I chose a ______ as a CCW because:

[Walking Dead]

Sig Sauer SP2022 in 9mm. I dont like small guns and this thing is cheap, reliable and accurate.

 

[USAF_Vet]

S&W 469

Because it was well within my budget, not a tiny mouse gun, but small enough to conceal when the day I actually get my CCW comes, 12 rounds of 9mm come standard, DO/SA with a decocker safety allows me to carry with one in the pipe and the safety off without worrying about an ND. And like the rest of my EDC, it's black and has some honest wear.

 

[Ben86]

M&P9, because it's my favorite gun. Conceal carrying a full size gun is not that big of deal.

 

[george29]

S&W 640-3 2 1/8"bbl. Why? Internal hammer that can't snag. Trigger is heavy enough to prevent ND. Full backstrap 3 finger grip (unlike my 642), shoots 357 (unlike my 642), low profile front sight, grooved rear (cant get snagged), Stainless, 23oz to absorb recoil (unlike my 642). I pocket carry this gun.

 

[alienbogey]

HK P7.

Superb quality. Superb accuracy. Superb safety.

And fits my hands.....superbly.

 

[ArthurDent]

S&W 642 pocket carry in an Uncle Mike's holster, Bianchi speed strip for reloads

Pocket carry is the only way I've found that I can carry consistently and fully concealed.
If things seem dangerous, a hand on the grip just looks like a hand in the pocket.
The 642 is small enough and light enough that It's not too much of a burden.
Its shape is irregular so it hides and carries well and doesn't print.
It's smooth... no external hammer to snag.
It feels good in my hands.
.38+P seems like a much more effective choice than .380 or smaller. (I hope I never need to find out!)
I really like wheel guns.

Nothing is perfect so I sometimes use other options, but I keep coming back to this.

 

[nathan]

Glock 23 and Russian Makarov for five years in a row. Yeah, a makarov of all things. Why ? Bec i can hit well with it and its light to carry. An extra 8 rd mag in my pocket gives me extra fire power. Loaded with Barnaul HP is all i do . IN winter time i switch to FMJ for good penetration of winter clothing. In the meantime, Im planning in getting a Glock 30 to step up for a change.

 

[vito]

The variety of answers is refreshing and not surprising. There are almost as many guns mentioned as their were posts to this thread. I was a bit surprised that there was only 1 response for the S&W640. Personally I think this is an outstanding SD weapon with only one limitation and that is capacity. I don't want to start yet another thread on the subject of how many rounds you need in a carry gun, but I have yet to read about a real-life SD situation where more than 2 or 3 rounds were fired, so it seems to me that 5 is adequate. I also like the LCP but even 6+1 in 380 acp does not give me the same confidence as 5 in 39 Spl +p or 357 mag.

 

[cromlw]

I pocket carry an LCP ,I find with the smaller size and ease of concealability i carry it 100% of the time,,dress pants to board shorts,, as opposed to my "compact" pieces which i carried say 75% of the time,,,I feel completely confident in what the .380 packs and the CT laser sure helps with shot placement

 

[Mitchell Gard]

Glock 27. It's absurdly reliable. It's small and easy to conceal. Doesn't imprint. It's chambered in .40 s&w which is reliable, effective, economical, and simple to find. Glocks are safe action pistols so the only thing you have to do is pull the trigger and the three safeties are simultaneously disengaged so it's quicker from holster to firing.

 

[thefamcnaj]

I carry a g27 because I like the .40 cal especially with the Hornady critical defense round. It conceals very easy and doesn't print in any kind of clothing. Out of all my hanguns I've shot/shoot this more than any other. It was my first gun and has never had a malfunction. I know in a bad situation if I'd do my part, it will do its job.

 

[doc2rn]

Unfortunately I have to carry for what I wear, most of the time its scrubs, so NAA and LCP/R see alot of duty time. If I had my drothers it would be a FNP-9 or S&W mod 10.

 

[wildehond]

I carry a G22. It is also my competition gun. The 40 S&W is powerfull enough and I can conceal it in summer clothes. It is the only semi-outo I own so everyting is reflex. I might get a second G22 so I can use one for competition and one for carry.

