Why Is Your CCW Handgun Your CCW Handgun ???

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David

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Over the last few years, I have tried a few different types of CCW handguns -- everything from a Kel Tec P32 to a 9mm Beretta Centurion.

Over the last year or so, I have come to find that the CCW handgun I carry almost everyday is the S&W J-Frame in .38 caliber (although, sometimes in cooler weather, I carry the Beretta Centurion).

Why the J-Frame?

For me, here are the pros and cons:

PROS:

*** Lightweight

*** Concealable

*** Reliable

*** Able To Fire From Pocket

NEUTRAL:

*** Uses .38 +P

CONS:

*** 5 Rounds

*** Slow To Reload

What is your PRIMARY CCW HANDGUN, and why have you selected that particular handgun?

:confused: :what: :confused:
 
For me it's a Kimber Series I Compact CDP. Lightweight, very accurate, night sights, front strap checkering and melt job make it perfect. I wear it in a Brommeland rig and forget it's there.
 
My reasons for carrying a Smith M649 are basically the same as yours.

I've carried some smaller guns, but didn't like them. Some real small ones seemed to lump the pocket more than the 649.

Keeping the gun concealed is a big consideration and larger guns don't work well for me.

I feel relatively comfortable with the .38 Special and good 158 grain LSWCHP loads.
 
Well David, we're together on this one - for all the Pro's you listed. The Neutral's & Con's aren't that much of a factor for me.

I prefer .38 SWCHP 158 Gr +P's. This round has a proven track record - and with just a few variences, it seems to perform about as well as any handgun shooting a round with a diameter of 3/8's of an inch or better - especially form a small, lightweight gun.

Five rounds isn't much of an issue, since the vast majority of self defence shoot outs are concluded with 2 - 3 rounds. Ditto for slow re-load, unnecessary if the fight is done with 20% of your ammo still in ready reserve. Actually, I wouldn't mess with carrying re-loads anyway. If you are so inclined, you can carry a Beretta .25, Kel-Tec .32 / .380 or any number of small & light handguns - which will be similar in weight, less bulky and faster into action than trying to reload a revolver anyway.

Circumstances will of course vary. If yours are such that you are likely to be required to engage multiple armed attackers (i.e. Police Officer, Security Guard, lone business operator in a high threat area, etc.) - then a semi auto with larger diameter &/or higher velocity projectiles would be prudent.

But the basic rules of gunfighting are:
1. Have a gun.

2. The gun must work properly.

3. You must be able to hit what your aiming at with the gun.

and my own little rule:
4. The gun must be safe to carry and handle - least I shoot myself or something else unintended.

The little J-Frame S&W's seem to fit the bill perfectly. Which may be why they have been in production, with just slight variences, for over 50 years.

These things said though - if circumstance & dress allow - I will carry something bigger and with more ammo capacity. It just turns out that these circumstances tend to be pretty few & far between for me.
 
Carry is a 3" M-66. Its dead-on accurate, wickedly smooth trigger in both SA/DA, conceals well in winter and summer. Hits hard with either +Ps or magnums, and I shoot it the best of anything else out there.
 
Well - It is like this , At six years of age I shot my first centerfire handgun - a 1911. Not long after I shot a K frame. These have always been the primary CCW's...with BHP tossed in. I choose the platform that fits me best for Carry. The J frames were most often BUGS , not that they haven't been primary from time to time.

I am currently using a Keltec P-11. Circumstances dictate I use this for now. All my 1911 holsters gave out at the same time. Then I had to get rid of everthing- the 1911's and K frames due to these circumstances. So I use the "niche" gun until things improve - I have a holster for this gun.

*shrug* have a gun, use brain to avoid places, use brain and tennis shoes to leave bad situations, I shoot this P-11 well , mine is reliable...if I do my part I won't have to use it hopefully - If Murphy , and all the Gray Clouds converge as they have been...If I do my part - the gun will too.
 
I carry a Taurus PT-145 Millennium Pro. Hard-hitting, accurate, decent capacity (10+1), fairly light, fairly small, fits my hand, won't rust, and very concealable.

DAO trigger pull is a drawback, but it's better than my old Kel-Tec or the older Millennium series pistols.
 
Kahr PM9

Over the years I've gravitated to smaller and lighter weapons. Started with a 1911 Commander, then down in size to a Glock 30, then a thinner 40 cal S&W scandium 4040PD and now I've ordered the Kahr PM9. I doubt I'll go smaller due to my min caliber considerations. I do have 2 other weapons on my CCW permit, but the Kahr will be the everyday carrry.
 
My Witness has been my CCW since the law took effect. It just fit me better than anything else I had tried. Lately, as it's in the shop,I have been carrying the wife's Witness compact 40 wonderfinish. But, I got my CZ PO1 today, and the preliminary is the Witness may finally be honorably retired soon.....:cool:
 
I carry a full size Springfield Loaded 1911 IWB when clothing permits or an SP101 snub DAO in .357 in front pocket holster when clothing is concealing., ie shorts, t-shirt, or business slacks with polo shirt.

I am breaking in a Kimber TLE that will replace the Springfield in the 1st slot.
 
I didn't go out to 'find' a CCW gun, I used what I already had and what I felt comfortable with, my G17. I'd had and shot it for years before I got my carry permit and I knew the gun inside and out, how it handled, where it shot so it was a no-brainer. I just found a carry system that worked with the gun and that fit my style. If I were to get caught up in the CCW-gun-of-the-month club I wouldn't be able to afford anything else in life. Get a gun and a system that work for you and stick to it.
 
