What's Your Real CCW?/Mr. Colion Noir

[armoredman]

I would guess most of those people are, as you said, simply showing off their favorite/coolest/most expensive guns. I'm sure that there are some people carrying heavily customized, high end guns but I would imagine most of us "regular folk" are carrying compact or subcompact, low or mid cost, production guns.

I wouldn't know what to do with an ultra expensive "high end" gun, but it's all relative. My Phantom originally retailed for a great deal less than they are going now, and it made no bones about being what it was designed to be - a military duty capable sidearm, nothing more, nothing less. The price increase has everything to do with availability, (discontinued as of 2014), nothing to do with being made of Unobtainium. For me, $500 or so is as high as I could imagine going, due to my economic standing. For people who made better use of their college years, a SiG P-210 might be a causal carry gun, nothing special to be remarked upon.
For people who have had more than their share of hard luck, or are young and starting out, a Bersa Thunder .380 might be just out of reach. They might have a Hi Point in the desk drawer because it's all they can afford. I don't hold it against them.
But to reiterate, even though some here won't believe me, that really is my carry pistol, and it really does hide well. As for a Desert Eagle, yes, I knew a kitchen table FFl in California back in the late '80s who's CCW pistol was, in fact, a .357 DE, but worn in a shoulder rig. Gah.

 

[JTQ]

See forum member tmoore912 with his 1911 in this excellent series of pictures at post #29 in this thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=567867&highlight=tmoore912

 

[Hometeached1]

Warp:
Is that mag pouch IWB,OWB?

It's OWB. have thought about getting a IWB one though. Do you like yours? Like the way it looks. Here's what my carry set up looks like for each one. Glock 30sf on left, glock 19 on right.

 

[Sam Cade]

A gentle reminder to please limit the discussion to the OP's intended topic.

 

[Warp]

It's OWB. have thought about getting a IWB one though. Do you like yours? Like the way it looks. Here's what my carry set up looks like for each one. Glock 30sf on left, glock 19 on right.

I do. It carries very easily. The gun goes IWB behind my strong side hip and the spare mag goes IWB behind my support side hip. It isn't the quickest draw for the mag (an OWB op top holster up front is much faster) but it's there, so I'll take it.

The regular price is $40, which I think is worth it, but I wasn't sure until I tried it. I bought it on sale for 40% off.

http://www.comp-tac.com/product_info.php?products_id=135

 

[Ankeny]

I alternate between a Dan Wesson V-Bob and a customized LWT Colt Commander in .38 Lapua (SC). I have no idea why anyone would really care let alone be "bothered".

 

[Lucky Derby]

Work often requires that I go with only a J frame.
However, if work is not involved, I do carry a full size sidearm. These days it is most likely a Browning High Power or a full size 1911. But I do carry revolvers too. It is not uncommon to find me carrying a 4" N frame.
As to the $$$ issue, If I can afford to buy it, I am willing to carry it.

 

[pps]

Here is my carry gun 90% of the time. It's NOT pleasant to shoot, but I carry it a lot AND I shoot it every few months in order to stay proficient with the gun.

On my way to and from work, here is what I keep in my tablet case. It gets locked in the safe in my office, once I'm at work. The neighborhood my office is located, like all of California, has had a huge spike in violent crimes with 3 nearby businesses victimized by armed robberies. For walking around in the area, I do like having a full size gun on me:

 

[kneesus]

627 Peformance Center...haha j/k. Glock 33 with a "glock clip" for holster.

 

[WC145]

I have a fair amount of money into my carry guns but I prefer particular guns set up the way I like and sometimes you have to pay extra for that. I also shoot IDPA with my carry guns, so they're used not just holstered. My duty piece is a FNP45 Tactical with a Trijicon RMR02 on it, I've got close to $1500 into just the gun and sight. It gets worn everywhere and knocked around like anything other duty gun, I work on the coast and it's exposed to a salty environment all the time. My regular off duty gun is a Colt Commander that has been worked over by Novak's, I got a great deal on it at $1200 with a ton of extra mags and stuff from the previous owner who can't shoot anymore due to illness. My BUG is a custom S&W scandium frame snubby that has been rechambered to 9mm, I'm probably into it for $1100-$1200 total. It gets carried more than any of the others because I have it in my pocket pretty much every day. How expensive anything is to an individual, guns included, is different for everyone. What I consider reasonable might be outrageous to one person and sound cheap to another, it's all depends on what your used to, I guess.

