rethinking my CCW choice

[Treo]

I sit in the sound booth for most services. This means that I am about 25 yards from the doors & about 5 feet up. I carry a CZ 2075 in .40 S&W and I'm sure I can hit a human at that distance W/ it especially in a supported firing position.

My advice practice at the distance you expect to be shooting & carry the gun you can consistantly hit at that distance with.

 

[10-Ring]

My fave is the j-frame...so much I picked up a 442 to take up the carry duty for my mod 60 I've tried a couple small semi autos but the versatility & reliability of the j-frame always works its way up to the forefrunt

 

[BikerRN]

I carry a "full size" gun and a smaller BUG, and maybe a third gun as well off duty.

My preferred carry gun is a 3" GP100. It shoots like a 4" gun and carries IWB like a 2" gun. The second gun is a 2" gun, as is the third one. I prefer a Revolver, eventhough I have my pick of "bottomfeeders" to carry.

Since I'm going to carry three guns I see no need for one of them to be a higher capacity handgun, but that's just me. The number of guns carried is not so much for capacity but rather to have a gun accessable no matter what position I may find myself in or which hand I have available to draw.

I like one of my guns to be a "full size" or nearly so gun, as I tend to shoot them a little better and faster, and the longer sighting plane is a boon for those longer shots. FYI, my guns are sighted in at 25 Yards with my carry load, even the 2" guns, and I know where they hit out further than that.

BikerRN

 

[c1ogden]

The 3" J frame is a very handy little gun. Much easier to hit with than the 2" model, better sights, utterly reliable, and easy to hide. Just get one of the older ones without that asinine key lock! (The 3" K frame is even better, but a bit larger.)

 

[Squidward]

Your carry gun may be fine if you can keep a rifle/shotgun in your car...

 

[docmagnum357]

I have a GLOCK 23. As the other fellow posted, it is about state of the art for a concealable handgun that shoots a major caliber round. It is accurate enough for shots under fifty yards on human silouettes. I carry it while working, because I sweat a lot, and I don't want to mess up my model 19 Smith And Wesson, 4" barrel. I bought it for my concealed carry classes, figuring most people who know nothing about handguns all have someone they know who is an"expert". The "experts" all seem to be reccomending GLOCKS nowadays. I am a little lazy, and if I have to teach them to feild strip and auto, I'd as soon teach on a GLOCK. I also figure my wife could carry it. She can't pull the slide back, although she did like the huge sights. Maybe I'll get her a GLOCK 19?
When I am at church, I carry either a 4" model 19 Smith And Wesson, or a 6.5 inch 629. I am built like a barrel, so for me, when I wear a coat and tie, either of these is actually easier to conceal inside the waistband. All that really sticks above the belt is the grip, and revolver grips are slimmer that GLOCK grips. Be carefull, however, if you are a praying man. I once got under strong conviction, and went to the alter to pray. When I got up, my coat tail was clinging to the soft rubber Houge grips on my 629. Doesn't happen with the GLOCK, or the model 19's pachmeyer grips. I don't think anyone saw the gun, but I did look a little funny.

 

[GunNut]

I normally carry my Glock 19, but from time to time I go back to carrying either my 340PD or one of my micro pocket pistols.

 

[Camjr]

As soooo many people have stated in the past, Rule 1: Have a gun. I find my 642 is always with me, whereas the XD is sometimes with me, and more often in the cooler months of the year.

I practice frequently with the 642, and practice reloads from speed strips. I won't be trying a 40 foot shot in a church with other people around, whether it's with the XD or the snubbie. Having said that, I can definitely hit what I aim at with both.

 

[TonyB]

just as aside....the Bilble and self defense...read Neiamiah..where the jews are rebuilding the wall....it says they had a tool in one hand,a sword in the other....tons of stuff on defense..read the Massage Bible version.They had a security detail set up too.Interesting for the "religious pacifists"or the "head in the sand,oh God will protect me"crowd.God told them to carry swords for a reason.

