Duty/Full Size guns vs carry guns

[Tallball]

My S&W, Taurus, and Charter Arms revolvers all have the exact same controls that work the exact same way,

I use different ones for CC and HD, and they are different sizes and calibers. That doesn't matter. They all work just the same.

The cylinder release on the Rugers operates differently and looks different, but my thumb works it automatically. Apparently mashing it forward with your thumb and mashing it down with your thumb can both be accomplished by the roughly the same motion. I don't even notice.

I only have one Colt revolver, a 4" Army Special from the 1920's. The cylinder release really does work differently, so other than age and size, that's one more reason to not carry it.

 

[Tom-R2]

I have several handguns that I may carry depending on where I'm going / how I need to dress to go there. I have concealed full size (1911 Government, Beretta 92, Ruger Service-Six 4" revolver). I have a Glock 23c (swapped in a 357SIG barrel) I use often, and a smaller, Ruger Max-9, both have a RMR type optics. Ruger LC9 or LCR for max concealment.

 

[chaim]

I am not a cop so no duty carry. For years I have only been able to carry part-time. I live in MD where, until recently (thank you Bruen) it was nearly impossible to get a permit. I have had a UT non-resident permit for years (I've had it long enough, that for a couple years after getting it, I could carry in PA, so before they decided only resident out-of-state permits were allowed). I am often in WV or VA, and occasionally in DE, so I do often carry and I often plan vacations to insure they are in places where I can carry. But, a few hours a month, and a few days straight a couple times a year is not the same as nearly everyday. My perceived needs may very well change.

That said, for years, I keep the same guns loaded for home defense. A compact service pistol (my .45ACP SIG P250C), and a snub (Taurus 85CH, Taurus 856UL, and usually both, far less often, a S&W 442) for when I carry around the house (IWB or pocket). Occasionally, I load up something else, but those are always loaded and ready.

For what I carry, I've changed a lot over the past decade, and I do carry (or keep open the option of carrying) several guns. If I ever need it, I consider my LCP a carry gun, but I doubt it has come with me out of state more than two or three times in the last 10 years. I used to carry my Taurus 85CH or SIG P290RS often enough that they may still be my most carried guns. The past 3-5 years, I usually carry either my Taurus 856UL (bought 2-3 years ago, shortly after it came out), my S&W M&P40c, my CZ P01 or my CZ PCR. Occasionally, my 3" Colt King Cobra (new model) comes instead. My practice is that it has a similar MOA for the first shot (DAO or striker with no safety and DA/SA with only a decocker are close enough, since the first shot to put it into action is a DA shot with no manual safety).

Now that I'll be able to carry whenever I leave the house (except on my way to and from work since I can't carry or store a gun at work), I don't know if I'll continue carrying several quite different guns, or if I'll decide it is better to standardize. I recognize that carrying most of the time is far different from my occasional carry in the past. Will I continue to like to carry the largest gun I feel I can get away with, or will I want to go more for carrying comfort? Will the LCP see a lot more use? Will a larger sized gun still be fine, but will I decide I want something lighter than the PCR? When I don't plan carry a bit in advance so I can practice a little extra with whatever is coming with me, but instead I carry daily, will I want to be more standardized? I still will likely stay DAO, striker or DA/SA, but I might standardize a little more. I can see going all M&P or Glock family for carry for instance (just bought my first Glock) because they essentially sell the same gun in every size and caliber imaginable. I know there are those in long-time shall issue states who follow just about every carry philosophy there is, so time will tell if mine changes.

 

[CapnMac]

As @DustyGmt may have discovered, this can be a can of worms.

There's a logic that presumes that competency in a full-size "X" will more easily translate to smaller sizes of "X."

The proof of the pudding, though, is in the eating. A smaller "X" may not fit a given person better. It also can be "too similar" to its larger version, too.

In my own case, I own a Colt Officer's to go with full size and commander size 1911s. The Officer's has been pressed into duty as a carry item. But, it's not high up on my "preferred carry" list. That has to do with better (or more consistent) accuracy as much as anything else.

SD winds up being very personal. It's unique to each individual. So, the better answer is that we each finds what works best for us, ourselves.

