Your first CCW setup and sidearm of choice?

[jeepnik]

First handgun I carried openly, other than for sport, was a 1911.
First handgun I carried concealed was a 1911.
Handgun I’m carrying today is a 1911.

 

[herrwalther]

Then: Walther P99 40S&W in a Blackhawk hipster holster I had modified for IWB carry. Belt, can't remember. Probably something cheap and not suitable for gun carry.

Now: PSA Dagger in a White Hat Maxtuck holster, riding on a Kore nylon gun belt. Switched to the Dagger because my Walthers are too nice and expensive to spend time in an evidence locker if I have to use them.

Thankfully I learned with the Blackhawk and cheap belt, those two choices are more important than the firearm itself. If carrying a firearm isn't remotely comfortable you aren't going to carry it for very long.

 

[Poper]

Then: Colt Officer's ACP in a leather shoulder rig.
Now: 2" Taurus Titanium .44 Special at 4:30-5:00. Sometimes a 2" S&W M60 J-frame IWB at 4:00.
I don't carry a reload because I figure if I need more than 5 rounds I am in too much trouble in a place where I shouldn't be in the first place. Situational awareness and all that stuff.
So far, I have only reached for a gun one time. When in city driving (Phoenix, AZ), a character decided to get out of his car and approach mine with a head of steam. He saw me through the windshield, reaching, then turned back to his own car. (Wife and grandson in car with me.)

 

[trackskippy]

First daily carry gun for me was a Colt Government Model carried IWB in a Bianchi "Pistol Pocket". Carried a double reload on my belt on the offside. Carried a GM or Commander for about 25 years. Just in better holsters as they appeared.

These days, its a Glock 17 AIWB with a reload next to it.

 

[chicharrones]

Due to work, I started as a pocket gun guy and I'm still a pocket gun guy because I still do the same kind of work. However, my very first was a Beretta 21A in a fanny pack. But when I made a serious commitment to carry daily . . .

Then: Taurus 85UL w/ Crimson Trace grip in a IWB holster modified to work in a pocket.

Now: Remington RM380 in a Recluse TS holster, or a Charter Arms Undercoverette in an Azula JS holster, or a Taurus TCP732 in a Hunter holster.

Other current options outside of the pocket: Glock 36 in a DeSantis shoulder rig or a S&W 66 w/ CT grip in a DeSantis OWB holster.

 

[JERRY]

Before I was 21 it was a Raven P25 loaded with fmj carried in a pocket. after I turned 21 it was a Davis P32 loaded with fmj, carried in the front pocket without a holster.

 

[Zeabed]

A S&W 39-2 auto in a Bianchi pancake holster. Yes, that's how long ago that first carry was (1979). Given the climate of that place at that time I had no trouble concealing it under my leathern coat.

 

[WisBorn]

When starting out I pocket carried a 642. I did a lot of work with a Kahr 9mm but didn't feel comfortable with its reliability. Bought my 442 as a second choice. Worked on IWB with a few different auto loaders, but went back to pocket carrying a j frame. When the Shield and XDS came out I started carrying them, until the LCPII came out then shifted to it (love that little carry).
So after over ten years of ccw I still like a j frame in the pocket or the LCPII.
I do have the itch to try a Shield Plus or Hellcat size 9mm and work on IWB, but I see myself sticking it in my front pocket....

 

[Electrod47]

12 years ago First: Khar compact .45 IWB DeSantis Holster
The last 10 years Second: Keltec .380 w/pocket holster w/spare mag

If I'm especially nervous about something : Sig 228 9mm w/spare mag w/belt hoster

 

[Iggy]

Sixty years ago I started with a S&W model 36 in a OWB holster.
From there to Walther PPKs OWB. Through 10 mm and 45 acp in various 1911s, finally winding up with a Sig P365 OWB.
It’s been an interesting trip.

 

[Legionnaire]

Back then: S&W 4013 in an Alessi Talon IWB.

Now? Glock 48 in a Desantis Speed Scabbard ... or an LCP in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster ... or a Ruger SP101 ... or ...

 

[GJeffB]

Easy. 1st was a 1911 .45 in a Milt Sparks original Summer Special. Older I got, heavier it got. Like jeepnut, several iterations of 1911/Commander/Lightweight and Summer Special.

