What to carry?

[azhunter122]

Hello,

I have looked through all of my guns for my best shooters and ones that I think would be good CC combos. I like them equally for different reasons and here's the list:

Kimber Pro Carry II
Bersa .380
Taurus 85UL
Glock 22

The gun must be easy concealed so holster suggestions would be awsome.

Thanks very much for the support and for answering all of my gun related questions, everyone here is great!

 

[bgeddes]

Depends, I carry a Commander size 1911 in the winter when sweatshirts and bulky clothes are normal attire. Next gun is the Snub Nose .38spc, small and light and not difficult to conceal at all. In the worse conditions, I carry a Ruger LCP. I can hide it in any clothing, but it doesn't give me the same warm feeling as a .38 or .45 cal.

 

[azhunter122]

BUMP

 

[AK103K]

Carry what you shoot best. Unless all you wear is a Speedo, size is irrelevant. Wear a good belt and holster (IWB is the most concealable), and you can easily hide just about anything with appropriate clothing.

.

 

[orionengnr]

Unless all you wear is a Speedo, size is irrelevant.

Patently untrue, and incredibly short-sighted.

Clothing, prevailing temps, age, physical limitations, etc, will all have input.

I would love to carry a full-size 1911 every day. The fact that I have had two spine operations in the last three years seriously impacts my choice of every day carry.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Many say you should dress around what you carry. I think that's true to some extent but I would always agree. I pocket carry a J frame revolver because it suits my needs best. I think you should carry what you shoot well and feel comfortable carrying. It also depends on why you carry. If you live in a place where crime is rare a 5 shot revolver is fine. If you are forced to go places you wouldn't normally go because of a job or other reasons where you might encounter multiple bad guys a 5 shot revolver might not be the best choice. In that case the Kimber or Glock would probably be better choices and possible the Taurus as a BUG.

Picking a carry handgun is a very personal choice. It's very hard to tell someone what would be best for them, only what works for me.

Good luck choosing...

 

[Rockwell1]

What is your normal style of dress ?

Will you be carrying at work?

Must the weapon remain absolutely concealed?

All these are relevant to your question.

Where I live (high altitude) I can get by with a light jacket or sweater 10 months a year, at least in the evenings . I doubt you have that option in Arizona.

 

[owlhoot]

Having carried a gun for better than fifty years with about forty of those years being in the line of duty with one outfit or another, it has been my observation that a civilian who carries a gun in public will either need it in a great hurry or he will not need it at all. Consequently, I would think that the first question should be which gun can be carried and concealed in such a manner that I can access it quickly enough to get off an accurate shot in no more than a couple of seconds. Remember that the opposition will already have a weapon in hand in most cases before you are justified in presenting a weapon. That doesn't leave you a lot of time.

 

[AK103K]

Patently untrue, and incredibly short-sighted.

Clothing, prevailing temps, age, physical limitations, etc, will all have input.

I would love to carry a full-size 1911 every day. The fact that I have had two spine operations in the last three years seriously impacts my choice of every day carry.

Alright, I'll give you the injury, but the rest holds out.

I've carried a full size handgun and a double reload every day for the past 30+ years with no troubles, and still do. These days I also usually carry a BUG too. I dont sit in an office, or spend the day riding in a car, my job is a physical one, outside, for the most part, all year round. Temps range from 0 to 100*, and PA is a humid place in the summer. I've always got by with an untucked oxford type shirt over a tee shirt in the summer, a sweatshirt or fleece on cooler days, and a windbreaker over the fleece in the winter, and never had a problem keeping a full sized gun out of sight.

I've carried a Commander and a double reload in belly bands and undershirt holsters under a tucked in oxford shirt in an office environment too, so it isnt just possible where the dress code is lighter or non existent.

When people tell me they cant conceal a full size gun, what they are saying is, they dont want to. With proper dress and attitude, you can pretty much carry anything, all day long, without to much trouble. You do have to want to carry the gun to pull it off, and if you do want to carry it, you'll figure out a way. The nice thing these days is, theres a lot more options available to you than there has been in the past.

 

[searcher451]

Carry the one that shoots the best, that fits your hand the best, that conceals on your person the best. In short, only you can determine what gun you'll be able to carry effectively; you can't leave an important decision like that to the winds of fate or the opinions of internet browsers, however well-meaning. Take your time, do your homework, visit the range (more than once), ask yourself the right questions, and then come up with a decision that is based on reality as it applies specifically to you and not the thinking of others.

 

[jimk0512]

You asked about holster choices. Your Taurus 85UL and Bersa .380 can be carried in a pocket holster. I like the leather holsters from K&D Holsters http://www.kdholsters.com/products.php - their Pocket Defender will work for the Taurus and Bersa. I have their back pocket holster (Pocket Defender Convertiable 2-in-1) for a Kel-Tec, and carry it all the time.

Your Glock 22 and Kimber Pro Carry II are IMO too big for pocket carry, and would be better carried inside the waistband (IWB). CrossBreed Holsters http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/index.html makes a fine IWB holster.

There are lots of carry methods, and even more manufacturers of holsters. The last time I was in Arizona, it was really hot. Pick something you can conceal under the clothing you will need to be wearing. Here in New Mexico, in the summer civilians wear shorts. Someone wearing two shirts (using one for a cover garment) would stand out. And also be sweating a lot. Since I am not a police officer, and not required by law to apprehend criminals, I carry a pocket pistol, and dress like all the other local civilians.

I suggest taking a concealed carry class from a civilian instructor that your local gun club recommends. You should get good advice on concealed carry for civilians from your instructor.

 

[mbt2001]

I say Bersa...

But any would be good.