best carry gun, opinions?

[searcher451]

The best carry gun in the world is the one that works best for you: It fits your hand, it's comfortable, you understand the mechanics, you fire it accurately, you trust it, etc. For me, it's a Walther PPK/S. But who knows what it going to be for you? Only you can make that determination.

 

[testosterone]

Along the lines of the last post.

There is a saying among strength and conditioning coaches regarding the best time of day that you should train. The answer is not "first thing in the morning before you, or after you eat, or midday with a nap following, or before dinner with an after workout meal or anything else"

The answer to the question, what is "best", is "The time you will show up on a consistent basis and actually train!"

Likewise I think, with a carry piece. The best gun is the one you will be comfortable enough to have on you *all the time*.

Rule 1, right?

Have a gun, any gun.

This may be more than 1 gun, carried differently in different situations.

This disobey another rule, which is to carry the same gun in the same place all the time, but contradicts rule 1, but few are perfect.

My answer is, as above, the best carry gun for you is the one you will actually carry all the time.

-T

 

[jon_in_wv]

You should really consider a better holster instead of a different gun. Try a Raven Phantom holster and you might be suprised what a difference it makes. The holster is very thin. It will feel like a whole different weapon on your hip.

 

[Dr. Fresh]

If you like thin, the new Walther PPS is pretty nice. A buddy of mine got one in 9mm (.40 is available) and it functioned great for the 50 or so rounds we put through it and was comfy to shoot.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

I carry a G19 OWB under an un-tucked shirt and/or a Kel-Tec P11 in my front pocket.

No one ever notices, even with both guns on me.


Get a good quality belt, and a foward cant, belt-slide holster and wear it at 2:30 or 4:30(whichever you prefer) if you're RH, opposite if LH. Choose a mid-sized, quality gun you shoot well in a service caliber and use quality HP's that YOUR gun likes.

Find a small back-up you like and get a pocket holster for those pants that have larger pockets.

 

[Kelvins13]

I'll throw either a PM9 or LCP in my pocket if going around the corner while walking the dog. If out for the day I'll IWB a G-19, which sometimes I forget is even there.

 

[mrt949]

The best you are comfortabe with .size does matter.

 

[egumpher]

my fav's

My favorite carries are exclusively either a Colt New Agent .45 or Walther PPS 9mm. The Walter is slightly lighter and more concealable but the New Agent packs more oomph.
I have put 2000+ through the PPS and only 400+ thought the New Agent so far......neither have ever had any problems......the PPS is slightly easier to carry but I like the confidence of the .45........buy both so you have the choice....both are surprisingly accurate.... outside of 10yards it's hard to claim self defense so they are both equally accurate...for single stacks the 1911 is king...



Rgds
Eric

 

[wtfd661]

Love carrying my Kimber Tactical Ultra II, its an aluminum frame so not heavy, great size for me, it has the magwell which makes the grip a 1/4" longer than the other ultra's but thats perfect for my large mitts. It will print a little easier, but I carry it in a Milt Sparks IWB #1 Heritage at the 3 oclock position. With the 3" barrel it doesn't press into my leg when sitting like a longer barrel would. As far as 3" barrel reliability issue goes I haven't had a problem in the 3 yrs I've owned it, 100% out of the box with zero issues. I'm 6'01" and 300 lbs so I feel your pain with the pant hitching thing, but a quality holster belt combo does make all the difference in the world. Good luck to you.

 

[LKB3rd]

I had an xd9sc that I sold too. Too small in my hand, and I didn't feel like it carried any better than my xd45compact.
I carry the xd45c, or a detective special. I just picked up a 2 3/4 inch Ruger security six, but I only have a cheap Uncle Mike's holster for it currently, So the jury is still out on how that works for carrying. I'll also add a +1 to getting a good holster, and a good belt for whatever you get. They both make a huge difference.

 

[LKB3rd]

woops double tap, sorry

 

[Mello]

Treo
I've found that because of my body style I have a hard time keeping my pants up W/ a gun.
The solution I've found that works the best is to have a pair of suspenders on as well (think LBE)but I can get away W/ it because my dress style runs to untucked flannels, sweaters and jackets. YMMV

Jumbo72,

As Treo and a few others have posted from personal experience, trying suspenders would open your options to carrying more handguns.

With your stated body size, the size and weight of most full sized handguns is not the issue. The issue is more the shape of your body and how to stabilized your pants.

I'm 5'10" and 190 pounds and carry a 1911 in a Bruce Nelson IWB summer special holster. I could do so with more comfort if I lost a couple of inches off of my waist though.

 

[hawk45]

I like to be able to get my full hand on the grip of whatever I am carrying. Right now I am carrying a full size 1911. Now I say that because I now have a Sparks VMII for it and find it to be VERY comfortable. Pick whatever feels good in your hand and you shoot well with then spend the $$ and wait for a high quality holster and belt. Comfort is key and a full size gun in a high quality holster/belt will feel just as good if not better than a micro compact in a POS holster.

 

[mongo4567]

Alot of what you can carry comfortably depends on your belt and holster. I really like the hybrid holsters, esp the Comp-Tac IWB holsters. I'm 5'11" and can comfortably carry a full size 1911 IWB and it doesn't pattern.

 

[Shytheed Dumas]

For me it has come down to this: Thinner first, then lighter, then narrower, then shorter. But all of those considerations follow reliability as the first and foremost.

My choice after going through a number of different handguns is the Kahr PM9, but I have no problem carrying my S&W 38-642 or Taurus 85 hammerless for that matter if the mood suits me.

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

I've had a Kimber Ultra CDP (3" barrel, nightsights, meltdown (no-snag) treatment) . . . which is designed purely as a CCW weapon, since it came out about ten years ago.

Like all 1911-derivative handguns, they are super flat and easy to conceal too. Mine has ALWAYS been reliable and it is also accurate. It is a great carry gun and, as you can see in the attached photo . . . it has been carried a lot! I'm a huge fan of any serious caliber that starts with the number "4" too!

Truly, I can trust my life to this wonderful weapon, and have! . . .

That being said . . .

My favorite CCW handgun is the one that I just checked again to see if it was there . . . (and it still IS) . . . a gun you won't notice, and neither will anyone else in the crowd. Yep . . . the kind of gun that won't make you have to cinch up your pants every few minutes . . .

A HUMBLE S&W Airweight snubbie in .38spl. Weight . . . about 15 oz.!

If you end up being an active handgunner, sooner or later you'll have an aluminum-framed S&W J-frame "Airweight" in your front pocket holster . . . for a great carry gun is one you don't ever mind having on you!!!

T.

 

[Sarge55]

S&W Scandium 340PD J Frame (.357) snubbie in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster. Nice....................