Cost and ability to easily replace are not relevant to me. I carry a very hard to find firearm that I can't afford at the asking price of the last one I seen for sale. My only concern if I have to use it, is to be the one who walks away unharmed.
Mindset Behind Expense Of Carry Piece
- Thread starter Mr. Mosin
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LUCKYDAWG13
Member
I just carry a Glock it's a Tool that works I shoot mine well my 48 shoots just like my 21 they work the same if I ever need to replace
my new Glock will work the same
my new Glock will work the same
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Anchorite
Member
We already carry cell phones worth several hundred dollars. In my opinion, carry an effective caliber, and a replaceable piece. As a lawyer, I can attest to the evidence locker being a black hole. Not smart to tote that heirloom or custom piece.
If it saves my bacon I would say I am a genius. Who cares about the firearm at that point?
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So, let's recap. We have quoted guys in the OP who carry all kinds of guns, some of which seem to be COS play as compared to a realistic fighting firearm for SD. You can get a quite decent SD gun for $400-500 and avoid silliness like antiques or SAA guns. If you are in an incident, losing the gun is the least of your worries as the costs of your defense will swamp the cost of another $400 gun. These points have been made by the sensible posters in this thread (thank you). The OP would be wise to take counsel from legitimate sources and trainers on the usage of gun and the legal issues. Buddies - not a good source unless they have credentials far beyond what we usually see from 'buddy' advice on gun forums.
Anymore to be said? Get a good gun and train.
Anymore to be said? Get a good gun and train.
Zerodefect
member
I'm assuming that the OP hasn't cut a check for legal advice or an ER surgery?
Pistol cost is immaterial. Get the system works best for you, regardless of price. This is why I never recommend budget 1911's. Don't cut corners on holster, ammo, or mags either. Buy a shot timer. Seek out the most training you can afford.
If you have to own a dozen pistols before you start to see a pattern that works for you, so be it. But the right trainers, a shot timer, and picking up a few shooting friends along the way, helps keep costs down. My favorite trainer recommends not bringing a pistol to class if you're a complete newb. They'll provide a normal selection that'll point you in the right direction. A good trainer will be able to point out if something isn't working for you. Some people struggle with older pistol types.
If your shot timer says that you draw a Glock 23 and get 7 rounds on target, 0.5 seconds quicker than with a 1911, revolver, or da/sa auto, so be it. That's what my timer says, so there I am. I don't really even like Glocks. But for me, that's the best choice.
But don't carry a heirloom that you're grandfather gave you. Unless it's a beat up 1911 that he carried his whole life, and it was intended for you to carry.
Even then, losing a heirloom ain't as bad as an early coffin.
Pistol cost is immaterial. Get the system works best for you, regardless of price. This is why I never recommend budget 1911's. Don't cut corners on holster, ammo, or mags either. Buy a shot timer. Seek out the most training you can afford.
If you have to own a dozen pistols before you start to see a pattern that works for you, so be it. But the right trainers, a shot timer, and picking up a few shooting friends along the way, helps keep costs down. My favorite trainer recommends not bringing a pistol to class if you're a complete newb. They'll provide a normal selection that'll point you in the right direction. A good trainer will be able to point out if something isn't working for you. Some people struggle with older pistol types.
If your shot timer says that you draw a Glock 23 and get 7 rounds on target, 0.5 seconds quicker than with a 1911, revolver, or da/sa auto, so be it. That's what my timer says, so there I am. I don't really even like Glocks. But for me, that's the best choice.
But don't carry a heirloom that you're grandfather gave you. Unless it's a beat up 1911 that he carried his whole life, and it was intended for you to carry.
Even then, losing a heirloom ain't as bad as an early coffin.
Varminterror
Member
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- Jul 17, 2016
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- 15,077
I’d tend to think if my great grandpa found out I’d used his old pistol to save my own life of those of my family, I don’t expect his mind would be at ease in my success, and less concerned with the potential loss of the firearm.
Most of my carry this year has been a pistol which cost me $1500 plus sales tax and took 3months on a wait list for a serial number and 138 days for a stamp. I bought it to carry, so I carry it. If it were smaller, I would never carry anything else.
Most of my carry this year has been a pistol which cost me $1500 plus sales tax and took 3months on a wait list for a serial number and 138 days for a stamp. I bought it to carry, so I carry it. If it were smaller, I would never carry anything else.
