What WON'T you carry and why?

Old Dog said:
... Gun folks, sheesh. We are certainly a community of people with strong opinions.
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And I refuse to allow your FACTS to alter my OPINION. Any so-called facts that don't fit my currently held beliefs are "fake facts" and will not be accepted!
:rofl::rofl:

Seriously, what's wrong with striker fired platforms? Maybe I'm not being picky enough o_O
 
Here's the first one of these: I will not not carry a Glock. They're fine. I don't love them, but they go bang and I would carry my 43 or 26, NP.
 
Regarding a manual safety lever, on handguns, I am comfortable with some few handguns that have manual thumb-actuated safety levers. If the thumb safety is not located so that my thumb WILL “find” it, reliably, that handgun is an absolute no-go. A true 1911 safety is good for me, even if it is the old-school GI size. The tiny, miniaturized, make-believe 1911 pistols have safety levers that my thumb will not reliably find, so, the Colt Govt .380, the Colt Mustang, and the various Kimber and SIG derivatives are not for me. Plenty of other good pistols have safety levers that simply do not work, for me. Obviously, we all have varying sizes and shapes of thumbs, so, I am only saying what works, and does not work, for me.

I do not use pistols that have fully-cocked/energized strikers, and light triggers. To me, that is Condition Zero, the equivalent of carrying a 1911 cocked and UN-locked, except that a 1911 has a grip safety, so, is safer than most light-trigger pistols with fully-cocked strikers. I formed my original handgunning skills around the 1911, so, am OK with Condition One carry, especially with a grip safety.

The one brand that I will not own, or carry, is Kimber. Three up, three down, each with multiple problems. Kimber is out. If I will not spend money on another Kimber, I cannot carry a Kimber.

I may post another reply, later, with more thoughts. Time to tend to the fur-people.
 
1- revolvers: limited capacity, fatter size due to the cylinder, double action trigger that doesn't help speed or accuracy 2- DA autos. I want every shot to fire off of the same trigger input, whether it is the first shot, second shot, 15th shot, etc., plus the added required step of decocking before re-holstering. So that leaves striker fired autos like the Glock or M&P, or a 1911.
 
I differentiate between what I prefer not to carry and what I will not carry. I prefer not to carry a revolver, a semiauto with a thumb safety or decocker, or anything smaller than 9mm (though I currently have .380s under review). I will not carry a semiauto with a thumb safety that goes up to fire. I've spent too much time with pistols that have down-to-fire thumb safeties, or no thumb safety at all.
 
SterlingBullet said:
For some older folks who have arthritis and joint damage in their fingers, it is impossible to squeeze a trigger with a very heavy trigger pull. 1911s are much easier but there is a compromise with carry condition if safety is very important.
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I agree that the 1911 is a good pistol for some folks with aging hands, including mine*. The short-stroke trigger is not difficult to manage, the thumb safety is within reach of most thumbs, and is easy to manage. (I have relatively short thumbs.) Steel damps recoil. The relatively low bore axis minimizes muzzle flip. The original chambering, .45 ACP, has a gentle acceleration curve, which makes the rise of the muzzle nicely gradual, compared to some other auto-pistol cartridges. Should weakened hands fumble and drop the pistol, well, the grip safety was designed with cavalry troops in mind, as a drop safety.

I do not see how safety is “compromised,” with a properly-assembled, properly-maintained 1911, unless, of course, the user, himself/herself, is unsafe. The Colt Series 80 safety system can assuage worries about drop safety. If I just had to drop a handgun, I might rather it be a Series 80 Colt 1911, than any weapon on the planet.

To be clear, I am not trying to be argumentative, or trying to pick a fight. :) I just do not want anyone to be too quick to dismiss the usefulness, or the safety, of a 1911.

*After a pause of nearly a decade, I resumed carrying a 1911, at age 50, during personal time. My duty SIG P229 had to be chambered for the .40 S&W, per PD policy, but, I could carry a kinder, gentler pistol during personal time, as “Arthur Itis” because a constant companion. I have mostly been carrying long-stroke DA revolvers, in retirement, but, at age 61, am already feeling weakening of my trigger-pulling muscles, especially in my right hand, which cannot be maintained by “working out.” So, I am maintaining my 1911 skills.
 
