Your Concealed Carry Evolution

From when you first started carrying concealed up until today, how did the:

Size
Caliber
Capacity
Spare Ammo

change for your concealed carry? For the survey please select one answer from each of the 4 categories (multiple choice is allowed).

 

Started with a Taurus .380, went to a Keltec .380, now on a Sig 238...But also carry a J-frame smith quite a bit, and also a Sig 1911 in .45. It all depends on what holster you have, I love my Crossbreeds, and that is why I can conceal a fullsize 1911, and I am 5'10, 170 lbs.

 

Went from a Glock 27 .40, to a Kahr CW9 9mm, to an STI Shadow .45

 

I still carry my J frame 442 like I always have. I carry it in a crossbreed holster that is about as comfortable as it gets for me. I do carry five extra rounds on a speed strip, I didn't always do that.

 

LCP to PF-9 to S&W Bodyguard .38 to Bersa CC .380 and now a SR9c-trying to find the magic!

 

I stick with essentially the same size gun, with one caveat. I started with a J-frame .38spl (actually my wife's nightstand gun, but it was the most concealable thing I owned when I finally got my CWP), then I got a little Polish P-64 in 9mm Mak. I pocket carried the P-64 in a pocket holster (the same one that fits the J-frame) for almost a year and a half. During that time I picked up a Taurus 24/7 Pro DS Compact in .45 as a more serious carry weapon but it was just a little too thick and blocky for pocket carry. It's still my favorite for IWB carry though. Just a couple of months ago I traded for a Taurus 709 Slim, it's replaced my P-64 for pocket carry most days. So I kinda evolved up in caliber while staying with the same size gun.

 

J-frame 38/357 with speed loader or strips only 1

Glock 36 Star PD 45 both 6+1 with 1 extra mag.

Everything I buy now is for fun at the range. If I can find a S&W 3913 9mm I might work it into the rotation.

 

Went from a .25 acp to a .32 S&W L.
That's a new one I bet.

 

From a full size steel 1911, to a subcompact XD9 with a spare 13 round mag. Back feels much better now.

 

First carry gun was a S&W 642.

My favorite carry gun now is a 4" S&W Model 28. My most frequently carried gun is a 4" Ruger Police Service Six.

I still carry the 642 though, particularly as a BUG.

 

Started with a Springfield TRP with a 8+1 in the gun and a pair of 8 round spares on my weak side hip, and then evolved down to a Wilson CQB Compact with 7+1 in the gun and a pair of 7 round spares on my weak side hip. Caliber has stayed the same aside from the days where my Springfield EMP is carried (i.e. shorts and t-shirt days) due to its lighter weight as compared to my TRP or CQB Compact.

 

One of my first carry guns was a S&W 25-2 cut to 2 1/4 inches, today I carry a 325PD 2 1/2 in barrel. I have almost always had a version for CCW.

 

AR 15 pistol with 15 spare mags to Remington 870 with 50 spare rounds.

 

I started out with a S&W 642 5 shot .38 spl. Moved to a Glock 23. Originally didn't carry a spare magazine but had some issues with non factory mags and started to carry one out of paranoia. Purchased a LCP and it made it into the rotation.

I've finally settled on a CZ Rami 9mm, with one spare 14 rd magazine. I carry with a 10 rd flush mag. So I've gone up and down on pretty much everything.

 

hi point 9mm
Sigma .40 (still carry a lot for the last 4 years)
Keltec P3AT (for a year or so for at work)
Taurus 1911 (carry this a lot as well)

 

I have changed to a more powerfull combo of handguns. I went from a 38 revolver or a tomcat to a light weight 38 revolver or a 9mm KT. Still carry the same way after 26 years the same.

 

I started with what I had, a P220 Sig and then some lower back problems forced a change. I now alternate a J-frame and a CW9, with extra ammo in strip or extra mag respectively.

Of course, this is only when I'm in surrounding states where I can carry to begin with.

 

I went from a big 10mm to a little one and lost one round.

 

I went from a Para-Ordnance P14-45 to a SA Champion. Spare mags are easier if they are single-stack IMHO.

That big double-stack with a steel frame was just too heavy. Pantsed me once, luckily I was alone.

