Help me pick out a better Concealed Carry Weapon

[torqem]

A used Keltec PF9, is $200,. private party sale. It's DAO., but that's a good idea, for a civilan ccw gun. So is the pocketableness of this gun. Twisted Industries makes a $250 .22 unit for it. If you found such a .22 unit in good used condition, $200 should buy it, and include a spare mag. If it's got the extended, threaded barrel for another $50 or so, grab it.

You can easily make your own pocket holster. All you need is access to a microwave and a hair dryer. Cut open a milk jug. Wash down its insides well with peroxide on a paper towel, or it will stink of soured milk forever! Heat it first in the microwave, until pliable. Wear gloves so as not to burn your hands. Finish heating it with the hair dryer. Get it flattened out first, then fold it around the gun you desire to carry in it. Use a drill, awl, or icepick to make a few holes in the welt side. Use Chicago screws from the hardware store to hold the welt. Round off and polish all corners. Glue and sew some suede or other padding on the thigh side of your pocket holster. sew Velcro on the rig and into your pockets, so the rig doesn't get 'drawn" with the gun (unless you deliberately do so). 2 hours for the rig, tops. If you don't have the Velcro, when you swap the rig to your coat pocket (bad weather) it will just flop around in there, which is dangerously irresponsible (ie, falling out) and risky if you need the gun.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

I'd be investing my money in a top quality holster/belt set up instead of searching for a smaller gun.

Conventional wisdom seems to lean toward small gun for carry instead of quality gear to carry your gun. Small gun + generic multi-fit holster isn't likely to solve your problem.

Your Ruger isn't really a hard gun to conceal, and you'll have money left over.


Even if you spend $500 on a smaller gun, you'll still need a good quality carry rig or you're just spitting into the wind IMO.

A couple hundred bucks spent on a holster and belt would be money better spent in my opinion.

As long as I have to wear that turtle shell that I posted a photo of on post 19 the question of a holsters is a moot point. I have to use a fanny pack holster because of it. I wear a fanny pack now anyway to keep my phone, keys, pens and such in now because of that thing except if I am wearing cargo pants which I do wear every now and then. Have a gun show coming up Feb 8th and 9th in nearby Dickson Tennessee maybe I'll find something different to use that will work for a rig there. I know I can conceal my Ruger especially in a fanny pack but having a smaller weapon also gives me a backup that I can use when I am not in that thing like in the house or just going to the mail box.

 

[Armor Snail]

If that's the case I would keep on carrying your Ruger. Save some more cash and czech out a CZ Shadowline compact.
Aside from the price it will fulfill all your requirements. One heck of a good gun.

http://czcustom.com/cz75compactshadowlinesada.aspx

I would only want a tritium front post instead of the fiber optic though.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

If that's the case I would keep on carrying your Ruger. Save some more cash and czech out a CZ Shadowline compact.
Aside from the price it will fulfill all your requirements. One heck of a good gun.

http://czcustom.com/cz75compactshadowlinesada.aspx

I would only want a tritium front post instead of the fiber optic though.

Nice handgun but ouch!!! On the price. If I am going to spend that kind of money on a handgun it will not be a CCW. I'd get me a used 50 AE DE throw a good scope on it. Then rent me a bucket truck and park it and me in bear country to "test" it out. With all the proper permits and season off course.

 

[Armor Snail]

But you are getting a customized, action tuned, single hole ripper. A bargain really compared to some other custom jobs. Honestly at that price I would save even a few more bones for the addition of their accubushing and short reset trigger system.
Why not carry it? It'll shoot fast and smooth. Something that will help greatly under the stress of having to actually defend yourself.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

But you are getting a customized, action tuned, single hole ripper. A bargain really compared to some other custom jobs. Honestly at that price I would save even a few more bones for the addition of their accubushing and short reset trigger system.
Why not carry it? It'll shoot fast and smooth. Something that will help greatly under the stress of having to actually defend yourself.

I guess it is a moot point now. I'll have to just carry what I have and get me a fanny pack holster because just found out when I opened my mail from yesterday and went through the income tax estimator that I am going to have to pay right at 43% of my annual income in taxes this year thanks to Government rule changes to student grants. So I just got moved from the poor house to the dog house. Thanks Obama and Congress for ruining my life worse than it already was.

 

[Nick5182]

Man... So many people have brought this up. You need to find a CCW firearm that fits you. If you're good with the gun, find a way to carry it. I'm not trying to be rude, but I've seen this "I want this, but not that" it's getting old. My daily CCW is either a glock 21 or full size 1911. I carry either in a shoulder holster. Reason is, I can shoot my 1911's or G21 equally well, and much better than compact/ sub-compact applications, and I trust MY LIFE with either. It's all about what works for YOU. Yes, it's nice getting ideas from others, but you need to find which firearm fits YOU, and make a concealment option that fits your carry preference.