And, of course, in our audience here at THR, we are going to have only a small minority who will only want the one gun and be satisfied.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A long time ago, I drew up my specifications for a carry piece:

1. Reliability. It's got to go BANG! every time you pull the trigger, otherwise it's just a funny-looking club.
2. Shootability. Given that it went BANG! can I hit with it?
3. Power. Given that it went GANG and I got a hit, did that hit do the job?
4. Concealabillty. Can I carry it concealed, without violating specifications 1, 2 and 3?

And the winner is the M1911. Although on special occasions, like going to the gym, I carry a Colt Detective Special.

 

[DustyGmt]

I'm finding that after a lapse in shooting, if I don't get out with my 9mm's for a while, I can pick up my G19 and basically always pick up where I left off, doesn't usually take more than a mag to warm up and start shooting to my satisfaction but with my sub-compacts if it's been a month or more, I usually really need at least a 50rd box to get back in the groove. (Not to say I couldn't hit with em or adequately shoot it, just that my G19 is so damn familiar and preferable over a sub).

So I basically have decided that since my G19 carries very comfortably in a DeSantis IWB I've been using lately, I'm just going to carry the 19 everywhere I can. It's a lil bigger than I would typically carry, but I like carrying something I know I can hit with, is reliable and that I can shoot the best out of any autoloader I own. I just always thought it was too big for EDC but finding the perfect holster at long last, makes all the difference.

 

[The Kershaw]

My thoughts generally align with yours. I believe in keeping to the same type of system to maintain familiarity. I'm not LEO just an ordinary citizen. My carry gun today will be my bedside gun tonight. In my case, during the warmer weather, it is a SA hellcat. When the weather gets cool enough, I'll switch to my G19. I have given a lot of consideration to what LEO's refer to as a backup gun, but for my non-LEO self it would serve as an option for very fast and reliable close access: The humble j-frame, LCR, that sort, I don't think can be beat.

LE are also ordinary citizens, too. Just with way too much power.

 

[tws3b2]

Most of the time my S&W 642 is in the night stand and sometimes in my pocket. Most of the time my G3C is in my holster on my side and sometimes not. I practise with both often. My hand knows which one is in it and my brain knows which one is in my hand. I Know my guns. That's the Key.

 

[Steve Milbocker]

I prefer and carry a revolver. I have found that my model 10 pencil barrel carries AIWB more comfortably and conceals just as easily as my 642 and I’m way better with the Model 10.

 

[shafter]

As @DustyGmt may have discovered, this can be a can of worms.

There's a logic that presumes that competency in a full-size "X" will more easily translate to smaller sizes of "X."

The proof of the pudding, though, is in the eating. A smaller "X" may not fit a given person better. It also can be "too similar" to its larger version, too.

In my own case, I own a Colt Officer's to go with full size and commander size 1911s. The Officer's has been pressed into duty as a carry item. But, it's not high up on my "preferred carry" list. That has to do with better (or more consistent) accuracy as much as anything else.

SD winds up being very personal. It's unique to each individual. So, the better answer is that we each finds what works best for us, ourselves.

And, of course, in our audience here at THR, we are going to have only a small minority who will only want the one gun and be satisfied.

Thats true, and since grip is such a crucial aspect of good shooting downsizing to a smaller version may not result in the same grip.

 

[JR24]

Practice with what you use, all of the options, enough and it doesn’t much matter.

My nightstand is a Glock and CCW is a Sig.

close enough, practice and dry fire both.

 

[The Night Rider]

I have no problem switching systems. Just not a problem, my brain immediately recognizes which one is in the hand, I never mess up pressing the wrong place for the button etc.

Have you ever had to do it under duress?

 

[.38 Special]

My bedside handgun is my carry handgun, which also is whatever I have been training most intensively with. For most of my life that was revolvers from S&W. Now it's an ugly subcompact Glock.

I don't have much confidence in handguns, though. The Glock holster attached to the bed frame is mostly just a place to keep the gun while I'm asleep. If I have any choice at all, I'll be fighting with a 12 gauge.

 

[The Night Rider]

I only carry 9mm Glocks but there's more to it than just a similar Manual of arms.

I own a Glock 19 and a Glock 26. I have five OEM 12 round magazines for the Glock 26. Every other glock magazine that I own is a Glock 19 magazine. No matter which gun I'm carrying my reload is a Glock 19 magazine.

Logistics is the primary reason for my choice.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I have had mixed feelings about this a while. I can understand how under stress you may not remember a safety if you are not using the same thing consistently. So I have started carrying guns with similar operating styles. So now it’s either the 442 or P9. I really need to shoot more. I think that’s the missing link. If you shoot often this is less of an issue.

