"Carry Everyday" Gun.

[strambo]

I've recently gone up in size. My everyday gun is now my Sig P226. I still have a Kahr K9 for shorts/T-shirt carry...next summer (though I'll bet I can carry my Sig IWB under a T-shirt...I'm gonna find out ). I like to carry the biggest gun I can conceal, which isn't all that hard with a good belt and holster.

 

[Rexster]

In pocket carry, the rear of a Glock's slide can catch on the hem at the mouth of the pocket. A revolver with a spurless hammer simply has little or nothing to catch on things. I tried a baby Glock when I started carrying a G22 as a duty pistol in 2002, but quickly set it aside, and eventually sold it. I could carry the full-sized G22 just as easily as the G27 on the belt, and my SP101 snubbies worked better from pockets. A baby Glock is a fat little thing, which carries its full width for its entire length and height. I am able to carry TWO SP101 snubbies easier than one baby Glock. Really, much of it boils down to me just liking the revolvers' trigger pull better than the mushy Glock trigger pull. I bought the first SIG P229R with the DAK trigger that I could get my hands on, and it is now my duty pistol, so I am totally away from Glocks now.

 

[Clipper]

I started with a P3AT that I pocket carried for a couple years until I finally got hold of a PF-9, which is now my 24/7 pocket gun.

 

[Lashlarue]

My P-11 worked fine loose in my left front pocket for ten years, if anyone noticed they wisely kept their mouth shut.Now I carry my NAA 22mag all the time and the P-11 for extended trips.The noise and flash from that little NAA will shock you.

 

[BRASSM]

My normal carry sidearm is a Browning Hi-Power. Yes it's a full sized auto, but I have no problem carrying it concealled, with two extra magazines.

 

[star194]

Prvious post

In a previous post I asked if I was the only one to carry a Browning BDA 380. It's very comfortable for me and carry's 13 rounds. If you don't thinks it's powerful enough, try using hollowpoints i9n it. With an extra magazine I carry 26 rounds.

 

[David N]

BRASSM - I'd like to know how you carry the HP concealed. My carry gun for now is a Sigma and it's hard to hide. I'm getting a P11 for carry in an ankle holster.
star194 - I'd LOVE to see a picture of your BDA .380, I've never even seen one. Please post one if you have a digital camera. THANKS!

 

[strickj]

the sd9 service with two 16 round mags usually in my shoulder holster or on my belt

 

[HankB]

I'm in central TX, and normal summer attire consists of shorts and a T-shirt or a shortsleeve knit shirt; concealment options can be limited.

My "always" gun is an S&W 340Sc with Crimson Trace lasergrips. I gave it a modest trigger job myself (after watching the Jerry Miculek "Trigger Job" video) and keep it loaded with .357 Winchester 145gr Silvertip JHPs.

I carry it in my pocket . . . on two occasions I was glad I had it; didn't need to draw it, but the virtue of pocket carry is that you can stand there holding the revolver, and all someone else sees is a guy standing casually with his hand in his pocket.

Yet you're no more than 1/2 second away from BANG! if need be.

 

[OpFlash]

I recently bought the Kel-Tec PF-9 and am extremely happy with it. 7+1 9mm in a very thin and light package. Compared to my previous G26 or current G23 its like carrying nothing, and has a way better trigger than a P-11. With an extra mag I've got the firepower of a G19 but in a much more concealable, comfortable package. More concealable and comfortable than even a J-frame, way faster to reload, and more powerful than 38sp.

 

[glockman19]

First choice: S&W 642 or 442.
Second choice: Glock 26
Third choice: Kimber Ultra

 

[brownie0486]

Usually a glock, lately the 19, sometimes I still carry the 17.

The seecamp is a daily pocket piece, don't get dressed without it.

Brownie

 

[1911 guy]

You're halfway there.

You already wear loose clothing, so investment in a good belt, holster and mag pouch with very minor tweaking of your wardrobe is all that's needed. Shorts aren't an issue, I do it all the time (in the summer anyway) with a 5" 1911. Unless, of course, you opt for a buntline special.

If you opt for a "tuck-in" holster, you'll need to keep the pistol relatively small to avoid looking "like a Cossak dancer" as one person put it. IWB is a good do-it-all choice for most people. OWB is usually more comfortable, but requires a bit longer cover garment.

Really, any handgun you want to carry is doable if you're willing to make some concessions with your clothes. Wearing loose stuff to start with gives you an edge on most who are beginning to carry.

 

[willbrink]

"As I read more and more about CCWing and carrying all the time. It seems that the small frame, 5-shot .357 magnum revolver is what most choose."

No idea how you came to that conclusion. I would say the J frame 38s are more common, and with modern ammo, a good choice in a small gun.

