Older and more experienced: How have your handgun preferrences changes?

[dogsoldier0513]

We all go through 'phases', especially gun owners. I've been CCWing since 1981. My first CCW handgun was an S&W 19, since I had recently discovered handloading and didn't want to 'chase' my brass.

I stuck with revolvers until I entered the academy (1989), at which time I 'discovered' autos, specifically the new S&W 3rd Generation autos (M3904), which I carried on and off duty until the Glock was approved for duty use (ca. 1991) by my department.

As an LEO I carried all sorts or autos on duty and off: S&W, Beretta, Walther, Glock, SIG and SA. Until 2003 (I was issued G22), I could carry pretty much any make/model/caliber available, but preferred the .45ACP, especially after an incident with a big pit bull.

Now that I'm a civvy again (for now), my CCW of choice is a 1911 of one sort or another (only 1 department/agency in my AO allows/permits officers to carry .45s on duty), being 'a believer' in the .45ACP. Other than an occasional S&W snubbie, I don't carry revolvers any more.

So....over the years, how have YOUR CCW weapons/views changed, evolved, etc?

 

[rcmodel]

When I was 20 something I carried a 1911 because that was all I had besides a Ruger .22.

When I was 30 something, it was a steel S&W Chiefs Special.
Then later on, a S&W Model 39 because it was lighter then a 1911..

Now that I am 66, it is more often then not a Kel-Tec P3AT, as that is all I can hide in the clothes I wear most of the time.

rc

 

[jem375]

After Minnesota finally passed the right to carry law in 2003, I started out with a G26 for about a year, didn't like the trigger or grip angle, have been carrying a Springfield Ultra Compact in 45ACP.

 

[Naybor]

When I was much younger, my main pistol was a .41 magnum. I've still got "crickets" in my ears from that puppy! In a shoulder holster, it went from my armpit to belt line. Shades of "Dirty Harry"! Sold it cause it was ruining my ears ~ wasn't hard to shoot at all and very accurate!

Later, when I owned a bakery, it was a nicer than most .25 auto for pocket carry ~ not a cheapie. It saved my bacon once when it deterred a carjacking/robbery without firing a shot.

Now, at 66, my CCW is a small 9 MM auto. My bedside home defense gun is a 12 ga double.

 

[Ben86]

When I first started CC (only about 2 years ago) I wanted the biggest baddest high cap 9mm, so I went with a Glock 17. The reality of carrying a large gun set in, therefore this changed to the Glock 19 then the Glock 26. Then I realized that there are slim 9mms out there that are much more comfortable to carry. I bought the kahr pm9 and I am very happy with it. Now I am realizing that carrying a large gun is not difficult or all that uncomfortable when done correctly, so my carry gun may increase in size. Here we go again.

I generally recommend slim single stack autos for CC. I try to save people a potentially long, expensive, silly quest for the "best" CCW.

 

[9mmepiphany]

When I started in LE we were still issued revolvers (S&W M15) and I carried a 4" Colt Python or Combat Commander both on and off-duty with a M60 as a BUG. This evolved through the H&K P7, Sig 226 (9mm/.40)/229 (.40), Glock 19 and Beretta 92/96...with the BUG role changing to the M642 when I realized the advantages of an internal hammer. By the time I retired, my default duty guns were the Sig 226 (9mm) or 220 (.45).

When I teach, i'll carry the G19 or the 220, because I'm too lazy to pack an extra carry gun.

For everyday use, the Kahr CW9 has pretty much replaced the M642, because it's thinness just makes it easier to carry. I'm getting comfortable with a Springfield EMP, but I'm not sure if I'm dedicated enough to give it the care it needs...it is a 1911 design after all...to always function.

I would say the theme is that as I've gotten older, my carry guns have gotten lighter, thinner and required less constant maintenance

 

[jimmyraythomason]

My tastes in handguns has stayed constant but my caliber preferences have flip-flopped between magnums and snubbie friendly calibers.

 

[huntsman]

I bought my first magnum in 1982 in 2007 I traded away my last one.

Now it's .380 and .45 ACP for me, my CCW experiences are only a year old but I don't anticipate needing anything more than what I have now.

 

[Creature]

For CCW, I only ever bought full-sized .4# caliber semi-autos.

But over the years I learned that less is more and reliability trumps all. Now I will only carry either an all-steel .38Spl SA/DA snub revolver ... or a 9mm Sig P225.

 

[lions]

When I first started buying guns I looked at pictures, now I look at specs and independent reviews.

