What WON'T you carry and why?

[RetiredUSNChief]

I have several handguns, not all something I'd consider carrying for defense.

For example, while I love my Colt SAA, and the .45 Colt would certainly be a great defensive round, it just ain't gonna cut it as a concealed carry. Too bulky for the way I prefer to carry (concealed, and IWB). Though it would elevate "pistol whipping" to great heights over a plastic-fantastic!

I also wouldn't carry my Beretta 92FS, with the other options I have. Significantly wider, not to mention the slide mounted safety/decocker isn't carry-friendly to me.

On the subject of handguns that I DON'T have, I wouldn't carry a pistol without a manual safety.


What personal or practical reasons do you have to NOT carry any particular handgun for self defense?

 

[north east redneck]

I don't carry my .22 because I have guns in .38 and .45.
I don't carry my single action revolvers because of their size and weight.

 

[.308 Norma]

For example, while I love my Colt SAA, and the .45 Colt would certainly be a great defensive round, it just ain't gonna cut it as a concealed carry. Too bulky for the way I prefer to carry (concealed, and IWB).

I won't carry my 45 Colt Ruger Blackhawk for the same reasons - too big and bulky. Besides, as much as I like single-action revolvers, if I had to defend myself, I'd probably be more efficient with several of my other handguns than I am with my Ruger Blackhawk.
I don't but would carry my Smith 1911 45 ACP if: first, I had the right holster so that I could carry it concealed, and second, if I didn't like my Glock G19 for concealed carry as much as I do.

 

[Old Dog]

I won't carry anything in other than 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP. More than 45 years of packing revolvers and pistols in these calibers, no reason to change.

I don't believe a manual safety is necessary on a carry pistol -- it's certainly not on a revolver, and I am entirely comfortable with a classic SIG P-series pistols or even a Glock, SIG P-320 series or S&W M&P without a manual safety, having extensive experience on all of these.

What personal or practical reasons do you have to NOT carry any particular handgun for self defense?

I think the .44 Magnum is not a great self-defense round -- in terms of being able to shoot accurately with quick follow-up shots -- and wouldn't consider carrying anything in this caliber. I'm not gonna carry anything I'm not willing to put in a lot of practice with, with the most effective rounds in the caliber, and I'm under no illusions that my arthritic wrist will hold up under repeated practice with full-house .44 Mags.

I won't carry anything under 9mm caliber. Have seen too many folks survive multiple hits with sub-optimum rounds, including one attempted suicide (.32 ACP in the head). I won't carry anything (concealed) with a barrel over 5" for practical reasons. Won't carry a revolver over the size of 4" K-frame (excepting my Colt Python which is kinda growing on me). But, frankly, won't normally carry a revolver unless I'm in my neighborhood or have a pistol (12+1) as back-up.

Slide-mounted safety levers, not gonna carry 'em. Nothing particularly against them, just better options.

Weight is not a particular issue for me, a good belt is all I need.

For years, I was wedded to the 1911 almost exclusively. Then, of course, the M9. Heavy DA trigger, so-so in SA. After the military, I discovered CZs (triggers not much better than Berettas), SIG P-series and finally got back into revolvers. For many years, I carried the 1911, then, as Pat Rogers noted, came a time to "put down the man gun" and went to a 9mm SIG. Post-mil, was issued the Glock 23, HK USP, S&W M&P for LE jobs. But, still mainly a 1911 or SIG guy.

My practical reasons are mostly all about the ergonomics. I've found that the 1911, the Beretta, the CZ-75 and SIG P-series pistols fit my hands precisely. I just like a precise grip angle and where my first trigger finger joint hits the trigger.

And I shoot pistols much more proficiently than revolvers, alas, even after more than 40 years of working on this.

While I use striker-fired pistols, I much prefer cocked-and-locked with a nice SA trigger. If I were still working, though, would stick with DA/SA, for "threat management" -- a smooth DA trigger first pull and a crisp SA second pull, like a SIG Legion series.

Of course, all this went out the window when I discovered the SIG P-365 XL with the flat trigger. Best of both worlds.

 

[hso]

Anything less than .380

 

[Col. Harrumph]

I won't carry a H&K P7. Mostly because I can't afford one.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Revolvers for me.......I want the higher capacity because an assailant will probably have high cap.Dont wanna be out gunned.

 

[mcb]

For concealed carry I won't carry a handgun that has a manual safety.

 

[JDeere]

I won't carry anything less than 9mm.
Why? because that is the bare minimum that I "personally" have faith in taking care of business if ever needed for self defense of the human species...

 

[StrawHat]

Interesting. Some won’t carry something without a manual safety, other won’t carry something with a manual safety.

