My pistol is .02 ozs lighter than YOURS!

[Dean1818]

There are quite a few arguements on the board about the size/weight of different pistols on this board for CCW purposes.

"Mine is SMALLER than YOURS....." Seems to be a rallying cry.

Statements that revolve around felt differences of slight fractions of an inch in thickness and a few ounces of weight seem to be a bit ludicrous to me.

Something .2 ounces heavier, for myself, I cant really tell the difference for something hanging off my belt. Can you REALLY tell, once its in a good holster, 2/10 of an inch? Maybe you can...... I can't.

After putting some money in a good IWB two point holster, like a Crossbreed,
I am fully convinced that people should include MORE and BIGGER pistols into their choices for CCW.

Some folks choose a smaller, and what I believe to be a under-powered caliber like a 380 or a 32, just to get a tiny gun.

You should include enjoyment of shooting and type of pistol into your choices, vs ONLY the smallest size weight issues.

If you LIKE your gun and become proficient with it, why not CCW for it, vs making your choice a "smallest only" concern.

I am not saying that you should consider a full size desert eagle cannon for CCW. All I am saying is some of the good midsized pistols on the market may make an excellent choice for CCW.

BTW, I jog with a P226, very comfortably in a flexible, bellyband holster.

I CCW in the Crossbreed a Bersa 40 Ultra Compact......(Trust me... its not an "ultra compact" in size. it's THICK)

I believe that the Bersa UC is a good choice, but if I were to do it again, I probably would have chosen a FNX or a P229.

CCW a "fun" gun, not a "mouse" gun

The holster and a good belt, (Not the K-mart special) make all the difference in the world.

 

[harmon rabb]

You jog with a 226? Impressive. Lol.

 

[DasFriek]

Besides it being America and people can do what they want, There are other reasons why people want the smallest and lightest.

I come from the opposite group who carries full sized 1911's and mines all steel also. But i did just buy an all steel Officers 3.5" to give me more size options.

And you have a very good point about buying a gun to carry that you can enjoy shooting also. I need a pocket gun and instead of a polymer Kahr PM9 i went and ordered an MK9 steel framed version of the PM9 as i plan on it seeing many rounds at the range. But a PM9 would have been just as good im told.
This gun will be a back pocket carried gun as a bug, But my main goal was a range gun. So this was a compromise purchase as i had no use for a larger 9mm as i dont like the caliber for SD.

But in the end most see the gun as a tool, And if it isn't small and light enough to be un-intrusive they most likley wouldn't carry at all. Thats the LCP and P3AT crowd and id much rather see an underpowered gun thats so small and lite that its painful to practice with at the range.

So i see both sides of the spectrum, And i too don't feel any difference in guns between my 5" steel 1911 and my XD SC .40 when strapped in a pancake holster on my hip with a good belt and quality holster.
But going IWB thats another story, Thats the main reason i bought the Officers 1911.

I think most issues is a smaller size over weight. But if small and lite is what it takes to make people carry any gun even if its a .22lr derringer id rather see that than them carrying nothing.

 

[QUICK_DRAW_McGRAW]

i agree to a extent.

i work as a auto mechanic and to carry a full sized gun all day just doesn't make sense. i would be jabbed by it, print alot, and damage the customers car. so when im at work i carry a kel-tec p3at in my front pocket. but when im not on the clock i carry a S&W sigma .40 and have no issues. heck i even carry a tarus pt1911 IWB all the time, and thats a heavy gun.

 

[Nushif]

Some folks choose a smaller, and what I believe to be a under-powered caliber like a 380 or a 32, just to get a tiny gun.

To me, this really seems to be the core of your argument. I don't recommend relying on that overly much.

I believe that the Bersa UC is a good choice, but if I were to do it again, I probably would have chosen a FNX or a P229.

Right along with this.

That being said, this to me sounds like another "Carry What I Carry" thread. I'm glad you like your lightweight .40. I'll stick with my Compact 9mm. Others will stick with their pocket guns.