 

[David E]

You can't say you "looked" at a gun when all you did is view it on a computer.

The cheap nylon holster shown with the turtle shell is a major problem. Address that and you likely don't have the problem you think you do.

Never willingly use a holster that puts the thumb break strap across the backstrap of the gun. This interferes with a firing grip and could even cause you to drop the gun during a fast draw. The strap properly goes between the hammer and tang, leaving the entire rear grip open. That crap holster shown can be adjusted so the strap is properly placed, so you should address that right away....but it's still a crap holster.

Look at Milt Sparks or, possibly, Galco for a better option.

Since you like your Ruger, problem solved for much less money. Use the rest to buy ammo.

 

[JTQ]

Wouldn't a holster with a molle attachment work with that turtle shell?

Blade-Tech offer's a variety of options that I'd think would work. http://shop.blade-tech.com/index.php

 

[Skribs]

You're lucky you like DA/SA pistols. I like striker-fired pistols with no manual safety, and the ambidexterity in that community is smaller than Blackberry's share of the mobile market.

 

[torqem]

$200 for a rig and belt is ridiculous waste of money. Even $100 is way too much. You can get apair of belts at the thrift store for $15, and have a shoe or harness/saddle shop stitch the edges of them togther for $20, while you wait. A very nice kyex rig can be had for under $50.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

You can't say you "looked" at a gun when all you did is view it on a computer.

The cheap nylon holster shown with the turtle shell is a major problem. Address that and you likely don't have the problem you think you do.

Never willingly use a holster that puts the thumb break strap across the backstrap of the gun. This interferes with a firing grip and could even cause you to drop the gun during a fast draw. The strap properly goes between the hammer and tang, leaving the entire rear grip open. That crap holster shown can be adjusted so the strap is properly placed, so you should address that right away....but it's still a crap holster.

Look at my Milt Sparks or, possibly, Galco for a better option.

Since you like your Ruger, problem solved for much less money. Use the rest to buy ammo.

I guess I should have said I looked at the specs of the gun. As for the holster that one the guy gave me for free when I bought my SW99 that I no longer own. The snap on the strap was missing so he gave it to me. I fixed the strap with Velcro so it holds it in the holster. But I'll be getting a new holster this month. With the money situation what it is now I have no choice but to carry my Ruger. Besides I like the gun, I can hit what I aim at with it and it is no bigger that some of the so called compacts I have seen. I can use it with ether hand and I have three mags for it. It is a little heavier than polymer framed gun but that doesn't bother me. A few extra lbs for the weight of the loaded gun and the two extra mags is nothing when you are 275 lbs.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

Wouldn't a holster with a molle attachment work with that turtle shell?

Blade-Tech offer's a variety of options that I'd think would work. http://shop.blade-tech.com/index.php

I have no idea. I do know that anything that is going to permanently alter that thing is out of the question. That thing is custom made to fit me and cost $3500.00 to have made and I can not afford to replace it if something happens to it and they see I modified it. Right now any adjustments or problems that come up with it the insurance pays for. If I alter it, it will come out of my pocket. Since it goes past my waistline and over my pants any holster that goes in the pants pocket or waistline is out unless I am wearing cargo pants and all the cargo pants I have are ether camo or black tactical type that I only wear when I am out hunting or shooting nature with my camera. I don't wear jackets except during cold weather so a shoulder rig is out too. That only leaves me with the fanny pack option and since I wear one anyway that is not a carry fanny pack changing over is no big deal. They will just think I got a new pack or I switched to a different one. I have three and I do change them up now and then.

 

[torqem]

If a gun's too big and heavy for you to wear it as unnoticed as your wallet, better get one that's lighter and smaller. Otherwise, you'll leave it behind a lot. A Whole lot of people lie more on the Net about carrying a "full size and weight" gun than the number who actually do so, all day, every day and everywhere.

 

[Tomac]

I'd take the PX4 Compact over the Subcompact. Size is very close but the Compact fits larger hands better, has an ambi slide release and the rotating bbl action that redirects recoil so there's more straight-back push and less muzzle rise (the Subcompact has a std Browning link action).
Downside to the Compact: It has a non-std front sight width so no aftermarket night sights will fit properly. However, Tool Tech will drill both front and rear factory sights and install Trijicon tritium vials for $185 plus shipping (I'm having that done to two PX4 Compact slides as I type this).
Tomac

 

[David E]

I'm not knocking your Ruger. It's a good, solid gun.

I'm knocking that crap holster you're carrying it in. I would've replaced the missing snap with a snap, not Velcro.

A good holster costs much less than a new gun and would solve your problem.

