Quest for the "ideal for you" carry gun

[bersaguy]

Yeah...I've circled back 3 times now. Started with a Bersa 380CC, then...Taurus TCP, Kahr CW9, Ruger LCP, different Taurus TCP, Ruger SR9C, Springfield 911(still carry on occasion) and back to yet another Taurus TCP. I'm fine with 380 (obviously) I've carried this latest Taurus for 4 years now, regardless if I continue to carry it, I'm not selling it, can't stand the idea of having to buy another one.

 

[Tactical Lever]

I've got a hammer in my toolbox. There are other tools in that toolbox. And I have other toolboxes, for different types of work. I do a lot of steel work, but haven't used my carpentry tools or plumbing tools in a long while. When I need them, they'll be there waiting.

Stop selling your guns, and you won't keep feeling like you're losing money. That's my two cents.

Agree with all of this. Highly dependent on what you're carrying for. Weather, location, perceived need.

Probably room for a couple good all-arounders in there. And what I might like, or preferences may or may not make sense for carry.

Always been a steel gun guy, and I like revolvers. But darn it, a polymer 9 just kind of makes sense!

 

[98s1lightning]

After trying many, and extensively studying and researching all available options.

HK P30SK LEM I wouldn't trade it for any other model.

I'm talking for concealed carry, jeans and a t shirt. Or with a hoody even better.

 

[Dibbs]

JMHO, we're all slaves to either convenience or expediency. My first carry was far different than
what I do now. Probably the only difference for many folks is how concerned they are about CCW,
in the first place. Many of us still consider "what do I want to have with me, when I need it" vs the
folks who have pared it down to a bare minimum.

My view is I use a multi-tool and flashlight several times a day. I've never used the gun once.
How much space and weight should I commit to the stuff I KNOW I'm going to use, VS something
which I may never use?

 

[Paul7]

I have settled on a G42 .380, concealable, light, and about the same power as a .38 Special. In the real world there isn't much difference when perps are shot with a .380 or other handgun calibers.

 

[nettlle]

I didn't start carrying concealed until about 2 years ago. Went through a few types and brands of holsters and got that worked out. I really didn't want the cost or the trouble of trying multiple guns so I came up with some guidelines for a everyday carry gun. Although there is nothing at all wrong with pocket carry I wanted a holster gun. Weight, capacity, accuracy, dependability and size were my determining factors.

This narrowed he choices down to very few.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I've only been carrying for 3yrs or so. In that short time I've been through several guns and accessories.

I've found for me personally I grew to care much less about "printing" and more about being able to actually draw and use my firearm, as well as wanting decent capacity given the times we're living in.

I've settled on a G26 with extended mags in a OWB configuration currently. I dont suspect anything to change but if it did it would be something larger and I could certainly carry my G17 in the same setup if needed.

 

[entropy]

I carry what I've bought, and buy what I like to shoot, or have shot (rent or friends' guns) and think would be a good carry gun. I've carried guns from a High Standard .22 Mag O/U derringer to a 6" Colt Trooper. I've lately been considering a 9mm CCW, though I got out of 9mm about 10 years ago when I sold my SUB-2000 and Star BM. I have loads of brass.....

 

[Catpop]

The best ccw is one that is totally concealed! The less show the better! The element of surprise gives you the best advantage in a live/death situation!
I carry RUGER LCP or a SW 642 and neither is in a holster!

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I think the number of years a person has been carrying concealed plays in here also. Burnout does happen.

 

[TRX]

I've occasionally carried a .380 in my pocket. I have a nice De Santis shoulder rig to hold a 1911 when the weather is cool enough for a jacket or vest. But 99+% of the time, I'm carrying a .38 snubby in an upside-down shoulder rig under a polo shirt or T-shirt. I've tried a bunch of other holsters and guns. I don't even *like* revolvers much, but none of the autoloaders have been as concealable and comfortable as the revolver.

If the Financial Windfall Fairy were to boink me with her wand, the logical upgrade would be to buy one of those scandium-frame Smith .44s, bob the barrel down to 3", and have a competent leathersmith make a new pouch for my shoulder rig. But until that happens, I'm probably going to keep carrying the snubby...

 

[Tallball]

I've carried off and on for about 30 years. I've carried very regularly for the past five years or so.

For me there is no handgun that is perfect for every situation. It depends on where I am, what I'm doing, what I'm wearing, the time of year, etc. I have around six handguns that I carry sometimes. Lately it's the LCR or LCP about 90% of the time, but there are situations when something else is better suited.