Pictured below are my work guns - the FN, the 9mm S&W snubby, and a SIG 556. Close to $4k in that photo, not counting gear and accessories (got the SIG on sale!). Tax write offs.


Novak Colt Commander


This custom Colt compact sees plenty of carry time as well, just wore it for a week long trip to upstate NY for my son's wedding. I don't worry about the finish, if it gets scratched or too worn it can be repolished and reblued.

 

[decoy562]

I carry either an LCP ($269) or Beretta Nano ($339). Neither are expensive or big, but reliable.

 

[TestPilot]

MANY people do indeed carry full size guns for concealed carry, although they may not be the majority.

I concealed carried full size guns on a daily basis for many years. I carried Glock 22 and now M&P40.

There are very different type of groups regarding how they choose a concealed carry pistol.

One group make their decision based on "The point is that I just have 'a gun' on me, and I would not carry it if it generates any discomfort."

One group make their decision based on "If I happen to be in a gun fight right now, and I am limited to a pistol, what pistol do I want in my hand?" M&P40 is the answer to that questio for me, and that is what I carry.

 

[JohnKSa]

Most often I carry a Kahr CW9 in an El Paso Saddlery Summer Cruiser. At times I carry a Walther PPK when I can't manage the CW9 due to manner of dress.

 

[horsemen61]

Well I was carrying my Xds alot but now I'm back to my LCR

 

[chadster01]

My carry choice is G19 OR OCCASIONALLY MY GEN2 G21... O YEAH AND MY "BUCK" KNIFE

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I carry everyday , usually it is a glock 30 sf in .45 acp , mostly in a Crossbreed super tuck holster , but sometimes in a "Sticky Holster" either in the waistband or in a pocket ! . It may be that some of these folks live in open carry states and carry larger frame guns because they don't need to conceal them ? Kevin

 

[MarshallDodge]

99% of the time I carry an H&K P30, which is slightly larger than a Glock 19, in a Dale Fricke Archangel or CCC Shaggy appendix holster. I have a 30" waist and with an untucked shirt it hides pretty easily.

If I have to go small then I go with a Kahr K9.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

That's close to what I usually carry; I generally run with an HK P30S, either IWB in a Garrett Silent Thunder or OWB in my Red Nichols Sirocco. Personally I can't imagine why a person would spend big money on high end fighting handguns and then leave them at home! I like to carry a full sized HK most of the time (either a USP or the P30S) and a spare mag on the weak side. They're not cheap but if I ever need to use a sidearm to defend myself I hope it's on a day that I'm carrying a "real gun." That's one good thing about winter...it's pretty easy to conceal just about any handgun I own! I may even add my USP45 Tactical to the rotation once I get a holster that fits it.

In the interest of full disclosure, there are times when I carry a Beretta Nano instead. This is only when I carry somewhere that I absolutely can't risk being "made". Basically this means the local multiplex; they're posted "no firearms", and while that is meaningless under the law in SD I would probably be asked to leave if the staff noticed my gun. In the summer this means I often have to wear my Nano with the flush mag and an 8-rounder on the weak side. Thankfully it's 10F right now, everyone is bundled up pretty well. I could probably almost carry my 870 Remington under my winter coat!

 

[rockhopper46038]

My every day carry weapon is a Bill Wilson Carry pistol, which is a 4" 1911 with an Officer's grip. I'm accurate with it, and it carries well for me in an Occidental IWB holster. Sometimes I carry a full sized Wilson CQBE. I know they are expensive. I'm glad I can afford to carry them. I consider myself fortunate. But they are what I train with, they're what I use for "pistol games", they're what I'm most confident and adept at shooting. They get dinged up sometimes. What are you going to do? :shrug:

 

[mljdeckard]

I just did a CCW class, where I explained yet again, how I carry full-size guns, and anyone who says it is impossible is making excuses for being unwilling to adjust their wardrobe or buy better gear to make it work. OF COURSE you can carry full-size guns. I think there is a concerted effort in the gun media to tell you it's impossible.......to get you to buy more guns.

