What to carry?

[HankB]

Depending on wardrobe, I carry at least one of the following whenever and wherever it's legal:

1. S&W 340SC with Crimson Trace lasergrips. Pocket carry. Current load -145 gr .357 Silvertips.

2. Glock 26. IWB. 115 grain Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point +P+.

3. Browning Hi-Power. IWB. 115 grain Remington JHP +P.

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Any of the Glock subcompacts - although I am partial to the G30.

 

[Shooter357]

Taurus Mil-Pro PT-145......or PT-140. Compact, high capacity, available safety and it eats everything, just like my teenage son!

 

[badgerw]

I have to second the comment on a good holster and belt making the 1911 viable for CCW.

My EDC gun is a Kimber Ultra Carry. The Tucker Gunleather "Answer" holster makes a big difference in comfort. But if I had to save money, I'd use a ClipDraw and a good gunbelt. My Liger belt is about perfect for me.

Having said that, I recently joined the 642 Club. It's not my first choice in action or caliber, but it has its place.

YMMV one hell of a lot.

Bill

 

[pat86323]

the more i think about it the more i think that i need a small frame revolver in 357, and a compact 1911. The more i think the less i think i need to change what i like and am comfortable with. Smith revolvers and 1911's. Found one smith that i liked today for a price that i can live with. (cant remember the model but it was a snubbie 357 deal) Which will probably fill the slot until i can get my ria finished up then i can start looking toward other little 1911's. I also looked at a taurus revolver in the same configuration as the smith and was wanting some oppinions on taurus' quality. The guy who owns the gunstore that has the taurus says that he doesnt like them and the one he has is in from someone who couldnt afford the gunsmithing he had done on it so there it sits with a nice trigger job waiting to be plucked from the shelves.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I have to second the comment on a good holster and belt making the 1911 viable for CCW.

I'd have to expand that to say that a good belt and holster should be the basis for any sucessful carry, whether concealed or open. It was hard to believe what a difference it made when I switched to my Sparks VM2 from an el-cheapo nylon holster for my P229.

 

[chipp]

I was thinking about all this at work today.You guys that carry 45s and big guns. what do you do for a living?
I'm a carpenter and Can't stand having a wallet in my pocket let alone a 45. Its in the 90s today and muggy.I like My smith air weight the best of any gun I've carried. I can sit down and move around at work and sometimes think I forgot it.
I have a northamerican arms 32.
its not as comfortable nor is the caliber. Had a colt mustang 380 the light weight model. nice gun. Sold it. I'm always back to my airweight. It does kick though. I have an sp101
sweet gun my next choice for leisure : ) carry. Problem is I was working on a retired gunsmiths house and he kept begging me to bring a gun for him to toy with. He had my sp101 for 2 days. (lucky me) He gave it back to me shiny as chrome. Don't even know what he did to it cause I Haven't shot it since. Its too pretty. 4 plus ps and a 357 last. Can't ask me I'll say revolver revolver revolver.

 

[MCgunner]

Of the guns you list that you own, the Rock Island 1911 is about the most concealable. I love the sub-compact 9s, but you can do a lot worse than a snubby .38. I have a Taurus M85UL that is SA/DA. I really like the Smith 642 (don't own one), affordable, and a great pocket revolver with concealed hammer, but you specify DA/SA capability. My little Taurus is 15 ounces, +P rated, a tough little gun with an awesome trigger and I can't beat the price I paid for it, under $300 out the door. It's an excellent, accurate, light, concealable little package in a service caliber.

You can't go wrong with a snub .38, regardless. You won't find any sub-compact 9s that are SA. The Glock comes close, 4 lb trigger with some creep. It's neither DA or SA. There are old Mustang Pocket Light Colts out there used, not cheap. .380 caliber doesn't impress me all that much, but the guns are very compact. In 1911s, I reckon my personal preference would run along the lightweight commander lines. The full size 1911 is so flat and thin it doesn't bulge, it just is too danged heavy. A lightweight commander takes some of the pork off it and in a good IWB, is very concealable. I gave up 1911s for lint, but they are still viable carry guns, just I prefer DA.

 

[MCgunner]

I was thinking about all this at work today.You guys that carry 45s and big guns. what do you do for a living?
I'm a carpenter and Can't stand having a wallet in my pocket let alone a 45. Its in the 90s today and muggy.I like My smith air weight the best of any gun I've carried. I can sit down and move around at work and sometimes think I forgot it.

I think you hit on an important point. I'm a mechanic and roll around under tractors and such a lot. IWB is a PITA. I pocket carry a light little DA 9mm subcompact (14 ounces unloaded) or a DA alloy revolver, the best compromise in my situation.

I think most of your big gun toters are probably white collar. It's easier to carry a big gun in a business suit. I work in jeans and T shirt and have permanently greasy finger nails.

 

[Glockman17366]

I carry a Taurus .38 revolver. IMHO, weight of the defensive handgun is a critical factor.
The Taurus has an aluminum frame and titanium cylinder. Total weight unloaded is about 13 oz. I carry this gun in my pocket (in a holster). I have other carry guns, but this one goes most often.

 

[spartacus2002]

Another vote here for 1911. I'm 5'10", 140lbs, what could politely be called "scrawny", and with a good IWB holster I can conceal a fullsize 1911 with ease because it is so flat.

 

[atlctyslkr]

the more i think about it the more i think that i need a small frame revolver in 357,

If you want a J-Frame .357 don't get an alloy. The recoil from the alloy models is punishing and can make followup shots difficult. Check out the S&W 649 in stainless. Easy to conceal, pleasure to shoot.

 

[kikr]

anything in .38spc, 9mm, .40 S&W, .45gap, .45ACP, .357mag, or 10mm that fits well in your hand, and is light enough that you dont mind carrying it for 18 hours straight.

Course, I have very paticular taste and will tell you to get a Glock 30, but thats not important.

 

[hpg]

The main thing is not to get in a hurry. Do some reasearch, ask questions, put a poll up on this website and ask people what they carry. hpg

Just tremember this, the bigger the gun, the harder it is to conceal. hpg

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Just tremember this, the bigger the gun, the harder it is to conceal.

Excess size is to be avoided, but some "big" guns conceal very well. The M1911, which is very flat, conceals better than a revolver in the same caliber.