 

[Old Dog]

Over the past thirty-plus years I've carried (these were the regulars, there were many others I experimented with for weeks at a time): S&W Model 36, S&W Model 10 snubby, Colt Model 10 and 15 4" barrel, Colt Combat Commander, Colt LW Commander, SIG P-228, Star PD, Star Firestar .40 S&W, S&W 3913, S&W Model 66 snubby, Glock 23, SIG P-229, SIG P-227 Carry.

Past coupla years, mostly a SIG P-228 or 229, but used a S&W 442 as a BUG and a year or so ago, replaced that with a SIG P-938. However, in the past few months I've been seriously digging the SIG P-365 which I am starting to believe may be at the top of the list for best concealed carry pistol ever. 10 or 12 round capacity plus one … Great sights, trigger, ergonomics, accuracy, just plain feels great in the hand, points well and conceals ever so well …

 

[jar]

As the times and situations change so does my carry choice. What was near perfect in the 1950s Baltimore suburbs or the 1960s Arizona or Pre-Reagan California is different than what was near perfect in Post-Reagan California or in the 70s Atlanta or 80s Savannah or today in South Texas. So my carry changes based on the era, location, tastes, availability and situation.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

The sooner you realize the "quest" is really a journey and not a destination the better off you'll be.
Enjoy the journey.

Good way to phrase it. I went on a journey to find the perfect handgun for myself for EDC. Spent 6 months of shooting different firearms. At my club we have many members that will share there gun, and we do this fairly often. I also rented a lot of guns. Yes, it would sound like a long time, but I enjoyed the journey. I like shooting new guns and I shot a lot of nice firearms. Everyone has certain traits they look for in their perfect gun. What is right for one person is not right for another. Size, weight, balance, and on a no. All the firearms are similar, but all all unique at the same time. I guess guns are like People.
For myself, the journey paid off. I had a friend let me shoot his Beretta Nano and right away knew I found just what I wanted.

That said, I carry different gun and all of them I like to shoot often.

1) Beretta Pico-always
2) Beretta Nano during winter months and on trips and throughout the year.
3) LCR9mm

And coming back from the range today after shooting the Lighweight (6.6 oz) Kel-tec,P32, know that there will be HOT, HUMID days when dressed in shorts and tee shirt, that this will be a carried firearm.

Yes I have other similar guns in the same size and weight. But these the one's that have proven themselves to my personal taste and needs.

And like Farmer said, I have a SR9C, that for that class of size gun. is fine enough and no need to spend more money just because I want others.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Right now I'm enjoying 1 of 2 carry options, depending on how concealed I need to go. If loose fitting clothing is the order of the day, the Kahr K9 is on deck. If it's hot enough to cook an egg on your back, the Kahr cw380 is my guy. I only recently bought the cw, but boy am I impressed! Cycles like a champ, shoots as well as I do, and can disappear in any size pocket.

I have a friend who carries and loves the Bodyguard (not by cup of tea, but small and accurate), and another who carries and loves the Sig p938.

 

[TN Outlaw]

The ideal carry for me, is having multiple guns of differing shapes, sizes, and weights to choose from for whatever the situation calls for. So far I haven't found one gun that is ideal for everything for me personally.

For times a tiny gun is the only way i can remain armed, I have a Diamondback DB9 9x19mm in a Desantis pocket holster or an even smaller NAA Pug 22wmr in a Blackhawk pocket holster.

When I have plenty of cover garments I carry a 681 S&W 357mag in a Galco owb or a Glock 20 in a Desantis owb. If I have plenty of cover garments but will be doing more strenuous movement I carry a Glock 29 or even the G20 in a FoxX iwb holster.

For most avg occasions I find I either have my Glock 43 in a Crossbreed supertuck iwb or in a Nemisis pocket holster or more recently a CZ P10c in a FoxX iwb.

Variety is ideal for me.

 

[<*(((><]

I think I'm done chasing down "perfect". It pains me to think of how much $ and effort I have dumped over the years in this endeavor. Some of those guns were really expensive, and now I am carrying a pretty darn good gun that PSA has on sale for $250. Does anyone else feel the same? And I'm not just glorifying the shield or any other specific handgun.

But the Sig 365 is the same size and more capacity...


I think everyone who is an avid gun owner and CCW'er goes down this road, some only have the money to veer on the shoulder of the road, some decide they need to take a tour of the autobahn, and some are caught in a roundabout.

I've gone from a Shield .40 when they first came out to, a Walther PPS M2, and have now found what I consider about perfect for my desires a CZ PCR; 14+1, SA/DA, alloy frame reduces weight, excellent handling. When dress demands it I carry a Ruger LCP.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I like my LCR 357, loaded with 38+P. Fits in a holster in my front pocket, easy to conceal and draw, easy to shoot. Though I might need a better holster, this one doesn't always stay in my pocket.