Also, because nobody has ever managed answering this ... why is it a "mouse" gun?! I'd hardly call a .380 a mouse caliber! Who shoots mice anyways?!

 

[tostada]

Until they make a 12-gauge with the recoil of a .22 that weighs 8 oz. and fits in your pocket, everything is going to be a compromise.

You jog with a P226? One of those weighs as much empty as my Glock 26 weighs with 10 rounds, and there are plenty things lighter than a Glock. I jog quite a bit, and I definitely notice the weight of my 5 oz. phone clipped on my shorts.

Maybe weight isn't important to you. Where I live, it's 115F in the summer and I can open carry if I want. Just about the only thing that does matter is weight.

I wouldn't want a little 380 that is no fun to shoot because then I would be unhappy about practicing with it, but it's a reasonable compromise.

Also, if you consider female clothing you have a lot less options unless you want an ugly holster purse.

 

[piece of meat]

LOL i hate jogging with a knife in my pocket cause it bounces around. the only feasable way to do it with a full sized gun would be a fanny pack or something, close and tight to your stomach.

 

[HK-Freak]

Blame Nutnfancy for making people believe that an additional five ounces will break your back.

 

[DasFriek]

Out of 4 current guns i own only 1 is a polymer and its up for trade.
Even my 5th upcoming gun is a pocket 9mm Kahr MK9 with a steel frame, Size wise its no issue. But many people say its to heavy for back pocket carry.
But when your used to carrying a 5" all steel 1911 a few ounces is chump change.

Tonight i was showing my mom my new IWB holster i made for my Officers 1911 which will now be my summer carry gun taking the place of the XD SC .40 and she remarked about how heavy it was for such a smallish gun.
But in a good holster and belt i cant tell the difference between 2 lbs and 4lbs, Unless i was jogging which id never do as exercise is bad for your health.
So i get all my exercise carrying heavy guns i guess.

I have a weird outlook on guns and to me anything below a .40 is a bug or pocket gun.
Thats just a personal preference and by no means correct.
But in reality an LCP or P3AT are just as deadly as any .45 i carry, I just don't like owning guns i don't enjoy shooting at the range but would carry for ccw. Its a one dimensional tool and i feel like im not getting the most for my money if its not fun and comfortable at the range as it is on my hip.

Until i bought a Sig P238 mainly as a novelty/back pocket bug, I would always look at the .380 as a weak useless caliber. But once you shoot a few hundred rounds its a viable option id trust my life to if it came to it. But chances are my .45 will be on my hip and me not reaching in my back pocket for the .380

 

[Bovice]

Blame Nutnfancy for making people believe that an additional five ounces will break your back.

hahahaha

Nutnfancy once got caught Xootr-ing in the rain, and the added weight of his wet clothes buckled the deck of the Xootr and collapsed his right lung when it sent him crashing to the ground.

TacticalDoodle had to use a crane to pick him up. Mrs. Nutnfancy was not pleased with his shenanigans.

So Nutnfancy decided to open up a gun shop in deep space, under zero gravity conditions, where the weight of a kel-tec P3AT w/ mag holding one round wouldn't flatten the arches of his feet and bow his leg bones.

 

[JohnBT]

"Statements that revolve around felt differences of slight fractions of an inch in thickness and a few ounces of weight seem to be a bit ludicrous to me."

They don't to me. Do you have a question?

 

[DAdams]

M&p 340

My S&W M&P 340 weighs 13.3 ounces, slightly heavier with CT Grips.

My Seecamp .380 weighs 12 ounces.

Weight counts particularly in regards to pocket carry. It also very much comes into play with felt recoil, hence there is definite merit when it comes to factoring in weight when evaluating intended purpose.

Statements that revolve around felt differences of slight fractions of an inch in thickness and a few ounces of weight seem to be a bit ludicrous to me.

They don't seem that way to me.

 

[Mad Magyar]

Statements that revolve around felt differences of slight fractions of an inch in thickness and a few ounces of weight seem to be a bit ludicrous to me.

I find this more concerning barrel length....