 

[torqem]

This entire "fits your hand" is bunk, for the great majority of people and cases, anyway. You can teach your hand to "love" some pretty extreme differences of grip angles, shapes and sizes. I've done so, many times.Everything from a TPH walther to a M19 smith, to the M36 Chief, the Woodsman, the P35, the 1911, the P35, the Star PD.

In order for any gun to do you any good, it has to be there for you to shoot (or point at people). If you can get it in your hand, swiftly, from realistic ccw, and carry it without thought, like you wear your watch, those are the most important aspects of it, actually.

 

[Strahley]

I would change your requirements to focusing more on a few key features you want as a carry gun and go on from there. No single gun will be able to do everything, so why try to force it? Can't really play a round of golf with just a putter

 

[SC Shooter]

Not too sure this covers all your bases, but i just picked up a Saig P938 for a carry gun and really love it.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

I'm not knocking your Ruger. It's a good, solid gun.

I'm knocking that crap holster you're carrying it in. I would've replaced the missing snap with a snap, not Velcro.

A good holster costs much less than a new gun and would solve your problem.

That is what I decided to do, I am looking for one now. Like I said I got that one for free and I had not taken the handgun carry permit class yet so I didn't need to find a new one at the time. No one at the LGS has what I'm looking for. If they don't have something at the gun show Saturday I'll have to buy one from online. I would prefer to be able to see the thing in real life before ordering it.

 

[JTQ]

Kuyong_Chuin wrote,
No one at the LGS has what I'm looking for. If they don't have something at the gun show Saturday I'll have to buy one from online. I would prefer to be able to see the thing in real life before ordering it.

I've not seen any quality holsters at either my local gun store or at the local gun shows. Most of the really good holsters are only available online. However, I suppose if you are local to one of the top holster makers, you may find their stuff at the local show.

Hopefully, somebody will comment on the viability of using molle attachments with your "turtle shell". I've never used molle attachments, but those wrap around straps on the turtle shell, look like perfect places to mount a holster with molle loops.

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

I've not seen any quality holsters at either my local gun store or at the local gun shows. Most of the really good holsters are only available online. However, I suppose if you are local to one of the top holster makers, you may find their stuff at the local show.

Hopefully, somebody will comment on the viability of using molle attachments with your "turtle shell". I've never used molle attachments, but those wrap around straps on the turtle shell, look like perfect places to mount a holster with molle loops.

Might come down to that. I thought about a holster under one of those straps to keep it from printing to much but thought because of how tight I have to have them I'd never get the gun out while it was tight.

 

[JTQ]

I don't think you understand what I'm saying. The holster doesn't go under the straps of your turtle shell, just the straps of the holster, like that nylon holster you have.

Use a kydex holster, such as from Blade-Tech I linked earlier, and use the molle attachments to loop around those fabric straps you have on the shell. Certainly, you'd have to wear some sort of bulky type of cover garment to cover the bulge of the holstered gun, but you'd have a lot of options for placement with the shell you are wearing.

Notice molle system is very similar to the straps you already have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOLLE

They may lots of holsters that will attach to those type of straps. As a big guy already with hard stuff on your torso, I'd think adding another thing shouldn't be too hard to do.

 

[JTQ]

Another option that may work with the straps on your shell is an opposite hand IWB holster without a sweat shield. For instance, if you are a righty, get something like a Milt Sparks Summer Special (not Summer Special II), Galco Summer Comfort/Royal Guard, or a High Noon Hideaway (or similar) for a lefty. Run the holster straps through the straps on your shell, basically wearing the holster backwards.

Milt Sparks http://www.miltsparks.com

Galco http://www.galcogunleather.com/inside-the-waistband-tuckable-holsters_8_7.html

High Noon http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Pro...nside_The_Waistband/inside_the_waistband.html

 

[Kuyong_Chuin]

Another option that may work with the straps on your shell is an opposite hand IWB holster without a sweat shield. For instance, if you are a righty, get something like a Milt Sparks Summer Special (not Summer Special II), Galco Summer Comfort/Royal Guard, or a High Noon Hideaway (or similar) for a lefty. Run the holster straps through the straps on your shell, basically wearing the holster backwards.

Milt Sparks http://www.miltsparks.com

Galco http://www.galcogunleather.com/inside-the-waistband-tuckable-holsters_8_7.html

High Noon http://www.highnoonholsters.com/Pro...nside_The_Waistband/inside_the_waistband.html

I can shoot with ether hand but mostly shoot left handed. I am left eye dominate and have a bad astigmatism in the right eye that causes me some problems while shooting a handgun without ether closing my right eye or turning my head slightly so that my right eye is not effecting my sight picture. With a rifle I don't have that problem because of the longer sight radius. For me trying to shoot looking straight ahead with both eyes open I see two images. I understood the what you was saying. I was thinking under the straps to lessen the printing.