Quality carry gun

[Frank Ettin]

As long as the thread has been resuscitated, I carry whenever I legally can, and it's usually a Nighthawk, Les Baer, Ed Brown or an H&K P7M8. I like those guns. They are reliable and accurate. And yes, I know what can happen to one of them if I need to use it. But that's okay with me. I bought the guns to use in the real world. That's what they're for.

 

[MattTheHat]

When it comes to protecting the life of *me and mine*, I'm going to choose to carry the pistol that gives me the best chance of doing its part without failure. For me, that's going to be one of my custom 1911s. If it happens to get confiscated and never makes its way back to me, yes, I'm out over 4 large. SO THE HELL WHAT??????

If the life saved was *yours* or a total strangers, I'd say that was $4k well spent.

If the life saved was mine or "one of mine", I'd say that was the best $4k ever spent.


-Matt

 

[Floppy_D]

If your case goes to trial, you'll forget about the cost of the gun when you get the lawyer's bill. The carry weapon is the least expensive part of a self-defense case.

 

[BHPshooter]

I've got no mental reservations carrying my high value guns. I put money into them to make them do their job well. Why leave it at home?

I totally agree, Ken. I had my carry gun modestly customized a couple years ago. As it sits, if I had to replace it at retail prices, I'd be looking at about $1500. To some, that's almost obscenely expensive for a carry gun. It's the one I carry, and it's the one I train with, shoot IDPA with, plink with, and sleep with. I made it exactly how I wanted it to be, and if I'm in a fight, this is the gun I want with me.

To be clear, I do understand what Jim was saying. Many people can't even seem to cope with holster wear. It would stand to reason that if that bothers them, having it confiscated would break them in two. If the possibility bothers you, don't carry it...

There was a time when I cared about holster wear, and the thought carrying my most expensive gun scared me. I humbly suggest that anyone with that problem try to get over it. I did.

Wes

 

[tkopp]

I don't own a high value handgun.

Even if I did, I'd carry the best weapon I could conceal. Your prettiest, rarest, most expensive handgun may not be the one most likely to save your life. If it isn't, leave it at home! But my life is worth more than anything I own. Four grand is cheap compared to a hospital stay because I got shot when I didn't have to. Carry the best available, and if you have to use it, it's money well spent.

 

[Losov]

Nothing wrong with an old thread coming back, particularly to someone like me who is rather new to shooting in general and the board in particular.

The thread does bring to the forefront some stark realities with which we might have to deal if we ever need to discharge the weapon in a situation not of our choosing. Whether one selects a Kimber or a Kel-Tec for that day is of little concern given the magnitude of the aftermath.

 

[CoRoMo]

I found this thread a while back and thought that the input from Jim, Fuff, Tuner, and sm is something that should be stickied. There are a lot of oldie/goodie threads like this in the archive. Resurrecting them does not improve their value IMHO.

 

[General Geoff]

Resurrecting them does not improve their value IMHO.

I disagree. Resurrecting an old thread such as this with the intent to continue its original discussion is not a disservice, and is in many ways commendable; I'd have never seen this thread had it not been resurrected. I for one am appreciative that it was.


Anyway, people come from all walks of life with all different levels of discretionary income/finances. A Hi-Point for Joe Average might be more of an investment to him than a $4,000 Les Baer 1911 is for Mr. Fortune 500 CEO. Carry what you can afford; if you're afraid of scratching or dropping it, it probably shouldn't be your daily carry piece. Same if you're afraid of it getting abused or lost after a defensive shooting.

 

[Zerodefect]

If the gun saves my life, then I have no problem buying another. No point in useing a cheapo gun. theyre all going to get wear from training and holstering anyway. I buy the best pistol/rifle I can find and mod it appropriately then I beat the living tar out of it in training.

Thats what refinishing is for.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

As a personal opinion, if you can't afford the gun to lose it, then you can't afford the gun. It's the same thing with people who double park a BMW 3-series or other finer cars. If you can't afford to replace/fix it, then you can't afford. I personally will carry an Ed Brown or similar gun only when I can afford to have two or at least be fine without it for a while. That is the same rational I use when making other purchases as well.

Damian

 

[Buck Snort]

Mas Ayoob has good things to say about a standard Ruger 45 ACP he used on duty for quite some time. He even shot it competitively and did pretty doggone good with it. Truth of the matter is all you need to know is that the gun will go BANG everytime you pull the trigger and it does not need to be a tack driver at 25 yds. Word is that about 90% of all SD shootings are withing 20 ft. and all but the shabbiest of guns will put bullets into COM at that range.

 

[Frank Ettin]

...Word is that about 90% of all SD shootings are withing 20 ft. and all but the shabbiest of guns will put bullets into COM at that range.

The gun is seldom the problem. The weak link tends to be the user.

 

[Old Shooter]

I agree that if I'm ever involved in a shooting the cost of the gun will be the least of my worries. whether I get it back or not.

But they make new ones every day and the gun shops are full of collectables and hi-dollar pieces if thats what you want.

Just buy or build another.

 

[CraigC]

I will carry what I feel most comfortable with and what I feel is the best tool for the job. Should I ever have to actually use it, when they take me away in handcuffs I will be grateful to be alive. Not worried about my carry pistol, no matter what it cost.

It's the same thing with people who double park a BMW 3-series or other finer cars.