 

[BlackSky]

I chose a Glock 36 in .45ACP because it's small, thin, reliable, ergonomic (for me), carry's well (in a Crossbreed SuperTuck), packs a punch and most importantly...I shoot very well with it.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have enjoyed this thread very much. I find it interesting what many think is most important. To some it is size, some caliber, some reliability, accuracy, cost, capacity......maybe even a little prestige??

 

[Ben86]

It is interesting to read people's reasons for carrying what they do. I've taken to the "one gun" philosophy lately. Having only one gun to master will lead to a higher level of mastery, at least that's the way I see it. Well, almost one gun. My M&P9 can't do pocket carry, for that it's the PM9.

I used to have one full sized pistol for HD and a compact for CC. Then I realized that I could carry a full size easily, so I thought why not carry the one I like more. Not that I don't see the utility of a small gun.

 

[wasr10634unme]

springfield mil-spec 1911

1. full size
2. .45acp
3. conceals well enough in my supertuck

 

[Craig_AR]

Why a 642 for Carry

My very first post to THR was over 4 years go over in the 642 Club, and it is my answer to this thread.
The full post is here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3642255#post3642255
in the middle of that post are my selection criteria:

This got me thinking about carry gun criteria. Came up on my own with this list:
1. Revolver, for simplicity and reliability.
2. High capacity not needed for non-LE use. Armed citizen not likely to get into running gun battle. Just need enough shots to change one situation.
3. Large caliber not essential, since most likely scenarios are very close range. A .22 or .32 probably too small, but based on LE use, I assumed that anything .38SP and up would be acceptable.
4. "Hammerless" to reduce chance of snagging on draw.
5. Small enough and light enough that I would actually be willing to carry it regularly.
6. Stainless or polished, not blued, finish. If I HAVE to draw, I want the bad guy to SEE the gun. Maybe brandishing will cause him to back off or run, precluding needing to shoot. A blued gun, while darn good looking, might not be apparent in a less than daylight situation.
7. DAO or DA/SA, but no SA use planned. In a real world tactical use, cocking for SA leaves a trigger pull too light. Adrenalin, panic, nerves, fear, or whatever could cause unintentional fire. Much safer to plan only DA use in any self-protection situations.

(p.s. If you are concerned about #6, go to the original thread and read the follow-up discussion there.)

 

[fasttheo]

I carry a Walther PPK because it fits my hand perfectly, yet is still small enough to carry in a pants pocket. It's accurate and reliable, and even though I may be compromising caliber, I feel confident in my ability to defend myself with it, and I don't think I could put a price on that confidence.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I started with a SIG P238 because I thought I wanted something light and small.

Then I went with a SIG P290 because I wanted a little larger caliber although the P290 is not really pocket size.

Then I went with an Ultra Carry 1911 .45 because I realized it isn't any harder to carry a .45 holstered than a 9mm.

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

I carry a S&W Model 13-3 because it works. (Sometimes I carry a 4" Model 10-5, instead for the same reason.)


And, I carry a S&W Model 37 because sometimes I might have to reload the Model 13-3.


The other night we were going out when my wife asked if I had to carry two guns. I took the Model 10-5 off my belt to placate her, and we went out to dinner with me carrying the Model 13-3 on my belt and the Model 37 in a pocket.

ECS

 

[Sauer Grapes]

For me it's my Taurus PT709. I wanted a small single stack 9mm. I figured, what the heck, I 'll give it a try. Very thin and hides well for summer carry. I was surprised how accurate it is.
When I feel the need for something more, my S&W 4006 fills the bill. I carry this quite a bit in the winter months.

 

[Burnie]

Ruger LC9, It's small, light, easily concealed, & I work in Massachusetts. (10 round mag. capacity). I am considering a G26, or a small 1911, maybe a Springfield EMP. Too many options, too little time. Great post!

 

[armoredman]

Elm, great story.

 

[EWO]

Glock 19 because its the gun I shoot on a regular basis.