Changing your carry gun?

[wgp]

Every gun magazine these days seems to have a new "ultimate" carry pistol on the cover. I was a long-time 1911 guy, then moved to Glocks years ago. I have continued to be satisfied there and assembled the magazines and holsters for those guns. Was not impressed enough with the new guns to change. Lately I have begun to switch to a Beretta 92X Compact because it has the first DA/SA trigger I personally like, it's accurate and proven (heavy yes, but I'll deal with that) and it just fits my hand. How many of you have made a shift to a new platform in the face of all these "new" guns coming to the market?

 

[gwpercle]

I discovered what works best for me about 30 years ago and it still works .
I can't afford to buy every new and Improved handgun that comes on the market .
So I keep this one and practice with it , a lot . 30 years shooting it ... I can hit with it very well
and in a gunfight ...
Only hits count !
Gary

 

[chicharrones]

I started off with revolvers, then moved to manual safety lever guns, then came to prefer non-safety lever pistols. They go well with my revolver usage.

However, I have recently purchased a 9mm 1911 for range use, but my next pistol change up will be me finally getting on the red dot ready pistol bandwagon. Someday.

 

[nettlle]

I tried the new guns and didn't care for the triggers nor did I like the extra thickness of a double stack for IWB. I went back to 1911's and am happy with that decision. Some say 1911's aren't good for anything but a museum these days but that's not the way I feel. Nothing against red dot's but they're not for me.

 

[TarDevil]

I started my CC llife with Rugers. Love the ones I have, but they can't stick to a platform, and I like a familiar feel to my handguns. I switched to Smith & bWesson for that reason, and I'm very pleased.
Have to give credit where due; Glock led the industry in building multiple offerings in a familiar template.

 

[Styx]

Every gun magazine these days seems to have a new "ultimate" carry pistol on the cover. I was a long-time 1911 guy, then moved to Glocks years ago. I have continued to be satisfied there and assembled the magazines and holsters for those guns. Was not impressed enough with the new guns to change. Lately I have begun to switch to a Beretta 92X Compact because it has the first DA/SA trigger I personally like, it's accurate and proven (heavy yes, but I'll deal with that) and it just fits my hand. How many of you have made a shift to a new platform in the face of all these "new" guns coming to the market?

I prefer steel frame handguns, and that's what I carry the most. I have however purchased and use the new crop of hybrid stacked micro nines with optic cuts.

 

[bdickens]

Those gun magazines exist as advertising same as any other magazines.

Advertising leverages our deep primate psychology to get us to spend money we don't have on things we don't need in order to impress people we don't even know and to solve problems we didn't even have until we saw the ad.

 

[.38 Special]

I eventually switched from a revolver to a Glock. That was about a year ago, and I've pretty much changed back since then...

 

[entropy]

Realize this; ALL gun manufacturers use customers as beta testers. I never buy a gun immediately when it hits the shelves, I usually wait a year or two, and keep my ears open when in gunshops or on forums as to what the return to factory rate is on various guns. EVERY model has some returns, some legit, some operator induced problems, some ammo induced problems.
If you are looking for a good carry gun, you are in luck because there are many good choices at various price points. This is where doing your research pays off. The best research is actually being able to try before you buy, whether by renting at a range, or have some friends that will let you try theirs. You already know THR (and maybe some other forums also) is a good resource. Owners tend to have condition bias, but if you read enough, you get the overall picture on any particular gun .
Try them out, and find one that has features you need and want. Enjoy the search!

 

[LimaCharlie]

I started shooting a revolver with 22 short ammo in 1952. The Navy introduced me to the 1911 in 1963. My most of the carried guns are a 1911 or a revolver.

 

[CDW4ME]

Excepting a period or two where I carried 1911's - since 1992 I've carried some model Glock.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Started with a Star Firestar .40S&W.
Went to the Glock G23.2 .40S&W when it came out.
Thought that the single-stack G48 9mm was about right, and looked for the .40S&W offering.
Then ended up getting the single-stack G36 .45ACP, and never looked back.

 

[Gork10]

Been carrying either a s&w model 10 or a CZ PCR for years depending if I was in a revolver or a auto mood that day. Recently picked up a compact hi power. Ran some drills on a timer against all three pistols. I was the fastest with the hi power in almost all the drills. By a fair margin. I now carry the hi power. So to answer your question, I'll change my carry gun if there is a demonstrable improvement in performance. Not what the current trend is.

 

[Thomasss]

I used to use a 9mm Springfield full size XDM, but size and weight became an issue in concealed carry.
I now carry a well used S&W Model 10-5 in .38 Special and like it a lot more. Some more b.s. one hears is you
need all those extra rounds like the police. I'm not the police. I shoot a very good group
at d/a aimed and fast pointing quick draw on a 6 inch bull. That's all I need.

 

[CapnMac]

It's good and bad. We have such a selection to choose from--LCP, Shield, Glock, SIG, the list goes on and on.

The tricky part is that, what's good for one, is less-good (or awful) for another. The getting from A to Z can be a bumpy road.

Now, there might (only might) be an issue in "How much training/practice is enough for competency" for a given side arm.

 

[25-5]

Once in a while I carry a Chief in my pocket, but Colt Series 70 is my carry choice.
Fifty years ago I had my gunsmith work on it before ever shooting it. Haven't adjusted the sights since, and it eats everything.

