CCW or everyday carry?

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Usmc-1

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I believe these are two separate categories and Ill tell ya why , it aint nothing for me to carry a Glock 23 or SW SD 40 all day long , but having worked law enforcement for years and carrying weapons full time , I gotta tell ya, these weapons get heavy , granted on a 10 hour shift wearing a John Brown it aint nothing to carry them , but when you go home , strap on what? I always carried a fanny pack with a full size Colt Govt Model 1911 on me and it is heavy and bulky! Yes I should have gotten an Officers /Commander model sure but I didnt!

Heres the thing for those who have never carried 90% of there days , I dont carry full time anymore , however this brings up the point of "Everyday carry" , and thats where I am now , I really dont want to carry the big loads , do I suffer from smaller calibres (you bet , I'll take a 45 any day of the week to firefight over any other round) ,but The weight is still the issue !

Everyday carry to me means "messing around the house , maybe going into to town (I live rurally) so for that I am considering a Bersa Thunder .380 acp , yes Ive heard the peanut gallery on the calbre ,but even a .22 can be deadly with the right loads , so there ,I like smaller frame (but fits my big hands) ,smaller rounds (not as heavy) and the piece itself isnt as heavy , now going to the "big city" , I have a choice: g23 ,swsd40 or 1911!
 
My main conceal carry gun is a Kimber Ultra Crimson Carry II. Being a 1911 (though a smaller one) it is relatively heavy, but I keep it in a pancake holster with a heavy duty belt and I forget it's there.

Still, like you, I make sure I have lots of options when a belt holster won't work. And I carry ALL the time. Even when I'm lounging around at home in my pajamas, I'm carrying a gun. My smaller options are the Smith 642 J Frame .38, the Smith Bodyguard 380, and the Kel Tec P3AT. All very good guns, imo, and the different sizes and weights mean I can carry a gun in just about any situation.

And I think the Bersa Thunder is an outstanding CCW choice. My middle kid has one and it's his main carry gun.
 
USMC-1,
Like you, I carried a full sized, all metal, hog-leg on duty for about 30 years, but off duty opted for something else. Now, in retirement, I can carry what I want. :cool:

In the past few years, there has been a quantum leap in ammo technology. Some calibers I would have never considered as reliable 10 years ago, now seem viable. (9mm, .380.) Heck, I even have a NAA Mini Revolver, stoked with Speer .22 magnum Gold Dot ammo, for my around the house adventures. (My test results are quite impressive for that load.)

Depending on the weather, I still prefer a caliber which begins with the number "4" and there are many such guns that come in smaller, lighter packages these days. When I can wear a cover garment, I usually have either my S&W 457 (.45acp), or Springfield XD-sc in .40 S&W.

Also like you, I live in a rural area. For those quick trips to the hardware store, I often take along my S&W 642, J-frame, in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster, with at least one speed-loader in the cargo pants pockets.

No matter which bullet launcher I carry, they are loaded with new, quality, self defense ammo. (Currently Hornady Critical Defense.)
 
Would it not be better to carry a pistol you know inside out. If your now carry a glock would a 26 or 27 would be a little lighter but have the same feel, trigger and use your other mags in a pinch. I have carried concealed for 26 years and have gone over the years from a 5 shot revolver to a CM Kahr now and trigger pull has always been a DA pull. Don't have to think about what to do. If not a glock and airweight smith IWB or in a pocket. You can go down to 11 oz Just don't change to many things.
 
For me, the two are interchangeable terms--my CCW is my every day carry.

These days my EDC is a steel 1911 in Commander size. Took seven or eight years to work my way up to it, but I am satisfied with it at this point.

I shoot it better than anything else, and now that I have the correct gear to carry it, the steel 1911 is not hard to carry every day.

As I type this, I am wearing shorts with a tie-string (no belt) and a t-shirt (close to bedtime, but still wearing the 1911 comfortably in an Alessi Watch Six).

I am 50++ years old, 5'9", 150 lbs, with a spinal fusion surgery behind me (no pun intended).
 
I would suggest and do carry a 15oz Airweight J frame. IMO plenty of power and so light you don't notice it in your front pocket all day.
 
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Like Orion my main/strictly CCW gun is my EDC, 438 J frame. But I will and do carry from time to team other guns that are capable of CCW but often larger and heavier, but typically if I'm out side my house I got my 38 in my pocket or on my hip.

Perhaps a subcompact 1911? if weight is still an issue a single stack Glock 45? I personally would look into the PF9 or the ruger equivelent (if you have a prob with Kel tec) over a 380.
 
Everyday carry to me means "messing around the house , maybe going into to town (I live rurally) so for that I am considering a Bersa Thunder .380 acp
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The bersa is heavier and just as big as many 9mms out there. I don't understand the choice, unless you just really like the gun. Take a look at the Kahr line of guns, such as the CW9, CM9, or 40 or 45. They are light, small, thin and easy to carry.

Whatever you pick for carry it's wise to stick with just one gun and master it. My CCW is a Glock 26 and my "everyday" "around the property" is my S&W M&P45.
 
Wheelgun

I have tryed to carry my public defender, my .40 S & W sigma, and my latest is the Ruger LC9, but I always go back to the LCR wheel gun.
I carry it every day, mostly in my front jeans pocket. I keep it 2' from me in my work bag beside my desk at work. When I get home, I lay it on the "junk" table about 6' from my back door till I go again. I love it.
 
