Rotating CC guns: What's the deal?

[bikerdoc]

with apologies to Folgers, the Best part of waking up is choosing today's weapon.

 

[Armored farmer]

It's like the old 'mood ring'.
Sometimes I feel like a 9....
Sometimes you dont.

 

[StrawHat]

These are the five revolvers I rotate. Well, the 1917 stays in the office but the other four get carried. Manual of arms is the same, reloaders are the same, same holster in the same location. Even the ammunition is the same. Boring? Maybe for some but I know right where it is when I have reason to need it. Been that way for nearly four decades.

Kevin

 

[FL-NC]

Here in Fl, where "summer wear" is almost "year-round wear", I am mostly married to a shield 9. In circumstances where I am able to easily hide a larger pistol, it is a Glock 19, or in some cases a Kimber 1911. I want to say its a pro-carry. Its the one the size of a Colt commander. So in my situation, my carry gun is dictated by weather and the clothes I wear in that weather.

 

[357smallbore]

4-5 is my number I will swap out depending on the situation. But I usually carry one of them for a week or two then swap out. I am very proficient with all of them, I practice with all of them.
Speed Six = 357
Rossi 720 = 44 Special
Taurus 85 = 38 Special (3in)
S$W Shield = 9mm
S&W SD9-VE = 9mm

 

[<*(((><]

Wise man once said:

“Fear the man with one gun, for he probably knows how to use it.”

When seconds count muscle memory, routine and confidence in ones equipment matters.

I think a carry rotation is foolish, but to each his/her own. G48 for everyday carry and LCP for pocket for me.

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

I previously had three guns that I would carry depending on how large a gun I could conceal under the circumstances. I got tired of that and selected a Shield as my go to daily carry. I'll admit though that when colder weather arrives I may cheat on the Shield and take the 1911 out on a date.

 

[Old Dog]

I think a carry rotation is foolish, but to each his/her own. G48 for everyday carry and LCP for pocket for me.

Yeah, surely you'd say that to someone like Mas Ayoob, who seems to indicate that he changes his carry gun as often as he changes his underwear and socks. As for the tired old saw about the man with one gun ... the only men I know who own only one gun never go to the range and they keep the gun in a nightstand drawer gathering dust ...

 

[dickydalton]

In Minnesota my LCP was in my pocket Always and I had an LC9S or 44 or 45 ACP on me too, somewhere.
In New mexico you can only have one gun concealed, so the LCP spends a lot of time at home.

 

[<*(((><]

Yeah, surely you'd say that to someone like Mas Ayoob, who seems to indicate that he changes his carry gun as often as he changes his underwear and socks. As for the tired old saw about the man with one gun ... the only men I know who own only one gun never go to the range and they keep the gun in a nightstand drawer gathering dust ...

Good for Mas Ayoob. I am not he.

I have many pistols suitable for CCW but one that gets carried everyday. Like I said too each his own, hope one doesn’t regret their decision in changing their firearm along with their underwear.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Yeah, surely you'd say that to someone like Mas Ayoob, who seems to indicate that he changes his carry gun as often as he changes his underwear and socks.

I've read a couple of his articles where he talks about changing guns. He doesn't do it at random and he always has a reason (traveling in a part of the country with capacity restrictions, testing a new gun for an article, competition or a different type of training). He also doesn't seem to change on a daily basis.

As for the tired old saw about the man with one gun ... the only men I know who own only one gun never go to the range and they keep the gun in a nightstand drawer gathering dust ...

This is true

 

[Charlie98]

Some years ago, after a bit of handgun training, I decided to simplify my carry piece to one particular platform... the Kahr 9mm. There are number of reasons for this... commonality, for one. Same pistols, same ammos, same holsters, and generally the same magazines (the exception being the 6-round mags for the 'M'-series pistols.) Consistent manual of arms... across any of my 6 or 7 Kahr 9mm's, they all operate the same, and, again, generally feel the same. The slide release is in the same place and has the same feel. The magazine release is in the same place and has the same feel. Etc, etc. I don't get gobs and gobs of range time, so I have to make due with dry-firing and drills at home, it simply makes sense to simplify and eliminate the variables.

