Your chosen CCW: Why?

[1911 guy]

Why did you choose your particular carry handgun? I'm not looking for the merits of action type or caliber. There's little .45's and big .380's, as well as .44 autos and 9mm revolvers, so that would be a circular argument. Question is about actual frame size.

For those who alternate or switch off carry pieces, vote based on your most frequent carry.

In the last option, I'll define disaster as losing your job, etc.

 

[The Bushmaster]

At 5' 7" 145 lbs I am restricted to the smaller sizes in the summer, but I carry a .357 S&W Combat Magnum in the winter and a compact 9mm X 19 in the summer. But I shoot well with both...

 

[TFin04]

I didn't find an answer I like. I carry the biggest gun I can shoot well and conceal well. It's an XD45 Compact. It's almost the exact same size as a G19 or G23, for those who haven't held one.

Kahr CW9 fits the bill when I need a smaller gun. I shoot it well too.

 

[Geno]

I carry what I shoot the best.

 

[HM2PAC]

I have large and small .45's to choose from. I have shot each enough to be able to say I shoot them all well.

Each new pistol goes through a "Break-In". Not that a break in is needed for the gun to be reliable, but so that my Brain/Eye/Hand knows how to use the weapon.

 

[jefnvk]

I bought small because it is small, but quickly found out I shoot it the best as well.

 

[md7]

i voted carry what i shoot best, but it would be more accurate to say that i carry what is most convenient to conceal for how i am dressed and where i am going. if i have to wear khakis and a polo with no jacket, then the sw 642 gets carried. if i wear a jacket or am able to untuck my shirt, the Glock 23 gets carried.

i shoot both well.

 

[FireArmFan]

I carry a P2000 and while I wouldn't say that it's a small gun, I wouldn't really call it big either compared to some others.

 

[hceptj]

what I shoot best...

 

[flounder22]

2nd. gen. Kel-Tec P-3AT. for me. In the front pocket it disappears and up close, it will get the job done. If we could open carry in Alabama, I would go as big as I could get.

 

[simpleguy]

Full size S&W M&P .40.....it's what I have, I shoot it well, it's neither big nor small.......the key.....I know I wouldn't want to be on the business end of the Hornady TAP it delivers.

 

[Walkalong]

3" 1911... because it's a .45 and I shoot it very well.

Seecamp .32... Because the big gun you leave at home is worthless and this is easy to toss in a pocket and go.

NAA .22 mag... Same reason as the Seecamp.

 

[mljdeckard]

I roll my eyes at the industry and the magazines trying to convince us we can't carry full-size handguns. They're manufacturing a false sense of need.

Bigger guns have less recoil. Longer guns have a better sight radius. CARRY WHAT YOU SHOOT BEST.

 

[Black Majik]

I carry a P2000 because it's the smallest big gun I was willing to go. It's the only compact pistol I own and serves it's purpose well for what it is. It also fits my hand really well and is a pleasure to shoot.

 

[lawboy]

66-2 3-inch most of the time, in an IWB.
19-3 2.5-inch a lot of the time, in an IWB.
Colt Agent 2-inch increasingly, in an IWB or pocket carry.

The K Frame magnums are awesome guns, I shoot them well and they are no trouble to carry all day. The Colt is just so damn handy and still holds six. It gets the nod when I have to wear a suit or be in social settings where lightweight clothing and the need to remove a jacket are the order of the evening. I shoot it fine too.

 

[PX15]

My wife and I have found for both of us the Seecamp LWS32 is small and concealable enough we can carry them almost anyplace, anytime.

We are both senior citizens, living in a rural area with a very low crime rate.. Or, our "threat level" is extremely small.

Our primary concern is stumbling into a "stop 'n rob" at our local convenience store and having some gang banger tell us to "step into the cooler".

That's simply not gonna happen.

I do have an LWS380 on order and if I find I can shoot it well despite the higher recoil and drama associated with the 380 rd. in a firearm as small as a Seecamp I will use that for my daily cc. If not, I'll just go back to the old faithful LWS32.

When we are traveling I usually take along my Walther 9mm P99c/AS as my cc first choice, but even then still cc the Seecamp also.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy

 

[CoRoMo]

Needed a choice of "Largest practical CCW I can carry".
Kel Tec P11 because it goes in the pocket nicely.
I will be moving up to a XC 45acp once I get a IWB holster for winter clothes.

 

[mnw42]

The only practical carry gun I have is my COBRA so I carry that 99% of the time. Every once and while I carry my 1908 Pocket Hammerless or one of my .45s.

 

[BRASSM]

I either carry a 9mm Browning Hi-Power with two extra magazines, or a .357Mag. S&W13 with four speedloaders.

 

[mjrodney]

Smith & Wesson Airweight Model 638 in a pocket holster.....on the way are Crimson Trace Laser grips to round out the package.

+p power, lightweight, reliable, disappears in the pocket.

 

[DMK]

The gun I shoot best is a huge, 6" barreled .357 Magnum N-frame Model 28. The gun I carry is a lightweight 2" barreled .38 Special J-frame Model 642.

So yea, I chose the CCW because it's small. There's no way I can conceal the Model 28 and even if I could, it's so inconveniently large and heavy, I'd probably leave it behind a lot. The 642 disappears in a pocket and I forget I have it with me until I go to stick my hand in my pocket.

 

[Mac45]

I carry a 1911. Not because it's "big", but because I haven't found anything that I can conceal as well.

 

[Cosmoline]

I carry what I shoot best, within reason. For me that's a Speed Six or a Detective Special or both. I've found most handguns under 20 oz. or so aren't worth diddly in a pinch. Even with .32 ACP I'd much rather have a Walther PP than a little plastic job that barely fits in my hand.

IMHO the old ones got it right to begin with. The 20 oz .38 Special or .32 ACP is ideal, and a magnum should be closer to 30 oz. minimum. They should be big enough to get a proper grip and most of all they should flow into the hand and give you a natural sight picture the second they're up. Ergonomics are vital.

If I could figure out how to reliably conceal a Bisley Vaquero I'd carry that. As it is I often carry it in a backpack.

 

[possum]

there are 2 guns that i carry regularly that is a sc xd .40 and a kahr k-40. i picked the kahr because of size, and they shoot great and are reliable, and they are perfect for summertime carry with shorts and t shirt.

i picked the xd sc because i own a service model .40 xd and i love it but i wanted the same manual of arms and since it was so used to the xd series already it only made sense to go with the sc. i carry it in all weather, and seasons, plus being able to use the full size mags is a great advantage and i carry 2 reloads. 9rd in the sc with 2 12rd mags as reloads.

 

[glockman19]

There wasn't really a choice for what i carry. I carry a S&W 642/442 Pocket carry, regularly along with a Glock 26 IWB when dress permits.