Different Guns for Different Attire

[therewolf]

I carry heavier in more threatening situations.

I'd be carrying lighter in a dress up situation,
because, more than likely, I would not be expecting trouble.

 

[Packman]

Interesting responses.

For those concerned about proficiency, I don't suggest the practice if you don't like it. Personally, I shoot the revolver FAR better than my autos. I gravitate naturally to the ergonomics of a revolver. I do, however, prefer the autos for carry (in general) for a variety of reasons, capacity and speed of reload being chief among them. I'm basically equal with my little snubnose as with my 9mm and .45, the difference is that I have to constantly drill with the autos to maintain proficiency, while that little .38 goes right where I want it to. No fuss, no muss.

I tend to like the little touches, the finer things in life like that. If you're all dressed up, would you slip a Bic pen in your pocket, knowing that no one can see it? Or would you choose your nice fountain pen, since it's more fitting to the occasion? That's kinda how I look at it. I don't dress to impress other people, I dress (and carry) the way I want because it's how I choose to do so.

My pistols are finely crafted machines, but they just don't carry the nostalgia and formality of a well-shod revolver.

 

[Coolbreeze8804]

re: the original question... yes, without a doubt. I have several weapons that I regularly carry and stay very proficient with, and my attire, destination, mood, and company do have a good bit of influence on what I carry.

re: concealed carry, does not always mean nobody knows it's there. Almost all of my friends carry, most of my co-workers and business associates carry, and the question of "what are you carrying today" followed by show and tell does occur on frequesnt occasion. Most frequently in the company of someone who is not carrying, but that we hope to bring in to the fold...

It's kind of neat watching the thoughts cross the face of someone that you have been doing business with for a few months realize, in a restaurant, at a table of eight, that they are the only person that is unarmed, and that everyone else has always carried at all times from the beginning of the project, but they had not known and hadn't considered the issue, and are now dying to ask.... what everyone has, and why, and what are the advantages and disadvantages, and recoil, and durability, and reliability, and carry method, and holster quality and range availability, and requirements of carry license, and "holy crap! That's huge! how did you conceal that!?" and "wow that's pretty, how long have you had that?" and "why a laser?" and hwo much woudl something like that cost me? and "why didn't someone tell me that this was okay?" .....

And yes, we wear our BBQ guns every Friday at the weekly dinner at my place. Guys, Gals, and most of the kids... (since they're all adults now anyways...)

 

[Iggy]

I too carry different guns for different occasions. Most of the time it is concealed and no one has inadvertently discovered that I carry in over 46 years.

But, there are occasions when for giggles and grins my friends and I do a little struttin at limited social occasion.

As a result of this I posted a thread on this forum a month or so back.

For those of you who have nice side arms and want an appropriate rig in which to display it, you might want to take a trip down memory lane and check out this thread.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/163677-blast-past.html

 

[Axel Larson]

I currently don't have a pistol, but I hope to carry a 1911 on my Wedding day. So yes if I had pistols I would carry different guns when dressing up.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I carry the same gun every day. Its not about fashion.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I attend some OC functions from time to time. I may carry a different pistol at that time, but 95% of the time it's the same weapon.
If I do switch carry guns, it's got the same manual of arms as the other.
Dressing more formal doesn't lend itself to different pistols.
[for me}If your of a mind to flaunt a nice looking shooter, it's perfectly fine IMHO.

 

[GCBurner]

I carry a Walther PPK when I'm going formal after dark; it's more concealable in dress clothes, and it makes me feel like James Bond if I carry it under a tux. I'm mostly only concerned while walking to the car after dark on the streets downtown, or to an isolated parking garage.

With normal jeans and a polo shirt, I carry a .38 S&W 640 in a pocket holster.

Hiking or fishing, I'll have either a belt holster or a concealed pack holster carrying something larger, generally a .22 revolver on fishing trips, or something in a .357-.45ACP class for hiking or camping.

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

One other thought does come to mind - everybody I know who carries picks out their wardrobe with an eye to concealment - while in formal dress such is not an option. If I were to carry in Mess Dress (dress pants, cummerbund, cutaway jacket) for example, i would have to look for an ultra small piece to avoid printing - something like A Kel-Tec PF-9 or similar could be worn in a holster attached low inside the jacket, similar to a vertical shoulder holster.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have multiple guns for different situations. One would be enough. Multiple carry guns is mostly a reflection of making choices that you decide you don't like as much as you thought. Many have different weapons for different general types of dressing based on concealabilty. I doubt you would carry the same gun if you were wearing shorts and a tea shirt that you might carry if you were wearing a heavy coat assuming you could afford different firearm choices.

 

[451 Detonics]

Barbecue guns have been around for centuries. Before firearms ornate swords were carried at social functions rather than the everyday working sword. In the old west a cowboy normally owned just two or three expensive items, a saddle, a rifle, and a handgun and often these where as fancy as he could afford.

Rather than changing guns I will at times put on the pre ban ivory grips I have for my 1911. I don't like them for everyday use but on OC barbecue days they do stand out nicely when worn with a tooled black leather holster.

 

[WC145]

Why not change 'em up? Life's too short to carry ugly guns with no personality.

Duty gun-


Off duty gun-


Custom 9mm back up gun-


When I feel like a .357mag-


And when the occasion requires something completely different, a trick 70 year old custom .45ACP snubby-


There's more, but you get the idea.



.

 

[tyeo098]

CZ75B at all times.

 

[biohazurd]

When i wear a suit I always carry a Colt 1911 in a shoulder holster. I mean Why not?

 

[exavid]

Nope, don't change carries for dress up. But do change carries for different clothes. In the spring and summer wearing shorts or jeans and light shirt the LCP goes in the pocket. In the fall and winter when a coat is worn then it's time to switch to the SR9. After getting in some range practice with the little LCP it's showing signs of being my full time carry lately. It's not as accurate for me as the SR9 but at 10 yds it's poking quite a few holes in the black on a 50' slow fire target. Not tight groups but all 7 going in a 6" circle anyway. These little 380s are a lot more impressive than I remembered them from twenty years ago.

 

[gym]

I carry two, My LCP in my pocket for instant access should the need arise. And a Glock, one of 3. It depends on what I can hide best. But I believe in carrying the largest caliber possible along with a bug. The LCP I have practiced with, and although it isn't my first choice for combat, I can get it out and empty it very fast. Even my best holsters unless "open carry" don't come close to pulling from my uncle mikes pocket job. If time allowed I would of course go for my main carry, but this way I may just live long enough to be able to do that. As far as dressing up goes, I got over that after the first 20 years. It stilll is fun though. Problem I have mentioned before, is if you need to use it, it's going for a ride. Also most folks don't shoot their "fancy guns" as much as their every day pistol or revolver. I try to keep the function of all of them the same, no safetys, just draw and fire. Last week I saw that video "again" where the jewler and the perp draw and fire, the jewler actually got his gun out first, but got shot 3 times because he forgot about the safety. I'm not saying that experienced gun people will do that, but stuff happens when you start mixing things up.