Your Concealed Carry Gun?

I have been carrying the Colt magnum carry 357 mag. for the past 12 years and before that the Colt Cobra 38 special. Both hold 6 shots and are reliable.

I'm always searching, but I keel falling back to the 642. Sig 239 is a close second.

Availability trumps wish list. I carried a 4" revolver for a short time before I found the LCP which I carried for a short time before I found love in the shape and weight of a plastic brick that is a Glock 21.
So 3rd time was the charm for me, and I'm big (fat) enough that I don't need to downsize and therefore don't plan on changing.

I have had my CCW permit over 40 years. Probably carried 10-15. This has lasted the longest, 4-5 years.

I'm currently carrying a S&W 469. It carries well with a good belt and a proper holster. It's a medium sized frame, so it helps I'm a big guy and can get away with wearing a cover garment 8-9 months out of the year.

It does not conceal as well in warmer weather, which is not a big deal here in Michigan, since I can open carry.

12+1 rounds of 9mm is a nice feeling, though.


But having said that, I'm looking for another carry gun. Something a little smaller and a lot lighter. Not to replace my S&W, but to carry in lieu of at certain times.

I carry a Ruger SR9C...easy to carry, even with the 17 round mag.
Excellent trigger and accuracy.
Very happy with it!
Pud

Smith & Wesson 3913. It is thin, reliable and accurate, but still a little heavy. I'm looking at something smaller, maybe a Beretta Nano, or a Smith M&P Sheild. I'm still searching for the "Holy Grail" - something you have great confidence in, yet easy to carry. Right now, my confidence is in my 1911 and my easy to carry gun is an LCP. Bridging the gap is the challenge...

Carried a P3AT but now carry a LCP.

It's been a few years since I got my carry permit, and I still use the same gun I was carrying then - my 1911. I carry other guns from time to time, but there's nothing quite as comforting as parking that big lump of steel on my hip.

In NJ CCW is almost impossible. But if I could, it would probably be the XD-S.

Started off with a Kahr P-9 Covert (short grip) was reliable
In the beginning then it did'nt like my Win 115 grn. Silver tips.
Just did'nt have confidence in it. Then I chose a Glock 26.
Love it, maybe thicker but I can adjust.

Semper Fi

My gen 3 Colt Detective Special or my Model 36 Chief's Special. Both loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP.

On rare occasions I carry a P225-barreled Sig P6 loaded up with 124gr Gold Dots +P's.

Take a NRA Basic Pistol class. Hang around the range as much as possible and talk to lots of people. Shoot as many guns as you can. Never take the advice from the guy that says "just buy a (insert brand and model) it's the best gun ever made". Consider all aspects such as how you will use it, what it is really for, will you carry it, how will you carry it, etc. Then think long and hard about caliber. Caliber cost, availability, recoil vs delivered energy, etc. Research, research, research then decide. Once you have decided, stop researching and practice, practice, practice and stick with it for at leasst 6 months. Hopefully by then you will realize that there is no perfect gun and that every choice comes with a certain amount of compromise.

Started with an XDSC, then G23, then LCP, then KAHR CW9, but I have finally settled on a S&W 642. The reliability and pocketabilty are key to me carrying everywhere I can. And unlike the lcp, I can shoot it accurately.

Let's not even talk about the number of holsters I have been through.

Plan2Live is right on the $$$$

5 years ago I bought my first gun, a Glock 27. A few months later I got my carry permit. I have been carrying the G27 almost everyday since. I have a 642 that I pocket or ankle carry on occasion and a S&W 13 that I woods carry.

Shooting for 30+ years, relatively recent CCW. The long shooting experience before CCW made it relatively easy to narrow the set of choices for me. 3rd Series 70's vintage Colt Detective Special and a 70's vintage Lawman Mk III 2" .357. On the bench further down is a full size Kimber Custom II Target. The only adjustable sight in my CCW lineup, least time in the saddle in very hot Louisiana.

The "go to" is the Detective Special. Pretty recently you would have heard me saying the Lawman is my favorite. Still is in a way but thinking about it now the DS is getting most of the belt time. My "old school" bent is reflected in my choices. For me, I'm confident in my choices but still "learning" what is my true "go to" as time adds up. YMMV

well I went and got my ccw then went and shot a LCR 357 fell in love so I carried it then a buddy let me shoot his glock 19 and polymer is now my choice.

How long did it take you to find your "go to" everyday concealed carry gun?

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My original gun was my "go to" gun since it was my only pistol. I always come back to it. The problem is that it is not concealable with most of my wardrobe.

How many guns did you experiment with before you found your favorite?

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I am still looking after 16 years.

I have my best guesses, but that's about it. I compromised and have divided them up into four classes: pocket, small, medium and large. Pocket and small are the most concealable, but lack the capacity, ease of use, and longer sight radius that make the larger guns much better shooters.

I found that a Glock 19 and Glock 26 cover 95% of all situations. The last 5% is solved by a mini semi-automatic pistol or a small revolver. However, I can make do with a Glock 26 even in the last 5%, but it's annoying.