I would have to say no 22lr or 25 acp. Because of the small and reliable auto loaders like the LCP and others in 380acp. I have never owned a 32 so I will not say yes or no, but with the small size of the 380 I think changing to a 32 would be recoil driven decision. I have arthritis, the day may come that I can't shoot higher recoiling guns.

On the other end the big boys 454, 460, 500. I look at these cartridges best fitting in hunting handguns. In Alaska were there are lots of Big Bears I would carry a 44mag, 41mag or 10mm. I would prefer a lever action 45/70 over a handgun for that role.

Action type: I would leave out single action revolvers only because of the single hand fast follow up shots from a double action revolvers.
 
I do not normally carry but if I did, it would be something like a 357 SIG.
What I would be reluctant to carry is a Derringer looking pistol. I would be afraid to an accidental discharge due to the small size and the lack of trigger guard, and safety!
But if a Derringer was the only choice, I guess I would!

Keep shooting, keep 'em tight! ;)
 
Rexster said:
I agree that the 1911 is a good pistol for some folks with aging hands, including mine*. The short-stroke trigger is not difficult to manage, the thumb safety is within reach of most thumbs, and is easy to manage. (I have relatively short thumbs.) Steel damps recoil. The relatively low bore axis minimizes muzzle flip. The original chambering, .45 ACP, has a gentle acceleration curve, which makes the rise of the muzzle nicely gradual, compared to some other auto-pistol cartridges. Should weakened hands fumble and drop the pistol, well, the grip safety was designed with cavalry troops in mind, as a drop safety.

I do not see how safety is “compromised,” with a properly-assembled, properly-maintained 1911, unless, of course, the user, himself/herself, is unsafe. The Colt Series 80 safety system can assuage worries about drop safety. If I just had to drop a handgun, I might rather it be a Series 80 Colt 1911, than any weapon on the planet.

To be clear, I am not trying to be argumentative, or trying to pick a fight. :) I just do not want anyone to be too quick to dismiss the usefulness, or the safety, of a 1911.

*After a pause of nearly a decade, I resumed carrying a 1911, at age 50, during personal time. My duty SIG P229 had to be chambered for the .40 S&W, per PD policy, but, I could carry a kinder, gentler pistol during personal time, as “Arthur Itis” because a constant companion. I have mostly been carrying long-stroke DA revolvers, in retirement, but, at age 61, am already feeling weakening of my trigger-pulling muscles, especially in my right hand, which cannot be maintained by “working out.” So, I am maintaining my 1911 skills.
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Sir,
I like your post.
At some point or another in our lives, we have to contend with some kind of injure/disability that prevent us from doing what "We used to do".
I am down that road with some finger issues, and I have to adapt to my predicament by training as much as possible.
I did carry a GI 1911 for some time, long ago, and it was not an issue. In fact, I am looking to purchase a GI 1911 from CMP, but not as a trophy. I want to shoot it, and maybe carry it as well.
 
Varminterror said:
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.
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To add to your #1: I know of a guy (I used to work at his car repair shop) who was shot in the head with a 38 Special (near the hairline), and he did not even flinch as he proceeded to punch the shooter, according to his "friends". This guy went on to party all night, and he went to the hospital around 6 in the morning just because he had a headache!
The slug was removed during surgery. I do not know type of ammo or anything else, but...
 
I am not uncomfortable with a 1911. When I'm going to shoot it, I dry fire quite a bit before a match to strengthen the safety manipulation. I do note that taking off the safety under stress does happen and is more likely if you are shooting from an unusual position. That is because the motor program for safety manipulation is programmed from a standing start draw. Seen this in sitting starts and when the shooter starts with gun on a table or in a box.

Sadly, my 1911 Sc SW commander is back in the shop as something went off. Won't hold a mag. It's a 2005 gun so something broke after long usage. SW has it.

