Carry Gun journey, coming round full circle

[Peakbagger46]

I have been a LEO for the last five years and have been in the search of the "perfect" CCW carry gun since day one. First came the Glock 27 (the only off-duty allowed by my first agency). I shot this gun very well but complained that it was too "thick" to carry all that well off duty.

Then... I went to an agency that allowed me to carry whatever (within reason) I wished to as a BUG or off-duty weapon. So... I bit on a beautiful Kimber commander sized .45. Next came a Kahr PM40. Both the Kimber and Kahr exhibited less than confidence inspiring reliability and both were sold.

Next and currently came the Sig P239. Slim, beautiful, and well made, reliable as well. But, at 7+1 rounds, I have given up two shots to the plain jane Glock 27 I started with. More importantly, I have come to admit I just don't shoot it as well as the baby glock and the muscle memory is somewhat different than what I have acquired through many many hours of training with my duty Glock 22.

So here I am after all this, considering selling the Sig and going back to a plain old baby glock. It will be hard to get rid of the Sig though, it really is a beautiful and well made pistol... but, if I were to really need it tomorrow, I can't but admit I would rather be holding that ugly glock when the chips are down.

 

[gearhead]

A person's CCW is one place where trade-offs and compromises are always obvious. To gain the slimmer profile you give up capacity. To gain a shorter barrel you give up accuracy and often reliability. I don't carry my .45 compact as much as I did when I first got it, while it's very comfortable to carry in the SuperTuck it's also much harder to draw due to my normal dress shirt being in the way and I find that I'm less accurate with it than I am with my P-64. So the P-64 has less capacity and a less effective round but it's pocketable and easier to draw cleanly and stealthily. I'd love to feel as good hauling around the 10+1 of .45ACP but for now it usually stays on the nightstand.

 

[ge0624me]

Do you only favor holster type concealment or would you ever consider pocket carry,I went thru so many different types of CC bugs,until I came across the Keltec pf9 ,now I know it doesn't have the best rep,but mine has well over 600rds mainly defense ammo,because I make it a point to make sure she's going to wrk,I have yet to have 1 malfunction of any type,no I do also own Glocks which IMO is the reliability capital besides the AK47, but for a very concealable pocket carry bug ,IMO it's hard to beat the Keltec pf9 that's if you want to go down to 9mm not that big of a trade off some 9mm sd ammo is pretty damn good! Ne ways keep in mind the best bug gun is the one that didn't get left at hm because of inconenience.

 

[Sapper771]

I have been staying as close to my duty gun as I can. I carry a G31 on duty and a G17 off duty, same gun, different caliber. There are times where a G17 is too big and bulky , then I use a G19. If the G19 is still too large, I use my G26. Anything smaller, I go with my smith 438. I tend to prefer full sized pistols, so I compromise and dress around them.

At one time, I was carrying a different off duty gun than my on duty gun. My qualification scores showed this as well. Once I went to a similar pllatform and setup, my scores topped out and proficiency was noticeably improved. So, I would say stick to the G27 and maybe look into a different holster.

I carry my G26 as an on duty back up. It performs well in this area.

 

[19-3Ben]

Have you considered the SR9c?
Very few complaints (but of course, they are out there- just like any gun), small, still gives you ten rounds while being much thinner than the Glock.

 

[Snarlingiron]

but, if I were to really need it tomorrow, I can't but admit I would rather be holding that ugly glock when the chips are down.

And what was your question? Seriously?

A Glock 26 is what I carry everyday. I would carry the G19 if I could dress differently.

 

[MCMXI]

I bought a SIG P239 SAS Gen 2 last week for this very purpose. I chose the 9mm Luger model ... 10-round magazines are available. I've shot my friends G27 and it's an accurate, easy to shoot, compact pistol so I can understand the appeal. However, it seems to me that as a carry gun, you'll be carrying it more than shooting it ... a lot more ... so ultimately, what's more important to you?

 

[Sgt_R]

However, it seems to me that as a carry gun, you'll be carrying it more than shooting it ... a lot more ... so ultimately, what's more important to you?

Shooting, hands down. Why carry a gun at all if you can't hit what you're aiming at, or if you can't trust it to go bang every time?

R

 

[MrWesson]

S&W M&P compact .40 or 9mm I have a G26 and I am going to switch soon. better ergonomics with equal reliability.

its about the same size as a g26 with the flush mag with a second mag that is a little larger its closer to the g19.

 

[MCMXI]

Shooting, hands down. Why carry a gun at all if you can't hit what you're aiming at, or if you can't trust it to go bang every time?

I must have missed the part where the OP stated that he can't hit anything with the SIG and that it's been unreliable.

 

[REAPER4206969]

while being much thinner than the Glock.

SR9c:1.27"

Glock:1.18"

 

[wvshooter]

I used to carry a Kahr CW9 as a primary ccw weapon but gradually got more and more uncomfortable with the idea of 7 + 1. A full size gun is certainly more difficult to wear all day but I finally said goodbye for good to the lower round count. Now the minimum is 12 rounds of 40 or 17 rounds of 9 depending on which gun I'm using.

The rotation includes a CZ75BD, Sigma 9 or 40ve, Smith 4046 or Smith 5906. They are all bigger than the Kahr but the additional rounds and shootability make it worthwhile IMO.

 

[Peakbagger46]

I should clarify, I do have a M&P J-frame that I carry as a BUG on duty or when pocket carry is my only option. I would never get rid of this little .357.

 

[Landric]

I know where you are coming from. I've been a cop for 14+ years now and I've been carrying 15+. I've been though the rotation a couple of times. I've tried various BUGs over that time and I just keep coming back to the Airweight J-frame.

As for off-duty, I've tried them all. I'm not one of those people who cares much about capacity (I always carry a BUG on or off-duty). My current carry guns are: Ruger SP101 .357 DAO, S&W 3953, S&W 4553 TSW, and my Airweight.

If the Glock 27 works best for you, its the obvious choice.

 

[herkyguy]

I too am less than thrilled with my LCP (6+1) capacity and am probably going to trade in for an XD subcompact 9mm. For me, learning about holsters has really changed my perspective on what I can comfortably carry. My supertuck allows me to carry an SP101 357 relatively easily so i am comfortable upping the size of the gun a bit to allow for more capacity.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Got it "back"

Went and did some horse trading and walked out with a Glock 27. I'm already shooting it better than I did the Sig and am a happy man. It may be a bit until I am able to prone out at 100 yards and make consistant hits on a man-sized target like I used to, but I'll get back there!

Those extra 2 rounds and the fact the slide holds open (I always hit the Sig's slide release because of my "glock grip") sure makes me feel safer.

 

[DonRon]

Had the same thing happen with a Glock 26. No matter how hard I tried and money I spent, I just could not come up with a better CCW. For pocket carry, there is nothing better than the Kel Tec P-3AT in my experience.

Now I have a safe full of guns that I don't use on a daily basis. The education cycle is expensive sometimes.