That is why there are at least two horses in a race, everyone gets a choice!

Kevin

 

[CDW4ME]

No caliber less than 380 and 380 is only for when I can't do better (wearing gym shorts).
No revolvers excepting wearing the same gym shorts that cause me to carry 380 holstered in pocket, 38 snub in Smartcarry.
Excepting when wearing those gym shorts, overwhelming majority of the time my carry is 9mm minimum.
Why?
9mm has several bullet options that penetrate at least 12'' and consistently expand.
Smaller than a Sig 365 is disadvantageous to quick & accurate shooting; the LCP 380 kicks more than a 10mm Glock 20
Revolvers are out (with the gym shorts / Smartcarry exception) because 5-6 rounds is comparatively capacity deficient to 11+ of 9mm (Sig 365/Glock 26/48)
Rather than settle for "better than nothing" most of the time its more like "best I can do".
A Glock 19 size gun is not difficult to conceal, says somebody in FL living in shorts & thin shirt year round. I can see how work might be a factor, but I'm not encumbered by that.

 

[Armored farmer]

I learned long ago to 'never say never' , but none of my SA revolvers will be my edc as long as I have a better option.
The truth is, I am likely to choose an auto over any revolver. As bad as I hate it.

 

[DeepSouth]

I’d carry anything if it was all I had. I mean I occasionally carry a NAA mini revolver so my standards are fairly low.

I have a few with sentimental attachments that I wouldn’t carry as they may get lost, damaged, or something. Other than that I’d carry about anything under the right circumstances.

 

[PapaG]

My Super Blackhawk, 29-2 or Contender 30-30. Almost forgot the "why". Bad knee and I already walk a little lopsided.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

A Hi-Point, because of the bulk and the shame.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I won't carry my heavy revolver that I purchased as a hunting sidearm. I like and have small revolvers but prefer pistols for capacity. I'm a micro pistol fan for EDC because of their easy concealability. My current EDC is a CSX. The only firearm I'll carry without a safety has a long, heavy trigger pull.

 

[entropy]

About the only one of what I own that I won't carry is the 1860 Army my uncle built for my grandpa, in honor of my grandpa's grandpa, whom we are both named after. It sits in the case he also built for it.

 

[Varminterror]

I won’t carry anything common logic applied to a systemic risk assessment would deem irreconcilably inferior for the perceived risk profile to other available options.

Broadly applied, there are only a few specific items which I have found universally inapplicable (meaning universally inferior to available alternatives) for all risk scenarios I have ever assessed:

1) I’ll not carry a 22LR. Primer reliability is one aspect which affects all rimfires, but also poor performance. The heaviest evidence weighing in my calculus is the dozens of slugs I have recovered from raccoons hunted over hounds and trapped over my lifetime which mushroomed against the skulls of these animals, and further beyond, the ridiculously poor wound tracts and slow killing performance, even on such small game, proves the extrapolated expectation that human stopping efficacy is even poorer. Especially irrelevant in this calculus is the common mistaken proposal that the number of people killed by 22LR’s, accidentally or otherwise, suggests efficacy as a defensive stopper - but firsthand experience in ending thousands of lives with 22LR prove, while certainly a “killer,” it’s irrefutably not a “stopper.”

2) I’ll not carry a single action revolver. At worst, they’re slower to load, have unduly limited capacity for their physical size, are slower to fire, and require an additional manipulation which can be failed between “oh ****” and “bang” than do more favorable alternatives.

3) I’ll not carry a model with a manual safety selector. Again, purposefully avoiding additional manipulations under stress between “oh ****” and “bang.”

4) I’ll not carry ball ammo, for obvious poor efficacy.

5) I’ll not carry a firearm of excessive size such I can’t effectively dress around it within the common dress I would otherwise organically wear within applicable context. I’m not going to wear an overcoat when it’s 105*F just to cover an OWB Government size 1911. I’m sufficiently self-aware that I will leave my pistol behind before printing or partially exposing, so I concede to smaller options when common contextual dress so dictates.

6) I’ll not carry any model which a) has a reputation for unreliability, further, b) does not have a reputation for reliability, and c) has not proven its reliability individually in my own hands with the ammunition selected for the task.

 

[bannockburn]

I would not carry a SA revolver or anything less than a .38 Special in a DA revolver (with a 3" barrel or less). Not thrilled with striker fired semi-autos without some kind of safety, be it a safe action type like Glock's bladed trigger or else a manual thumb safety.

If it can be helped I would elect something less than a full size service semi-auto (i.e. compact or sub-compact preferred), along with being a 9mm., a .38 Super, or a .45 ACP. Minimum I go with semi-autos is a .380.

