Do you guys take all this that seriously?

[mcb]

Do you guys take all this that seriously? We have lots of heated debates about the best CCW, the best wood-carry handgun, the best hunting rifle etc. As parts of these discussion we always manage to bring up absolute worst case scenarios (despite the odds), but do you guys actually think about these dire extreme case scenarios we discuss when you actually grab a gun to go do something?

So many of our discussion, especially if self-defense comes up (two legged or otherwise, and god save the thread if someone mentions bruins) and everyone rolls out their favorite long-odds worst-case scenario that they use to drive their selection.

Despite all the words I have type here on this forum those long-odds worst-case scenarios we love to banter about here on the forum rarely cross my mind away from the internet forums. I use what firearm I use because first, I think it will do what I actually want to do with it, and second, cause I like it. Why I like a particular firearms can vary wildly...

The consideration for extreme-cases has minimal if any influence on my selection of firearm for any particular use.

So, do the extreme cases influence your selections?

This will likely be another half-baked thread (blame in on the cabin-fever/social-distancing).

 

[Duster340]

I think some folks take it more seriously than others. Personally, I use what I feel my best choice would be given what I have, what I'm doing, or hunting for. Opinions are like belly buttons.

Be well

 

[whughett]

In all honesty I take very little of it seriously. Living in two states seasonal with a CCW in one but not the other I forget to put the piece in my pocket half the time upon leaving the house. Basically the only thing I prepare for is while traveling the 1500 miles between homes with two overnights in motels and three 500 mile driving days.
I do use the in home stash system of home defense and the pros and cons of that is debated Ad-nauseam in these pages. With a few very articulate people leading the charge.

 

[Waveski]

Concealed carry is done for the purpose of self defense. That is pretty serious stuff.
Yes - I give serious consideration to defense scenarios and make choices and decisions accordingly.
If a person does not take the carrying of a firearm in public seriously , then I submit that said person should not carry.

 

[Obturation]

I take it seriously and carry the most powerful gun I can reasonably control and conceal for any situation. 3 guns cover it for me.

 

[Kleanbore]

As parts of these discussion we always manage to bring up absolute worst case scenarios (despite the odds), but do you guys actually think about these dire extreme case scenarios we discuss when you actually grab a gun to go do something?

What are you talking about?

 

[Slamfire]

So, do the extreme cases influence your selections?

No. Nor do I worry about a Zombie Apocalypse.

 

[whughett]

That didn’t take long.

 

[TomJ]

Worry about it? No. I won't live that way. Do I understand that bad things do happen and carry the gun I believe gives me the best opportunity to survive an attack in case it happens to me? Yes. The difference is between paranoia and preparedness.

 

[J-Bar]

I carry a S&W Model 60 because the .38 Special is too weak and 5 shots are too few.

Yeah, I’ve been inside too long.

 

[scaatylobo]

Do you guys take all this that seriously? We have lots of heated debates about the best CCW, the best wood-carry handgun, the best hunting rifle etc. As parts of these discussion we always manage to bring up absolute worst case scenarios (despite the odds), but do you guys actually think about these dire extreme case scenarios we discuss when you actually grab a gun to go do something?

So many of our discussion, especially if self-defense comes up (two legged or otherwise, and god save the thread if someone mentions bruins) and everyone rolls out their favorite long-odds worst-case scenario that they use to drive their selection.

Despite all the words I have type here on this forum those long-odds worst-case scenarios we love to banter about here on the forum rarely cross my mind away from the internet forums. I use what firearm I use because first, I think it will do what I actually want to do with it, and second, cause I like it. Why I like a particular firearms can vary wildly...

The consideration for extreme-cases has minimal if any influence on my selection of firearm for any particular use.

So, do the extreme cases influence your selections?

This will likely be another half-baked thread (blame in on the cabin-fever/social-distancing).

WELLLLL, in general the actual carry of a firearm IS a "worst case scenario" to begin with.

If in the course of ANY day,you "need" a firearm ,I am pretty sure you want THE BEST THAT YOU CAN CARRY/CONCEAL !.

If your answer is no,then I would love to hear that reason,so if you carry a .25scp,or a .380 and that is all you will ever need ----- we must agree to disagree.

I CCW for "THE WORST DAY" and that means I carry what I want on THAT DAY.

Of course I would prefer to have a lot of friends,and we all have great cover,and a pile of the best rifles & shotguns that money could buy.

OR better yet,I am not even there when the SHTF !!.

But if I am 'there' then my CCW will be what I consider to be the best choice I have to SURVIVE !.

Blessed day to all us hunkered down Americans.

 

[GEM]

I think the thread is about whether you consider the rarer intensive event in your carry plans. Do you plan for the one or two mugger close in incident with few or no shots fired or a longer range, more rounds, more opponent scenario? Or horrors, your Dunning Kruger super powers fail and you miss the target or your rounds are ineffective even if they hit.

From personal experiene, FOF training, run various level of guns in matches, I have settled on a semi striker and one or two extra mags unless dress or some other circumstance precludes that. Then J frame is a preferred choice and I have come up to a reasonable performance level with the gun. I go beyond the one box at 7 yards at the square range, once a year (and call that training).