As for expensive, well, if a tool saves your life once, what is it worth? Use what works for you. It can be a used G-19. It can also be a Nighthawk 1911. When you have to fight with it, you won't wish you had spent LESS.

 

[peacemaker45]

That's my primary these days. It's a Colt LW Commander, in .38 Super.

I carry a 1911 because I compete with a 1911. Trying to stay current on more than one platform would dilute the already too small amount of training and practice I can get.

I carry a Colt because it works. I've messed with several low priced 1911s, and have come to the conclusion that it's a design that doesn't respond well to cost cutting. Some do work, some work fine until something breaks, and some don't work at all. An extra few hundred dollars is well worth it, for the extra peace of mind.

I carry a lightweight because if 1911s have a vice, it's that they're heavy. This isn't.

I carry a sub-caliber because my strong hand was injured some time ago. When I made the switch to carrying and shooting on the weak side, it really was weak, and a lightweight .45 was obnoxious.

I carry a .38 Super specifically because it's the least trouble prone of the sub-calibers in the 1911 action. It's the right length, unlike the 9 and 40.

I carry a Commander length gun because the Government has a tendency to pinch my hind end when I sit on one.

So, are there cheaper guns around? Sure. But I had a lot of other factors on my list, and paid what it cost to satisfy them.

If I were to switch competition platforms, though, and start shooting a Glock or CZ, or the like, then I'd change carry guns to match. Right now, though, the 1911 is more fun.

 

[rockhopper46038]

That's my primary these days. It's a Colt LW Commander, in .38 Super.

I carry a 1911 because I compete with a 1911. Trying to stay current on more than one platform would dilute the already too small amount of training and practice I can get.

I carry a Colt because it works. I've messed with several low priced 1911s, and have come to the conclusion that it's a design that doesn't respond well to cost cutting. Some do work, some work fine until something breaks, and some don't work at all. An extra few hundred dollars is well worth it, for the extra peace of mind.

I carry a lightweight because if 1911s have a vice, it's that they're heavy. This isn't.

I carry a sub-caliber because my strong hand was injured some time ago. When I made the switch to carrying and shooting on the weak side, it really was weak, and a lightweight .45 was obnoxious.

I carry a .38 Super specifically because it's the least trouble prone of the sub-calibers in the 1911 action. It's the right length, unlike the 9 and 40.

I carry a Commander length gun because the Government has a tendency to pinch my hind end when I sit on one.

So, are there cheaper guns around? Sure. But I had a lot of other factors on my list, and paid what it cost to satisfy them.

If I were to switch competition platforms, though, and start shooting a Glock or CZ, or the like, then I'd change carry guns to match. Right now, though, the 1911 is more fun.

Ever consider putting a 9x23 Win barrel in that Commander? I have been giving serious thought to having one built. All the capacity of the 9mm/38 Super with the energy of a .357 Magnum; and in a rimless cartridge of the right length...

 

[peacemaker45]

Ever consider putting a 9x23 Win barrel in that Commander? I have been giving serious thought to having one built. All the capacity of the 9mm/38 Super with the energy of a .357 Magnum; and in a rimless cartridge of the right length...

Not really. To me, the Super isn't about extra power. It doesn't really do anything the 9x19 (especially the +p+ flavors) doesn't, except feed in a 1911. Also, I'm not sure that what an alloy frame needs is more power beating on it.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea, or that you shouldn't do it, just that it doesn't do anything I need done, except help spend money. And I've got all the help I need on that score.

 

[skoro]

What's Your Real CCW?

Most often, a KelTec. Other times a S&W 642 or a SA XDs. Relatively low cost, generic firearms that wouldn't cause me undue concern if they were confiscated for investigation following their use in a SD situation.

 

[montanaoffroader]

Currently, my EDC is a Kel Tec PF9. In the winter I sometimes carry a Colt King Cobra, and I have a couple of other smaller handguns that are occasionally carried.

None of them are really collector pieces, the most expensive one (PF9) cost me $300.