Why I Don't Rotate My Carry Guns (Not What You Think)

[StrykerByte.45]

I carry 2 guns, .45auto and Snub .38, and 2 spare mags. If I'm dressing light then its only the .38 they dont change they're positions on my body, draw is always the same. I dress around what I carry, not the other way around. If anything, I will add a third to the system. Ankle or thigh?

 

[Gun-Reck]

Carry a Glock slimline G36 .45 ACP.

Unless I can't, then it's a Sig P938 9mm.

Or maybe going to war (zone), in which case it's a Glock G23.4 .40.

Algorithm, not fashion.

 

[The Night Rider]

R

I don't have a 'rotation' for foot gear, either.

Right there with you Bro.

 

[fastbolt]

...
I'm a little like @fastbolt though with my pocket knifes. I have a LOT of choices but have settled on 3: a "less scary" one when I have to go to the office, a lightweight summer carry knife, and a heavier spring/fall/winter carry knife.

Yeah, sometimes it pays to consider the 'audience' in situations where a knife may be used for mundane and everyday tasks.

My cigar club has a lot of guys who carry respectably sized folding lock-blades. Including some active and retired LE and Military. Most folks aren't startled by the usual array of favorite working folders that are carried. However, there was this one afternoon where I removed a CRKT M16-14ZER Emergency Rescue Tanto, bright orange scales and a shiny 3.75" blade. Her immediate, visceral response was, "My God, that's a weapon!"

Now, when you consider that the tanto blade is exactly the same length as a Buck 110, it's probably the appearance of the partially serrated tanto blade that looked dangerous or 'wicked' in her mind, I'd guess. Guess it's a good thing I wasn't carrying one of my other tanto lock-blades that have longer blades.

There are some people who would probably have a similar sort of atavistic, visceral reaction to seeing a big knife, but not a gun. Go figure. Then again, in earlier CA history, the carrying of a concealed dagger became a felony, while concealing a handgun was left as a misdemeanor for the average citizen. The historical reasoning is that daggers and similar large brutal knives were carried by thugs, but handguns were carried by upright citizens, so the laws were made to be harsher on the thugs of those days. Maybe so. I wasn't around at the turn of the 19th/20th century.

 

[Smokin Gator]

Good advice. To that, I would add: "TEST what you do so you actually know what works for you."

Find some "practical" competitions in your area and enter one with your carry guns. Some will let you actually enter multiple guns, so you could get a feel for how you perform with each one on the same course of fire.

If a person has never shot in competition I would get some matches under my belt before asking to shoot a second gun at the match. Get used to the rules and procedures first, then maybe. If a match is pretty full up with shooters often they won't let you shoot a second gun and if they do you generally have to pay a second match fee. Or you can just shoot different guns if you continue going to the matches. I

 

[drobs]

My holsters are Leather. I don't store my handguns longterm in Leather.

You Do You Boo

All my primary carry guns wear kydex holsters.

 

[tarosean]

If a person has never shot in competition I would get some matches under my belt before asking to shoot a second gun at the match. Get used to the rules and procedures first, then maybe. If a match is pretty full up with shooters often they won't let you shoot a second gun and if they do you generally have to pay a second match fee. Or you can just shoot different guns if you continue going to the matches. I

For a local match, as long it is legal for the same class there shouldn't be an issue. No different than grabbing a backup if your main goes down. I always have a backup gun/holster in my bag, just in case Murphy visits.

That said you might irk some competitors if your not pasting targets/resetting while playing "gun swap" constantly.

 

[Smokin Gator]

For a local match, as long it is legal for the same class there shouldn't be an issue. No different than grabbing a backup if your main goes down. I always have a backup gun/holster in my bag, just in case Murphy visits.

That said you might irk some competitors if your not pasting targets/resetting while playing "gun swap" constantly.

