Changing your carry gun?

[CajunBass]

My first carry gun was a Taurus 85 with a factory bobbed hammer. It was probably one of the best carry guns I ever owned and looking back, I probably should have just kept it all these years, rather than chase after the latest and greatest. As I've gotten older, and my back has gotten worse, I've found a 642 airweight to be more and more attractive to me, but then, I am a revolver guy at heart. A 642, a Don Hume JIT holster, and a speed strip feels like coming home.

 

[BreechFace]

Like @Old Dog said, it'll be hard to find anything that will improve on my Glock 48 with the slide milled for Trijicon for my desires, it really was the CCW pistol I was waiting for. The capacity and size is perfect for the streets, not too small with it's G19 size grip and barrel length of a G19 but slim to conceal better at the 3-4 o'clock position. The only consideration I would make down the road is if Glock came out with a 48 in 40S&W and Shield Arms made their mags for it. If they could get a 12-13 round magazine in that frame that would be an improvement I would consider, and utilize my current G48 9mm as a cheaper trainer.

The familiarity of Glocks platform is an advantage for me, as I can hunt with my G20 or G40 and everything is very familiar. The utilitarian and robust nature of the Glock works for my desires for it. I have other pistols (be it revolvers or SA CZ's) that win the show on trigger and looks when I want to have some range or show, tell and shoot time with friends and family.

 

[Anchorite]

I changed not because of a new gun, but because of one that was no longer available.

I carried an XD45C for perhaps 20 years; pretty much ever since they first came out. But Springfield recently stopped selling the XD.

So, about a year ago, I switched to an M&P9C.

Both are reliable, easy-to-shoot guns in effective calibers. I still have several XD45s. But I now carry an M&P.

SA is really focusing on their lineup and it’s made me look closer at their offerings. While I carry a revolver 75% of the time outside the home, I could see myself getting something to replace my G19……maybe.

 

[doubleh]

I will not offer a make or model but instead focus on the person carrying the gun. When we use a tool and a gun is only that, our brain learns how to be more proficient with that tool. Hammer, saw, knife, gun, whatever. Change something about the particular tool and the brain has to relearn part of what it knows about it's use. Although I have never experienced having to defend myself with a gun I see carrying one for self defense as a right this split second need with no time for fumbling because your brain isn't quite yet fine tuned to use what you have. Experiment until you are satisfied with a particular firearm and stick with it. If you decide to change practice until you are as comfortable with the new as the old until making the switch. It might just save your life.

The current trend is to add a red dot sight to your SD gun. I tried it and found it bulkier and slower to get on target with. Your experience may differ as we are a varied lot physically and mentally. I like red dots for shooting games though. I am more accurate but slower than when using iron sights. I see slower as the deciding factor for SD.

 

[lawboy]

in the last three years, I have switched out all three of my carry guns. I was carrying a custom Colt Officer's ACP in stainless, a Colt Agent 38spl. with shrouded hammer, and a Glock 19 (which I hardly ever actually carried) for years. I am now carrying two Sig P238s and a Sig 938. One of the P238s might be replaced with a Sig P365 with thumb safety and Wilson Combat grip module and a Holosun 407k. I will shoot/train with theP365 for two years before moving onto the permit if I feel it is working for me at that time. As you can see, I have downsized all my carry guns in both size and weight, and caliber. I find the micro compacts to be my cup of tea these days. Very shootable, very concealable, very comfortable, very durable. I am a fan.

 

[BlackHand1917]

I have been a shooter since 1977, but only after moving to a gun-friendly state 20 years ago could I carry a concealed handgun. My recent lineup was a Taurus 605 .357 and a Ruger LCP. Just days ago I retired the Taurus to the gun safe for rare instances of woods carry and replaced it with a Ruger EC9S in 9mm. The LCP will remain my "church gun"for discreet carry situations.

 

[Old Dog]

When we use a tool and a gun is only that, our brain learns how to be more proficient with that tool. Hammer, saw, knife, gun, whatever. Change something about the particular tool and the brain has to relearn part of what it knows about it's use.

