Your first CCW setup and sidearm of choice?

[Corpral_Agarn]

First part: What was your first CCW gun and how did you carry it?

Second part: what have you done differently since?

Then:
SIG P239 IWB at 4 o'clock. Galco leather belt. Sometimes a pair of spare mags on the opposite side but usually a reload in the pocket


Now:
SIG P226 appendix with a spare opposite side appendix. I use a Belt Man horsehide belt or an "emissary belt" (forgot who makes it).

 

[Hartkopf]

Then: Ruger Ec9s IWB 4 o’clock. I thought I had to have a tiny gun to be able to conceal. I kept experimenting with larger guns, even carrying a G21 for a while.


Now: Glock 17 OWB 3 o’clock.

 

[Pistolay]

My first CCW was a SIG P938 SAS. Too many things have changed since then to enumerate them all, but I don't want a safety on my carry gun, and more capacity are a couple of the big things.

 

[luzyfuerza]

First Rig: a 3" S&W Model 640 in .38 special, carried (yes I admit it) in an cheap nylon holster in a fanny pack. Spare rounds in two speed strips in the same compartment of the fanny pack. This was in Las Vegas 35 years ago, back when all the tourists wore fanny packs. I fit in reasonably well, I suppose.

Now: an XD45 compact in a Sparks VersaMax II at 4 o'clock. This rig might be a little big and heavy by today's standards, but it just works for me, and has for more than a decade.

 

[Frulk]

Then: 3.2 inch 5 shot .357 Mag SP101 in an IWB suede holster with a speed loader in a pocket.

Now: 3.2 inch 6 shot .327 Fed Mag Sp101 in an IWB suede holster with an alloy STAR brand speed loader in a carrier on the belt.

Future state: I MAY be transitioning to a .45 ACP auto. This past week was the first time EVER that I carried a 1911 style gun in Condition One. Going forward I may go to a 1911 (possibly commander sized) with Crimson Trace grips in an OTW cantible leather holster depending on how things go at the range. Will for sure be carrying at least one extra mag on the belt if I make the transition away from the SP101.

 

[TarDevil]

Then: Ruger SR9c carried tucked IWB during business days, OWB otherwise.

Later: lower back issues drive me to lighter pocket carry Ruger LC9s.

Post back surgery: S&W Shield Plus, carried IWB, OWB, and pocket.

 

[mcb]

First: XD-40 Service initially carried in a DeSantis Speed Scabbard and than later in the second Crossbreed holster every made for an XD .

Second: Kahr CW-9 in a DeSantis Insider IWB holster.

Third: XD-40 Subcompact in a later version of a tuckable Crossbreed.

Current: S&W 442 Moonclip, often bare in a vest pocket in a DeSantis Superfly if in pants pocket.

 

[DeepSouth]

First was a NAA Mini Mag. Loose in a pocket, lots of bad there.


Now it’s mainly a PM45, a few others when I feel the need/desire to do something different for some reason.

 

[Riomouse911]

My first ccw was a S&W 640 1 7/8” .38 Spl. that was also a duty backup so I didn’t carry it off duty much.

I then went to a .25 ACP Beretta 950 Jetfire in a IWB holster. Helping a County Marshal arrest a huge parolee driving a stolen car got me to change that firearm to something more substantial.

I traded the 640 and $200 for two S&W Model 19’s, a 4” and a 2.5”. (The owner didn’t care much about these guns and he wanted a good ccw for his wife.) I then carried the 2.5” in a Bianchi shoulder rig for a while.

Next was a S&W 4013 carried in a fanny pack. I toted that for several years.

After the 4013 i carried a few others; a 1967 FN HiPower, when it was hot a FEG SMK-380. I have also used a SIG P-228 and Glock 19. The past few years it was a Ruger LCP, Ruger LC9, and LCP II, now it’s a Glock 43x.

Stay safe.

 

[.38 Special]

Honestly, my first carry gun was a .357 K frame and it still is. I sometimes carry N frames - I find great comfort in cartridges starting with a "4" - but those are some pretty big guns...

I do have the same "box o holsters" as everyone else, but the gun has been a constant.

 

[bannockburn]

First CCW: Charter Arms Undercover carried in a Bianchi #9 Upside-Down shoulder holster or a Bianchi clip-on belt holster. Two Speed Strips in pant's pocket.

Next CCW: S&W Model 38, then a S&W Model 649 and a Model 638 with a DeSantis SOF-TUCK IWB holster. Later this would be supplanted with a Kahr CM9 also with a DeSantis SOF-TUCK holster. Two Speed Strips in pant's pocket. Spare magazine in a single clip-on holster on my left side.

Current CCW: SIG P365 carried in a Bianchi Minimalist holster. Accompanying this is a Ruger LCP Max with a SOF-TUCK holster. Both guns have a single clip-on holster for a spare magazine for my left side.

