Variation of an age old Question: Chosing a new CCW

[Allentown]

1858:

Very good reply and thank you! Yea....getting one of each of the XDS (one in .45 and one in 9mm would be nice). However im getting a gun for this type of scenario and something that starts with a .4 is my choice (pain ful to shoot is a sign of effictiveness!) Just when i start leaning towards the sheild someone makes a good case for the xds (and vice versa). Getting to the point now where all i can do is go hold them, price them and possibly shoot them! Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qU0EJS3cJIc


Johnbiltz/Bongo boy/Vetpsych wars:

This kind of crap (see youtube above) requires one to be armed 24/7 even in your Pajamas.... I need the smallest thing that reliably (doesnt have to be all that pleasant or acurate) feeds and launches a monster round..... A tiny .40 or .45 it is! (Im armed right now in my own home at my own kitchen table already).



Tomrkba: Thats pretty close to the process i have done! (see signature) ha ha ha. But im not too arrogant to think i shouldnt stop here first and get your guys expert opninions. Out of all the guns i have gone thorough the following are the ones i wish i had kept: Kimber Series II .45. Para ordinance C6 LDA, NAA .22 mini Mag. Honorable mention goes to the Beretta 92/Taurus PT92 as they were very accurate. Thats it! The rest..i really have no regret about dumping. (weird huh)?

I guess that makes me some what of a "1911 .45/revolver/sig man" None of which is going to fit the bill for a small .40+ mouse gun in that light of a weight though.

PS: In spite of all that, its still a hell of a lot cheaper habit then smoking or drinking every day.

 

[Bovice]

It depends how much you smoke and/or drink every day, and how much you shoot and/or buy guns and of what brand in both scenarios.

I'm still thinking that a big bore pocket pistol is a bad idea. The trial on TV right now is over an alleged SD shooting where one party was shot once in the chest and incapacitated by a small 9mm pistol. The effectiveness is there.

Besides, the short barrel of a pocket pistol doesn't even give you the ballistic advantages of a bigger caliber. .40 was designed for 4" barrels or longer, and .45 was designed with a 5" barrel in mind. Why not get a larger caliber "primary" pistol and a smaller caliber concealable pistol?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Probably just get a Clog.

 

[MCMXI]

Getting to the point now where all i can do is go hold them, price them and possibly shoot them!

Shooting is the most important part. If I only held an XD-S (.45 Auto) and a Sheild (.40 S&W) I'd probably buy the Shield. After shooting both I know I made the right decision. I'd like to shoot an XD-S and a Shield in 9mm ... the Shield might very well win that match up.

Besides, the short barrel of a pocket pistol doesn't even give you the ballistic advantages of a bigger caliber. .40 was designed for 4" barrels or longer, and .45 was designed with a 5" barrel in mind.

I've tested a bunch of 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 Auto and .380 Auto ammunition in short barreled handguns shooting into bare gelatin and gelatin covered in heavy clothing. Results from a .45 Auto pistol with a 3" barrel convinced me that I can have the best of both worlds with an XD-S. I can have a small and relatively light CC pistol, and I can shoot a heavy bullet out of the 3.3" barrel that will give excellent expansion and penetration.

 

[Bongo Boy]

As for being armed, I'm not always. But, I feel it's just as important to be armed while in the home as when outside it. I'm not always armed while in my house--about 80% of the time while awake I'm carrying, the rest of the time while awake it's within reach. The front door is locked 99% of the time while I'm at home, and the rear door, unfortunately, only about 80% of the time (I let the dogs in and out and get sloppy).

Hard for me to imagine any unarmed person not having their doors locked while they're in the house, regardless of time of day. But, we all make mistakes. I'm thinking she won't make that one again. Unfortunately, a locked door will give you little if any extra time to respond to someone who's decided to come in. A dog on the other hand can provide anywhere from 5 to 20 seconds, in my experience. That's a lot of time...if you have a plan. I do not.

As for pocket carry, the OP didn't mention it (or I missed it)...I don't pocket carry and don't have anything I'd carry in a pocket, so no recommendations. It's not a concept I find remotely practical or attractive, and I have very few garments that would support daily carry of even the lightest pistol that way.

I also don't carry IWB any more either, but the Kahr is a relatively thin gun (as is the XD-S, of course), so it's a very practical IWB. I do know some folks complain about the weight...I like the weight and am happy it's there. But I know it's a challenge in hot weather.

 

[Allentown]

Guy I'm sorry. After all that I bought a p938 extreme

 

[Allentown]

It was smaller, lighter, came with two mags, the same capacity, front slide serrations, night sites and that awesome single action trigger pull. I have NEVER liked striker fired weapons but was willing to endure one for a pocket gun. No worries, I carried a 1911 style gun for years w saftey on.....I should be able to again....

 

[tomrkba]

PS: In spite of all that, its still a hell of a lot cheaper habit then smoking or drinking every day.

You sure have that right! My father still "spends" his cigarette money weekly. At the end of the year he either buys Mom something nice or takes her someplace nice.

Current: Sig P229 (non tac rail) 9mm. Ruger LCR .38, CTC grips. Daniel Defense DDM4 V1 with Eotech exps2/primary arms 3x magnifier delux.Past: Beretta FS92 in both 9m &.40.Taurus PT 92 Sig P239, Glock 19, Kahr k9, Kimber .45, para ordinance c6 lda .45, H&K USP compact .40, Taurus millenium 9mm, NAA .22 Mini-mag. Taurus .357 revolver. Kel-tec .32.

Given the list above, you really do not need another gun. I think you should just tweak the list.

The Glock 19, Kahr K9, Ruger LCR and Kel-Tec 32 should cover any situation. The Kahr K9 is extremely compact and that should be your EDC if the G19 is too large. Pocket carry the LCR, NAA or Kel-Tec. I'd likely keep the HK, but it's valuable and you could convert it to some good cash. Better yet, swap it for one in 9x19mm to keep calibers consistent. 40 S&W is a fine defensive cartridge, but it does have more recoil for little terminal ballistics benefit. I sold all my guns in 40 S&W and standardized on 9x19mm and 45 ACP. I find both easier to shoot.

My advice to you is to buy duplicates of the carry guns and lots of ammo. 500 rounds of Speer Gold Dots or similar will keep you going in defensive ammo for years. I'd sell the Kimber, Para-Ordnance, Taurus Millenium, Taurus 357 Magnum and both Berettas. The SIG P229 and P239 are very good guns. If you really don't like them, swap the P239 for another Glock 19 and sell the P229. Get another AR-15 and another 20 mags.

Funding the courses with cash from gun sales is more important than buying yet another gun. Attend training--it's more important than the hardware. Your first class should be a two day defensive handgun course that should include a low light shoot. Follow it with a Level 2 course. After that, take SouthNarc's ECQC course. Any practical carbine course will get you trained up on your AR-15.

 

[Allentown]

Several of those are past guns what i have now is the Ar15, the sig p229 the ruger lcr, and (see above) a new sig p938.

Its pretty close to what you were recommending (i wont lose sleep over not having the glock) ans i think you are right about some classes.

As i mentioned before, me and striker fired guns have no lost love i have small hands so me and large funs have no lost love. Its easy to see why i am going to end up being a 1911/revolver/sig guy. Still on the list: A smith and wesson performance shop 8 shot. 357 model 627......someday

I have a safe full of ar mags a fair amount of hi cap sig 229 mags as well.

Edit: The lcr is now (as it was intended to be) the wifes gun O