Um, I use tools a lot, and I own several types of hammers, saws, knives, etc., and even believe I'm pretty proficient in the use of every single one. And when I switch from a claw hammer to a framing hammer or a mason's hammer or a tack-hammer, I don't have to relearn how to employ each one. Same for saws, table saws, circular saws, jigsaws, coping saw, hacksaw, hand saw, bow saw, chain saw...

Stay current and practiced with every tool you own, and you shouldn't have a problem. I don't stress when my lower back tells me to put away the 1911 or SIG P-229 and pick up the SIG P-365 or Glock 43X. Hell, some days I even take out a revolver just for the heckuvit. Just the other day I drove my truck with a manual transmission and didn't worry too much (don't you hate a stoplight at the summit of a hill, though?).

 

[lee n. field]

Every gun magazine these days seems to have a new "ultimate" carry pistol on the cover. I was a long-time 1911 guy, then moved to Glocks years ago. I have continued to be satisfied there and assembled the magazines and holsters for those guns. Was not impressed enough with the new guns to change. Lately I have begun to switch to a Beretta 92X Compact because it has the first DA/SA trigger I personally like, it's accurate and proven (heavy yes, but I'll deal with that) and it just fits my hand. How many of you have made a shift to a new platform in the face of all these "new" guns coming to the market?

I change, but slowly.

Very seldom is there a big game changing innovation that would warrant it.

 

[Alaskamike]

I seem to be in the minority here, but I know this has been said more than a couple of times in this thread, but I'll definitely repeat it--I will never understand the compulsion to cycle or rotate through a series of carry guns. Find something that works for you and practice relentlessly with it. If something comes out for you that's a game changer, then by all means adopt it, but practice relentlessly with it and only it. Don't "rotate" through some pool of handguns based on what's popular at the time.

Trying to stay trendy with carry guns is way too close to the concept of a wife or girlfriend buying the latest in shoes or purses all the time, and never being satisfied with the last one she paid too much money for.

 

[OS/N]

I change sidearms fairly regularly based on what I'm doing, the season, the place. I don't do that with new pieces though but with ones I already have (full size 1911/SAA/HiPower 9/a 22 target gun/a long gun sometimes).

For CC (a backup gun) I use a S&W 36 I've had for 30+ years. It's as solid and reliable today as it was the day I purchased it. I used a S&W 637 (same gun just cheaper and lighter) for awhile but my wife took a shine to it so I gave it to her to carry and put the 36 back in use. She upgraded from a less reliable/powerful 32L to the 38spl a few years ago.

I don't carry all the time though. It's more of a recreational thing for me and/or a part time life insurance policy.

 

[The Night Rider]

Since the whole rotation concept has been brought up I'm going to say that I don't understand the concept of changing out my carry gun because I'm "bored" with what I'm carrying.


Before I enlisted I worked various construction jobs over a 4 or 5 year period.

The entire time I did that I carried an Estwing framing hammer very similar to the one in the photograph (The one that I actually carried ended up in a pawn shop in Tampa with the rest of my tools when I enlisted).

It never occurred to me to be "bored" carrying that hammer at work everyday.

When I worked for G4S I carried an M&P 40 everyday. It never occurred to me to carry something else out of boredom.

During my military "career" I carried one of five different M16A1s or A2s.

I never thought about being bored. I guess I was just never that invested in the gun.

 

[Joshua M. Smith]

Every gun magazine these days seems to have a new "ultimate" carry pistol on the cover. I was a long-time 1911 guy, then moved to Glocks years ago. I have continued to be satisfied there and assembled the magazines and holsters for those guns. Was not impressed enough with the new guns to change. Lately I have begun to switch to a Beretta 92X Compact because it has the first DA/SA trigger I personally like, it's accurate and proven (heavy yes, but I'll deal with that) and it just fits my hand. How many of you have made a shift to a new platform in the face of all these "new" guns coming to the market?

