Need help deciding on 1st CW

[Tinks 69]

Hi guys,
I am looking to purchase my first carry weapon. I have been shooting (for hunting purposes) all my life but never carried for protection. After researching, I am very impressed with the dependability of the glocks and I am trying to decide between the Glock 30 (45 cal), 33 (357 cal), 23 (40 cal) or the 27 (40 cal). I believe that they will all be fairly similar but I am curious if there will be any differences in controllability.

I am also looking at the Ruger snubnose but I like the idea of having the extra shots with the glock and the idea of having a revolver in my waist doesnt seem as safe to me.

Any other suggestions you have for similarly sized pistols would be appreciated as well.

Also, I am curious how many of you carry your CWs chambered. I know that if you need it, you need it quick, but for obvious safety reasons, I wonder if I should carry it unchambered. Do you trust the safety features on your gun enough to carry it chambered in your waistband?

I am looking to buy this weekend at the gunshow.

Thanks for the input.

 

[bdg146]

If you're uncomfortable carrying with a round chambered, why don't you look into a pistol with a manual safety, rather than a glock?

 

[lt1aggie]

Do you trust the safety features on your gun enough to carry it chambered in your waistband?

Just as much as I trust my car not to fall apart at 70 mph on the freeway.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I would think your G23/33 option is sound thinking. But (in my opinion) DO NOT pack a handgun (ANY handgun) stuffed in your waistband. If you're going to carry a handgun for self defense then buy & use a quality holster. Even a j-frame in a pocket holster provides a margin of safety that's unavailable to the guy with a loaded pistol wedged in his pants. Buy a quality (dedicated) gunbelt as well. The responsibility of armed carry to yourself & others means the responsibility not cutting corners. No insult intended here, but if you're content with carrying an unchambered handgun (because of "safety" concerns) & but then contrastingly feel comfortable with same weapon slip-sliding around your mid-section...you might spend some time reading/listening to the most experienced CCW folks you can find. I've never met a serious trainer who would suggest waist carry to a new student.

 

[Tinks 69]

Ghost,
I was referring to a holster in the waistband and agree with you whole heartedly about using good quality holster, belt, etc.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Well, there's a little egg to wash off my face! I misunderstood the "waist" issue. To answer your questions; yes, I carry chambered (I'm guessing +85% of the folks here do), and I like the compact (vs. sub-compact) GLOCKs for controllability reasons. I also tend to practice more with my mid-size pistols than I do with my tiny ones. But I'm warning you - once you start regularly carrying a handgun...you'll invent reasons why you very much need several. Good Luck!

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

If you can find a range that rents them I'd do that before laying down a big chunk of cash for one. I have a 26 (9mm) and 23 (.40) and am glad I didn't get the 27 due to how snappy the .40 is in the 23 (but some people love the 27, just depends on the person).
I carry with one in the pipe. An attack may be up close and violent so you may not have both hands free to rack the slide in an emergency which leaves you with a small club. I carried with it cocked on an empty chamber for the first week to get the worry out of my head that I'd find it with the hammer down at the end of the day.

 

[Seminole]

DoubleTapDrew just gave you some good advice. I would never buy a carry gun without having shot it first. Some guns just don't feel "right" to some people. This is not to say that Glocks aren't fine firearms--but I would want to know that one fit me, ergonomically speaking, before either laying out the cash or depending on it in an emergency. Perhaps I'm extra conscious of this issue because Glocks don't fit me--they just don't point naturally for me.