Self defense handgun choices and why.

[Corpral_Agarn]

As soon as I can figure out how to conceal it on my body, it's going to be a Sig P226 in 9mm for all the things.

Currently carry a P239 but since "freedom week" in CA the extra capacity has my attention.


ETA: except for woods/riding stuff. I will still use the SAA for that

 

[Vern Humphrey]

As soon as I can figure out how to conceal it on my body, it's going to be a Sig P226 in 9mm for all the things.

Currently carry a P239 but since "freedom week" in CA the extra capacity has my attention.

Have you considered an M198 155mm howitzer?

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Have you considered an M198 155mm howitzer?

LOL

Do they come in a compact model?

 

[SharpDog]

As soon as I can figure out how to conceal it on my body, it's going to be a Sig P226 in 9mm for all the things.

Currently carry a P239 but since "freedom week" in CA the extra capacity has my attention.

I sought around for a while and ended up with one like this for my p229. It ended up being the most comfortable for my body type:

http://clevelandkydex.com/index.php...&search_in_description=1&keyword=p226&x=0&y=0

here is one like it on Amazon that is also tuckable (but I think Cleveland Kydex can do that as well).

https://smile.amazon.com/Concealment-Express-KYDEX-Holster-Carbon/dp/B07XWJ878D/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Sig+Sauer+P226+w/Rail+Tuckable+IWB+KYDEX+Holster&qid=1600725356&sr=8-3

Here it is next to one of my p365's

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I sought around for a while and ended up with one like this for my p229. It ended up being the most comfortable for my body type:

http://clevelandkydex.com/index.php...&search_in_description=1&keyword=p226&x=0&y=0

here is one like it on Amazon that is also tuckable (but I think Cleveland Kydex can do that as well).

https://smile.amazon.com/Concealment-Express-KYDEX-Holster-Carbon/dp/B07XWJ878D/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Sig+Sauer+P226+w/Rail+Tuckable+IWB+KYDEX+Holster&qid=1600725356&sr=8-3

Here it is next to one of my p365's

Thanks for links!

I have been looking at Tier 1 concealment (because of the red dot and safety selector on the Legion) but haven't decided on anything just yet

 

[SharpDog]

Thanks for links!

I have been looking at Tier 1 concealment (because of the red dot and safety selector on the Legion) but haven't decided on anything just yet

If Cleveland Kydex cannot do it I'm sure Dara can. I ordered Level II OWB duty holsters from them and the workmanship is great. They have various IWB options and optics cut is now their default.

https://www.daraholsters.com

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Why just handguns?

Cuz this is the handgun forum.

 

[Koroner]

You are right 460.

But when I cook I use more than a knife, and my NYC quip suggests that self defense choices are sort of like making love to a woman; its all about location, location, location.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You are right 460.

But when I cook I use more than a knife, and my NYC quip suggests that self defense choices are sort of like making love to a woman; its all about location, location, location.

I thought that was Real Estate?

 

[Charlie98]

Although my EDC is on the bedside table, there is a Mossberg 12ga in the corner. Depending on the situation, one backs the other up.

My daily carry is a Kahr CW9 or CM9, I have 4 of them currently in rotation. My body layout does not allow me to conceal a 1911 very easily, and I don't open carry generally, and my previous carry... a Colt's Government .380... was almost too valuable to carry and risk losing in a shoot. The first time I picked up a CW9 I thought it felt like a mini-1911... with a very long trigger pull. After giving it a once-over with about 500 rounds of ammos, it (they) became my primary carry piece. The CW/CM takes the same magazines, same holsters, same manual of arms, and they point just as naturally for me as my Kimbers do.

Woods (desert) carry would be one of my Kimber 4" .45's, or my 4" Smith 58.

 

[brutus51]

I see a lot of Glockateers have responded and that's cool, whatever melts your butter. Personally I've never cared for striker fired handguns especially ones with safe action triggers but that's just me. Matter of fact my only striker gun is the P365 and that's because it has a manual safety like the 1911.

 

[brutus51]

I sought around for a while and ended up with one like this for my p229. It ended up being the most comfortable for my body type:

I had a P229 in 40 short and weak, sold it to get a 40Super in 1911 (10mm for you sillymeter folks).
Really regret doing so it was a great gun, even had the extra .357 Sig barrel.

 

[Tallball]

We have kids and dogs running around the house, so I put the long guns away for the time being.

My preferred nightstand gun is a 4" 357 (currently a Taurus 689), but sometimes I just leave my "edc" LCR 38 special sitting there.

Taurus Model 689

• Tallball
• Jan 7, 2018
• 1

EDC

• Tallball
• Feb 10, 2019

 

[RedlegRick]

Kel-Tec PF-9
1. Price point: Simply couldn't afford more than the 279 it cost me seven years ago.

2. Brand familiarity: I'd owned a P11 since 02 and like the form factor and construction the company does on their offerings.

3. Legalities: At the time, here in NYS, Cuomo's SAFE Act limited us to 7 rounds and the PF-9 fit the bill perfectly (with no aftermarket extended magazines available).

4. Size and weight: It's one of the narrowest and lightest 9mm pistols out there and it disappears on my body.

5. Breakdown and wear: At its price point and considering where it spends most of its time, I have no worries about the finish in the least.

6: Accuracy and presentation: By no means a target pistol, it has no problems putting all seven in the boiler room if I do my part.