Oldschool shooter
Member
Can't say that I've given the cost of a carry gun any thought. Most days I carry a j-frame 638. If I am going into a less than desirable area, the 638 is my backup and I may carry a Performance Center .40 Shield or HK VP9SK with extra mags. The main thing for me is that I know these guns have always been reliable, and I shoot them well. I think those arethe most important qualities in an EDC.
Task, features..........if it checks the boxes, buy it.
Never really worried about cost (am not rich).
Carry gun or hunting gun, doesn't matter.
Seems to be (IMHO) that one can be content in the middle zone of price.
If willing to buy used, can actually get a lot more for the money.
Never really worried about cost (am not rich).
Carry gun or hunting gun, doesn't matter.
Seems to be (IMHO) that one can be content in the middle zone of price.
If willing to buy used, can actually get a lot more for the money.
He wasn't suggesting that you shouldn't use it if it's what you have at the time. If it's what's available, use it, but why carry a heirloom or highly valuable weapon when a $500 one will just as well or better? I think that's the point some of the folks here are trying to make. Obviously it'd be stupid to carry a low quality, unreliable weapon just because of price, but the reality is, a stock $500 Glock is every bit as reliable as a $2000 custom 1911 or grandpas old Colt SAA or whatever (probably more reliable in many cases). Why not carry the lower cost, more easily replaced weapon since it'll do the exact same job just as well?
Carry what you want and don’t worry about cost of the gun and it being seized. It should not even enter your mind.
guyfromohio
Member
I let that go a long time ago. Carry what you feel best suits your needs and wants. If an incident occurs, the expense of your firearm is the least of your worries. I carry anything from a $330 642 to a $3500 Wilson ULCC. I never think of the cost while carrying.
Too late for us here. It's already entered.
RetiredUSNChief
Member
If it's a collectors item...I wouldn't expect it to be carried.
Anything else should fall under "practicality and utilitarian" categories. How much you want to spend on that is up to you, including any personal reasons you may have about it.
I you want to carry a $3,000 custom 1911 Colt .45 ACP, more power to you. If you want to carry a no-frills 1911 style pistol you found for $450, great.
Regardless, I'm not likely to say anything adverse about what you spent on it. I'm more likely to want to talk about practicality.
Do aspects of your customization affect concealability? Might they hinder your ability to draw from concealment? What are safe holster requirements? Do your modifications really help or hinder in a self-defense scenario as opposed to simple range shooting or competitive shooting?
The bottom line is NOTHING you carry is truly likely to be "irreplacable". Expensive, yes. Hard to find, yes. Irreplaceable? No.
Anything else should fall under "practicality and utilitarian" categories. How much you want to spend on that is up to you, including any personal reasons you may have about it.
I you want to carry a $3,000 custom 1911 Colt .45 ACP, more power to you. If you want to carry a no-frills 1911 style pistol you found for $450, great.
Regardless, I'm not likely to say anything adverse about what you spent on it. I'm more likely to want to talk about practicality.
Do aspects of your customization affect concealability? Might they hinder your ability to draw from concealment? What are safe holster requirements? Do your modifications really help or hinder in a self-defense scenario as opposed to simple range shooting or competitive shooting?
The bottom line is NOTHING you carry is truly likely to be "irreplacable". Expensive, yes. Hard to find, yes. Irreplaceable? No.
JR24
Member
Agree.
A keepsake or irreplaceable gun wouldn't see much holster time (maybe still some) but not because of cost.
I carry what is the right combination of concealment, caliber, capacity, and shoots how I like (trigger, features, performance, etc). If I own it, I can afford it so cost isn't a consideration.
If I'm carrying my $2500 Wilson and it saves my life, in a good shoot, and it gets lost or whatever. Still money well spent.
Anchorite
Member
I have personal experience with clients who lost nice pieces, as in never got it back from the police - lost in evidence room black hole forever. Does that heirloom really do any better than a throw-away? I guess that will always be a personal decision. Me? Does that original Python do any better than a Glock 19? Seriously?
Anchorite
Member
JR24
Member
It certainly does depend on how you define "better", for sure. There are metrics one can try to determine (draw speed, splits, time over various courses of fire, etc) performance and in some cases a lesser option might perform just as well, and in other cases it may not.
As you say, it's a decision to be made by each person.
