What WON'T you carry and why?

[Speedo66]

Probably easier to say what I will carry, mostly that’s a pocket carry LCP. If I know I’m going someplace nasty, I’ll take a Glock 26.

No more duty rigs, so heavy is out, nothing with an external safety since I never trained with one.

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

For normal CCW I won't carry less than .38/9mm, preferably a semi-auto. If I'm hunting or woods bumming I may have a .22 or single action revolver and will just be prepared to make do with it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Good thing Kahr is out there.

The Kahr may more trigger stroke than typical, but it is still has a lighter pull-weight and is almost fully energized when in carry-mode. A DAO it is not.

It's really unfortunate that the excellent striker trigger system developed with the Walther P99AS didn't get appropriate fanboy promotion and receive the broad utilization it deserves.

 

[.38 Special]

I don't mind weight/bulk all that much, but barrel length is a deal killer for me. Anything more than 4" becomes unwieldy, and anything more than 5" just doesn't work for me, at least IWB.

I personally prefer .357 level power from a defensive gun. I could get by with a .40/9mm/etc. but would be pretty unhappy with anything less than that.

 

[JTQ]

Probably not a single action revolver because reloading, with my skills, would be too slow.

Probably not a striker fired gun, since I like to see the hammer, just for peace of mind.

 

[BreechFace]

The Kahr may more trigger stroke than typical, but it is still has a lighter pull-weight and is almost fully energized when in carry-mode. A DAO it is not.

It's really unfortunate that the excellent striker trigger system developed with the Walther P99AS didn't get appropriate fanboy promotion and receive the broad utilization it deserves.

Canik ripped it off and used it as well.

 

[LimaCharlie]

I won't carry many of my smaller caliber handguns as a primary, but will carry them as backup or "get off of me" guns.

 

[Bazoo]

I do carry what most would consider the worst choice. A single action revolver. I wouldn’t carry a hi point unless it’s all I had, mostly for shame reasons. Then I’d still rather have a nice knife.

I have carried, of what I can remember
Lcp
Smith 642
Smith 4006
Commander 1911
1911a1
Gp100 357
Ruger Blackhawk
Keltec pf9
Glock 22
Ruger p95
NAA mini 22 lr

I generally carried those, and when I came to the range, shoot them a mag or two. Then I shot my single six and my Blackhawk for a couple hours. So while I did shoot my carry guns, I enjoy and prefer a single action. So I said heck with it and just started carrying my single action. Sold all the others out of hardship or because the itch to trade needed scratching.

My reckoning is that, I’m not serious into training; I practice to be proficient with my draw and not fumbling and getting hits on targets; but I don’t go all in on training like some; I might as well carry what I like.

If I’m attacked by a single attacker and have plenty of time, any gun will suffice. And conversely if I’m attacked by multiple attackers with little time, gun choice likely won’t save me (since I don’t train to be a gunfighter) This is where my religious beliefs also comes into play, in the trust of my God to protect me though my journey in this world.

 

[Howland937]

I won't carry:
Anything I can't reasonably operate and adequately use one handed, with either hand.

Anything I can't conceal when wearing shorts and t-shirt.

Anything that hits the seat before my backside does.

Anything rimfire or in a centerfire caliber using bullets of less than .355 (listed) diameter.

 

[BreechFace]

I won't carry:
Anything I can't reasonably operate and adequately use one handed, with either hand.
Anything that hits the seat before my backside does.

Two great points that I would agree with.

 

[JoeHenry]

My carry pistols are a Sig P365 and a J frame revolver. If on a road trip I like the P365. If just heading out to the grocery store, more than likely I will put the J frame in my coat pocket. Now to answer the OP’s question, I will not carry anything that is heavy such as a 1911, Browning Hi Power or Beretta. Just to much bulk, size and weight weight.
I have a Beretta 92X compact (decocker only) that is accurate, reliable and just as slick as snot. The holster I have for it is stiff, bulky and a pain to wear especially when seated. I would like to carry that beretta but it’s on hold for a better holster.

