Carry-Gun Selection

[rider1046]

Like Trunk Monkey, I've settled on a pair of S&W Shield 9mms and for mostly the same reasons. I took a Combat Pistol Course, 8 hours, using one of them and am very comfortable with their ease of use, speed, and accuracy for distances I would be likely to use them.

 

[berettaprofessor]

These days, I'm happiest with either a Keltec P32 or a Sig 238. I haven't had the 238 very long, but it will likely become my carry-everywhere gun. With the 7-round mag, it shoots like a dream.

 

[SC Shooter]

When I first started carrying, I used a S& W model 36. A very nice J frame. Then I went to a Makarov. As it is all steel, it is kind of heavy, but it feels great in hand. I am now carrying a Sig P 938 which has become my favorite of all once I got used to single action.

 

[Mikhail Weiss]

I'm probably not totally pragmatic, but I mostly carry a Glock 19 with 15 rounds. Sometimes I carry a spare magazine. Sometimes I just tuck a Ruger P90 in my belt with eight or nine rounds aboard, depending on which magazines I'm using I'm what I'll be doing.

 

[Ed Ames]

I will lay claim to as much pragmatism as anyone who has ever gone out in public with a long slide (6" barrel) 10mm 1911 carried IWB can.

 

[340PD]

I own a half dozen small handguns both semi's and revolvers that are natural pointers for me. These are the only firearms I carry. I find that a S&W 640 Pro and a 3" Ruger SP101 are on my hip 99% of the time I leave the house. It is easy to pocket a speed strip or two for reloads.

For pocket carry in dress clothing, 340PD or Kahr PM9 fill the bill just because of their reduced weight and size.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

That part of the auto that's behind the hammer of the revolver, meaning the rear part of the slide and frame, is bulkier in a pocket. Revolvers carry better in a pocket for the most part.

Even in a concealment belt holster (not a duty holster), small and medium revolvers tend to blend into our fairly lumpy body shapes. Medium or large semiautos tend to look like you're concealing a carpenters square.

 

[para38super]

View attachment 228886 View attachment 228887 View attachment 228888 View attachment 228889
I will use these pics to illustrate how a revolver guy switched to an autoloader.
The sp101 was my first ccw. My experiences with .357 vs deer caused me to rethink my caliber choice. My LGS had a used 1911 compact so I bought it to see if I liked it.
I did.

The 1911 is actually thinner than the revolver
It has better sights
Longer sight radius
Longer barrel
Higher capacity
Basically the same length overall
The same height
Simplicity of reloads
Easy to carry spare ammo
Better trigger
Bigger bore
I shoot it better than the revolver.
Since this is a carry choice thread, I thought it was relevant.

I would like to hear the 357 mag vs deer story. I always felt the 357 was a better choice for wild life, maybe I am wrong.

 

[Teachu2]

Smallest I go is a Shield - anything smaller is just plain too small for my hands. I shoot the G26, G30, and 1911 very well, and I'm a big enough guy to be able to conceal any of them well. Depending on the circumstances, any of those might be on me - and sometimes many of them are.

 

[Pukindog12]

I think a seriously under-rated aspect of choosing a carry gun is the ease with which the gun indexes for you. I am using the word "index" to mean the extent to which you can look at a target while grabbing/drawing the gun and then have the sights appear, pre-aligned, on the target. This has a huge amount to do with how quickly one can begin to fire accurate shots, which seems like an important consideration for a self-defense weapon.

This here is a big reason I went with the FNS 9/FNS 9c. These guns "index" the best out of any I have owned or handeled. Along with the fact I shoot them accurately and they have proven to be reliable. If I need to be more discreet (single stack) I can rely on a Kahr CW9 for the aforementioned reasons.

 

[Arandaglock]

First post here. Been carrying for quite a few years. Started out with a 1911 and have settled on a G19. With things being what they are, I carry two mags.
I prefer to carry the same gun day in day out. I think, for me, switching guns would create an operational error at the worst possible moment. I run my Glocks regularly, most everything else is staying in the safe.

 

[webrx]

Pragmatic mostly, LCP in the pocket, lc9s or lcrx in 38 on the hip.

But I have to admit I have been recently tempted to carry my 1873 SAA clone with 3.5 barrel and birdshead grip in 45 colt just cuz I like it.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

View attachment 228886 View attachment 228887 View attachment 228888 View attachment 228889
I will use these pics to illustrate how a revolver guy switched to an autoloader.
The sp101 was my first ccw. My experiences with .357 vs deer caused me to rethink my caliber choice. My LGS had a used 1911 compact so I bought it to see if I liked it.
I did.

The 1911 is actually thinner than the revolver
It has better sights
Longer sight radius
Longer barrel
Higher capacity
Basically the same length overall
The same height
Simplicity of reloads
Easy to carry spare ammo
Better trigger
Bigger bore
I shoot it better than the revolver.
Since this is a carry choice thread, I thought it was relevant.

I've carried an M1911 for over 50 years -- for those very reasons.