I have a backup gun at matches. But you don't use it to shoot each stage twice. It only replaces the primary if it breaks. Usually when clubs allow a shooter to shoot a second gun it is required that it be in a different division and you pay a second match fee. (Sometimes a reduced fee). This is at affiliated USPSA/IDPA matches. Outlaw matches may differ.

 

[Mosin77]

I have a few carry guns but because I’m a lazy bastard too, I’d only ever have one in a rig with appropriate belt, iwb holster, etc. The rest are small enough they can go in a pocket (with or without a holster depending on the gun) if I deem the big one to be more trouble than justified.

 

[tarosean]

But you don't use it to shoot each stage twice.

I wasn’t thinking of running each stage twice. Sorry for the confusion

 

[sparkyfender]

I have a few carry guns laid out on my nightstand, in their holsters and ready to go. I just grab one daily, add my wallet and keys, and I'm primed for the day.

It isn't complicated. Everyone has their own preference in guns and methods of carry.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I rotate based on weather. Warmer weather gets smaller, easier to conceal 9MM pistol. Cooler weather with more clothing gets full size 10MM carry rig.

 

[Pistolay]

My EDC is a P365-380 and my max concealment gun is an LCP MAX. I have two of each. I carry the stainless 2-tones, and they live in a MiniVault in my bedroom in their Vedder LightTucks. The two FDEs live in the basement safe, loaded, in Sticky Holsters (which don't absorb moisture). After the stainless go to the range, I carry the FDEs until the others are cleaned, but otherwise I don't rotate them for carry. I do rotate them for range trips.

 

[Caplock]

I have a glock 22 that has been in a leather holster for probably 15 years. I do wipe it down every once in a while.
Not going to do that with my blued python....but a glock firgetaboutit

 

[WisBorn]

I like guns! If I'm not going to use it why have it! That's my stand and I'm sticking to it.
So I have 3 j frame 38 +p revolvers a 442, 637, and 642. I carry them all but the 442 most of the time.
My Kimber R7 9mm is my going to Walmart carry. Might need the additional capacity, it is the most dangerous place I go.
The LCPII is my beach carry. Good for athletic shorts.
I have several wilderness carry guns. If I'm going to hiking, I may need something extra to protect myself from Lions, Tigers, and Bears fans. I want to see wildlife not sports nuts

The truth is I do like to carry different handguns!

 

[Pat Riot]

I have added a Glock 43 to my collection and soon it should be part of my carry selection, I’m sure.
I have shot a couple of hundred rounds through it plus a 50 round box of Federal LE JHP ammo. After a couple hundred more rounds of mixed FMJ and JHP it should be deemed worthy for carry.

I like having options.

 

[Ks5shooter]

I'm still fairly new to EDC but I carry the same gun, every day. I have different ones, but I carry the one that is most comfortable and it's the one that I practice my draws with. I would be afraid that if I switched guns, it might throw off my muscle memory in a critical situation. Just my 2 cents worth.

All Glock for me so muscle memory etc stays the same no matter what I choose to carry that day.Weather and clothes choice for the day are factors in which to carry.

 

[Buckeye63]

I carry several different handguns.. I don’t consider it a rotation.. but I carry different guns for different situations.

 

[tomrkba]

I read a discussion on another forum about people rotating their carry guns and it occurred to me what a pain in the ass it must be to unload gun A and then go get gun B out of the safe and load it and dig out the holster for gun B and the magazine carrier for gun B and take all the other stuff off your belt and put the gun B stuff on it before you walk out of the house.

That's when I realized that the reason that I carry a glock 19 or a Glock 26 exclusively is because I'm a lazy bastard and I don't want to deal with all that.

If I'm going to the range that's different. Because I actually get to shoot the gun but I'm not going through all that drama just to have a different brick on my hip.

Like I said, I'm a lazy bastard.

In case anybody's wondering, this post is only half serious.

Nah. If it's a chore, then you're not really a gun nut enthusiast.

Besides, why can't one keep several loaded guns available? That's what I do. I have space in portable safes for up to four guns or so.