If You Could Have Only One Carry Piece For SD What Would It Be?

[The Night Rider]

I would say a Glock 17 or 22 but when I go to the gym I'm limited to a Glock 26 in Smartcarry; in order to accommodate the gym, Glock 26.

Is the gym in a "good area "?

 

[.45Coltguy]

My current and only SD handgun is a Springfield mil-spec 1911 in 45 Auto. I figure if 9 rounds of Federal 230gr HST +p isn't enough I need to consider just running away. Lol.

Now this fella just answered for me. But, I have been known to carry one of my SAA replicas in .45 Colt while fiddling about in the Eastern Sierra's here, usually trout fishing a stream.

 

[JoeHenry]

One of my J frames is my go to. If I think there is a need an Sig P365 offers more rounds to put down range.

 

[tomrkba]

One and one only is tough.

Examples:

1) S&W 629 4" revolver. Large and handles mid-range 44 Magnum. Ballistically covers all realistic scenarios between 44 Special and 44 Magnum. Personal defense, black bears, deer, etc. Load it with hotter ammo for hiking out West. Downsides are that it's harder to conceal and carrying spare ammunition can be annoying.

2) Commander-Sized pistol in 45 ACP: 1911 Commander, Glock 20.4, Glock 21.4, S&W M&P 45 FS M2.0, SIG P220. I have lots of experience with carrying these guns. They all work well but occasionally can be difficult to dress around.

3) Commander Sized pistol in 9x19mm: 1911 Commander 9mm, Glock 17, Glock 45, S&W M&P 9 FS M2.0, HK P30, SIG P320 FS: Now that we're moving down to 9x19mm, critter defense is out except for the bark. It's great for training since ammo costs half that of 45 ACP. Still can be difficult to dress around.

4) Glock 19 Class: G19, HK P30SK, Glock 48, S&W M&P Compact M2.0, SIG P229, CZ P10C, SIG P320, etc. Again, it's 9x19. The HK45 Compact LEM is the same size and you get 45 ACP.

5) Compact Class: Glock 43, SIG P365 (and variants), etc. All good, but still small 9mm.

6) Pocket: Kahr PM9, Ruger LCP, S&W J-Frame. All are good to carry, harder to shoot, and have weaker ballistics.


So given that I really like 44 Magnum and 45 ACP, then I'd end up choosing between the 44 Magnum revolver and either a Glock 21, HK45C LEM or 1911.

 

[psp7304]

Glock 26

 

[sparkyv]

Standard, Plain-Jane P365, hands down. It's reliable, it shoots well, and I can shoot it well, even with my meaty clubs. This little gem never fails to put a smile on my face.

 

[LeftyRed]

I love my G26, but it’s just for work carry anymore. So I would choose from the following:
1) G42, cause it’s a Glock and it’s accurate
2) J Frame-would be a toss up between my 43c or 351c. I have a couple 642s, but the more time I put in the rimfire ones the more I like them.
3) LCP Gen 2 or LCPII. Concealed carry champ!
4) any Taurus or Ruger snubbie.

 

[lee n. field]

In another thread ,Tallball made the remark that his selection under those circumstances would be a S&W Snub .38.

Made me wonder what other High Roaders would pick. Please let us know.
If you wish, add a 2nd or 3rd option. And tell us why.

It is hard to choose!

One of my .38 snubs. Because thatś what I'm carrying now. It's what I've carried most in the decade now since this backward state finally got CCW.

Why that? It's complicated/not complicated. They're probably the safest thing to carry, for the 99.99...% of the time when you need it to not go off. Revolvers have a very high wall to get over, to have an "inadvertent discharge". A lot of Internet gun enthusiasts seem to think they're perfectly "switched on", all the time. (Think, the "this is my safety" guy, as he holds up his hooked index finger.) I think that's a fantasy.

Other choices? I've got some small single stack 9mms, of the sort very popular this past decade up until the P365 came out. One of them.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Standard, Plain-Jane P365, hands down. It's reliable, it shoots well, and I can shoot it well, even with my meaty clubs. This little gem never fails to put a smile on my face.

See I had one with the built-in flush green dot thingy and I just don't really like 9mm that much so I got my big 1911 instead. Now if someone made the same style gun but in 45 Auto I'd be all over that lol.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Now this fella just answered for me. But, I have been known to carry one of my SAA replicas in .45 Colt while fiddling about in the Eastern Sierra's here, usually trout fishing a stream.

Haha funny you mention that, I have a Pietta SAA 45 Colt clone as well with the corresponding cowboy belt rig.

 

[tomrkba]

I did forget about the K and L Frame sized revolvers in 357 Magnum. I have a minty Model 19 with 4" barrel that is nearly perfect. I'm not sure I could carry it. Maybe I'd acquire a new one and just use that. 357 Magnum certainly is very versatile.

However, given that 10mm Buffalo Bore or Underwood ammo is within 5% of their equivalent 357 Magnum loads, it seems to me a Glock 20.4 or 20.5 would be a great choice. You could go down to a Glock 29 and install a longer barrel (such that it all still fits in a Glock 20 holster) to get better performance. Or, you could chop the 20 to take 29 mags. A 1911 Commander in 10mm probably wouldn't be bad either, assuming that the maker knew which loads you wanted to use and tuned it properly.

 

[EMC45]

Glock slimline G36 .45 ACP

View attachment 1157180
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Would be interesting if ShieldArms came out with a metal magazine that held a few more rounds, but that would also make the pistol heavier, and at around 27 oz. loaded 6+1, it is a very nice carry.

I called Shield and asked if they were coming out with a 9 round mag for the G42. They said couldn't discuss future projects over the phone. They have the X9 mag for the G43 which takes the gun from 6 to 9 rounds. I agree - the same would be super cool for the G36.

 

[sparkyv]

That SAS green thingy was pretty much a dud. Many unsatisfied SAS owners out there. Shame on SIG for putting out that P365 offering.

See I had one with the built-in flush green dot thingy

 

[Gun-Reck]

I called Shield and asked if they were coming out with a 9 round mag for the G42. They said couldn't discuss future projects over the phone. They have the X9 mag for the G43 which takes the gun from 6 to 9 rounds. I agree - the same would be super cool for the G36.

There is plenty of room in the mag well for a 6-7 round flush, or 7-8 round OEM length mag.

Don't know about the market forces.

 

[Zeabed]

Just one? Then this, for several reasons.

 

[Ks5shooter]

 

[WrongHanded]

I'd probably say this G29.

If not the G29, I guess it'd have to be the G23.4 with .357SIG conversion.

Smaller guns can make concealed carry in certain places much easier. But I'd hate being limited to something small enough to easily fit in my pants pocket.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Something that started with CZ.

 

[huntsman]

G19, wouldn’t be as comfortable around the house but overall carry would work fine.

 

[EMC45]

Actually carried my Model 31 today.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Carried my 43x today as well.So did my wife.

 

[Spats McGee]

Shield Plus. It's what I carry about 99% of the time, anyway.

 

[Terry G]

Something that started with CZ.

I'm with you.

 

[Terry G]

Tried a bunch of others and like a lot of them, but still go back to the P-01 Omega.

 

[huntsman]

Shield Plus. It's what I carry about 99% of the time, anyway.

That would be my second choice and I’m carrying mine a lot.

But if I’m forced to only one option the G19 is only a few ounces more than the plus and it’s vetted as a service pistol