 

[gcrookston]

I carried a Sig 230 for a number of years, but moved to the J frame in the last year. I like them so much, I ended up with several. My car gun is a Sig 220, however.

 

[lee n. field]

.I'm sitting in church sunday,and thinking about possible bad guy scenarios(I know I should've been lictening to the Pastor....anyway)and I realize maybe a 1.5" 5 shot is a less than ideal choice

It worked for Charl van Wyk.

During the Sunday evening service on 25 July 1993, a group of APLA cadres attacked the St. James Church in Kenilworth. Using grenades and AK-47s, they killed 11 members of the congregation and wounded 58. A single churchgoer, Charl van Wyk, managed to return fire with a .38 Special revolver and five rounds of ammunition wounding one of the attackers, causing the attackers to flee.

Mr. van Wyk was carrying the smallest thing he could, a J-frame popgun, and still obey the "all be armed" rule of his mission organization.

So, stop worrying and pay attention.

 

[Huddog]

My two concelaed weapons are a G26 with spare G17 Mag and a S&W642 with speed strip. Turns out the 642 is my always gun, no matter what I wear it goes everywhere. I love the G26 but in shorts and a tshirt it just doesn't conceal well. Of course part of that is my physical build, IWB is not a very good option for me although I do it occasionally.

 

[Anonymous Coward]

If one J-Frame is not enough, why not carry TWO?

 

[Haywood]

I always carryed Two Five shot Revolvers. After reading and hearing too many scary stories. I finally gave in, I started carrying a Glock 26 to backup my 357 Snub. Speed Loaders for the Snub and a few G 17 Mags for my G 26.







_______________________________
when they come for your guns, give them the ammo first.

 

[Markbo]

OP - you will get lots of opinions. Let go the ones that claim theirs is the only right choice and redefine YOUR solution regularly. I have been through this drill many times. Revolver or semi-auto, large or small, lots of ammo or just enough.

That doesn't even count the number of times I have second guessed my method of carry. Whatever makes you rethink your choices, it is good... it means you have not 'settled' for something. When you make your choice - to stay the same or move on - the best advice I can think of is to practice. Practice some more and some more. Make THAT choice as second nature as your last one.

And if you begin to change your mind again, do the same thing. We all can't carry full sized Glocks and 5 extra mags. What is practical for me may not be for you. My CCW is a commander sized 1911. My 'always' gun is a Kel-Tec that I can slip in my pocket when conditions (usually dress) don't allow for proper 1911 concealment. Get opinions, make a choice you are comfortable with and get good with your tool of choice - whatever it is.

 

[bikerdoc]

me thinks you have already decided you need another gun - good for you, go get one, new gun are always fun. as others have said, decide what you want, practice with it, and be confident in your ability

 

[lions]

I thought it was funny that you started out by saying you aren't rambo or a mall ninja. Thinking about a few extra rounds and a longer sight radius keeps you so very far away from mall ninja status. I have the same thoughts while the pastor is preaching, trying to work out all the possibilities and whatnot. It sounds like j-frame or otherwise you will be fine because of your mindset, all the better if you have the best tool for the job!

 

[Snapping Twig]

You'll carry it unused 99.999999% of the time, so easy carry really does make the most sense.

Balance that with the "what if you DID need to use it" for caliber selection and I believe the answer is going to be based on what you can balance between weight, what works, and what you can shoot best.

I'm a big fan of the .45acp, so for me it means an alloy framed delivery system for the big slug.

I can't carry here in the people's utopia of California, so I'm afraid I can offer no real world experience. If I could carry, I believe I'd carry my Sig P220 or my Kimber - both alloy frame.

I do carry in the woods whenever I am there and I choose a 3" .44 mag for that duty. Packs small in a cross draw, hits hard and nothing in this State is a match for it, so I feel safe with it.