 

[JR24]

I have had mixed feelings about this a while. I can understand how under stress you may not remember a safety if you are not using the same thing consistently. So I have started carrying guns with similar operating styles. So now it’s either the 442 or P9. I really need to shoot more. I think that’s the missing link. If you shoot often this is less of an issue.

Snap caps or laser bullets, dry fire and a safe location (I use my basement) can very much help with your draw stroke repetitions without the range time.

Honestly, dry fire is just super useful for all shooting skills (I guess except recoil management).

 

[trackskippy]

Constant handling, dry firing, and shooting of the different types helps keep things fresh in your mind and muscle memory.

Personally, Im not a fan of switching up guns, and think you should pick the gun you shoot best with for your carry gun, and put the bulk of your time in shooting and practicing with it.

I also have and regularly shoot most of the other types too, and I dont have any trouble switching back and forth, but Im constantly shooting and handling all of them too. I wouldn't have any trouble picking any of them up and using them, if need be.

 

[JR24]

Constant handling, dry firing, and shooting of the different types helps keep things fresh in your mind and muscle memory.

Personally, Im not a fan of switching up guns, and think you should pick the gun you shoot best with for your carry gun, and put the bulk of your time in shooting and practicing with it.

I also have and regularly shoot most of the other types too, and I dont have any trouble switching back and forth, but Im constantly shooting and handling all of them too. I wouldn't have any trouble picking any of them up and using them, if need be.

I do agree, I prefer to keep my CCW and HD guns largely the same (striker, DA/SA or SAO) and practice and shoot with that type most. So if I do decide to switch, it’s a whole system change across the board.

But, a fun litmus test I’ve done a number of times is to bring the several types to the range together and run drills one after another, usually cold (for type and grip anyway) and see how I do.

Typically they all run the same for me, I’ve hit the point where it seems the main limiter is simply me. Draw times, splits, changing targets, etc, tend to be equal regardless.

 

[The Night Rider]

Generally speaking if you're a cop or a security guard you don't get to pick what you carry at work. Your employer may issue Glock 17s for patrol and Glock 19s for Plainclothes. That's what you get and you make it work.

When I worked as a security guard two of my employers issued me a company owned handgun and I was absolutely not allowed to carry it (except to and from work) off the clock for any reason. So my work gun and my off the clock gun were different.

The third employer allowed (Or more accurately REQUIRED ) me to purchase my own gun from an approved list. I chose a Glock 19 because it was approved for "Duty" carry and I could carry it concealed off the clock.

Edit in Bold

 

[Blkhrt13]

Snap caps or laser bullets, dry fire and a safe location (I use my basement) can very much help with your draw stroke repetitions without the range time.

Honestly, dry fire is just super useful for all shooting skills (I guess except recoil management).

I have them for the P9 and practice with that trigger.

 

[Rexster]

My S&W, Taurus, and Charter Arms revolvers all have the exact same controls that work the exact same way,

I use different ones for CC and HD, and they are different sizes and calibers. That doesn't matter. They all work just the same.

The cylinder release on the Rugers operates differently and looks different, but my thumb works it automatically. Apparently mashing it forward with your thumb and mashing it down with your thumb can both be accomplished by the roughly the same motion. I don't even notice.

I only have one Colt revolver, a 4" Army Special from the 1920's. The cylinder release really does work differently, so other than age and size, that's one more reason to not carry it.

I, too, have no trouble operating the cylinder releases of S&W and Ruger revolvers. I started with S&W in 1983/1984, with J-, K-, and L-Frames, while beginning my police career*, and started adding Rugers in the very early early Nineties, with the GP100 that is visible as my avatar, at the left of this post. One thumb movement, an inward-and-forward push, accomplishes the release of either system’s cylinder.

I do have one Colt DA Official Police revolver, and find that its cylinder release is very intuitive, and simple to use, when I am shooting lefty, but, it can take a moment of conscious thought to perceive that it is a different mechanism, which is a reason that this Colt is not one of my regularly-carried guns.

*My prior handgunning experience had been with a 1911 pistol. I initially considered revolvers to be quaint, but, I was mandated to start LEO-ing with DA revolvers, and soon learned to like them.

 

[shootstraight57]

I carried my Glock 23 as my duty weapon and also carry it on me for my CCW.