I want the gun to be the best effective solution within the mode of carry. That' why I find the folks defending a SW 66 as a belt gun not has sensible as something like a Glock. To be flame bait, I regard those who defend that as usually just posturing with silly arguments. The folks who post that they carry SAA (outside of high caliber field guns), BP guns or derringers, here's what Wyatt Earp carried - just are internet silliness.

I find the folks who say they don't need such a gun because they go to nice neighborhoods as ridiculous. If you are in a fight, the Zillow price of the houses nearby doesn't make the fight nicer.

You might say, why not wear a vest, carry twelve mags, blah, blah for the zombies. My view is that there is a continuum of incident intensity. While the modal incident might be the first one I described, there is a real chance of a more intensive one at the tail of curve. The set up I describe is a reasonable cut level for a more intensive event outside of total war. I base this on reading of incidents and the opinion of people I know, trained with, took courses from - who are expert. I have shot the various guns in training and matches and I look for efficacy if the situation is a gun fight whether in a business, upscale neighborhood, the woods or whatever. A fight is a fight.

 

[230RN]

I usually find points and variables I hadn't thought of on my own, then consider them in terms of likelihood (will my bullet really pass through that bad guy and get into that lit window two blocks behind him and kill a baby suckling at its mother's breast?) and what I have in terms of equipment without buying anything else.

For example, I don't have a 500 lumen tactical flashlight and don't want one. I can flash around the pasture to see if there are two red points looking back at me with my rather bright little keyring LED light and it's adequate to find the key I just dropped. And it's always with me whenever I put my pants on.

So I winnow the possibilities I hadn't thought of and generally have a good time reading those discussions. So you could say I take them seriously... but with practicality in mind.

Terry

 

[bdickens]

...do you guys actually think about these dire extreme case scenarios we discuss when you actually grab a gun to go do something?

Since I am armed whenever I am dressed (barring prohibitions), I never have to "grab a gun to go do something."

And, since you brought it up, your precious statistics are gonna be cold comfort for someone who manages to find himself on the far (bad) end of that bell curve.

A G19 isn't that much bigger than a j-frame and has 3X the ammo on board.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

These days I just stay out of these kinds of threads.

Everyone has to make their own decisions.

I know what I want given an environment or situation.

You should know what you want for you too... And you should know why.

And you should remember that none of the engagements you will find yourself in will go down the way you figured.

Good guys miss, sometimes. Bad guys don't always want to quit. Sometimes bad guys bring friends.

Plan accordingly and stay safe.

 

[WestKentucky]

I just use what I can hit with. When I was carrying regularly it’s was often a 32swl. When I start carrying again it will probably be a Taurus 327 or the junky old charter 38 I just got last week. The charter is beat to hell but functional, I will likely carry it and not worry about it getting banged up anymore or getting corrosion from sweat. I have been known to carry a couple different 22s and on occasion a Glock 42 or a Taurus PT99 with 3 extra mags. It’s actually silly to think that carrying 60+ rds is sensible for a civilian... because the threat level increases does not in any way mean the same thing as the number of assailants increasing. And yes I am getting to a point where I stay out of threads too. Even the ones that seem pretty tame can turn around in a hurry... like somebody asking if a .45 is optimal for defense in the woods.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I don't take it too seriously. I have my setup that works best for me.
But I still like the banter, because ya never know when an "oh I didnt think of that" will pop up

 

[Hokkmike]

Do you guys take all this that seriously? We have lots of heated debates about the best CCW, the best wood-carry handgun, the best hunting rifle etc. As parts of these discussion we always manage to bring up absolute worst case scenarios (despite the odds), but do you guys actually think about these dire extreme case scenarios we discuss when you actually grab a gun to go do something?

So many of our discussion, especially if self-defense comes up (two legged or otherwise, and god save the thread if someone mentions bruins) and everyone rolls out their favorite long-odds worst-case scenario that they use to drive their selection.

Despite all the words I have type here on this forum those long-odds worst-case scenarios we love to banter about here on the forum rarely cross my mind away from the internet forums. I use what firearm I use because first, I think it will do what I actually want to do with it, and second, cause I like it. Why I like a particular firearms can vary wildly...

The consideration for extreme-cases has minimal if any influence on my selection of firearm for any particular use.

So, do the extreme cases influence your selections?

This will likely be another half-baked thread (blame in on the cabin-fever/social-distancing).

Pragmatism plus lust guides my gun buying decisions.

 

[Ernie Bass]

I think the thread is about whether you consider the rarer intensive event in your carry plans. Do you plan for the one or two mugger close in incident with few or no shots fired or a longer range, more rounds, more opponent scenario? Or horrors, your Dunning Kruger super powers fail and you miss the target or your rounds are ineffective even if they hit.

From personal experiene, FOF training, run various level of guns in matches, I have settled on a semi striker and one or two extra mags unless dress or some other circumstance precludes that. Then J frame is a preferred choice and I have come up to a reasonable performance level with the gun. I go beyond the one box at 7 yards at the square range, once a year (and call that training).