Sometimes I carry an HK USP45 or a G20. More firepower available and the poly frame helps quite a bit with the weight issue.

 

I 'evolved' right out of concealed carry to mostly open carry. Now I don't worry about printing or inadvertent exposure or cap-guns; I carry whatever I feel like carrying.

 

Started with a full size Kimber Custom II, then onto a Springfield XD40 Service and have settled nicely into my Dan Wesson CBOB. 45 in a Comptac MTAC. Gonna stick with the cbob for the foreseeable future.

 

My evolution was to have different guns for different dress situations. I have a selection of sizes and calibers and I can go up or down depending on the day.

 

My first carry gun when I got my permit years ago was a S+W 640-1 (.357). Carried it either IWB or in a pocket. It was heavy for pocket carry though, and after a while I HAD to have an auto so I went with a Kahr K40. (Sold the 640 to afford the Kahr.)

Then I discovered 1911's and had a full-size and carried a SA "Micro-compact". (Sold the Kahr to afford the Micro)

I got to the point with 1911's that I was just not shooting them that much so started carrying S+W 3913 or 3953. I also picked up a S+W CS9 "Chief's Special". (I love the S+W single-stack 9mm's) Along the way I had a KelTec .32 and then traded that up to a .380, but I felt I needed to strick with minimum .38 for a self defense round so I got another j-frame and got rid of the KT. This time a S+W 342.

Nowadays most of the time I'm carrying its the 342 in a pocket. When I belt carry, it's usually a 3913 or 3953. (I like these S+W's because the guns I shoot the most at the range are also the guns I carry. Big and heavy enough to be fun at the range but small and light enough for comfortable carry.

I've thought on occasion about another KT but keep reminding myself that I really should carry a larger caliber and I know if I get another P3AT or Ruger LCP that I would always carry it instead of the snubby. If the new crop of ultra small, ultra light 9mm's carry better than a j-frame I may check one out. Otherwise I forsee myself sticking with either a .38 in my pocket or 3913 when carrying something on my hip.

 

Good thread.
I started conceal carry right at a year ago carrying a micro 380 Diamondback in a RKBA holster along with a Bulldog cell phone style holster that can be clipped to your belt or the clip removed and looped through your belt.
No one knew the better and I really liked the the very unassuming stealth of the package.
But I recently decided to buy a Kahr PM9 and am currently breaking it in and looking at various holsters to outfit it with.
With a reasonable set up it too will be pretty stealthy perhaps near as much as my current .380 but perhaps not as light in weight bearing to the wearer,although it will undeniably pack much more punch if things go south in a hurry.
Then last week I had to send my Diamondback to the factory for repair or replacement and found myself with the Kahr that is not totally broken in and no holster to carry it with.
Hmm....What to do??
Well I did have an old 1971 built Smith & Wesson model 37 Airweight sitting ever so quietly in my gunsafe so I immediately bought an Uncle Mike's pocket holster and a couple of days later a Blackhawk cheapo IWB holster for it.
Now I can say the little J frame model 37 is nice and weighs 16 ounces loaded but even though it does fit in my jeans front pocket it is thick and long.
But it is concealed.
And in my work pants it's longer length of 1.25 inches over my little 380 makes it necessary to carry a masking object such as a small rag because the wood grips are constantly showing which is an absolute no go in Texas as concealed means concealed.
So my evolution is this.
I like the very,very easy to conceal, lightweight semi-auto pistols such as the current crop of .380's or .32 ACP's but still want a stronger option such as my new Kahr PM9 but as I research holster for it I will also be putting an effort in a couple of holster selections for my J frame .38 Smith as it too definitely has it's place in all of this.
I was out and about all over Houston Texas today with it and was very glad I had it with me.
To think it has been languishing in my gun safe for so long until last week.
So my evolution has in almost one year taken me to three very good guns that are all three reasonably concealable to the use they are needed for.

 

Started with a Colt Govt. .45 auto. Various j-frames, a PPK, and a M66 2.5in snub came and went. I was issued a Glock 5 years ago. I began carrying my Glock off-duty, and still carry one presently, but as a back-up to the same Colt .45 auto that I started with in 1979. I do however, carry at least one reload for each pistol.