 

[LeftyRed]

My hands have been having more bad days than good lately. So I really like the full/duty sized pistols. I carry AIWB, so it’s really not much difference (for me) carrying a 17/45 vs a 19 especially when using the same holster for all. I find I even leave out the G19 sized pistols and just go with the G26 size or duty. Easier on my hands.

 

[The_Quartermaster]

Just curious how many of you guys who have full/duty sized handguns for off body/nightstand/duty carry a gun of a different make for concealed carry. For instance, if you have a Glock 17 as a nightstand gun or vehicle gun that you don't carry on your person, or if you're LE and your duty gun is a full size Glock 17, do you carry something totally different for concealed carry, like for instance your full size gun is a Glock 17 but when you carry concealed you carry a S&W Shield or Sig P365 or something?

Yes, because one prints, is uncomfortable for me to carry AIWB, but the other does not and can be carried more conveniently.

Just curious, I've been at a couple shoots where I've seen LE's or Citizens who have one gun for duty or HD and carry a totally different gun concealed. I was thinking, would it not be beneficial to carry something similar to your duty gun or HD gun? If you keep a 17 for your HD/Nightstand/Duty/off body gun that you're most comfortable with, would it not make sense to try to use the familiarity to your advantage and choose a Glock 43/26/27/etc? I only use glock as an example, the same could be said for many other manufacturers that make Duty/Compact/sub-compact offerings.

It's the same manual of arms, there's nothing to it really.

Not sure if my question is clear enough, but basically, if your "regular" gun is a Glock full size, why wouldn't you choose a subcompact of the same manufacturer for concealed carry. I was able to witness at a range some time back where a police officer was shooting his G17 very well then switched to his Shield and his shooting seemed to suffer but I offered him a subcompact glock to shoot and he shot that as well or better than his duty gun. I couldn't help but think switching to a Shield with a very different trigger, etc might have been a handicap to his ability to score fast and accurate hits switching from one to the other but then shoots my 43 like it was his......

Not sure what you're getting at, because that's a training issue and not a platform issue. My Shield punches above it's weight in the accuracy department but needs less trigger. My G17 is also lights out but needs more trigger finger. So it's a muscle memory issue more than anything else, making it again a training problem and not a platform problem.

Just some thought vomit. Just wondering your guys thoughts on this. I understand everybody has different tastes and with enough training and experience you can overcome these differences, I know it wasn't uncommon for a cop to carry a Beretta 92FS as their duty gun and a J frame .38 as their BUG. Just thinking if it were me and the gun I shot the most and best, was a Glock 17, I would probably want to carry a G26/43 for BUG or CC. I know, different strokes for different folks. Just a thought....

You're overthinking it. You shoot and carry what carries well and shoots the best in your hands, not what you think is right or "should" be done (it shouldn't and is bad advise if it doesn't shoot well or is carried the best in their hands).

My EDC is a G43X. Not too big to carry appendix, doesn't print, shoots well, carries well, and is carried all day without any discomfort. A G17 or even a G19/G45/G48 cannot, at least in appendix for me at least. And I carry for me, and not what someone else wishes because they'd be wrong in their assessment of things. They can think that they are right and I am wrong but that's the narcissist talking using fallacies for their false argument.

My winter carry is a G17, OWB and not appendix but easier than appendix in the winter due to the amount of layers being worn. Outside of winter, back to appendix which is the majority of the year for me and a tactical advantage. I'd rather have that than a full or a compact at the strong side concealed and slower to draw that's also hard to draw with sitting down, YMMV.

Good topic but still an overthought topic. I'd be more concerned with people not training as they would fight than the sizes being carried or not carried.

 

[Offhand McFlan]

My thoughts generally align with yours. I believe in keeping to the same type of system to maintain familiarity. I'm not LEO just an ordinary citizen. My carry gun today will be my bedside gun tonight. In my case, during the warmer weather, it is a SA hellcat. When the weather gets cool enough, I'll switch to my G19. I have given a lot of consideration to what LEO's refer to as a backup gun, but for my non-LEO self it would serve as an option for very fast and reliable close access: The humble j-frame, LCR, that sort, I don't think can be beat.

That's why I've always wanted to get an m&P 45 to compliment my 9mm shield. The contrast is not only in the size of the gun but also the cartridge.... Yet it's basically the same platform so those two guns paired together would cover a lot of ground.