How do you determine if it will be bad?

[TheFederalistWeasel]

How do you determine if it will be bad?

This thought spawns from another current thread on what gun you train with, in it they talk of, “if it’s bad what gun do you bringâ€.

My question is just what would make you change your carry piece? From say a small single stack to a high capacity handgun, or the addition of a spare mag, or two, or three.

If it’s that bad why not call of the journey, or maybe you can’t, grandma lives on the edge of cracktown and Christmas dinner is a mandatory visit?

For me personally I’m “fairly†comfortable with a single stack Sig 239 and a spare mag, every once in a while I’ll take a high cap gun out for a stroll but I’d say it’s more me just wanting a change than any one specific threat.

Now having said that I would probably change my carry habits if say some nut I locked up is out on bond etc… and he specifically mad threats against my family or me.

But anyway, what would make you change your carry piece/habits? Would it be something you caught wind of say in the news, word of mouth on the street, or would it be just the locale of your destination?


Say you were over nighting in a city in your home state, for whatever reason and this was a larger city, one that had all the larger city problems.

Would this make you change?

When would you toss a long gun into the mix, if at all?



Points to ponder...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I start with the gun I want when the going gets rough -- a M1911 (currently a Kimber Custom Classic.) I normally carry with an 8-round magazine in the gun (plus one up the spout) and a second 8-rounder on my belt.

Now, if I were working under contract in Iraq, say, I'd probably add a couple of extra mags to that -- but I can't think of any other changes I'd make,

 

[Moparmike]

Rule for a Knife fight:
Bring a gun.

Rules for a gunfight:
Bring a gun.
Preferably a long gun.
Bring your friends with long guns.
Bring plenty of ammo.
Hide your friends well, incase your enemy is doing the same.

 

[Double Maduro]

I almost always carry the same, Ruger P90 with spare mag.

If I feel like dressing down I might carry my Makarov or my 2".357.

DM

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Yeah, on less formal occasions, I'll drop my Detective Special in my pocket.

 

[Standing Wolf]

...what would make you change your carry piece/habits? Would it be something you caught wind of say in the news, word of mouth on the street, or would it be just the locale of your destination?

I stay out of ugly destinations.

I normally carry a .357 magnum revolver of one size or another. I'm sure it's enough gun for any situation I'm ever likely to find myself in. In the event of serious general ugliness, I could easily relegate my usual .357 magnum to the position of back up gun and openly carry a .44 magnum.

 

[P95Carry]

Usually my SP and a speedloader - or as now - for a change - my BHP and a spare mag. I rarely ''gear up'' ... partly because I am lucky to be in and around an area which is essentially pretty trouble free.

I did tho quite recently when having to spend a day in Pittsburg, ''tool up'' a bit more - mainly because I knew we would have to pass thru some less than ideal areas. I do of course do everything to stay clear of both trouble and areas which might invite such.

I added my R9 as a pocket BUG and had the BHP plus two spare magws. I had the SP also with me but that was in the truck, available for Mrs P95.

I think it best to over carry when circumstances just might be less than ideal .... but on balance wish to only carry one piece - it is more comfortable for starters!!

 

[Tom Servo]

Weasel, you and I carry the same thing, and I can't think of a civilian scenario in which 15 rounds wouldn't be enough. Possibly, if I were caught in the midst of a mass-terrorist action or something, but otherwise, it's likely I'll only be firing one or two shots anyway. The spare mag is more of a precaution against the (highly unlikely, I know, but I've carried 1911s) possibility of a malfunction.

Even against a group of toughs, most likely a few rounds into the first guy would demoralize the rest. They don't know how many rounds I'm carrying, and they don't care. They only know that I'm spitting hypersonic lead, and that they should look for a softer target. If a situation arises where I'm going to need more than 15 rounds, I'm just laying down enough fire to cover my tookus while I back out.

That said, I go with a) what's reliable, b) what I shoot well, and c) what's comfortable to carry. I've got a 228, and I love it, but under anything other than a coat OWB, it's unworkable for concealment. The 239 is perfect for me (I'm a skinny guy), followed closely by a Kimber (again, 15 rounds total).

If a gun comes along that fits those criteria better, I'd consider switching, but I feel equipped for pretty much anything that comes along as it is

 

[jpIII]

Say you were over nighting in a city in your home state, for whatever reason and this was a larger city, one that had all the larger city problems.

I typically carry what I can get away with while wearing the same clothes I would be wearing anyway. Unless I'm in the woods/ farm etc, then its usually just a snub with a few speedstrips. If I'm going into more rural areas, I might consider a long gun. coyotes and all......

I also have a sig239, but being a rather small person, I find that I can only carry this as a winter gun.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I have no way to determine that some future event will be bad and hence go about custom choosing what gun I want to carry. I just assume that if something happens, it is going to be bad and so carry accordingly. It is best to be prepared for something bad and have something only minor happen than it is to be prepared for something minor and end up with something bad.

Of course, if I knew something bad was going to happen, then I would endeavor to not be where things are going to be bad. After all, the best defense is to not be there (there being the place where things have gone bad). If you aren't there, then it is hard for you to get harmed or killed by the event.

