Personal preferences in CCW features/actions/safties

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B yond

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As CCW becomes more and more common there have been more and more handgun models marketed as CCW weapons. Unfortunately for me, my personal list of features I require of a CCW rules many of the more popular ones out. Thinking about this got me curious about the rest of you and whether or not you have a list of features your CCW weapons must have.

Here's my list:

Semi-auto pistols:
-Must be DA for at least the first shot.
-Must have a manual safety,
-Must have an external hammer that is down when the pistol is at rest.
-Must not have a grip safety.

Now, I have reasons to justify all these requirements to myself, but it all really comes down to what I'm comfortable with carrying.

I have other guns that don't meet these requirements, and I think they're all great, I just won't carry them.

So, do you have a list of requirements too?
 
Sounds like a Bersa Thunder would fit all your criteria. Picking mine up Monday after getting the address on my driver's license updated... apparently I'm not exempt from NICS with a weapon permit.

As for list of requirements, mine are that it's reliable and easily concealable. I prefer single action handguns with a manual safety, but I've owned and carried other types of handguns as well.
 
I generally trust the safety mechanisms on all my guns (since i really don't buy off-brand "junk" guns), though obviously I shoot anything a lot that I plan to carry to protect myself with. I've carried my CZ PCR which is a DA/SA with a decocker, I've carried my kimber 1911 which is... a 1911 and self explanatory, and most commonly I carry my S&W 442 (do to size). As long as I have no malfunctions I generally trust any configuration. If I ever manage to save enough money I'll pick up a nice compact 1911.
 
B yond said:
So, do you have a list of requirements too?
Click to expand...
I do, and amusingly, they almost make the opposite of yours. Luckily there are too many variations of the available features to count on the market, although I wish more were out there with grip safeties.

-passive safeties only
-low snagging profile
-no magazine interlock

The only manual safety I need is a quality holster, and a hammer is fine, so long as it is shrouded or otherwise low-profile
 
Last edited:
Personal preferences in CCW features/actions/safties
Click to expand...

I want a;

Kahr sized, slim, light, clean, snagfree,
Restrike capability and a decocker,
HK reliability,
Seecamp quality mags,
Night sights,
Smooth, safe trigger,
Adjustable grip would be nice.
Walther/HK mag drop,
I can do without a external safety.


I want a skinny HK P2000sk with a Kahr trigger and Seecamp mags;)
 
Sounds like a Bersa Thunder would fit all your criteria.
Click to expand...

That's my mid-weight CCW. Great gun. My only complaint is the sharp edges. I plan to smooth them out and re-finish the gun some day.
 
...

I can appreciate having a quick, easy, breakdown, application with any gun.

As far as ccw, stepping up from a 380acp to 9mm, 40, or even 45, there are great guns out there, with a Safety-DA/SA format. The only question is, what feels good, or right, in your hands, to start..?

I can speak for some, DA/SA with a safety, along with, one of, if not, the eaisest, quickest, breakdowns, bar-none, out there..

A Beretta Px4 9mm , 40cal or 45cal in F model

All offer soft recoil, (because of balanced rotating barrels) speaking from owning a 40cal for over 2yrs, with some 9000 flawless rounds, very accurate, down range..

They are of lighter weight, having a polymer frame, and they are very forgiving of any weak, one handed shots, let alone, eat "most" any new factory ammo of most makes, without fail, has been my ongoing experience.

Mid price range for NIB around 600.oo and some come with real night sights installed. I would advise anyone to go that route, if you find one with them already on.

Luck,


Ls
 
Semi-auto pistols:
-Must be DA for at least the first shot. (agreed, but I may make an exception for the Sig P238...in that class of gun, I think it's something special)
-Must have NO manual safety
-I don't really have a hammer preferece. My biggest concern is the hammer must not snag
-Must have good holster options
-Must be pretty thing
-Must not kick like a mule
-Must be between 15-26 ounces (may make a small exception for a P238)
-Must not shoot a cartridge less than 380 ACP
-I'm sure I'm forgetting some preferences

Preferences are highly variable, and change a lot. Normally it just takes a quality firearm, that's concealable, and reliable and I'm happy.
 
Sounds like the OP described the 3rd Gen S&W Autos. I think those are great choices for carry.

I started out thinking I needed DA 1st shot with a manual safety. But, as I trained and shot a lot more, I came to really despise DA/SA. The inconsistency really threw me off.

I went with a DA Only Kahr .45 for a while. It carried really well and was amazingly accurate for such a small thing, but the trigger pull was about 6 miles long.

So, I've turned 180* and carry a 1911, single action of course.
 
Autos and DA revolvers:

No external safeties

Same trigger pull each time

Easy to maintain

Corrosion resistant

Very durable, able to shoot 10s of 1000s of rounds without tune ups

Reliable

Accurate

Lots of aftermarket support

So basically, I like Glocks and stainless Ruger revolvers.
 
+1 middy - in the same boat with you.....I'd also add the HK P7 and S&W revolvers

I have NO use for any manual safeties on any of my guns, long or short - the only safety needed is the one between your ears
 
I carry Glocks. Simple, no decocker, no external safety, no extra crap. It's the colsest thing to a revolver I could find that I trust.

Just point and click, nuthin else to remember except for chambering a round. If this scares you, use a good holster and keep your finger off the trigger unless you're ready to fire.
 
i personally prefer....
1)striker fired
2) no manual safety
3) reliable
4) accurate
5) high capacity
6) trigger pull the same each and ever time.
 
For me the requirement is no safeties that require a manual action. Glocks, Sigs, and some HK variants meet this requirement. I personally prefer Sigs but my Glock is growing on me very much.

I like high capacity guns with a minimum capacity of 10 and in a caliber no smaller than 9mm. So Glock is my choice.
 
Here's my list:

Semi-auto pistols:
-Must be DA for at least the first shot.
-Must have a manual safety,
-Must have an external hammer that is down when the pistol is at rest.
-Must not have a grip safety.
Click to expand...

For me it's a 1911 so:

-SA first shot
-manual safety
-external hammer that is cocked
-grip safety
 
-NO manual safeties that aren't passive

-Must have low light capability (Night sights or laser)

-Absolutely no magazine disconnects or Internal Locks

-Absolutely must be at least .380

-Reliable under pretty much any circumstances

-Reasonably light

-Low profile / Not snag prone

I currently carry an S&W 642 w/CT grips or my Glock 19 with night sights.
 
I need a DAO or a SAO trigger group. Consistent trigger pull for each and every shot.

Thumb safety the only preference is that it operates like a 1911: UP=safe, DOWN=fire. Whether it has a thumb safety or not, I don't care.

Cartridges are 9mm, 10mm, or 45 ACP.

I don't like revolvers but I'll take one if that's what's available. 38/357 in that case.
 
CZ 75C, all you need to know, CZ PCR and P01 both are decockers, CZ 75C has safety and is DA/SA, external hammer, no grip safety, accurate, reliable ( I own a CZ PCR ) and a really good looking pistol.
 
My list is quite different from yours.

No external safeties
Same trigger pull every time
Reasonable compromise between caliber, capacity and size for concealed carry
Something that fits my hand and that I can shoot accurately, including follow up shots
And most important: Goes bang every time.

Glock G30.
 
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