handguns for most of the year, and switch to an officers sized 1911 during our summers.

Carried 1911s for three decades, switched over to polymers last year. Just updated my permit yesterday (we have to list what we carry, and no more than three) to read Glock 30,26,36.

At my last class, there were 17 semi-autos (mostly polys) and one J frame...

There are so many different pistols it would be hard to define. "J-Frame"...is that specifically a S&W J-Frame, or does it include similar-sized pistols from other brands? Glock 19 is a good guess, but what about people who carry G23 or G26/27? On that note, if G19 and G23 are separate, then .38 and .357 J-Frames should be separate, because they have specific models as well.

Then you have to ask how often someone carries each gun. Some people may carry the LCP 100% of the time, 20% as primary and 80% as a backup to a duty pistol. Others may carry the LCP for the 20% of the time they are outside without carry gear, and carry their duty pistol without their LCP the other 80%.

J-frame .38 Special, in either standard or airweight configuration.

Of the 4 people I know that carry none carry a glock.

one carries a sig in .40
one carries and XD9
one carries a 1911
one carries a SR9

I carry the following: S&W SD40 in the winter and a Taurus Pt111 in the summer. I have been known to carry my 1911 at times as well.

As a matter of fact I do not personally know a single person who owns a glock.

I also think it's the J-frame. Small .380' are probably next..