Anything too expensive or hard to come by.

My current CCW looks something like this nowadays:
New starters:



Very close on standby:



Veteran players:

 

[Charlie98]

Broadly applied, there are only a few specific items which I have found universally inapplicable

Varmit basically nailed it for me. To that I would emphasize...

3) I’ll not carry a model with a manual safety selector. Again, purposefully avoiding additional manipulations under stress between “oh ****” and “bang.”

In the very limited 'stress training' I've had, I've seen some crazy things. At the Moment of Truth, you are very likely not going to be in full control of your faculties... even as much as you think you will be, you won't. Something as simple as knocking off the safety can be troublesome.


To that end, even given the huge choice of firearms available out there, I carry one basic pistol 99.9% of the time... I don't switch around, I don't do 'Revolver Tuesday' or anything like that. I don't even switch holsters or carry position. I don't go to places where I can't carry unless I have to (...think hospitals, government buildings, etc.) I don't bury my piece under a bunch of clothes, or stuff it in my pocket. I also don't carry a pistol I can't handle well. I normally carry a Kahr CW9, but I have carried it's smaller brother, the CM9... which is basically identical but 1/2" less barrel, and one round short. Even given the similarities, I do NOT handle that pistol well from a draw... my hands are too big.... so the smaller pistol has been relegated to BOB or the truck console, and I just pack the slightly larger but far more easy to handle CW9.... because if you can't shoot it, why bother?

 

[GEM]

I can see reasons for carrying a 22 LR if my hand strength was gone. I can see carrying smaller guns due to dress or NPE restrictions. I probably would not carry in urban usage the bigger DA revolvers. For example, no reason to carry an SW Model 19 as compared to a Glock 19. If semis were banned, a 3 inch J frame fits me fine as a belt gun as in my 632 with 6 shots of 327 mag. I wouldn't carry a BP or SAA gun for EDC.

I might pocket carry Js or G42s.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I refuse to carry a typical trendy striker fired weapon without a full-weight, full-stroke trigger. In reality, my current preference is for platforms without energized firing systems, ruling-out "cocked & locked" in most cases. Even some of the partially cocked hammer-fired guns are problematic in my viewpoint. Yeah, there is not much on the current market that interests me. Luckily, most of what I need is already on-hand from 25 years of procurement. With regards to a military-style 1911, I will carry one unconcealed in a belt holster at Condition 3. Condition 1 would require a properly functioning Series-80 level platform.

 

[BreechFace]

1. Won't carry smaller than 9mm (caveat: Ruger LCP in 380 only when no other choice)
2. Won't carry a revolver (other than occasional woods carry), mainly due to my familiarity with semi's and I don't like the bulk of the cyclinder width, thin pistols carry way better IWB.
3. Won't carry guns with significant design changes, until market acceptance and penetration
4. Won't carry a gun with a manual safety, training is paramount and don't want anything between me and the sear letting loose except for a intentional trigger pull
5. Won't carry in a firearm carry rotation; 2-3 guns only with 1 gun being >90% of the time.
6. Won't carry a firearms that I cannot conceal, and is not comfortable in that concealment.
7. Won't carry a firearm that doesn't have good overlapping passive safeties to prevent unintentional discharges.

 

[BreechFace]

I refuse to carry a typical trendy striker fired weapon without a full-weight, full-stroke trigger. In reality, my current preference is for platforms without energized firing systems, ruling-out "cocked & locked" in most cases. Even some of the partially cocked hammer-fired guns are problematic in my viewpoint. Yeah, there is not much on the current market that interests me. Luckily, most of what I need is already on-hand from 25 years of procurement. With regards to a military-style 1911, I will carry one unconcealed in a belt holster at Condition 3. Condition 1 would require a properly functioning Series-80 level platform.

Good thing Kahr is out there. Albeit with a very small market share.

I'm perfectly comfortable down to a ~4-5# trigger on a striker with good passive safeties, lighter than that and I just say to myself just spend more time at the range and a 4-5# trigger is very easy to manage accuracy and proficiency.

When looking at pocket guns a full weight trigger is a must for me, which is why I chose to keep with my Ruger LCP over the LCP II when it came out. Never understood the need for a light trigger in a gun like the LCP, I'm not pulling that out unless I'm at bad breath distances or a simple fire to get to concealment. Where one thinks they need a light trigger in an LCP type gun is beyond me, but it's great that there is the choice.

 

[dh1633pm]

I don't carry very much. I carry when I go to the range or transport firearms for the most part. If concealed I use my Mossberg MC1. If not the CZ75 or the P227 get the nod.