For instance I still debate between my affordable, easily replaceable Glock 19 and my less easily replaceable Wilson EDC X9. I do shoot them remarkably close to the same inside 20 yards, longer and the Wilson trigger puts me ahead by a good margin. Draw is faster with the Glock by a smidge but splits are generally a bit faster and tighter with Wilson. I do appreciate the added safety margin while holstering, but that is mitigated easily enough on the Glock with various methods.
Will any of it help me if I ever (hopefully never) need it? Who knows. The chances of needing to draw are slim, shoot slimmer still so I mostly go with what makes me happy and move on.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,313
I can replace everything I own except my body. I am more concerned with making sure anything I carry runs 100%, than what it cost, that is inconsequential as I am worth more than all of them combined, let alone just one (Ok, that last part is just my opinion).
Random 8
Member
My carry piece is inexpensive, not for the "not getting it back" reason, but rather due to the conditions in which I carry. I'm no gentleman with a sidearm, I'm a pipeliner with a pistol. I fully expect to destroy or severely damage it someday. It has taken significant abuse in the cosmetic department. That said, I make no compromise on performance. I carry an FNS. It rattles when you shake it, but goes bang whether caked in directional drilling fluid, mud, sand, ice, snow, and hits what I point it at. A finer arm with tighter tolerances might work against me. If I needed a 2k pistol to function in my severe service, I'd carry one.
halfmoonclip
Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2011
- Messages
- 2,865
Tend to be of the 'modern poly tool' school of thot', Glock 42 or SIG P365, with a Centennial tossed in now and again.
Few things are harder on a gun than carrying it, save dragging it behind the Jeep with a log chain. A carry gun will show wear, and it seems foolish to scuff up an expensive/difficult to replace gun.
Now, we're assuming that the poly wonder is reliable, shoots straight, and works for you...not compromising just for 'cheap'.
Also, a poster elsewhere commented that even a legit encounter with the police may result in you, literally, dropping your gun. Don't mind dropping the 365 on concrete if I have to.
It's been my habit to do the 'pair and a spare' plan, and in some coming bad time, parts scavenging could be necessary. A PP suggested a rotation that sounded really sensible with 3 guns.
If modern guns weren't so (relatively) cheap and worked so well, perhaps I could justify a really expensive carry gun. But it doesn't take megabucks for a decent carry piece.
If ya' got the bucks, and that's what makes you happy, go for it. I'd rather drop that money on some range queens.
Moon
Few things are harder on a gun than carrying it, save dragging it behind the Jeep with a log chain. A carry gun will show wear, and it seems foolish to scuff up an expensive/difficult to replace gun.
Now, we're assuming that the poly wonder is reliable, shoots straight, and works for you...not compromising just for 'cheap'.
Also, a poster elsewhere commented that even a legit encounter with the police may result in you, literally, dropping your gun. Don't mind dropping the 365 on concrete if I have to.
It's been my habit to do the 'pair and a spare' plan, and in some coming bad time, parts scavenging could be necessary. A PP suggested a rotation that sounded really sensible with 3 guns.
If modern guns weren't so (relatively) cheap and worked so well, perhaps I could justify a really expensive carry gun. But it doesn't take megabucks for a decent carry piece.
If ya' got the bucks, and that's what makes you happy, go for it. I'd rather drop that money on some range queens.
Moon
My carry pieces have always been the best that I could afford at the time, were as close to 100% reliable (that I defined as firing all of my carry loads & reloads without a hickup) and were as powerful a cartridge as I could get my hands on.
My 9mm for quite some time was a KelTec P11 stoked with +P+ ammo. sure hard on the gun, but my hide was definitely worth it. Same wen't for my Duty Glock, and Sig both in 9mm and my 38 snub nosed off duty
My 9mm for quite some time was a KelTec P11 stoked with +P+ ammo. sure hard on the gun, but my hide was definitely worth it. Same wen't for my Duty Glock, and Sig both in 9mm and my 38 snub nosed off duty
I don 't ever buy anything "irreplaceable", to begin with. Furthermore, statistics state that if you use a little sense, make good decisions, SA, and live in a good area, you're not likely to get jumped, in the first place. When you also consider that you have to handle your carry firearm every day, how many people want to carry some junky gun ? I'd rather carry something nice, on the off-chance it saves my hide. and gets taken, I'll somehow manage to learn to live with it.
Kevin Rohrer
Member
I don't carry junk, but I also don't have anything that cannot be replaced.
Anchorite
Member
Ditto your philosophy.
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