 

[pv18463]

Started with the 45 because it had "stopping power". Now i use a 9mm and realize it's placement that matters.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I started on 1911's because that's what the military trained me to use. I played with (and owned) just about every kind of handgun imaginable over the years, but I always come back to the 1911. Until just recently... I picked up a couple of Hi Powers, and really, really like them. But of course, from a user standpoint the HP is just a high capacity 9mm 1911.

Browning got it right in the early 20th century. Good ergonomics and a single action trigger can't be improved on.

 

[grampasaurus]

When I was young if it went BANG I liked it. At 60+ I still do.

 

[Oyeboten]

Once old enough to look around at Gun shows and buy something if I wanted, my first love was the Colt 1911 .45 Auto, Colt New Service in .45 Colt, and S&W M 1917s, and, S & W Snub Nose .38 Specials. Soon, I discovered the early Colt .38 Automatics.


Nothing has changed...even if a few other kinds found my affections also.

 

[hso]

tastes changed? Yup.

P3AT and/or "Commander" length BHP these days

 

[Onmilo]

I started off shooting revolvers because the choices in semi-auto handguns were very limited and Colt 1911s and Browning High Powers were priced out of my range of affordable.
These were the only really good new made centerfire semi autos available back then.

As more good quality semi autos came on the market my interest began to lean towards them.
I first shot a Beretta 92S in 1978 and a Glock 17 in 1986 or 1987, they convinced me the semi auto was going to be the next real trend in handguns and I got on board the bandwagon.

 

[dewalt-2]

For carry a Kimber Pro Carry II 9mm I tuned up, and a S&W 5906.
My target .45 is a Taurus PT1911 I did a total rebuild on.
The only DA revolver I have is a S&W 686, and will never part with it.
These days most of my interest lies in Ruger single actions, and various .22 auto target pistols and 1911 .22 conversions.

 

[Joe Demko]

I guess. I've gone from carrying full size service pistols to compact revolvers and autos. Even own a couple with polymer frames.

 

[Wishoot]

When I was young if it went BANG I liked it. At 60+ I still do.

I love this response. I hope I still feel this way when I'm 60+

 

[huntsman]

When I was young if it went BANG I liked it. At 60+ I still do.

yeah but the trigger pull is longer and forget about the reload

 

[HadEmAll]

Great question. And one that I am wrestling with right now.

I've been carrying since 1997. I started with all the full sized pistols I had always wanted to carry, and couldn't. Heavy on power and capacity.

Now, 13 years later, and with my grandfatherly phase upon me, I'm starting to see the beauty of pistols just a wee bit more compact for a lot of my carry duties.

I just recently turned my G22 into a G27, my PX4 into a PX4 SC, my G17 into a M&P C. I've already added 2 kahr .40's to the carry rotation.

I still have some full-sized pistols left, and think I'll keep them, but can't swear to it.

 

[evan price]

Went from revolvers to Glocks to Sigs and now back to revolvers. I just find the hand fitted feel of an old S&W or Colt to be a nice thing. Not knocking a modern pistol, they work fine. There's just something about old revolvers and how they feel and work.

 

[grampasaurus]

yeah but the trigger pull is longer and forget about the reload

Amen to that brother........DAGNABIT!!!! :banghead:

 

[gbw]

From Grampasaurus

When I was young if it went BANG I liked it. At 60+ I still do.

Me too, gramps. Started out decades ago with 1911s, HPs, Walthers, and S&W Js,Ks,and Ns (57s and 27s). Tried the fads that have come (and some gone). I'm still 1911s and Smiths etc., but over the years I've become progressively more interested in accuracy and less in recoil. (Always wanted lighest carry pistol I could find.)

 

[grampasaurus]

I hate to be cliche, but been there done that with almost all readily available firearms then and now. However, if I could only have one handgun and one rifle they'd both be 22's and If I could only have one or the other it'd be the rifle. Hated to throw long guns into this category but what the heck, they go bang too. Now I guess it's time to own up specifically to my favorite handgun, that would be a Ruger 44 mag SS Redhawk. I simply love that gun. Now don't get me wrong there are a whole slew of others that "make me feel real loose like a long neck goose" but I like em powerful and can shoot my Redhawk all day long even with full loads. Of course the Pachmayers help. I'm not real fond of shooting the 500 S&W all day but a box full ain't too bad. My preferred "carry gun" is a short barreled DA revolver stuffed full of 357 mag HPs. I hope I never have to use it in a SD situation, but if I do, and 5 rounds ain't enough, there must be atleast 6 of em; but then they'd probably be going the other direction after the first couple fell.