I want the gun to be the best effective solution within the mode of carry. That' why I find the folks defending a SW 66 as a belt gun not has sensible as something like a Glock. To be flame bait, I regard those who defend that as usually just posturing with silly arguments. The folks who post that they carry SAA (outside of high caliber field guns), BP guns or derringers, here's what Wyatt Earp carried - just are internet silliness.

I find the folks who say they don't need such a gun because they go to nice neighborhoods as ridiculous. If you are in a fight, the Zillow price of the houses nearby doesn't make the fight nicer.

You might say, why not wear a vest, carry twelve mags, blah, blah for the zombies. My view is that there is a continuum of incident intensity. While the modal incident might be the first one I described, there is a real chance of a more intensive one at the tail of curve. The set up I describe is a reasonable cut level for a more intensive event outside of total war. I base this on reading of incidents and the opinion of people I know, trained with, took courses from - who are expert. I have shot the various guns in training and matches and I look for efficacy if the situation is a gun fight whether in a business, upscale neighborhood, the woods or whatever. A fight is a fight.

I also think there is a lot of posturing from many and a bad assumption that all EDC owners who just shoot a pocket gun, or revolver at one box at 7 yds. I have seen too many very good shooters that can do wonders with them and they are not just posturing. While I respect folks that shoot competition, I do not take them as any kind of expert.
I do take what I carry very serious, and from experience have learned what is best for myself with every thing considered. I respect all that carry and do not try and dictate what they carry. Nor do I feel what I carry to be a recommendation to all. I do believe in training with the firearm you carry to the point of competency. I realize there are tradeoffs in everything in life. Yes, take it serious, but find out what works best for YOU the individual.

 

[bdickens]

...horrors, your Dunning Kruger super powers fail and you miss the target or your rounds are ineffective even if they hit.

 

[mcb]

That generate a lot of responses fast, I won't try to quote/reply to everyone so as to not offend.

First up this is more about scenarios and what drives our choice of hardware not being responsible and safe. I may or may not pick the best hardware for a given use/scenario (the subject of this thread) but I take safe-use and responsibility very seriously when it comes to firearms of any type and for any use. That is not my focus for this thread.

Several participants have already made specific model comparisons in an effort to justify their selected CCW. Other have already rolled out scenarios to justify their selections. Which I guess is fine but how much did the extreme scenarios (how ever you define them) influence you decisions?

Also notice that nearly everyone in the thread has gravitated to self-defense (yes the consequences are highest for that aspect no doubt) even though I mentioned and was thinking about this also for hunting.

I love hunting with marginal cartridges. I love the extra challenge. I have had to pass on some potential harvests due to the cartridge I chose to hunt with and I was OK with that. I see it more that I failed my chosen cartridge than the other way around.

I am going to quote GEM as he strikes closes to my focus although it is more self defense oriented than general, I hope he will forgive as I prune his post down to a few points I think most important to my thrust.

I think the thread is about whether you consider the rarer intensive event in your carry plans. Do you plan for the one or two mugger close in incident with few or no shots fired or a longer range, more rounds, more opponent scenario? Or horrors, your Dunning Kruger super powers fail and you miss the target or your rounds are ineffective even if they hit.

{snip}

You might say, why not wear a vest, carry twelve mags, blah, blah for the zombies. My view is that there is a continuum of incident intensity. While the modal incident might be the first one I described, there is a real chance of a more intensive one at the tail of curve. {snip}

The bold emphasis mine. How far out that tail end of the curve do you go? It seems here on the forum we collectively go way way out there many times. Yet personally, for self defense I only go a modest way past GEM's modal example in his first paragraph most of the time. Same for hunting I don't necessarily carry my most potent/capable weapon I carry the one I am most interested in.

I realize those tail end events are out there, I frequently argue in those threads with the rest of the forum, but I have found that in the real world my selections are not heavily influenced by them despite my love of arguing about them.

 

[WrongHanded]

mcb, I worry about a lot of things, but on a very low level. I even allow myself to do this. Why? Because mental preparation is the most important preparation of all.

If we have conversations about animal attacks, or a hordes of tweekers, it might not change what anyone carries. But it might get people thinking. Thinking is good.

Many people make their choices, learn a little, and then solidify their position, never to change it again. I prefer to continue learning, which means to continue thinking. Sometimes it takes me longer than I like to admit.

 

[Bill_in_TR]

After reading countless threads along the lines of this one and the "what to carry" threads I have long ago decided if to carry, when to carry, what to carry and how to carry. I do take my personal decisions about this seriously. No doubt many here would question my decisions no matter what they are.

But at this point I doubt that anyone is going to say anything new. So I read these threads mainly for occasional entertainment.

 

[Walkalong]

I have something for everything, but hope to never have to use it seriously.

And when/if something happens, you may have to make do with whatever you have on hand at the time.

But do I sit around and worry about it? No. Do I prepare for it other than having suitable items on hand? Nope. I would have those anyway, I like to shoot.

I do not "max carry" either, some days it is a .22 Mag, sometimes nothing.

 

[Legionnaire]

^^ Ditto.