What I also learned in my little bit of training is... at the Moment of Truth, as you draw your weapon, and adrenaline is dumped into your system, and your brain is trying to decide if it wants to fight or take flight... I don't really want to be fumbling for a safety that isn't there, or giving a short tug on the trigger... when I need the longer pull of the Kahr (vs my 1911, etc.) or catch the hammer on my shirt (Kahrs don't have exposed hammers...) , or forget the holster I have today has a retention strap... My Kahrs draw the same (since they go in the same holster,) aim the same (since they are all the same basic pistol,) and fire the same (since they all have the same basic trigger and action, and use the same ammos.) Further, in the event of a shoot, certainly the authorities will seize my weapon as evidence, which I understand; I'd rather let them have one of my 6 or 7 Kahrs, a $300 pistol, than my $1100 Kimber, or one of my nice Smiths.

My carry piece is a tool, not a fashion statement. I don't get up in the morning and say "hmmm, it feels like a Kimber day!" or "I'm feeling rather revolverly today!" I get up with the desire to come home at the end of the day, and to that end the tool most likely to achieve that, given the terrible circumstance of drawing my weapon, is the tool most familiar.

Just my .02 worth...

 

[herrwalther]

I have 2 primary carry guns at the moment: Walther P99 and PPS. P99 is good for carrying at synagogue. PPS is better for appendix carry, my new and comfortable carry for everyday. P99 fits the bill as HD firearm and sometimes SD firearm. Their trigger systems could not be anymore different. I have enough range time with both to be comfortable with both. Carry as many guns as you want in your "rotation" the key is practice.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I have a summer carry gun and a rest of the year carry gun. They are the ones I carry most.

I do open carry different guns in the woods, but I don’t rotate just to rotate.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I'm curious what people's opinions are on this subject, especially if you have strong reasoning for your point of view.

From a personal standpoint, switching out carry weapons should be done with practicality in mind. Not "just because".

For example, I preferentially carry a full sized Colt 1991A1. I don't swap it out with my Beretta 92SF "just because". However, if my Colt were not available for some reason, then I'd happily fall back on my Beretta.

The Beretta has some detractions for carry with respect to my Colt, the most important being the fact that it's a full sized, double-stack pistol and is therefore a bit more difficult to conceal.

I'm looking for a smaller pistol for alternate carry for some dress considerations. Something like my wife's PPK/S, for example. There's a level of practicality involved in this which, in some circumstances, would make such a pistol preferable over my normal carry.

In the end...it's the individual's choice. I choose practicality. Someone else might have other reasons.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I don't see that carrying a variety of guns of the same general action type is a huge issue (although I personally don't do this--I stick with one compact semi-auto IWB, except for those rare days when only a J-frame in the pocket will do).

The part of a "carry rotation" that I struggle to understand is when these similar guns are carried in significantly different holsters or locations on the body. For example, today it might be an N-frame OWB at 3 o'clock in a thumb break holster while you're hiking, and tomorrow a K-frame IWB at 4 o'clock for dinner at the in-law's, and the day after a J-frame in a pocket for a business meeting. Or something analogous in the bottom-feeder world.

I think that when your life is on the line and you decide that you have to "GO", you don't want to have to remember which holster or location you picked for today. You just want your hands to automatically clear cover garments, get a good firing grip, clear leather or kydex, rotate, get sights on target, and smoothly press the trigger...

...consistently, smoothly, and QUICKLY!

I have a tough time doing this consistently from a variety of holsters and body locations. Maybe folks can call me a simpleton, or say I don't practice enough, but it is what it is.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Wise man once said:

“Fear the man with one gun, for he probably knows how to use it.”

When seconds count muscle memory, routine and confidence in ones equipment matters.