 

[Armored farmer]

I've carried an M1911 for over 50 years -- for those very reasons.

Thank you Vern.
My experiences were real, first hand, and undeniable. I had hung my hat on the. 357 mag. It was with great reluctance, but I had to change my ccw, and deer hunting revolver to .45 caliber.

 

[Archie]

In this regard, I like to think of myself as pragmatic. So I carry a Colt Commander (LW) in .45 ACP. I shoot it in various club shooting events and am quite familiar with it. I like to think I shoot it well. I can control it one-handed handily.

For various reasons, I am limited to a single arm for carry. If I could, I'd probably have a .45 Auto Rim revolver and a S&W M36 revolver in the mix for specific circumstances.

When, in the fullness of time, I may be limited to a lighter recoiling sidearm for physical reasons (back back or arthritis in the hands), I am planning on shifting to a Colt M1903 with better sights. Hopefully, that will not be for awhile.

 

[Armored farmer]

I would like to hear the 357 mag vs deer story.

The very much condensed version is that all six deer that I took with a .357 survived a long time after being mortally wounded.
I'm not trying to convince anyone, just noting my disappointment in the ability to stop a 150lb animal quickly.
I use a. 45 now.

 

[Elkins45]

I have gone through a real evolution of CCW guns beginning with getting my CCW permit in 1997. I traded a beautiful S&W 586 for a 1911 because I KNEW I wanted to carry a 1911 for my IWB gun. That didn't last long. I switched to a Glock 19, then Sig P239, then Glock 33. I stuck with the G33 for 3-4 years, then fell in love with a Kahr P9 because it is so light, concealable and fits my hands so perfectly. I have been carrying it for at least 15 years now for summer IWB.

For pocket carry when wearing dress clothes I carried a S&W shrouded air weight forever, but switched to a Kahr PM9 last year because it eliminated the cylinder bulge.

For winter carry under a sweatshirt I have carried an assortment of cannons, most commonly a S&W 10mm or Sig P220. This year I switched to a CZ Compact because I have come to share the opinion that in a gunfight you might end up expending more rounds that you would hope.

 

[Jimster]

1911. Anything else is just silly.

 

[thedeal]

If I were going to be absolutely rational about it my carry guns would be a Glock 19, a Glock 43 and a Keltec P32. Maybe throw a lightweight J-Frame and a Freedom Arms Sidewinder .22 Magnum into the mix for special occasions. Boring but effective, especially with the new Lehigh Extreme Cavitator ammo in .32 ACP. But I am not rational about my carry choices. My only real criteria for a carry gun are a) It works and b) I like it. For me to like it does not really depend on the cartridge it fires or the mechanism; it's more a matter of how interesting it is. Sure, if modern, proven ammunition is available I'm going to use that. But I am not dismayed at the prospect of using a gun even if the only ammo I can lay hands on is round-nose lead. I totally get that this is irrational of me, and I don't recommend my way of doing things to others. It's not smart, and I always recommend more mainstream choices. But I have had an interesting life filled with experiences that most people don't have. I have confidence (overconfidence perhaps) in myself, and as long as a gun functions I'm OK with it. So- are you totally pragmatic in your choices for carry guns- or do other factors enter in to it?

If I were going to be absolutely rational about it my carry guns would be a Glock 19, a Glock 43 and a Keltec P32. Maybe throw a lightweight J-Frame and a Freedom Arms Sidewinder .22 Magnum into the mix for special occasions. Boring but effective, especially with the new Lehigh Extreme Cavitator ammo in .32 ACP. But I am not rational about my carry choices. My only real criteria for a carry gun are a) It works and b) I like it. For me to like it does not really depend on the cartridge it fires or the mechanism; it's more a matter of how interesting it is. Sure, if modern, proven ammunition is available I'm going to use that. But I am not dismayed at the prospect of using a gun even if the only ammo I can lay hands on is round-nose lead. I totally get that this is irrational of me, and I don't recommend my way of doing things to others. It's not smart, and I always recommend more mainstream choices. But I have had an interesting life filled with experiences that most people don't have. I have confidence (overconfidence perhaps) in myself, and as long as a gun functions I'm OK with it. So- are you totally pragmatic in your choices for carry guns- or do other factors enter in to it?

 

[Elkins45]

Thank you Vern.
My experiences were real, first hand, and undeniable. I had hung my hat on the. 357 mag. It was with great reluctance, but I had to change my ccw, and deer hunting revolver to .45 caliber.

I wouldn't shoot a deer with a 357 magnum unless I was in some sort of survival situation. There's just no need to use a marginal cartridge when an adequate one is available at the same gun store.

 

[FL-NC]

I carry a G19C, except in the summer. Then its a shield 9- cause I don't like the G43.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I carry an HK VP9. For me it beat out both the Glock 19 and Glock 17 in the shootability department and has been utterly reliable through several thousand rounds and one high round count class with Pat McNamara. The pistol also helped me grab top honors in class for the pistol portion. So I'm kind of fond of it. It's small enough to conceal in a good holster, but just barely. I am willing to put up with this because I know without even a shadow of a doubt that it works and it makes bullets go where I want them to. HK was even kind enough to make sure the night sights were regulated at the factory and sure enough bullets hit to the top of the front sight all the way out to the 50 yard line. Perfect windage and elevation.

