Why Don't People?

[InkEd]

Why don't people want to use/carry their "good guns" for situations when they might truly need them for something?

In other words, that alot of people don't want to carry their "better guns" instead of a gun that is "just okay" to defend their lives? For example, a person is a 1911 fan and owns two 1911s. Let's say one is a Springfield Loaded and the other is a RIA base model. Why heck would a person not opt to carry the better gun over the other one?

I would understand if the choice was between a heirloom quality factory engraved BBQ gun and a stock from the box gun BUT that's usually not the situation. I just can't figure it out. It's like saying you going to use your 2004 F-150 for work instead of your 2006 Silverado. Both are good trucks BUT neither is so awesome that you should worry about using it for intended purpose.

 

[BIGBANG]

that a good question! I carry all my handguns, each has their purpose, MY ruger gp100 is my woods gun, My 1911 is an American Classic 2, I carry it when I dress Up a little, and my ruger sr9c i carry when I'm just goin around town. My dad is different though he has a real nice kimber and instead of carrying it he went out and bought another cheaper less attractive one to carry.

 

[medalguy]

If you are ever involved in any kind of confrontation or shooting resulting in a police investigation, your firearm will most likely be seized as evidence and too often the officer will scratch an ID number on the gun, it will be fired by various people (sometimes surreptitiously), never wiped down or cleaned, and you may not see that firearm again for years, especially if any criminal charges result against anyone involved. Why subject a fine valuable firearm to this abuse?

 

[hso]

It is unlikely that anyone will "scratch an ID number" on the gun since it damages private property that is presumably going to be returned to the owner, especially when evidence boxes/tags are so common. Negligence resulting in damage, sure, vandalism, no.

Using your example, if both the 1911's performed equally well it wouldn't be unreasonable to carry the utilitarian looking model and keep the other as a "barbecue gun".
I'll carry my P12 far more than my 70 Series Nickel Colt Commander, but they both function equally well for defensive purposes.

If one firearm performs better for defensive shooting it is unreasonable to bet your life on an inferior weapon.

 

[tbutera2112]

why risk losing your good gun to the police if you DO need to use it


thats not saying go get a hi-point or something for self defense, but theres no need to use your most valuable gun

if i have an expensive custom 1911 and a regular police trade in glock that i paid $300 for - you bet i would be carrying the glock...wont matter if the police seize it, and i know it is reliable enough to protect my life if the situation arises.

get a good reliable gun for concealed carry - it doesnt have to be anything special, as long as its going to do its job when you need it.

i would feel just as safe carrying a $300 police trade in glock as i would my $1000 HK, so it would make sense for me to carry the less valuable one, since both are going to do the job and i wouldnt risk losing my good gun if a situation came up where i had to use it


ftr - i carry my HK anyways, because ive done a lot of work to it to get it setup just how i like for carry.....while i DO choose to carry my good gun, i certainly see the argument for NOT carrying it

 

[CraigC]

I'll use the best tool for the job. Period. Whiles odds are EXTREMELY unlikely, if I ever am involved in a shooting, the police scratching up my roscoe will be the absolute very least of my concerns.

 

[Ala Dan]

Well, I will try to field your question~! First of all in my case, a prime example
would be that my S&W 3.5" model 27-2 is way too large to carry concealed.
Another example would be, say you were carrying your most prized ( or most
expensive) handgun while out and about, a perp "gets the drop on you" and
robs you of all your belongings [including said firearm]. There goes your only
hope of safety and security; the perp has your valuables, your firearm, and
your security. That is why I choose to carry a $1000 Kimber; instead of my
$2000 Les Baer TRS~! Hope you understand where I'm coming from in both
of these scenario's~!

Continuing- I do practice with, and trust my carry piece - a Kimber Stainless
Ultra Carry II.

 

[Mike1234567]

I don't have very many handguns and none are pricey nor do any have collector value so the choice is simple for me.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Why don't people want to use/carry their "good guns" for situations when they might truly need them for something?

Who does this? Anyone who does, however, has their priorities wrong, IMO.

 

[kamagong]

People have different priorities.

Personally I have a Les Baer Concept II for my bedside gun. Some people might question my use of such an expensive firearm, but the simple fact is that I shoot this particular gun best. It's a no-brainer to me to use this pistol for serious purposes.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I figure if the gun serves me well in a defense shooting then it has paid for itself. If I get the gun back, good, if I don't get it back, that's OK to. The gun did it's job and I'm still alive. It was a bargain.


So I carry whatever gun I think will do the best job and give little thought about what it costs.

 

[harrygunner]

I carry 1911's that cost a couple of grand each. I stick with one of them unless I'm doing something very different, like going to the woods.