 

[George P]

Easiest to carry is my LCP in my pocket; easiest to blend in in my pocket is my j frame.
Best new carry gun is my P365 with the 12 round mag.

 

[westernrover]

The best ccw is one that is totally concealed! The less show the better! The element of surprise gives you the best advantage in a live/death situation!
I carry RUGER LCP or a SW 642 and neither is in a holster!

I'm going to disagree with that because of how easy it is to conceal a firearm that is much easier to shoot well. You don't want only the best advantage. You want all the advantages. I don't think a much higher capacity or magnum ballistics are advantages in every situation, but I can't think of a situation where a gun that's hard to shoot well is an advantage.

 

[JR24]

The best ccw is one that is totally concealed! The less show the better! The element of surprise gives you the best advantage in a live/death situation!
I carry RUGER LCP or a SW 642 and neither is in a holster!

While concealment is important I disagree. A totally concealed small gun is fine unless you cant get to it when you need it RIGHT FREAKING NOW and if you cant hit squat when you do get it out.

I go with conceals well but shoots better as my criteria, it's easy for me to dress around a bigger gun, YMMV.

My journey started with a Sig P220 and P225 10 years ago. It has wandered quite a bit into the plastic game (Ruger SR9c, CZ P07, Glock 26,19,23,17,21,19X), waffling into various 1911s and settled for now on a different sig, 226 Legion SAO.

My true love is the 1911 in .45, but i continually find i shoot double stack 9mms faster and more accurate at speed. Double stack 1911s dont quite work, either in concealment or while shooting, sadly.

I feel that in my future a Wilson EDC X9 will wander into my carry holster, but that day is far off yet.

 

[golfer_ray]

I pretty much carry the Sig P238 all Ithe time. If not that, then the Walther PPS.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

While concealment is important I disagree. A totally concealed small gun is fine unless you cant get to it when you need it RIGHT FREAKING NOW and if you cant hit squat when you do get it out.

I go with conceals well but shoots better as my criteria, it's easy for me to dress around a bigger gun, YMMV.

My journey started with a Sig P220 and P225 10 years ago. It has wandered quite a bit into the plastic game (Ruger SR9c, CZ P07, Glock 26,19,23,17,21,19X), waffling into various 1911s and settled for now on a different sig, 226 Legion SAO.

My true love is the 1911 in .45, but i continually find i shoot double stack 9mms faster and more accurate at speed. Double stack 1911s dont quite work, either in concealment or while shooting, sadly.

I feel that in my future a Wilson EDC X9 will wander into my carry holster, but that day is far off yet.

And yet there are folks that can shoot and handle a pocket gun or micro gun's very well. For me personally, I have been shooting since a kid. But when I started to EDC about 10 years ago, I bought a Ruger LCP. Could not shoot it worth a hoot. But for some reason, It represented a challenge to do well. It then became more than a challenge, it became a extremely fun and satisfying hobby to shoot pocket guns. I go to the range a min. of once a week and have been since I first bought my first LCP. My range time will Almost always be will be shooting the Pocket guns, Micro 9mm's. or Snub Nose revolvers. Yes, I shoot larger guns, but quite frankly find them boring. Might as well be shooting 22.cal. (which I do). One of my favorite firearms to shoot is the LCR22.
So the bottom line for me, is too carry light weight, make it fast, make it accurate.

Small guns are not harder to shoot, they just have a longer learning curve. How proficient you are with them, is strictly how much time you put into it. Pick the gun you have the most fun with and Carry that gun. If a 1911 is your favorite shooting firearm, then carry it.(as long as it is reasonable to carry)

 

[JR24]

Small guns are not harder to shoot, they just have a longer learning curve. How proficient you are with them, is strictly how much time you put into it. Pick the gun you have the most fun with and Carry that gun. If a 1911 is your favorite shooting firearm, then carry it.(as long as it is reasonable to carry)

I do not disagree here at all.

But, no matter how much I practice, with my hands, I will always shoot a bigger gun better, or at least faster. So theres always the balance.

Sure, I can shoot an 8 inch plate rapid fire with my LCR all day long from concealment, pretty fast too. Good enough for a CCW snubby, for sure. But I can always shoot a bigger revolver/Glock/1911 more accurately and more rapidly from the same distances. It's just physics.

But ultimately you are very correct. Pick what you like and will practice with and then practice a lot. Really all that matters. These internet discussions are just for fun in my eyes.