Platform, caliber, terminal performance aside: Why do you CC/OC the gun you carry??

[481]

After responding to another thread about sidearm and caliber selection elsewhere on THR, I began to wonder...I'd like to read about the "other" reasons that compel you to carry ("openly" or "concealed") the gun you've chosen to carry.

Platform, caliber, and terminal performance aside: Why do my fellow THRers carry (openly or concealed) the guns they carry?

Is your decision to carry the gun you CC/OC tied to sentimentality, familiarity, nostalgia, some other emotional attachment, or something else entirely?

 

[beatledog7]

There's no sentimentality or cool factor involved for me. I carry whatever I carry because I'm used to it, because it doesn't snag on the draw, because I can put rounds on target with it, because it always goes bang, and, when the scenario requires concealment, because I can fairly easily conceal it.

Since you admonished responders to leave out platform, caliber, and terminal performance, these are the remaining things that matter

 

[Speedo66]

(Small) size and weight.

And because it does have the other factors you don't want counted.

 

[2@low8]

Platform, caliber and terminal performance is exactly the reason why I chose my cc/oc handgun. All the rest can be integrated into that package.

 

[627PCFan]

How about size, weight and for me it's tied with holster choice and clothing

 

[dullone]

"Platform, caliber and terminal performance is exactly the reason why I chose my cc/oc handgun. All the rest can be integrated into that package. "

If that's the criteria I'd chose .50 BMG in a semi auto. Just can't find it in a 16oz package that will fit in my front pocket. So I compromised on caliber and terminal performance.

 

[fastbolt]

Well, unless we're talking about a SA revolver, or one of the guns bequeathed to me by my father or an old friend many years ago upon their passing, sentimentality, nostalgia, or some other emotional attachment isn't involved in my choice of a retirement weapon on any given day.

Familiarity? Well, sure. But then I work to become familiar with any handgun I may decide is going to become part of my retirement CCW & firearms instructor collection.

With the exception of a Ruger LCP I picked up last year, all of the handguns I've bought since the middle-to-late 90's have been chosen because they've either been something I've carried for years, and/or were something with which I'd become familiar after attending at least one armorer class (and decided to buy an example after completion of the class).

Some of the guns remained preferable choices over the course of having attended 2, 3 or 4 armorer classes over time, and or being similar to agency-issued weapons throughout my career.

Apparently, I'm lazy and stuck in my ways.

When it comes right down to it, unless it were to involve a nicely done SA revolver, I pretty much look at any of my handguns as "working" gear for the most part.

 

[MikeJackmin]

I can offer one emotional reason, but this pertains to my house gun rather than my carry gun.

My house gun is a Mossberg 590, with ghost ring sights and a flashlight built into the forestock. Almost perfect, except I know that a semiauto would probably be a better choice, because it will cycle when shooting prone, or with a hasty sling, or even with one hand, and you don't ever have to worry about short-stroking it. Heck, my AR15 might even be a better choice.

But for some deep and weird emotional reason, the 590 gives me confidence. If I ever get scared, that's the one I'll want. It just feels right.

I figure that confidence is worth something if I ever need it, and I appreciate that it's pretty darn unlikely that shooting prone, or with sling support, or with one hand will ever be an issue for me.

 

[doc2rn]

It just depends on the factors, scrubs dont hold much but they will hold a LCP in a fobus. When I am out on the town in jeans and leather, its the FNP-9 in a Galco Highrise or paddle holster. In a pinch its the NAA mini on the DT chain around the neck. When hiking or backpacking its the Ruger SR22. Hunting its the Weatherby MK V 30-06, and Colt Diamondback. Home defense is beer, boxers, and 20g/12g. Variety is the spice of life!

 

[breakingcontact]

Comfort. Shoots well.

 

[horsemen61]

It works in my system leaving out all other factors at OPs request .

 

[Furncliff]

I hit best with it.

 

[C0untZer0]

Convenient, unobtrusive, comparatively comfortable.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got it.

 

[MattShlock]

Price low enough that I don't care if it gets "worn out," small flat design size as though made for concealed including short grip and physical loaded chamber indicator, but potent, reliable, and very accurate with the right Corbon or Keith SWC ammo.

 

[jmr40]

nostalgia, some other emotional attachment,

This should never be a consideration in my opinion. I want what works best at this point in time. Not the gun, or style of gun granddaddy used.