 

[Valkman]

I started carrying when I lived in Elk Grove CA in the late 90's, and a sheriff down in the Delta said he'd give permits to anyone that qualified. You couldn't get one out of Sacramento unless you knew someone as you had to show cause. I went and got my CCW but didn't know anything about carrying. I used to stick my Star Firestar in my belt on my right hip. Talk about heavy! Once I got on here and learned a few things I bought a Kimber Compact CDP and a Spark's VM2 holster and that served me well for a long time. Nowadays it's most likely a XD that gets carried - they carry 14 rounds of .45.

 

[Armored farmer]

Then ....
Ruger sp101 in a Don hume iwb.
Illinois was slow to adopt a ccp, so I had time to get set up properly. I carried a gun in my console. Many are critical of "truck guns"....but that was the best I could do to protect my family while on the road.

Now.....
13+1 9mm Springfield Armory Hellcat in a Desantis softuck. Sometimes i carry a spare 13 or 15rd mag in left hip pocket.

 

[BlackHand1917]

Then: Smith and Wesson Model 60 .38 Spl in Uncle Mikes pocket holster.

Now: Taurus 605 .357 Mag snubby in Uncle Mike's pocket holster.

 

[WrongHanded]

I can't be certain what the first gun I ever CCd was, but the first consistent one was a G22 gen 3 in one of those leather IWB Blackhawk holsters.

I've been through many guns since then, and carried in many different ways. But I suppose two things have become evident.

One is that I prefer strong side OWB pancake style holsters. And whilst I will use Safepackers or kydex OWB for certain circumstances, I dislike IWB enough to rarely choose it.

The other is that I prefer cartridges in the .357 Sig, .357 Mag, and 10mm range. With medium barrel lengths in the 4"-5" range.

 

[Idahou]

Then: Beretta APX, apendix - my first gun ever, i didnt think i will EDC

Now: Beretta M71 in .22LR, on side - bough used (Italy navy stockpile i think) for fun and collection, but in time i reallized its really comfy gun to carry and .22LR isnt that bad. Switching back to APX when i transporting other weapons or going to some less safe areas

 

[Mark_Mark]

Then: Raven Arms .25 ACP, never one in the chamber. Homemade Cardboard pocket holster

Now: too many to count.

 

[Hikingman]

Then: Smith & Wesson 66 with 4" barrel in a Bianchi leather holster.
Now: Sig P6 in a VM II, or Royal Guard, or Grizzle Countryboy.

 

[tubeshooter]

Then: Taurus 85, blue steel. Cheap nylon holster.
Now: Smith 642-1. Same cheap nylon holster.

I have a choice of carry options. I bought a model 640 for something .357-capable that is probably "better" than either of the above in almost every way for carry. At least on paper. But I keep coming back to the lightweight 642.


Used to carry a 3" SP-101, which would feel like a boat anchor to me now for carry.
Same for 3" GP100 with compact grips. Actually a tad bigger and less carry friendly.
Both doable if you really wanted to...

 

[Cump]

My first, because of a chance trade offer, was an NAA mini combo. I intended it more as an opportunistic plinking gun, with 22 shorts. My first consistent carry was a Bersa Thunder 380. Reasons were mostly cost and familiarity. I eventually replaced it with the 380cc for a little more slimness. A SW 637 was early on as well.

Later, I tried LC9s and LCPs. Then sp101s and model 60s. Kahr 40s and G27s. Among others. I would probably have enough for a different gun every day of the month, even I didn't generally sell or trade to get the next best compromise.

Now, I am happy with the P365 for size, capacity and shootability. And I think I will stick with it, which is saying a lot. I have the manual safety model, which is my preference.

 

[FL-NC]

Then- I think a S&W model 39-something in a uncle Mike's neoprene small of back holster (about a $10 rig)
Now- S&W shield 9, we the people OBW holster.

 

[stillquietvoice]

Had a 6" gp 100 357 mag in an unle mikes kydex verticle shoulder holster, not easy to conceal had to wear oversize clothing.. went to a leather Miami classic shoulder rig with either paraordanance p14 -45, or a gallon shoulder rig with Taurus pt 99. Now it's 5904 Smith iqbal or own at 4 oclock.

 

[unclenunzie]

First was a Ruger LCP, then a progression of single stack 9mms. Now a G19 or a micro 9. In between then and now I've also had a j frame handy.

 

[DTL]

First was a Shield 9mm, IWB 4O'clock, Ruger LCP left side pocket.
Now, Shield Plus PC 9mm, mostly IWB Clinger Hinge Kydex, also Desantis Mini Slide leather OWB in colder weather. LCPll replaced the original. Just ordered a XDS OSP Mod2 with optic, will run that against the Shield for possible new EDC

 

[Handshaker]

I am only comfortable with pocket carry. My first was an NAA 22mag with folding holster grip. Many in between. but now a Seecamp 380, That IS my Edc.