I have carried since 1980 or so, and usually a snub in .357Mag or a 1911 in .45acp. I went nearly a decade not carrying regularly, then moved to a jurisdiction where I could get a new permit. During that period, 9mm ammo underwent significant improvement. I bought my first 9mm about four years ago, along with my first polymer-framed handgun. My days of a M66 2.5" in a bottom-draw shoulder holster have ended - even though it saved my/others butts on more than one occasion, along with the aches and pains of middle age comes the wisdom to avoid certain methods of carry and certain instruments of destruction.
I still thoroughly enjoy a reliable 1911, and I have three on my permit. It's rare that I carry one. I usually carry a Shield in 9mm, a G26, or a G30. I have a G30 that lives in my truck, so I technically carry it every time I drive.
I also enjoy shooting 9mm. It saves money and a bit of wear and tear on what's left of my shoulder. I have acquired a variety of 9mm pistols in the last few years, including Glocks 34, 26,19, and 17L, a Sig SP2022, a CZ 75B, a Shield 9, a 9c and a Shield for the wife, and <gasp> a RIA 1911 Tactical in 9mm. I only have seven in .45acp, but add in a couple of .22s and a 10mm, and I'm pretty well covered. The bears are pretty small where I live.....
There are very few activities that I enjoy more than shooting. I only own guns that I enjoy shooting (sold the LC9 - made two people happy!) and I enjoy taking people who have little/no experience to the range. Many people who thought they were antis have learned that they were merely ignorant - they were afraid of what they didn't know. I sit them at the kitchen table and teach them safe gun handling, then take them to the range and let them experience firing anything and everything I own. Some of them strain facial muscles, they grin so hard! Many become pro-gun, most of the rest at least understand enough to become neutral. Having a variety of handguns available allows them to experience the differences, and to find what feels best or shoots best for them. I also enjoy shooting a variety, even though 1911s remain my favorite. I REALLY having fun with that RIA in 9mm! Most of my pistols are duty-sized, but one of my surprises was discovering how well I can shoot with "compact" Glocks, specifically the G26 and G30. Heck, I couldn't shoot a G19 well at all, but the G30 was love at first magazine. It got me started, and I finally learned to shoot Glocks well (once I got it through my thick head that they aren't 1911s, so try finding out what works with them).
My wife was raised by a very good skeet shooter/hunter to be afraid of handguns. We'd been married 22 years when I started actively shooting pistol matches at a local range, and she came to watch. She discovered that nine guys could shoot handguns and nobody got shot - which started eating away at the fear. She even saw some girly-girls shoot some pretty big guns pretty well, and smile about it. She also decided that she might need to use one if'n I was busy (or down), so she asked ME to teach her to shoot a pistol. I KNEW not to do it, all the reasons not to, but she was determined - she trusted me, and that was that. So I started her out on wheelguns and let her try any gun she wanted to try. She turned out to be pretty good with a 1911.
She decided to get a CCW, so we started shopping for a carry gun for her - right in the middle of the Banic. The LGS showed her a lc9, and she decided that was the gun. Took six weeks to get one, and we immediately headed to the range. She fired three rounds, set it on the bench, and she was done. Too much recoil, too square on the backstrap, too long a trigger pull. Even with a grip sleeve, it made her hand hurt. Moment of Truth: Do I get testy, or do I encourage her to try something else? Or shoot the hostage?
I calmed her down, unloaded and boxed the LC9, and went to the rental counter (where she'd refused to go earlier). I got every 9mm they had and a couple boxes of ammo, and she shot Glocks, Rugers, M&Ps, and XD models until she'd tried them all. The M&P 9c was the most comfortable for her to shoot. I ordered one, and when it came in I consigned the LC9.
She got good with her 9c, applied for her CCW and was approved, and took her course as required. I had acquired a Shield by then, and was really liking it. She discovered how big the 9c was to conceal, and so I made it a point to have her shoot my Shield. She liked it, and I knew what to get her for her birthday. Holding them isn't the same as shooting them!
She's beginning to understand why I have a variety....
I still thoroughly enjoy a reliable 1911, and I have three on my permit. It's rare that I carry one. I usually carry a Shield in 9mm, a G26, or a G30. I have a G30 that lives in my truck, so I technically carry it every time I drive.
I also enjoy shooting 9mm. It saves money and a bit of wear and tear on what's left of my shoulder. I have acquired a variety of 9mm pistols in the last few years, including Glocks 34, 26,19, and 17L, a Sig SP2022, a CZ 75B, a Shield 9, a 9c and a Shield for the wife, and <gasp> a RIA 1911 Tactical in 9mm. I only have seven in .45acp, but add in a couple of .22s and a 10mm, and I'm pretty well covered. The bears are pretty small where I live.....
There are very few activities that I enjoy more than shooting. I only own guns that I enjoy shooting (sold the LC9 - made two people happy!) and I enjoy taking people who have little/no experience to the range. Many people who thought they were antis have learned that they were merely ignorant - they were afraid of what they didn't know. I sit them at the kitchen table and teach them safe gun handling, then take them to the range and let them experience firing anything and everything I own. Some of them strain facial muscles, they grin so hard! Many become pro-gun, most of the rest at least understand enough to become neutral. Having a variety of handguns available allows them to experience the differences, and to find what feels best or shoots best for them. I also enjoy shooting a variety, even though 1911s remain my favorite. I REALLY having fun with that RIA in 9mm! Most of my pistols are duty-sized, but one of my surprises was discovering how well I can shoot with "compact" Glocks, specifically the G26 and G30. Heck, I couldn't shoot a G19 well at all, but the G30 was love at first magazine. It got me started, and I finally learned to shoot Glocks well (once I got it through my thick head that they aren't 1911s, so try finding out what works with them).
My wife was raised by a very good skeet shooter/hunter to be afraid of handguns. We'd been married 22 years when I started actively shooting pistol matches at a local range, and she came to watch. She discovered that nine guys could shoot handguns and nobody got shot - which started eating away at the fear. She even saw some girly-girls shoot some pretty big guns pretty well, and smile about it. She also decided that she might need to use one if'n I was busy (or down), so she asked ME to teach her to shoot a pistol. I KNEW not to do it, all the reasons not to, but she was determined - she trusted me, and that was that. So I started her out on wheelguns and let her try any gun she wanted to try. She turned out to be pretty good with a 1911.
She decided to get a CCW, so we started shopping for a carry gun for her - right in the middle of the Banic. The LGS showed her a lc9, and she decided that was the gun. Took six weeks to get one, and we immediately headed to the range. She fired three rounds, set it on the bench, and she was done. Too much recoil, too square on the backstrap, too long a trigger pull. Even with a grip sleeve, it made her hand hurt. Moment of Truth: Do I get testy, or do I encourage her to try something else? Or shoot the hostage?
I calmed her down, unloaded and boxed the LC9, and went to the rental counter (where she'd refused to go earlier). I got every 9mm they had and a couple boxes of ammo, and she shot Glocks, Rugers, M&Ps, and XD models until she'd tried them all. The M&P 9c was the most comfortable for her to shoot. I ordered one, and when it came in I consigned the LC9.
She got good with her 9c, applied for her CCW and was approved, and took her course as required. I had acquired a Shield by then, and was really liking it. She discovered how big the 9c was to conceal, and so I made it a point to have her shoot my Shield. She liked it, and I knew what to get her for her birthday. Holding them isn't the same as shooting them!
She's beginning to understand why I have a variety....