-jb, not much wrong with perfect

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I started off wanting the smallest most concealable set up possible. Had a Taurus .380 micro pistol and carried it in a ITWB holster at 3-4 o'clock. It was all but invisible but I later found it was also all but impossible to access it and I couldn't shoot it for crap.

Fast forward several years and several different setups later, I have been carrying a G26 with G19 mags with Xgrip adapters in a concealable OWB holster along with a spare G19 mag with the same Xgrip adapter.

I give zero cares about printing or a shirt riding up. 99.9% of people have their heads buried in their phones or are preoccupied with other things.

I want something that I can access easily and train with. The training matches real world usability.

 

[Mauser lover]

Then: .45 Shield in a belly band, worn where it should be worn, essentially where an IWB holster worn at 4:00 would put the gun. Just inside my waistband, but tuckable without belt clips showing. This was not my first gun I ever carried, but the first one I wore regularly. I think I bought it in... 2015?

Now: .45 Shield in a Crossbreed belly band with a velcro-backed kydex holster worn in the same place. On casual days, I wear the same gun in a cheap kydex IWB holster, untucked. On really casual days (like when I don't care if someone notices) I wear a CZ-75 compact, cocked and locked in an OWB holster with the thumb-break between the hammer and firing pin.

In the future, I hope to get a Shield plus with night sights and wear it in the same belly band with a new kydex shell.

 

[earplug]

1976 Charter Arm Bulldog. Tranisitioned to a S&W alloy bodyguard M 38 in 1981. carried it in a outside vest pocket then pocket carry in a Milka holster. About 1996 went to a 642.
2017 SIG 938 pocket carry. I keep a another pistol handy in the vehicle for when i'm sitting and buckled up.

 

[Mark_Mark]

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.

those Universal Uncle Mike’s Holsters bring back good memories. Like a 90’s twinkle, simple Times when carrying a gun didn’t involve custom hybrid holster and the perfect appendix carry rig with the perfect wings

 

[JShirley]

For a while, I was a very small man. I originally carried a Glock 21, groin carry.

Most recently, I usually carry a Kahr CT9 IWB, or an RM380 IWB.

If I was back in civilian life, I'd probably be rotating through a few. When I've been doing a lot of hunting, I've even been known to carry an N Frame OWB - this was of course in cold weather, with a thick cover garment.

John

 

[Spats McGee]

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

Second part: what have you done differently since?

Then:
Springfield Armory GI model that had been worked over a bit by my usual gunsmith. DeSantis Speed Scabbard on an Aker B21 with a spare mag or two on the weak side.

Along the way:
Went 1911->G19->Shield->Shield Plus. Tried various gun belts, and still have them all. For that matter, every belt I own now is a gun belt.

Now:
S&W Shield Plus on a dedicated gun belt (I have several for different occasions), with a spare mag or two on the weak side.

 

[guyfromohio]

My first was a PPK in the waistband, but that was years before states began permitting.

 

[Will Munny]

Beretta 950 BS, a very fine pistol in all respects.

 

[JR24]

First overall was a Sig 225 in some Desantis or something holster because that’s what I had when I started.

My first “real” CCW was a SR9c in a crossbreed.

Now: 365xl w/Holosun in a Vedder light tuck.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Then: H&K USP compact in .45 ACP, usually in a Don Hume JIT slide, at 3:30 OWB. KT P-32 BUG, back pocket.

Now: Kimber Ultra CDP in .45 ACP, usually in a Versacarry Commander, w/extra mag, at 3:30 OWB. KT P-32 BUG, back pocket.

 

[tarosean]

1st
Colt Lightweight commander in a Yaqui.

Now
HK P2000SK in Sparks Summer Special.
or
Kimber EVO in "Sticky" Pocket Holster.

 

[Mark_Mark]

My first was a PPK in the waistband, but that was years before states began permitting.

just imagine back in the days. A man carried a Vest Gun as apart of his attire to go out and a lady carry a derringer in her undies as apart of going out formal wear. Wish I could let be in those days. Now, I think about, those were dangerous times

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My 1st carry gun was a SBH. I had a leather cowboy belt. Back then i was young and dumb. Wasn't to concerned about concelment.