 

[BullsEye10x]

The first sidearm I carried regularly was an M9, in USGI nylon holster. Sometimes I also wore it in a shoulder rig for armory duty. It was bulky, but not what I'd call heavy. Concealment wasn't an issue at the time.

In my LEO days, my trusty duty gun was a Sig SP2340, and I'd carry that off-duty (concealed) a lot. I also had a Sig P239 9mm with an IWB holster, that was about as small of a pistol I could still feel confident with.

When I got a TX CHL, after not carrying anything for a few years, I decided on my G30 and a Don Hume clip-on IWB as a primary. It felt heavy and bulky for a week or so, now I hardly even notice it's there. I'm 5' 10" and 165 lbs, not a big guy by any means, and can easily conceal all of the above in just about any attire with no problems. You don't need to spend a lot of money on designer rigs, just need to find what works best for each individual.

 

[dasmi]

When I carry, it's a Glock 17 openly, or a Makarov concealed.

 

[mgregg85]

Could give a bersa a try, I almost always carry my .45 anyways but the bersa fits real nice in my baggy pockets.

 

[rocinante]

wow i went all the way through this thread looking for a mention of bersa and the last post had one. I have a bersa thunder 380cc conceal carry pistol on the way. With the right ammo I believe it may be a goldilock pistol for concealed carry. Not too big, not too little, bang not overpowering, not ineffective. just right.

 

[AStone]

First choice: S&W 642 or 442.

Similarly,
First choice: S&W 442 or 65.
Second choice: S&W 642 or 65.
Third choice: S&W 40 or 686.

 

[LT1coupe]

The Bersa 380 is a fine small gun, my wife likes hers & it has been very reliable.
Bersa does offer a mini thunder 9mm that is almost identical in size & weight. My youngest son has one & it is a nice piece. I plan on upgrading the wife to the 9mm soon. The recoil is very managable, you have a nearly twice the power & cheaper, more plentiful ammo.

 

[ExSoldier]

I'm in Miami, FL and for most of the year I carry a M642 in a Mikla pocket holster. Carry a spare speedloader in the off side pocket. But for this holiday season, I have asked my wife to please NAG ME (what a switch, huh?) to wear my Sig P226 in my new CrossBred Super Tuck Deluxe when we go out or especially shopping for presents. It means I have to start getting ready before her because getting the holster situated just right is a mission. But once it's on and comfy, it disappears under a tucked in oxford shirt and no other cover and it's very comfortable. I'm no mall ninja but I'm very worried about the malls being such a target this season. The M642 is a belly gun for belly distance. I train with it by putting my target at that distance (3-9 feet +/-) and shoot from the hip into the center mass, rapid fire. I can now empty the cylinder in under 2 seconds and score all COM shots. But it took practice. At any range beyond 10 feet, I won't take the shot. Hence the need for the P226 Blackwater. That baby is spot on at 25 yards every time. I don't expect to take any shots at THAT range, either. LOL But it's time to start living my credo: "Serious guns for serious times."

 

[oobray]

My Springfield Armory Champion Operator in my DIY holster. You can't see the belt loops behind it but the're there. Due to the aluminuim alloy frame I can carry this even with shorts and a tank top. Here's another holster I have made that I use to carry my SA Operator.

 

[No Quarter]

My day varies from working at my office, to running out to the oilfield to check on job sites, to attending meetings at other facilities to playing with kids or picking them up from school. Only the most minimal of handguns make sense.

I carry either a .44 mag derringer or a NAA mini in my pocket. I can't afford to worry about concealment when I am surrounded by rock drills and explosives and customers and wind and rain, etc, etc, etc, I need something that is easy to carry in the pocket of my wranglers and can be accessed easily.

When I had a strictly office job, an MK9 or a G26 was my everyday. Now, there is just no way that makes sense to me.

FWIW, I am completely comfortable with just the mini or the derringer. Either will give me the advantage I need to see another day. If I am traveling out to the boonies, I throw a short-barreled vaquero in .45 colt in the truck just in case. Otherwise, I will live or die fighting with what I have on me.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I would say that given the choices, you cant go wrong with either the snubby or the baby Glocks. One thing to consider is that it is easier to shoot accurately and quickly with the Glock than it is with a snub. However, if you are confident in your abilities with the .357 snub, it is a fine and reliable weapon and it's even more capable of pulling a "one shot stop" than a Glock in 9 or 40.

I went with the Glock 26 though for its easy concealability, total reliability, higher capacity, accuracy at longer ranges, rapid fire-ability, durability, and ease of use.

When it comes to this debate, you should get what feels best to you... both options are capable of doing the intended job. Both options are reliable, and both pack enough effective firepower to solve any social problems you may encounter.

Best of luck.

 

[frank23185]

Nice piece OOBRAY. I like the DIY holster.

99% of the time I carry a SW 642 in trouser pocket. The Colt GM gets boat defense duty, and an occasional foray into town.