I have to disagree with this statement and the analogy. Some folks actually care about the condition of their automobile, whether it's a $200,000 car or a $5000 old truck. I never doublepark but I always park far enough away from everybody else that I don't have to worry about some inconsiderate idiot slamming his door against my `04 Silverado. As a result, it's 6yrs old and has not a single dent or ding. I do this regardless of what I drive. While most folks are driving around in their dinged-up cars looking for the closest parking spot to save them from walking another 20ft, I'm already in the store....and I'm a fatboy. What I don't understand are the people with swanky cars that DON'T do what I do. But I'm weird that way.

 

[TeamPrecisionIT]

CraigC,

If you could truly afford it, then you would have insurance or at least have the money to repair or replace it. Same thing goes for handguns, rifles, or anything else in life. If you can't afford to replace it, then you can't afford it.

Damian

 

[P97]

I will carry the gun that I shoot best for a CCW. With me, it just happens one that I've had custom work done on, but it would be what I want if I ever have to rely on one to save my life. I don't worry about the cost of the gun. The gun can be replaced, but the life of a family member or myself can't.

 

[Lastmohecken]

Well, I must admit I don't carry my Wilson Combat 1911, for CCW, much. Not because I am scared of getting it confiscated, after a shooting, that would be my last concern, but the nature of CCW for me, is often leaving a gun in my vehicle, and I definately would be concerned about letting some low life steal it out of my truck, but If I am keeping it on my person, then I am not to worried about loosing it.

However, I really believe in carrying the best tool for me, and that varies from a cheap Kel-tec to at least a $1000 gun or more, if It's the one I feel most confortable carrying. I just got through buying a Kimber Tatical Ultra II, 3 inch 1911, and tax and all it cost around $1200.00, that's less then half of what my 5 inch Wilson sells for today, but it's a more practical gun for CCW due to it's lighter weight and better concealibility, so I won't hesiatate to carry it, if I am more confortable carrying it, then a $500.00 Glock, which I also carry, and Glocks make good truckguns, since they are eaisly replaced, and who in the heck harbors any sentimenta value to a Glock, but I don't like carrying Glocks on my person, as I just don't find them very confortable to carry, because they are still pretty thick, in general. So I will carry even a higher dollar gun, if it's more to my liking.

As far as cheap guns go, I have seen lot's of cheap guns, that I would not want to trust my life to, and to people that carry them just because they are cheap to loose, I ask you, How much is your life or the life of a family member worth? I don't need a fancy gun, but I won't cut corners on a life saving tool, if I feel I need something better, or more expensive. Cheap boots and Cheap guns, are more likely to result in pain then buying something better. Now, I do not consider a Smith and Wesson Model 10 a cheap made gun, but I have seen a lot of new cheap semi-autos out there that I would not use unless it was the only gun I could get, and there are even some junk revolvers out there too, that I would not trust very far.

One thing I won't put up with is a big, bulky, poor handling, clunker even if it is reliable, just because it's cheap to lose.

 

[230therapy]

I consider the gun as just another expense that will occur if I have to use a weapon to defend myself. If I use it, I expect it to be at least temporarily confiscated and probably abused, lost or stolen.

I do not "bond" with it. It certainly has no "soul". It is not integrated into my ego. It's a tool, nothing more. The price of even a $3,000 gun is nothing compared to the bill the lawyer is going to hand you.

I suggest that people start taking a realistic look at themselves in the mirror and review their motivations. There is nothing wrong with collecting, sport shooting and so forth. However, mixing serious business with fun rarely ends well.

Get serious about carry. Train, know the law and put your mind into the proper mindset necessary for killing people.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Personally, I don't like ornamentation. I have a saddle, for example, that has no ornamentation except the maker's mark stamped on the gullet, the feders and the stirrup keepers. That's four too many in my opinion.

On the other hand, I like functionality. A plain, unornamented saddle of good construction, a quality knife, and a quality gun are always good things to have.

 

[Supertac45]

It's a tool that can be replaced. My life can't.

 

[Clipper]

Couple things...
I don't drop guns, so shoot me. I'll set it down, or hand it to someone.

If the shooting's done before the cops arrive, my gun will be back in it's holster. They can remove it themselves.

That being said, I simply can't afford a fancy pistol anyway. However, my Kel-Tec PF-9 gets treated with respect too.

 

[CraigC]

If you could truly afford it, then you would have insurance or at least have the money to repair or replace it. Same thing goes for handguns, rifles, or anything else in life. If you can't afford to replace it, then you can't afford it.

This is nonsense. Whether or not you can afford something and how you treat it afterwards are mutually exclusive. You gonna fork out your deductible every year to fix door dings? You gonna balk at the increased insurance rates because you had half a dozen dents and dings fixed every year because you are careless??? Me, I'd rather be responsible, take care of what I have and spend my money on more important things.

 

[Shadow 7D]

+1 ^^^

I carry a nice enough gun, I don't carry a super special gun, just a special enough gun

For some that could be a 2K piece of steel, Me, I'm fond of my little KT that I've spent time getting to know and making smooth. I can loose that gun with out too much impact, other than hurt feeling, but I see no reason to carry a museum piece, unless that is what you want to carry, as for the insurance, ***, are you an insurance salesman?? really, If you get into a SD shooting, you homeowners is going to dump you or bump you up after defending you from the skumbag's family, out of your home, you still have to pay your lawyer bill, and I've yet to see an insurance policy that would cover that. Your gun, depends, theoretically homeowners or auto could cover it, loss of service etc. BUT that would be a fight after the legal trouble, cause commission of a crime voids your coverage.