I think a carry rotation is foolish, but to each his/her own. G48 for everyday carry and LCP for pocket for me.

Any one who owns a shot timer KNOWS the truth, the rest are just kidding their self.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Yeah, surely you'd say that to someone like Mas Ayoob, who seems to indicate that he changes his carry gun as often as he changes his underwear and socks. As for the tired old saw about the man with one gun ... the only men I know who own only one gun never go to the range and they keep the gun in a nightstand drawer gathering dust ...

That is good, I wish EVERYONE did that.
Not much different from the guy who keeps twenty of them in a "drawer gathering dust" while he is styl'n the one that matches his shoes that day.

 

[Texasgrillchef]

I have several different hand guns I carry depending on several factors, time of year clothing I will be wearing not wearing and the activities as such.
I have. Sig Texas P238 I use as good pocket gun
A bond arms Texas 45colt/410 loaded with dual 410 Winchester 3” pdx shells
A Taurus g2c 9mm
A Baretta 92fs Inox Texas Limited
And a s&w M&p 2.0 45acp
As well as a Henry 45 colt mares leg
And a Ruger Super Redhawk 454 Casull

All of which I run about 100 rounds or more through at least once a month. Well except the bond arms and that maybe 30 rounds.

Sometimes I dual carry, especially if I am hiking and camping, sometimes triple carry if I am in area with larger dangerous animals such as bears or mountain lions.

Which gun I pack for the day, just depends on my mood too.

 

[Texasgrillchef]

I'm looking for a smaller pistol for alternate carry for some dress considerations. Something like my wife's PPK/S, for example. There's a level of practicality involved in this which, in some circumstances, would make such a pistol preferable over my normal carry.

In the end...it's the individual's choice. I choose practicality. Someone else might have other reasons.

Well the Walther PPK was good enough for James Bond in his suits and tuxes!

I have. Sig P238 with a 7 round mag, it works great when I have to dress up in a suit or tux and want to carry. I even spent the money on a really nice custom black leather holster so it wouldn’t stand out as being out of place when wearing a nice suit or Tux. Makes you it much easier to conceal as well.

 

[guyfromohio]

When people talk about a carry “rotation”, I don’t think anyone really means “rotation” in the planned, cyclical sense....Monday gun, Tuesday gun, April gun...etc... I think they are actually meaning carry “option” or even “menu”. My carry gun is a Walther PPS, but I’m known to carry something else for a while. It’s usually after a particularly good range day.... “I shoot this really well....I should try carrying it” and then reality sets in that my PPS is easier to carry and I shoot it very well.

 

[Texasgrillchef]

When people talk about a carry “rotation”, I don’t think anyone really means “rotation” in the planned, cyclical sense....Monday gun, Tuesday gun, April gun...etc... I think they are actually meaning carry “option” or even “menu”. My carry gun is a Walther PPS, but I’m known to carry something else for a while. It’s usually after a particularly good range day.... “I shoot this really well....I should try carrying it” and then reality sets in that my PPS is easier to carry and I shoot it very well.

My personal opinion is Carry what you can comfortably carry legally and what you can accurately and safely shoot for the occasion you need to carry and possibly shoot. No one gun truthfully will be the best gun for every situation you might need to carry or use as well. So carry legally and appropriately and for the purpose you need to carry.

 

[RETG]

I think too many people interject their ideas of what is right or wrong when it is really none of their business. If a person is proficient in the weapons they carry, why should it even be a discussion by others?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I think too many people interject their ideas of what is right or wrong when it is really none of their business. If a person is proficient in the weapons they carry, why should it even be a discussion by others?

Because this is a gun forum and discussing things like that is kind of what we do

 

[Tallball]

I carry an LCR or LCP at least 95% of the time, depending on the weather. I practice with them both, and they are both the equivalent of DAO: draw, aim, squeeze, bang.

In rare circumstances (probably due to weather) I may carry something else, but again it will almost always be a DAO that I am quite familiar with.