I don't see the need for safety on the standard polymer G19 ish guns. I've shot them since the 90's and have pretty good trigger discipline (of course, famous last words). However, if in a life and death situation, I don't need the complication. I sometimes carry a DA revolver and the only difference is trigger weight. Studies show that gips, trips, sympathetic movements, etc. overcomes the standard DA weight anyway.
 
Before we had concealed carry licenses I would occasionally carry a Beretta 950 (.25 caliber) in certain sections of town. Not anymore. We now have permitless concealed carry and the smallest I will carry is a .380. I have often carried .45 1911s, usually Commander or CCO sized and sometimes a three inch barreled .357 revolver
 
Gun’s I won’t carry.


Any semiauto less potent than 9mm or open carried revolver with less than 38 special+p.

Any Taurus guns (bad experiences).

Any gun in appendix carry (I feel it's violating one of the basic safety rules of firearms.

Any gun in a populated area I can’t conceal with my current clothing choices. It's no one's business what I do or don't have on me, and I have no interest in drawing attention, unless I'm critically injured and need help.

Any full-size gun I can’t carry in the bush with a good field holster, meaning on the hip, and an appropriate height (low for me), with a thumb strap or cover for retention. This is about holster avaialbilty more than the gun.

Any gun with a big electro sight optic. I know they work well but I don’t care. Too bulky.

Any revolver concealed. I don't like the capacity or bulk any more.

Any j frame or LCR. Ruger SP101 is the minimum revolver size for me these days.

Any Glock. Mostly because I'm sick of the "Just get a Glock crowd." There's too many good options for me to carry a gun I don't find comfortable in the hand.

Any derringer. Owned one. Not really a good choice given the options.
 
460Shooter said:
Gun’s I won’t carry.


Any semiauto less potent than 9mm or open carried revolver with less than 38 special+p.

Any Taurus guns (bad experiences).

Any gun in appendix carry (I feel it's violating one of the basic safety rules of firearms.

Any gun in a populated area I can’t conceal with my current clothing choices. It's no one's business what I do or don't have on me, and I have no interest in drawing attention, unless I'm critically injured and need help.

Any full-size gun I can’t carry in the bush with a good field holster, meaning on the hip, and an appropriate height (low for me), with a thumb strap or cover for retention. This is about holster avaialbilty more than the gun.

Any gun with a big electro sight optic. I know they work well but I don’t care. Too bulky.

Any revolver concealed. I don't like the capacity or bulk any more.

Any j frame or LCR. Ruger SP101 is the minimum revolver size for me these days.

Any Glock. Mostly because I'm sick of the "Just get a Glock crowd." There's too many good options for me to carry a gun I don't find comfortable in the hand.

Any derringer. Owned one. Not really a good choice given the options.
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I don't agree with all of your comments, but totally respect your reasoning. :thumbup:
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
What personal or practical reasons do you have to NOT carry any particular handgun for self defense?
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there are plenty of guns that I would prefer to not carry. They include any derringer, pepperbox. cap and ball, pistol, flintlock, pin fire, single action revolver, AR pistol, rimfire...
 
460Shooter said:
Yep , no one is expected to agree. It's just where I've landed after, I dunno...... 14 years of carrying.

Hell some days I am just carrying a big knife. My lifestyle is pretty low risk now.
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I often question appendix carry. I don't like the idea of pointing a gun at my junk. It just doesn't seem comfortable either. Of course my six pack abs are more like a twelve pack from drinking to many cases.

I do pocket carry that is why a j frame works for me. Some people would disagree with pocket carry. I love the comfortable option.
 
Only handgun currently in my inventory I will not carry is a commemorative 1911. Para did a wonderful job engraving it for us before being bought by Remington. Anything else is fair game for time in my holster. Just tonight I loaded up my PPQ45 with Gold dots and took it to dinner with the Mrs. Haven't fired it but I trust my Walthers that much. Unlike...Glocks. Which I seem to have unheard of problems with whenever they are in my hand.

There are plenty of models and brands I won't carry just because I don't trust them. But I don't feel like writing a book for a forum post.
 
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