Edc/ccw same same.

I am retired Leo also, 62, C2 to T1 neck fusions, Smallish at 5' 6" 140. If I am awake I carry. Over the years I have found what works for me is either a 1911, One of my 3 CZ 75's ranging from compact to full size, or a wheel gun in 357, smith649. Ruger sp101, or Taurus 605.
Best part waking up is deciding what gun to wear. :)
 
Everyday carry to me means "messing around the house , maybe going into to town (I live rurally)
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I've given up and resorted to open carry at home. I carry G19 or a 26 in a holster made by a member named possum. It's more of a sloppy ccw method. I throw a t-shirt over it and don't care too much if it becomes visible. I don't mind knocking the gun around while I'm working with chainsaws or weedeaters, cutting the grass and getting dirt/grass all over it, working with the pool and getting soaked or just pouring sweat all over the thing in general. If I tried pocket carry, it would be a recipe for disaster since I'm constantly sticking tools in and out of my pocket. If I head to town, I either make sure I grab a t-shirt that covers it or throw on a cover garment. Well, sometimes I just tuck the t-shirt under the gun and open carry.
 
Yes I do like the Bersa Ben , however I havent given much thought of Kahrs until lately , I truely like the pm 45 , sig has a new commander 1911 , that I am really interested in , of course Kimbel and any Colt 1911 in commander size I would be interested in , I too have an affinity for anything with the number "4" in it!

I love my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag , not really a "realistic carry" gun , but hey out where I live ,it could be!
 
I settled on the Glock 23, and sometimes even a little Beretta 21-A in 22lr. I got tired of the weight but after carrying a full size 45 for 35+yrs and found I can do what I want around the house or anywhere and feel comfortable with the g23, not so with anything with a lock which rules out my J frames(pre-lock). I don't want a lot of junk on anything I carry, personal preference so that doesn't leave much.
 
For me EDC is just that and due to my work the best fit is a P3AT because it is small and flat and I rarely know it is there. I can't have the snags, weight and obstruction that even my G19 would present in my physical construction and ag work.
When I go to town or amongst crowds I will usually IWB or Clip Draw a Glock or maybe a 1911 or J frame.
My larger carry gun is always in reach as close as my truck as is usually a rifle.
I think the little 380's are so popular because they have allowed people to be armed at all times.
 
The Bersa 380 , is an excellent gun for carry...

As was mentioned , the quality of ammo today for the smaller calibers make them a good choice for conceal carry. The 32 ACP and 380 Gold dot, Golden Saber, Win PDX-1 etc give these calibers adequate penetration and expansion that was not possible a few years ago. There is no excuse anymore not to carry a small pocket gun for protection.
 
I really like a full size 1911, but I'll never carry one again - did it years ago in the service.

These days, my EDC is a pocket pistol: S&W 642, P3AT, or PF-9. I won't "dress around my gun" like some are willing to do.
 
Yes I do like the Bersa Ben , however I havent given much thought of Kahrs until lately , I truely like the pm 45 , sig has a new commander 1911 , that I am really interested in , of course Kimbel and any Colt 1911 in commander size I would be interested in , I too have an affinity for anything with the number "4" in it!

I love my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag , not really a "realistic carry" gun , but hey out where I live ,it could be!
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I've heard good things about the pm45 and I love my pm9. This review of the PM45 by that goober Tim Schmidt is pretty good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ILnbHsBe5s&feature=channel_video_title

If you can open carry and use a good belt made for carrying a gun (such as the blackhawk CC belts with the steel lining) any thing can work. Get a good belt and it supports the weight not you, at least that's how it feels. My M&P45 is no problem around the house all day and it's no lightweight. I use a blackhawk belt and fobus evo paddle holster or blackhawk serpa.
 
If you are dead set on .45, try looking at the Glock 36. It's slim, relatively light, holds 6+1, fits very comfortably in an IWB holster and is easily concealed under a T shirt. This is my summer carry.
 
I do the open carry at home, just go with whatever I feel like and half the time just carry it around and have it sitting next to me instead of having it attached to myself. S&W Mod 19 or CZ-82. If I'm doing work outside I'll go with whatever in a belt holster and tuck my shirt behind it so that it doesn't rub on me or get sweaty. I live out in the country so I only have a few neighbors but I don't care if anyone sees the gun cause it's perfectly legal here. The first step in self-defense is presenting a hard target. Heck, I've taken the trash out in my boxers with an AK-47 slung over my shoulder before. Ah, freedom feels good don't it?
 
Everyday carry to me means "messing around the house , maybe going into to town (I live rurally) so for that I am considering a Bersa Thunder .380 acp

I like smaller frame (but fits my big hands) ,smaller rounds (not as heavy) and the piece itself isnt as heavy , now going to the "big city" , I have a choice: g23 ,swsd40 or 1911!
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for the past year I've carried an LCP every day from the time I get out of bed until I lay back down at night. If I don't dress right away the gun goes into my robe pocket to be transferred to my jeans, once you get in the habit everyday pocket carry is a no-brainer with a light gun and I still add a .45acp when I fell the need.
 
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If I'm at home or it's just me going out my P3at goes with me. If my wife is with me my PF9 comes along, wife and kids the P226 is on me. So by this logic when I'm eventually with my grand kids I'll have a bazooka or nuke. My advice get a .380 with an extra magazine.
 
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