 

[22250Rem]

.. Won't carry this one. Although it's probably better than nothing. Other than woods bumming & going to the range I rarely carry anything. When I do it's either a G19 0r a 4" S&W 686.

 

[JTQ]

I have a Beretta 92X compact (decocker only) that is accurate, reliable and just as slick as snot. The holster I have for it is stiff, bulky and a pain to wear especially when seated. I would like to carry that beretta but it’s on hold for a better holster.

My guess is that holster is probably at the higher end of holster comfort for a gun of that size.

 

[ms6852]

I carry a 686+ Smith and Wesson 3" barrel, before that I carried a full size 1911, won't carry anything larger than that because don't want to take someone's eye out.

 

[JR24]

Gotta be able to conceal it, so that rules out the long barrel revolvers.

Mostly, for me, it’s gotta be under 36 oz or so loaded, any more and my back starts to hurt a lot (more than normal). Figuring out the cause for the extra pain was key a year or so.

Oh, yeah I guess no .22 or 25 or whatever, but I don’t own any of those anyway.

 

[someguy2800]

Any pistol chambered in 22lr.

Any of my revolvers except occasionally my SP101. Too heavy and big for the capacity they offer and I don't train to shoot revolvers in double action enough to be proficient.

1911's. Also too big and too heavy, for 8 rounds and I have come to generally dislike pistols with manual safety's. I have a collection of Star pistols including a PD a BKS and a few BM's that I occasionally carry out of pure wimsey I guess, but I really don't have a use for true 1911's anymore.

If I do have a gun with a manual safety it needs to be easy for me to disengage and if its a striker fired gun unobtrusive enough for me to leave it off and stay off. I carry my SR9 and SR40 but I disengage the safety after putting them in the holster and they tend not to get engaged accidently because they are very slim. I have an LC9s and an LC9s pro, and I will not carry the non pro version because I can't comfortably manipulate the safety and the trigger mechanism doesn't need one anyway.

Any gun with a slide mounted decocker. It is a totally unnatural motion to me and feels like I am doing it backwards.

 

[Targa]

It has to be fairly comfortable to IWB carry and I have to be accurate with it, anything that doesn’t fit that bill is out for me.

 

[21H40]

I'm not interested in carrying revolvers - too much weight and width for such limited capacity.

I also have a Kel-Tec PMR that doesn't make the list. Capacity is awesome (30 rounds), very light weight, OK trigger, but 22 WMR is too unreliable.

 

[bearcreek]

I won't carry a muzzleloader..... unless it's the only thing available.

 

[Southerner up North]

None of my hunting pistols. All are scoped, two are single shot break opens and all have barrels 7" or longer. Neither of my 22's would make it either as long as I have other choices.

 

[Ethan Verity]

That's an easy one, my Pietta replica 1851 Navy revolver! It's a blast to shoot at the range, but the "why" I wouldn't carry it for self defense should be obvious.

#1. 6 shots, period. Reloading this in a defensive situation is NOT going to happen.
#2. 380ACP pocket pistol power, in a 357 Magnum size revolver.
#3. Not reliable, even with the well designed 'SliX Shot' nipples, the possibility of a cap jam malfunction is far too high.
#4. It's single action only.

 

[Simple Shooter]

Won’t carry my .36 cal. black powder dueling pistol. Except on September 19th. Arrrrr.

 

[mavracer]

Never say never, but usually won't carry less than less than 380 LCP Max or 38 LCR and seldom carry anything that weighs more than ~25 OZ.

 

[stanley_white]

In the context of defense against a criminal threat, I will not carry a pistol.

Pistols require a “Zone of Non-Interference” to work that revolvers do not.

In this context, in my area, if I can’t get it done with my J-Frame, then it is a KGB hit squad and nothing would have saved me.

-Stan

 

[Pat Riot]

I will not carry a gun that I do not trust and haven’t thoroughly tested. Other than that I won’t say what I won’t carry because that draws a line in the sand. Never say never. Karma’s a b****!
With my luck, if I say I won’t carry a .22 somehow some affliction will hit me that leaves only able to shoot a .22.