 

[BeachBum69]

Living in a tourist area, I have to take some pains to be 100% sure my concealed handgun is exactly that - concealed. That said, I'm not going to carry something I am not confident in.

My EDC is a Glock 19 with two spare magazines; I can get by with this setup under a polo with jeans at work or in casual encounters and be fine. Given the choice, I would ALWAYS carry my G19. I have practiced enough with it that it comes to point of aim for me instantly, all the time, every time.

If I am wearing a suit/tie, I'll generally opt for my S&W Shield .40 and one spare magazine, as that handgun has a somewhat smaller footprint and is just less likely to print. (As an aside, I have the Shield in .40 *only* because it was available at a great price from a co-worker - given the option to purchase new, I would have obtained it in 9mm; nothing personal against the caliber, but I really do prefer the 9mm in a handgun that size.)

Both handguns are carried in DeSantis Intruder holsters IWB at about 3 - 4 o'clock, though I have AIWB holsters for both as well.

For times when even the Shield is a bit much, I have a NAA Guardian .32 ACP with a spare magazine in a DeSantis Pistol Pack or High Noon IWB. That one is generally relegated to high summer when I'm not wearing enough clothing to cover much else.

It is my intention to eventually either swap out the Shield .40 for a 9mm version, or better yet, trade it towards a Glock 26.

As far as pragmatism goes, I spent years WAY on the other side of the fence. I worked for 10 years at a gun store, and had the chance to handle, shoot, own and carry a ridiculous different number and variety of handguns. I have carried everything from a NAA Mini-Revolver in .22 magnum to a tricked-out duotone Springfield 1911. I had a great time, learned a lot about firearms, and developed a very narrow and opinionated set of likes and dislikes concerning my personal carry guns and holsters.

As such, these days I am firmly in the pragmatist's camp. I prefer to carry Glock 9mms. *If* I were to pick up another carry handgun in the near future (other than the above-mentioned G26) it would likely be another Glock, a G17 or G34. Interchangeability of magazines, only one caliber of ammo to keep around, etc.

Exciting stuff, right?

Sure, they're kind of boring, but I'll save the excitement for anything else that I might shoot. For my carry guns, the more consistency the better, and I have shot enough Glocks to know that they're all going to be very, very close. When things go sideways, I don't want to be fumbling for a safety, trying to find a magazine catch, etc.

Just my $0.02. Great discussion and a fun read through this thread.

------
Kurt

 

[fastbolt]

One man's idea of pragmatic is going to be different than that of another man. Pragmatic and indulgence may be two sides of the same coin, depending on the individual.

I typically choose to carry either one of my more than half a dozen 5-shot snubs, or one of a pair of LCP's as a daily retirement or LEOSA weapon.

Of the handguns I own, or have owned (as I've recently decided to start thinning the herd a bit), covering just the handguns with which I've trained, qualified and have carried as authorized off-duty weapons, I could carry a different handgun every day and not carry the same one for more than a month (maybe 6 weeks?). Yes, that means that I was putting in a lot of hours with them while working our training & qual ranges, working as an instructor, and even while attending outside training as a student.

That said, now that I'm retired and no longer anticipating the possibility of invoking peace officer status and becoming actively involved in an enforcement action as an off-duty cop, my choices have changed a bit.

I've kept my hand in things as an active trainer for my former agency in the years since I've retired, up until a couple months ago, when I decided I was finally ready to stop being a LE firearms trainer. Maybe I'll hang out my own shingle, but that's a decision for a bit later. For the moment I'm considering doing some writing for publishing in the training field. I'll still maintain my skills using my assorted 9's, .40's & .45's, and depending on my planned daily activities or travel plans (road trips) I'll sometimes belt one on, but I prefer to choose from among the smaller and lighter options nowadays.

Although I'm a long time revolver, 1911 owner/shooter/trainer (I presently own 5 1911's) and traditional double action (DA/SA) metal-framed pistol shooter, I've invested many years also becoming acclimated to using some of the assorted plastic pistols, too, as trainer, owner/user and armorer. The last 3 armorer certificates I've received in recent months were for plastic pistols made by a couple of the major gun companies, and more than half of the 26 armorer certificates I've accumulated have been for one or another plastic pistol line. Might as well stay current with some of them, especially since I own several (9?) plastic pistols.

I could decide tomorrow to carry only one of the ubiquitous plastic pistols, or a revolver, or a 1911 or one of my assorted 3rd gen S&W's (9, .40 & .45) ... and feel just as comfortable with any of them becoming my sole choice.

For the time being, however, I hope to continue using all of them, and continuing to maintain my skillset with all of them. When I eventually reach the point I no longer want to invest in so much range time, I'll probably narrow down my choices, accordingly. Why bother to try and keep up with keeping so many different guns clean all the time, anyway?