I switched from the Beretta/Taurus 92 platform to the M1911 years ago when decent ambidextrous thumb safeties came out (Wilson and EGW.) I'm considering finding a polymer frame on which to build a Commander for carry, but I'm mostly happy with the full-size 1911.

Years ago I switched to a Ruger LCP for funeral carry, and recently bought an LCP II to take over that duty as well as when I'm out on my bike or whatever. I still prefer the 1911, but the LCP II is just so handy, and the trigger is very decent without being unsafe.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I eventually switched from a revolver to a Glock. That was about a year ago, and I've pretty much changed back since then...

Any particular reason why? Or do you just like 44mag and 357mag more than 45 or 9?

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Same here. Went from 14 pistols to 9.

I anticipate going from 9 to 6 in the next year or two.

I've been dwindling down the rifles and getting more focused on 45 Auto handguns. I just got a Gen 2 21 to compliment my 1911. I love 45 Auto!

 

[.38 Special]

Any particular reason why? Or do you just like 44mag and 357mag more than 45 or 9?

I can't manage the Glock as well as I'd like, so the revolver has gone back into the holster while I continue to train with the Glock.

 

[Jack19]

I started with revolvers back in the early 80s. Department issued model 10s and 36s. Quickly chose a Browning Hi-Power of my own.
Carried the HP for a couple of decades more on than off, interspersed with Glocks and Sigs in the 90s. Some HKs, Smiths, Rugers, FNs, Berettas, Colts, etc. in that time as well.

Today my daily is a Glock 42 with Federal Hydra-Shock DEEP; light, 7+1 with Pearce grip extensions, or 8+1 with Ghost. There's also a Sig SP2022 available with +2s for 17+1, fantastic pistol and I think better than the 239, 220, and 229s I carried back in the 90s. Some call it the "Poor man's Sig," I call it the "Smart man's Sig."

I really can't tell you what you should carry, it's a very personal choice. But, if you like a DA/SA trigger, the SP is worth an evaluation; best I've ever shot.

 

[Styx]

We are living in a wonderful era of gun ownership where there are a plethora of options to choose from with the majority being extremely affordable and obtainable. I'm not going to pigeonhole myself to only one option. I don't care or even think about what others choose to do. I often wonder why (SOME of) those who only choose to carry one specific firearm for decades often make a big deal about what others do, but I rarely see those who EDC different handguns worrying about those who don't. I wonder why that is?

With that said, I choose the best firearm for me out of the choices that are available at the time. If something new comes to market that fits me better or has features my prior carry doesn't have, I will "upgrade" to something else. If I carried the same gun I had a decade ago, I'd still be EDCing a Kel Tec PF9 which predates the Shield, P365, Glock 43, Springfield Hellcat, a plethora of the most popular and carried firearms of today. I would say we can agree that better options have come out since 2006....

Most modern revolvers and handguns have all of the controls in simular places, function similarly, you clear malfunctions in the same way, and they are reliable. It may be an alien concept to some because they themselves aren't capable, but for me, it's not hard for me to get a new tool that I deem offers me more than my prior tool, take it to the range and/or training classes, and become competent with it. It's asinine to stick with one tool when another comes to market that can offer more than what you had; however, if you think what you have is better than what's out there, then I agree that it doesn't make sense to switch things up.

 

[Styx]

I seen a member compare a hammer and other tools to EDC firearms. I don't see firearms or any tool as one size fits all and it's the best tool for every job. I have a handgun for deep concealment, one that I may carry primarily, and another that is bigger and not as comfortable to carry each and everyday that I'll carry if I feel my threat level is higher, e.g., crowded 4th of July fireworks, sporting events, concerts, etc. I have several different drills, different sizes and types of screwdrivers, different saws, different lengths and sizes of rachets, sockets, etc. Heck, I even have different hammers of different sizes, made out of different materials. I use and carry whatever tool makes my task the easiest.