My recommendation is that if you have no idea what to get, buy a Glock 19. Add night sights, grip plug, and a Ghost 3.5# connector. If you do not like the gun after six months, you can always sell it at a small loss (rather than a large one) since they're so popular. But, you'll find that its overall height and width is just about perfect to avoid printing while providing you with a long sight radius and full palm support. A Browning Hi-Power MK III in 9x19mm has similar characteristics (I do not use them at this time due to all the modifications for carry that are needed--figure $400+ in work plus refinishing. ION Bond runs $400 or so). The S&W M&P compacts are a blend of the sizes of the Glock 19 and 26. It may be a the compromise you're looking for.

I have found the SIG P229 to be a good compromise between a medium and large gun. It's slightly larger than a Glock 19. One advantage for shooting is the gun weighs more. This can be a disadvantage as far as your back is concerned. I found it to turn 40 S&W and 357 SIG from annoying to tolerable cartridges. I'd likely carry one in 357 SIG if I could put up with reloading the necked case. 40 DeathRay is just silly (made for those who need a "4" in the caliber), so the obvious choice is hot 9x19mm.

I have found a whole bunch of guns that are annoying or designed by marketing people. Small semi-automatic pistols chambered in 45 ACP are almost universally terrible. They have low capacity and nasty recoil (small 1911's, Glock 36, Springfield XDS, etc). Oversized guns in 380 Automatic are another silly concept. Chambering 40 S&W or 357 SIG in a small semi-automatic is useless, just like chambering 10 mm in very light guns. The shot recovery time is too long and the blast is as bad as full 357 Magnum out of a two inch barrel.

The Ruger SP101 is another terrible design despite its popularity. It's almost as if the design team took all the thrown out requirements from successful designs and munged them together to make this gun. The problems are not obvious. First, it is nearly full sized and only holds five rounds (six is statistically significant for getting two shots into each attacker--see a thread on this forum that goes over the percentages). Secondly, the cylinder crane is not long enough. It is about 1/8" or so too short, which results in speed loaders binding on the rubber grip. Empty cases will catch too. It needs a rear sight rather than a groove and the stainless steel finish makes it tough to line up the sights. Finally, the short barreled version is just too heavy to be a small gun and not heavy enough to be a full sized gun. They should just bring back the Speed Six and Security Six.

Make sure to consider the cost of magazines. HK P30's are great, but the cost of the magazine is incredibly high. SIG has become almost as ridiculous and Glock recently cranked up their prices to $30 or so (wait for sales after the 2012-2013 Panic). Even 1911 magazines are creeping up and high quality mags cost $30-40 each. NEVER buy non-factory magazines unless the gun is well known and the magazine manufacturer is well known -- do your research. Never, ever buy anything from PRO Mag.

I carry a Bersa Thunder .380. Fits in a front right pocket. I can shoot it accurately. It has never jammed or failed in any way. I trust it.

Last question first. I have yet to find my favorite, sans a 1911 5". I have a few very comfortable pistols and revolvers I like to use and or carry on a daily basis. And I carry each that I have very specifically and for very different reasons, including dress, or weather.

I have gone through, or experimented with a multitude of pistols and revolvers to find the ones that I have, and or for carry everyday. Quite a few trips to various ranges that had "loners" available was a major factor in my decision making process. As were quite a few trips to my friends' and buds' houses for looks and feels. As well as just what you are doing. Asking questions and advice. Not to mention countless gunshows just to see, feel, and ask even more questions.

My carries for now are:
S&W M&P c9
Ruger SR9
CZ 83
S&W 2 1/2" combat magnum
KelTec P3AT

And the one or two that were close to perfect were:
Bersa Thunder UC 9Pro
Sringfield EMP .40 - THE closest thing to perfection ever - just my opinion

Being a Beretta fan, I've alternated carrying a Titanium Tomcat .32, an 85F .380, and a 92FS Compact 9mm from the beginning. Mainly the 92FS Compact in the winter, in a Crossbreed Supertuck-style rig at 4:00.

A handgun is a tool to me. I have different ones for different situations. If I am running out the door, staying close to home, I usually go with my S&W M&P Shield. If I am going to be gone all day and far from home, I'll grab my G19. Where I live is pretty safe. I still carry something because you never know. But when I venture further from my relative safety, I up the fire power. If I am headed out on a road trip, which I am doing more and more these days, I throw the plate carrier and AR-15 in the truck, along with my G19 on my hip. When I head out for some time off in the mountiains, I switch out my 9mm for a .357mag revolver, usually a GP100 with 4" barrel. Right tool for the right situation.

I'll preface this by saying I'm not the type of person that is very picky. I could have chosen one of fifty different guns and probably been happy with every one of them. Having said that - at the time that I was looking for my CCW, I wanted:
Something big enough that it didn't feel like I was holding a Derringer, but small enough that I could pocket carry in any of the (slightly baggy) jeans that I wear 99% of the year, as well as IWB carry.
Something that used the same caliber bullet as the only other gun I owned at the time - an FNP-9 (9mm)
Something that didn't have a safety.

That moved me directly to the Glock 26, and I couldn't be happier with my decision.
However now, a year and a half later and much more knowledgeable about firearms, would I have gone a different route even though I'm very satisfied with my G26? Yes. I sold my FNP-9 because I never used it anymore - the G26 became not only my EDC gun but also my bedside and vehicle gun. So now that I'm not tied to 9mm - I probably would have gone the way of the 1911 and gotten two - a bobtailed officers model, and a full size gov't model, and never would have felt the need to buy another handgun. As it stands now, I'll probably end up getting a 1911 in .38 Super and reloading that instead, or maybe a Hi-Power.