 

[Old Dog]

I was exclusively a 1911 guy until the late '90s when I put down The Man Gun and started carrying mostly DA/SA classic SIG P-series pistols (P-228, P-229).

Of late, however, back issues, a shoulder problem, combined with an arthritic wrist and hand, have me carrying more often a SIG P-365 XL. Not a huge change in operating procedures really, just draw, point and pull trigger...

I don't foresee myself changing to a newer handgun in the future, as I'm not sure there will ever be produced a smaller, lighter, more effective and ergonomic pistol...

 

[tarosean]

Most definitely a question you need to figure out for yourself. Most responses will be I carry this so should you.

Took me decades to settle on the “one”.

 

[Mizar]

Once you realize that your handgun is not an iPhone and is not meant to be, despite the ads, the problem will sort itself out.

 

[trackskippy]

I was exclusively a 1911 guy until the late '90s when I put down The Man Gun and started carrying mostly DA/SA classic SIG P-series pistols (P-228, P-229).

Of late, however, back issues, a shoulder problem, combined with an arthritic wrist and hand, have me carrying more often a SIG P-365 XL. Not a huge change in operating procedures really, just draw, point and pull trigger...

I don't foresee myself changing to a newer handgun in the future, as I'm not sure there will ever be produced a smaller, lighter, more effective and ergonomic pistol...

I went the same route as you with the 1911's and SIG's. I went off in the Glock direction after that. Not that I dont like SIG's just that I get more bang for my buck with the Glocks.

After 25 some odd years of carrying one, I quit 1911's because I just got annoyed with all the BS, fiddling, and aggravation involved with them. If you have a good one, they are great, but even the good ones always seem to need a little help.

I stayed with the .45 and went with a P220 and never regretted it. Moved on to a P229 and then 226 in 357SIG. The P226 was the sweet spot for me with the old P series. Recently picked up a P320, and so far it hasnt disappointed.

Im not one to have a "gun of the day" type rotation. I think thats a big mistake. Find something you shoot the best with, no matter how you shoot it, and there ya go! Thats what you want to carry. Same gun, some quality gear, the same place on your body, every day, and you wont have to think about anything but "guns" when you need it, and off you go.

Last thing you want to be doing is patting yourself down in a panic looking for that "gun of the day" and wondering what day it is.

Its Wednesday, by the way, if youre not sure where it is today.

 

[The Night Rider]

I started with 1911's (1995) because that's what I knew from the Army.

Shortly after I got my permit (2007) at my wife's suggestion I switched to a .40 S&W TDA gun(CZ75B). Because it would be cheaper than a .45 I was absolutely not comfortable with SFA guns but a lot of the guys on my church safety committee carried M&P9s ( The same thing CSPD carries).

In 2013 I switched to SFAs because everyone around me was carrying them and I hadn't heard of anybody accidentally blowing their Tortugas off. I bought an M&P 9 which honestly is still one of the best guns that I own.

In 2016 I turned to the dark side and bought a Glock 19. At the time I owned an M&P 9C and I told my wife that I didn't see any reason in having the 9C when I could have a Glock 19 that would hold three more rounds and was actually a little bit more compact but the reality is I just wanted to buy a new gun.

I really did not expect to like the Glock 19 as much as I do. But the reality is that's also kind of where my wife put her foot down and said you're not buying any more guns. In 2018 she let me buy a Glock 26 as a backup and I haven't bought another gun since and have no intention of buying another.

 

[trackskippy]

Liar!

Welcome to the club too, by the way.

 

[Riomouse911]

I started with 1911's (1995) because that's what I knew from the Army.

Shortly after I got my permit (2007) at my wife's suggestion I switched to a .40 S&W TDA gun(CZ75B). Because it would be cheaper than a .45 I was absolutely not comfortable with SFA guns but a lot of the guys on my church safety committee carried M&P9s ( The same thing CSPD carries).

In 2013 I switched to SFAs because everyone around me was carrying them and I hadn't heard of anybody accidentally blowing their Tortugas off. I bought an M&P 9 which honestly is still one of the best guns that I own.

In 2016 I turned to the dark side and bought a Glock 19. At the time I owned an M&P 9C and I told my wife that I didn't see any reason in having the 9C when I could have a Glock 19 that would hold three more rounds and was actually a little bit more compact but the reality is I just wanted to buy a new gun.

I really did not expect to like the Glock 19 as much as I do. But the reality is that's also kind of where my wife put her foot down and said you're not buying any more guns. In 2018 she let me buy a Glock 26 as a backup and I haven't bought another gun since and have no intention of buying another.

My wife just gave up. It took 16-17 years to knock down the walls, but once they fell the acquisition of firearms isn’t too much of an issue.

Stay safe.

 

[The Night Rider]

My wife just gave up. It took 16-17 years to knock down the walls, but once they fell the acquisition of firearms isn’t too much of an issue.

Stay safe.

I just don't see the point of acquiring more firearms that cover the same space.

I've said this before but I'm not "into" guns. That's probably why I predominantly own Glocks.

I'm trying to reduce the number of useless things in my life.

 

[Riomouse911]

I just don't see the point of acquiring more firearms that cover the same space.

I've said this before but I'm not "into" guns. That's probably why I predominantly own Glocks.

I'm trying to reduce the number of useless things in my life.

Oh, sorry.

Stay safe.