Yes, on occasion I will also miss a gun I've carried in the past and I'm fond of, so I'll carry it. I'm typically very comfortable with these particular handguns, so I still feel confident using them in a gun fight if I had to. That is, if my current and prior EDC was sitting on a table during a threat and my old EDC was the first firearm I could grab, I'd still would feel very confident with using it to defend my life.
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[Mizar]

Guys, just don't go "chasing the rabbit hole" - that's all I have to say for the people that want to be best prepared for any possible outcome, no matter how distant (futuristic) it might be.

 

[gnappi]

Styx "I don't see firearms or any tool as one size fits all and it's the best tool for every job." is (IMO) on point with that comment.

My EDC is a Bul Commander length .38 super 1911 AIWB, my fishing gun is a Ruger Blackhawk in .44 mag with a 3 3/4" bbl cross draw, when I go to a really crowded area or festival it's my RIA Hi cap .40 Commander, If I were hunting hog like I will be later this year, it will be a .480, .41 or .44. The bulk of my range time is with revolvers because nowadays I really dislike picking up brass while being pelted with hot automatic brass and scrounging amongst the piles of automatic brass on the deck for my super and .40 empties.

Different tools for different occasions.

 

[Daddybrooks]

I tried the new guns and didn't care for the triggers nor did I like the extra thickness of a double stack for IWB. I went back to 1911's and am happy with that decision. Some say 1911's aren't good for anything but a museum these days but that's not the way I feel. Nothing against red dot's but they're not for me.

Understood. In a combat course, I learned that it may take 3 rounds per BG to stop the threat. That doesn't include misses. If you are confronted with 2 or more BG's it is recommended that your carry mag have a minimum 12 round capacity with two more extended mags in the pouch. That said, I carried a 1911 as a side arm for ten years during my time in the Navy. I qualified expert every year. Excellent choice for self defense. Thank you for carrying. I may need some backup one day. db

 

[Styx]

Understood. In a combat course, I learned that it may take 3 rounds per BG to stop the threat. That doesn't include misses. If you are confronted with 2 or more BG's it is recommended that your carry mag have a minimum 12 round capacity with two more extended mags in the pouch. That said, I carried a 1911 as a side arm for ten years during my time in the Navy. I qualified expert every year. Excellent choice for self defense. Thank you for carrying. I may need some backup one day. db

These what-ifs where bad guys are sitting around engaging in a long drawn out gun fights and we are getting multiple hits on each armed attacker and then reloading abd doing it all over again are improbable and not realistic IMHO. Nothing wrong with having it just because though, but I don't see it as really being a requirement or there being anything wrong with carrying a revolver or 1911 for self-defense. If you're tasked with capturing bad guys or you are a gang members or successful drug deal who has hits out on them, then I reckon a 1911 would not be enough.

 

[Agsalaska]

I have been on quite the search over the last few years, some of it documented on here, for the right carry guns for me.

I carry either a S&W 438 in a pocket holster or a Sig P239 in a IWB holster. I do not have a problem at all with striker fired handguns, but not IWB. Not for me.

I also have an HK P30sk that would replace the Sig if ever necessary. I have several other guns that didn't make the cut long term that I am slowly getting rid of.



To add after reading the responses above me, the idea that you need 36 rounds or a 1911 is not enough gun is absolute crazy talk. Fine line between preparedness and paranoia.

 

[Charlie98]

My carry piece has evolved through the years, but because of better choices and utility rather than the Newest Thing kicked out by the manufacturer.

My primary carry piece will likely remain the Kahr CW9, or a version thereof, until I get planted.

 

[WisBorn]

Carrying just one handgun and never changing has merit, but carrying different handguns in different situations has merit also.

I started carrying when it became legal in Wisconsin. I bought and tried several types of firearms.
I quickly settled on a j frame 38 special as my primary and still carry one most of the time.
I also carry a Kimber R7 9mm, a XDM compact 45acp, and several others.

I don't have just one adjustable wrench or one screwdriver. It takes several tools to do the job right.