In the words of the knights in Monty Python's "Search for the Holy Grail," "Run away! Run away!"

 

[victory]

My Glock 26 will do just fine. If i need more gun, i'm not going for a bigger handgun before i go for a rifle.

 

[bratch]

Sounds familiar....

To me bad can be many things.

A new city you do not know. It can be easy to end up in the wrong spot and never know it.

Having to travel to a bad area for what ever reason.

Knowing you are going to be out late.

Personal threats.

This summer I will be in Denver. Needless to say it has more problems than Norman, OK. During the day I will have a PM9 due to dress requirments and feel prefectly fine with that due to the circumstances. If for whatever reason I end up downtown at night I will probably have a fullsize with me. Same area (I will work downtown) just different circumstances to me.

 

[enfield]

If I expect it to be bad, I ain't going. Simple as that.

 

[juggler]

If I expect it to be bad, I ain't going. Simple as that.

What he said.
Otherwise it will be what I train with, a Glock 27 and 1 spare mag.

 

[B36]

Bring the long gun

Always

If you carry a handgun, you always should have at least one spare. Otherwise .

Remember the most common gun stoppage

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Amen -- carry the gun you want to USE when the chips are down, and carry at least one reload.

And if you KNOW you're going into harm's way, carry a rifle or shotgun.

 

[itgoesboom]

Okay, here is an example.

Until this year, I carried a Bersa .380, usually with one, occasionally 2 extra mags.

I felt pretty confident. I can fire that piece extremely quickly and accurately. I couldn't imagine a situation where I would need something more that that. I avoid stop and robs, I live in a nice area, I work in a nice area.

Why would I need more?

Well, I decided to pick up another pistol anyways, and started to carry a 10+1 9mm plus an extra mag. Didn't really feel like I would ever need it, but it was nice to know I have it.

All that changed early this year though.

A few weeks after I started to carry my new XD-9 subcompact, a Sheriff Deputy came into my place of work, distrubting mug shots of some very bad people.

These guys had been hitting many of the local shops where I work, sneaking in and out, usually without a confrontation, and doing ID theft. While that is worrisome enough, all of them have extensive criminal histories, many times using weapons and violence, and are already "flagged" as armed.

The day the Deputy showed up, the little restraunt a few doors down was hit.

The Deputy showed us the pictures, gave us their physical descriptions (ie. HUGE) and informed us that one of them had on occasion taken entire safes, and not the small ones.

Even worse, they gave us the descriptions of their vehicles, and it turned out that very day they had been scoping out our business. One co-worker had seen them parked in our parking area, waiting in front of our business, and I personally witnessed the other pull in to our area as well.

After looking at the photos, and seeing the criminal history of these guys, I stated to feel undergunned. 9mm didn't seem very good anymore, even though I really know that I am well armed.

Not showing up to work was not an option either.

While I currently carry that same 9mm today, whenever I look at those mugshots, and I do check them often, I can't help but wish that I had gone with a .45acp.

BTW, We get a letter every few weeks warning us about another break in that these guys have pulled lately, or that people matching their descriptions have been seen in our area.

I.G.B.

 

[JerryM]

itgoesboom,

Here is a thread which discussed the difference.

When Ammolab was up, I looked at the results of the tests. I concluded that with the best ammunition in each cartridge, that there is not a nickels worth of difference between the 9x19, .357 Sig, .40, and .45 ACP.

I will admit that if I knew I was going to have to go up against someone, I would rather have a .45.
However, because of the weight and size, I usually carry my Kahr P9, G26, or a Smith 640 .357.

I don't feel undergunned with any of those. It is important to realize, and I assume you do, that it is likely going to take several good hits to put someone down in many circumstances.
It is important to be skilled enough to get good COM hits, and especially if there are two or more perps.

Once I read that if there are more than one, every body gets first before anyone gets seconds. Of course that would have to be modified in some cases.

Don't be too concerned about the 9mm. It is as good as anything else. Use the best ammo, and that may be Ranger T, and you will not have to lose because of your gun. I carry Ranger T and Corbon 125 gr in my guns most of the time.

Jerry

 

[aroshi]

I cannot determine if things will be bad.

In any case, I wouldn't carry if I didn't think things could get bad, but they can, so I carry. The ONLY time I will ever (hopefully never) unconceal for the express purpose of use is when it is bad. Therefore, I see no reason to carry anything other than what I would want on me when it is bad.

Personally, it's a Sig P229, spare mag, and cuffs. Each holds 12 rnds, plus one in the chute makes it exactly 25 rounds of .40S&W. Exactly 10 inches of death.

 

[m60a3]

When I was in charge of transporting weapons (fully automatic) I carried a glock 17 and four spare mags. That was for my personal protection in case someone tried to highjack the shipment. Since my chain of command wouldn't authorize us to carry weapons I felt no responsibility to protect the weapons. When I transported payroll I carried the same plus two studs I trusted with M16's and .45's. Now I carry a 2 1/2" 66 because I like smiths and figure that 18 rds of 158 gr 357 ammo is adequate for my situation as a civilian. If I expect trouble I like an ar and lots of mags, but I usually let the police handle it. I keep a glock 20 loaded with three spare mags as my night gun, just in case.