Lastly, take a look at my avatar pic and the basketball sized fireball it produces. Psychological issues are as effective as physical ones in my opinion, and as loud as it is coupled with that is an advantage to my way of thinking.

*Edited for grammar

 

[340PD]

The best nightstand gun is one with a suppressor. Barring the absence of that, add a pair of electronic muffs that will aid your hearing and help mitigate your flinch should you get into a shootout in your hallway. Also, I put a strip of velcro and attached holster to the inside wall of our coat closet by our front door. That makes it easy to slip a 340pd in my back pocket before the front door is even answered.

 

[Mikhail Weiss]

Mostly a 9mm of some sort. I’ve shot a billion rounds through my Glock 19, so it’s usually the one close at hand, although I also carry my S&W Shield from time to time.

One of these days I might get an AR-15, but when I do, I want to make sure it’s the most evil and politically incorrect kind, so it’ll probably be black and short and outfitted with half a dozen high capacity magazines.

 

[sparkyfender]

HK USP Compact .45 acp on one side of the bed, Beretta 84 on the other. Glock 19X on the nightstand.

Carry is another story as it varies, and I have several guns that I am really fond of having with me. Last few days it has been a Sig 239 SAS. I'm not a huge Sig person, but I really like this single stack with a metal frame. Low capacity by 2020 standards but I'm not stuck on capacity as being all important.

 

[hso]

3. low muzzle flash
4. Won't blow out my eardrums

Those are interesting opinions. While 9mm (~160dB) has twice the sound pressure level of the .45 (~157dB) neither will rupture an ear drum and both will leave your ears ringing. If you're using low muzzle flash ammunition I could understand the flash point, but barrel length is more at play for unburned powder/flash.

For the house I set up a .300ACC "pistol" throwing heavy subsonics with suppressor that keeps flash and noise below the distracting/harmful level.

 

[brutus51]

Those are interesting opinions. While 9mm (~160dB) has twice the sound pressure level of the .45 (~157dB) neither will rupture an ear drum and both will leave your ears ringing. If you're using low muzzle flash ammunition I could understand the flash point, but barrel length is more at play for unburned powder/flash.

Guess I forgot the old adage " the punybellum may not expand but my.45 won't shrink".
onacanda bigger bullets work better.

 

[hso]

bigger bullets work better.

Yep, I used to think that too.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Yep, I used to think that too.

Would you say that small bullets work better?

 

[John Joseph]

Curious to know what others think as for me:
In the home I chose a commander length 1911 in .45ACP. for the following reasons:
1. Night sites.
2, big bullet.
3. low muzzle flash
4. Won't blow out my eardrums

Concealed carry, Here's where I get a bit fickle based on climate.
1. Commander length 1911 in .45ACP. for all reasons listed above.
2.Commander length 1911 in 38 Super because it comes close to .357Mag.
3. Colt Cobra for hot weather prefer 38 special over 9mm punybellum.
4. Sig P365 also for hot weather.
5. Colt pocket lite .380ACP for really hot weather.

Woods carry:
1. S&W 625 .45Colt pre-lock mountain gun.
2. S&W 629 .44Mag. pre-lock 6" barrel.
That's my choices, what's yours?

What do you have ammo for? That's the $64 dollar question these days

 

[brutus51]

I have no experience with these new AR15 style pistol calibers. While I own an AR15 with two uppers, one in .556 and the other in 6.8 SPC, my preferred assault weapon is a Marlin lever gun in .44Mag. Not saying anything bad about them, just not going to invest in one at this time, at least not until after the election.
As for what ammo, the same 200gr. XTP I've been reloading for years.

 

[hso]

Would you say that small bullets work better?

I wouldn't overgeneralize. The momentum (velocity) vs. energy (mass) argument AND the improvements in terminal ballistics AND the quantity arguments all factor into the discussion when you're talking about rounds on target in defensive shootings. Higher mass and velocity vs higher mass or velocity needs to be gauged against projectile performance in the target (effective penetration, permanent wound channel, temporary wound channel, bullet expansion, over penetration, ...) and placement on target and followup issues.

It used to be easy to have the .45cal vs. 9mm argument (and still is if you're just throwing ball), but improvements make it less reasonable to just drop ammunition into one of two baskets any longer.

Also, the "enough" question comes up since how heavy or fast does a bullet need to be to achieve the goal of stopping an attacker (not "blow your head clean off", but stopping the attack).

The question is complex.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I wouldn't overgeneralize. The momentum (velocity) vs. energy (mass) argument AND the improvements in terminal ballistics AND the quantity arguments all factor into the discussion when you're talking about rounds on target in defensive shootings. Higher mass and velocity vs higher mass or velocity needs to be gauged against projectile performance in the target (effective penetration, permanent wound channel, temporary wound channel, bullet expansion, over penetration, ...) and placement on target and followup issues.

It used to be easy to have the .45cal vs. 9mm argument (and still is if you're just throwing ball), but improvements make it less reasonable to just drop ammunition into one of two baskets any longer.

Also, the "enough" question comes up since how heavy or fast does a bullet need to be to achieve the goal of stopping an attacker (not "blow your head clean off", but stopping the attack).

The question is complex.

Well, all other things being equal, wouldn't you agree that a bigger, deeper hole is better? If you're counting on a small bullet to expand, there is no reason a large bullet cannot expand as well.

As to "enough" -- it's YOUR life that's on the line. If you don't have "enough" you die. So how much is "enough?"