In a similar vein, I can't figure out why some will "throw a mouse gun in their pocket for a quick run to the store". That's not their "best gun". They'll have a decent service caliber gun they've trained with and trust, yet abandon it.

We don't have knowledge beforehand of when we might need to defend ourselves. If we did, we wouldn't go. But, somehow some think a "quick run" is different from every other situation we prepare for.

 

[TwoWheelFiend]

That is a good question. I think if people spend a lot of money on a sidearm they want to keep it nice instead of inducing all the wear that carrying it causes. I carry my Kimber Ultra Carry II everywhere. It is a tool that I use and I accept the fact it will not stay perfect forever. So far so good but that can only last so long.

 

[EmbarkChief]

I carry what I shoot best, that happens to be my Ed Brown. Honestly I would carry this pistol even if it was fully engraved with gold inlay and ivory grips. Very simply put I carry to cover my ass, and IMOP my well being is priceless. So regardless of what my pistol cost me it's miniscule compared to my life. I've been packing my Brown DAILY for about 5 years now, there are some pretty good nicks in the Alumagrips and the rear sight. The bead blast finish is polished to a mirror shine in some places from holster wear even though it was bead blasted fresh a little over a year ago. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

 

[youngda9]

My guns are tools for fun and protection...they all get used.

 

[tyeo098]

If it goes bang who cares?

 

[Standing Wolf]

My good pistols are blued, and therefore carried less frequently. My carry guns are their mechanically their equals, but made of ordinary stainless steel.

 

[dannyr3_8]

medal guy nailed it i wouldn't want to shoot someone with my fav gun and not see it again for years

 

[3KillerBs]

From the perspective of a short, overweight woman with generous curves who wears skirts rather than pants its not the weight -- I prefer steel guns to polymer -- its the size.

I was carrying a Taurus Slim, which I liked very well, in a fanny pack until I busted the zippers on two packs in less than 2 years. I now have an MPA Protector .380 in a belly band around my ribs. Should I continue to lose weight or if I can turn the belly band's spare magazine holster into a horizontal holster, I may be able to put the Slim there but for now I can only carry what I can conceal.

I could lose the Slim in some clothing, but fans of The Cornered Cat will recognize the $64,000 question and I refuse to conceal my gun under a maternity tent unless I'm actually pregnant.

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Yeah, probably because the police take it away from you.... but don't you get it back? And personally I like mouse guns, they are cool.

 

[buck460XVR]

I'll use the best tool for the job. Period. Whiles odds are EXTREMELY unlikely, if I ever am involved in a shooting, the police scratching up my roscoe will be the absolute very least of my concerns.

Same here. I ain't got any gun that's worth more than my life.

 

[oldbear]

I ain't got any gun that's worth more than my life.

Buck460 Thanks, that's the best response yet.

I will carry any of my revolvers as conditions dictate, the right tool for the right job, sorta thing, yet as my handgun tastes tend to run to 4" K,L, & N frame guns this somewhat limits what I carry and when.

Lastly my one "high end" revolver is a 6" M-27 which is not exactly a CCW weapon.

As for police marking guns, were were expected to remove grips and etch our I.D. number and date on any firearms that we place into evidence.

 

[double bogey]

My favorite centerfire is a Colt Concealed Carry Officers. But I mostly carry a Glock 23. Reasons: Glock is cheaper to replace if it becomes separated, Glock has 13 rounds, Glock has no sentimental value. I shoot both well, the colt is a little easier to conceal, but has more sentimental value to me. An awful lot of the time my gun has to be left in my truck, which is an a/c service vehicle, therefore a target for vehicle burglary.

 

[jerkface11]

I'm confused which 1911 are you saying is better the SA or the RIA?

 

[Skribs]

If you're talking about people having a target gun and a duty gun, with the target gun being more accurate and therefore "better"...they probably don't carry it because the stuff that makes it a good target gun makes it a worse duty gun.

If you're talking about people who have that $3000 custom work of art and that $300 ugly tool, then its because they'd rather keep that work of art in a safe place (from scratches, smudges, etc) and carry around the tool. After all, it's supposed to be concealed anyway, so who will you show it off to?

If you're talking about people owning a quality duty gun and a meh duty gun and carrying the meh...I wouldn't get that. "If the police take it away..." I'd rather have my good one for when I need it, and use my backup after they take it away.

If you're talking about people like me, who have a full-size duty gun and a pocket pistol, with the pocket pistol having less capacity, accuracy, a smaller caliber, and greater recoil...well, the PP goes in my pocket, while for the duty gun I have to conceal it just so. PP is easier to carry.

Just my 0.08 (four thoughts @ 0.02 each).