 

[Tommy Van Alen]

it fits my hand really well.

 

[481]

This should never be a consideration in my opinion. I want what works best at this point in time. Not the gun, or style of gun granddaddy used.

In a perfect world it wouldn't. Sometimes though, there are guns that have a certain history or extrinsic value (e.g. owned or carried by a departed loved one or family member), and in those few instances I can't seem to help myself.

 

[Bobson]

Platform, caliber and terminal performance is exactly the reason why I chose my cc/oc handgun. All the rest can be integrated into that package.

Platform, caliber, and terminal performance (which is mostly caliber, but whatever) is often equal in multiple firearms, which is a great reason to leave them out of this thread. For instance, a Glock 19 and Springfield XD Duty in 9mm are essentially identical platforms, and they are identical in caliber and terminal performance. Why pick one over the other?

I imagine that for a great majority of people who carry, fit/comfort are going to be at the top of the list. Not all hands are the same.

I carry what I do because even though I found it uncomfortable in the hand when I first learned to use it, I had no choice in the matter; I literally did learn to like it - a lot. Then I bought one of my own. Almost two years later, I still grow to like it more and more every trip to the range.

 

[scaatylobo]

Training

I carried a Glock 23 while as an LEO and the one I edc was bought on dept. letterhead.

I shoot it very well,but its not the easiest to conceal.

I dress to carry that,traded off for a "few" different handguns depending on season & weather.

I always go back to the G-23 as its fast and accurate to hand.

 

[MedWheeler]

Ease of carry (Kel-Tec PF9.)

But, and I suspect this is part of what you're looking for, I do sometimes carry a Ruger Police Service Six. It was my dad's, and he carried it during a stint as a deputy out in Colorado (we didn't know each other at the time, having been parted when I was little, but it turned out we were both cops.)

It became mine on his death, and sentimentality rules the reasons it gets carried when it does.

 

[ID-shooting]

weight, size, ease. Ruger LCP with a Keltek belt clip installed.

 

[TarDevil]

I don't understand the question.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Familiarity and my assessment of the virtues of a given sidearm govern my choices in CCW. For the first 20 years I had a CCW permit my carry sidearm of choice was a Browning Hi-Power, carried cocked-and-locked. I never gave much thought to the choice of ammo in the beginning, just carried whatever I had on hand. Eventually I settled on Black Talons while they were available (still have a couple mags worth laying around for the collector's aspect).

While the BHP is a fine gun, I've moved to mostly HK firearms now. They're a little bit more robust and carry a few more rounds. I primarily split my CCW time between a pair of USPf9's and my HK P30S. All of my USPs have had the detent plate #9 swapped in; this eliminates the decock function from the safety. So my USPs and my P30S are all carried Condition One. This is important to me as I train to run my guns this way. Two or three times per week I make 50-100 practice presentations from the holster, drilling repeatedly to draw and sweep the safety off. Most of the time I carry IWB in a Garrett Silent Thunder holster. I've had the USPs longer but more and more I wind up carrying the P30S. It's a pretty remarkable sidearm IMO.

I've researched the various 9mm loadings and have settled on the 147gr Federal HST round. The 124gr version may be a little better but I can always get the heavier one, so that's what I use. I try to do a lot of practice with 147gr ball which shoots to about the same POA/POI. While the HST stuff isn't cheap I have run enough of it to verify function, and I make a point to run a full mag thru once per month to keep myself used to the recoil, etc.

When I can't get away with a gun even the size of the P30S I carry a Beretta Nano. If I knew I was going to get in a gunfight on a given day I'd stay home! Barring that, I'd bring a rifle if I could. But since I won't know ahead of time, I will carry a sidearm. If I ever go to guns I hope I'll have one of my HKs on me as opposed to the Beretta. But the Nano is small enough that I will have it with me when a bigger gun would have to stay at home. Better a small gun than no gun! And I practice extensively with the Nano as well, and I have a lot of confidence in its reliability and my ability to run the gun well.

 

[RBid]

I carry a Glock 19 (Gen 4). Nothing emotional about the choice. 100% practicality.

If I let emotion determine what I carried, I would probably be carrying something with style. Maybe a Springfield Professional with a Surefire X300 on the rail, and a 10rd Wilson Combat mag hanging out of it? Maybe a Sig P226 Elite Dark? So many cool toys out there...