I've only had a CCW permit for a few months. So far, I usually carry a PM9 in the front pocket with a P-32 BUG. If I know I'll be walking a lot, I might take a Taurus 85UL with SWCHP 158 gr. +p. The Taurus doesn't flop around as much in a front pocket as the PM9.
 
Glock 23

Reason First Department paid for it. If I end up using it and it is held for evidence the Dept. is out not me.

Second good gun. Easy to conceal but not to small to shoot well. Uses a good round 40 S and W. I carry it every day on my strong side hip on duty or off duty. Same place every time. I reach the under pressure.
 
4" Ruger Security Six in Milt Sparks leather, with some sort of cover garment. Six for sure in a proven caliber (.357/125).

Have never been anyplace where I wished I had a smaller gun, but have been in a number of places where its size and known performance were a great comfort.

A 442 is the BUG, and 1% of the time (when it breaks 100 degrees) a primary piece.

Unless I find myself involuntarily reactivated, those should suffice.

Most of Jim Cirillo's feats were accomplished with a Model 10 S&W. It's more about the man than it is the gun.
 
Mine's a Glock 26 (9mm).

Qualities I looked for:
  • Reliable
  • 9mm or above (I know others are satisfied with lighter calibers; I'm not)
  • As many rounds as I could legally carry (when I started looking for a carry gun, I wasn't a good enough shot to bet my life on five rounds only. I'd still rather have the extra rounds than not).
  • Really reliable
  • Sturdy, not prone to rusting
  • Small enough to carry every day
  • Real sights rather than the rudimentary ones common to small handguns
  • Reliable.

I've been satisfied with my choice.

pax
 
Colt Series 80 Government Model

Decent power from the cartridge-45 ACP.

34 years worth of experience with one.

Big but flat, and easy to conceal.
 
I was caught in a situation once that made me feel a little uncomfortable with my SW 442. I kind of made a promise to myself not to carry pocket pistols for my main CCW again. For a couple of years, I carried a G22 everywhere. I made it work with a variety of holsters and a whole lot of thought about how I had to dress. My wife wanted a small, full power auto for her CCW and I bought her a G26 that she still carries today. I liked it enough that I aquired a G27 for myself. It carries like a small gun but it shoots like a full size. I've dabbled with a number of others over the last 7 years but I keep going back to it. For me, it is the perfect balance. Small enough, very shootable and utterly reliable. The 442 is my left hand BUG.
 
I have a varity of CCW choices and have carried 1911, H&K, and Kahr as the primary choices.

Due to illness I have gained 80 pounds in the last 10 months.

Now the only thing that fits is my P32.

I need to get healthy or buy larger clothes again.
 
After carrying numerous pistols and revolvers as my CCW or off duty firearm, I have pretty much settled on 2 that seem to fill the requirements of accuracy, comfort, and safety (my requirements). My first choice and the one I grab for most often is my Para-Ordnance 6-45 LDA. It delivers 8 rounds of 45 ACP, malfunction free, inside the 8 ring at 25 yards in 10 seconds, and does it using a double action trigger that still amazes me with it's smooth, light action.

For all the times here in Florida when skimpy clothing( shorts and T shirts) dictates something smaller, I reach for my S&W 649 in 357 mag and either shove it in a pocket or IWB. I never feel undergunned with 5 rounds and seldom if ever carry reloads. I do keep an "Ammo Wallet with 12 spare rounds in my trucks console, not that it would do me any good there. Accuracy is not quite up to that of the Para, but considering the sights on the Smith versus the Para, it is not bad. In someones hands younger and more stable than mine it would easily equal the Para's performance.

One final entry and in a way my all time favorite is my Walther PPK. It goes with me any time I go into what I call harms way, The big City. Not as my primary CCW but always as a back up. I know it is only a 380 , and the military trigger is horrible, and the sights are worse than the Smith's, and all the other negative aspects, but when I have expended all the ammo in my primary CCW and the fight is not yet decided, it is a comfort to me to know that I have 7 rounds of WW ST HP that are all going to go BANG and hit their mark. They may not stop the fight,but they sure will ruin the BGs day.
 
Glock 19 2nd Generation

Reliable, low maintaince, inexpensive both gun and ammo, proven, accurate enough for me, does not rust, light enough but holds 15+1

Who could ask for more?
 
Fullsize 1911A1.

--flat and easy to conceal (for me)
--weight reduces recoil and enhances controllability
--proven track record of .45ACP

and one added bonus: just seeing that BIG doggone hole of a barrel tends to calm folks down :D
 
My CCW's are all 1911's.....

My fave is the Colt CCO, though I am sure I'd be happy with a Kimber Compact CDP too.
Started with a Government model 28 years ago, had a brief encounter with a Star PD, but have run mainly Colt Commander's and Officer's since.
The CCO is the best combination of Commander and Officer's....
It is Light, flat, has 8 big, heavy ones on board, a flat reload, reliable, very accurate and more familiar to my hand than anything else. It has great thump, and can wear my .22 conversion unit for cheap practise or as a rimfire field gun. If I could have only one gun, this would be it!
Con's: Can't drop it in a pocket.
Jercamp45
 
SP101....w/ 38+P+
1)I shoot it really well
2)minimal recoil means fast follow up shots
3)110% reliable(like most revolvers)
4)fits my hand like a glove with Houge grips
5)for winter I carry 357's in this bad boy
6)with a Desantis thumb break holster it is invisable even for a heavy gun
having said that...I am considering one of the baby Glocks.....if money were no object....:cool:
 
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