Sold all my 'small' CCW pistols

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Shipwreck said:
I don't care for subcompacts much either. I never practiced with them, but carried them for years. I always preferred the larger guns.

Now, I carry a 92FS. Much happier and I shoot well, as I'm always practicing with my fav range/carry gun now
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Did you go back to the fullsize 92FS? I thought you switched to the compact?
 
the count said:
Thats my point. Many assume because something works at the range in perfect lighting and not shooting back that it will work in real life SHTF situations. Most attacks are at night or under low light conditions. And the bad guys will not stand still. So there WILL be a lot of misses. Incidentally I am also selling a bunch of my holsters. Have some nice leather ones and a couple Blackhawk Kydex withe the release button. My last course convinced me the the extra split second you fiddle with it can cost your life, so trading it for the plain jane version. But like JustinJ points out a big gun left at home does you absolutely no good.
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Try Ravens concealment to replace your OWB kydex holsters. I prefer the regular cuts, not the Magpul cuts.




I've divided up my CCW's into catagories.

Daytime CCW- Usually a bit smaller. 4" 1911 with thin grips or Glock 23/26. Kahr p380 for really hot days or days I don't want to carry.

Usually I'll use IDPA type sights on these. Thinest Dawson front FO sight I can find with a plain black rear Hienie or 10-8.

Night time CCW-usually a 4-5" 1911 with thicker grips or a Glock 23. Small concealment isn't as big of a deal at night. And larger guns will be handy since I'm more likely to use them at night.

Hienie Ledge Straight Eight Nightsights. I'd like to see if Dawson could make a Hienie ledge type sight with a custom extra wide rear notch for speed. Say .170".

Daytime hot weather/deep concealment- single stack Kahrs.

Fullsize day time setups- Glock 17/35/1911's, thick grips, IDPA style sights. Usually for range work, IDPA, training etc. But they do find thier way onto my hip under a jacket/shirt when I'm in the sticks offroading, working, or camping.


For me. There is nothing that works well on average. A nightsight setup is way slower than my daytime setups during the day, and vice versa. And My Glocks and 1911's shred my smaller Kahrs on any IDPA stage.
 
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Count - only you can make those types of decisions and, personally, I don't disagree with you. I have three regular carry guns and it all depends on weather, activity, mood, clothing, etc...


  • M&P 9c (w/ Crossbreed Supertuck IWB) - 13 rounds + 17 spare mag = 30 round capacity
  • S&W .357 Model 640-1 (w/ Galco KingTuk IWB) - 5 rounds + 5 spare = 10 round capacity
  • Kahr CW9 (w/ Kholster Crescent IWB) - 8 rounds + 7 spare mag = 15 round capacity

I've not yet (and probably won't) get into the smaller pocket guns. I've got these three to choose from so something will always fit the situation. Plus, I always have a spare magazine in my pocket.
 
Goes to show ya! ..... CC Is a real Pain in the Tush!

Its just not possible to find that perfect all season CC (MO)

The Compacts, Sub-compacts, and Mouse Guns are especially easier to conceal...more comfy!....etc.

And actually caliber does not bother me nearly as much as shootability!

I am talking sight radius! Full Size 1911 - Full Size Beretta 92....

Now thats what I want on me if trouble arises and my life is on the line, and not because of more rounds or bigger rounds.....Sight Radius! Shootability!

I personally shoot both Full and Compact pistols well, but the effects of sight radius are so aparent between the two platforms, especially when you are doing a rapid fire and recovery.

Maybe just me? My 2 cents as well! :)
 
I now carry either a XDM9 with a whopping 19 round mag or a GLOCK 30SF with 13 rounds of 45 ACP.
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I am happy for you that you have found what works well for you. A couple of things that I'd like to friendly point out. :)

Let's not forget that a gun is simply one tool in the shed.
It's more important to be physically fit enough to get off of the "X" very quickly than to have enough firepower to lay down suppressive fire.
It's also important to actually know some hand to hand combat skills. Go to the gym. Work out. Gain physical strength. Get faster. Work on footwork. Do cardio. etc.

I'm USUALLY comfortable with a "measly" 5 "anemic" rounds of 38 special. :D
 
Tomcat47 said:
Goes to show ya! ..... CC Is a real Pain in the Tush!

Its just not possible to find that perfect all season CC (MO)

The Compacts, Sub-compacts, and Mouse Guns are especially easier to conceal...more comfy!....etc.

And actually caliber does not bother me nearly as much as shootability!

I am talking sight radius! Full Size 1911 - Full Size Beretta 92....

Now thats what I want on me if trouble arises and my life is on the line, and not because of more rounds or bigger rounds.....Sight Radius! Shootability!

I personally shoot both Full and Compact pistols well, but the effects of sight radius are so aparent between the two platforms, especially when you are doing a rapid fire and recovery.

Maybe just me? My 2 cents as well! :)
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Someone here cut a Glock 17 down to a G19 size grip length. So they had long radius sights with short concealable grip.

Ingenius.
 
I actually swapped to a bigger carry recently, too. But for an entirely different reason:
Manipulating the pistol. Smaller guns to me felt harder to actually work in almost every way. So now I carry A "Compact" Service Pistol, which fits me well.
 
Nushif said:
I actually swapped to a bigger carry recently, too. But for an entirely different reason:
Manipulating the pistol. Smaller guns to me felt harder to actually work in almost every way. So now I carry A "Compact" Service Pistol, which fits me well.
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After purchasing a Ruger LC9 and shooting it some, this is what concerns me about carrying an itty-bitty 9mm versus a compact. I'm afraid I just wouldn't be able to handle the weapon very well should trouble come along.

I'm now thinking of going to a slightly larger Kahr model, or possibly a compact service pistol (maybe like an M&P9C).
 
Zerodefect said:
Someone here cut a Glock 17 down to a G19 size grip length. So they had long radius sights with short concealable grip.

Ingenius.
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Actually one of the first people I have ever seen do this is a sales rep for Raven Gear and instructor for Michigan Defensive Firearms Institute. Very smart indeed!
 
KAS1981 said:
After purchasing a Ruger LC9 and shooting it some, this is what concerns me about carrying an itty-bitty 9mm versus a compact. I'm afraid I just wouldn't be able to handle the weapon very well should trouble come along.

I'm now thinking of going to a slightly larger Kahr model, or possibly a compact service pistol (maybe like an M&P9C).
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I looked at the LC9 recently but it just felt too small in my hand so I went with the Kahr CW9 and I'm very happy with the decision. The CW9 fit like a glove. Also, the M&P 9c is a good choice in a Crossbreed holster.
 
Rail Driver said:
FWIW, I keep a full size 1911 and a G26. My G26 is my EDC, but it generally doesn't have a stock mag in it, but rather a +2 extension so it's pretty close to the grip length of a G19. None of my firearms are smaller than 9mm, but I feel just as comfortable carrying my .45 as I do my 9mm.

I have been thinking about getting a Sig P238, but I doubt that would be anything but a range piece and something to carry when I can't dress to cover either of my other pistols.
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My EDC is the G26 and I recently picked up the Sig P238 for the South Carolina summers and as a BUG. It really is a nice shooter @ the range and not jam machine like other .380's I have owned.
 
If a fellow can carry a .45 Glock comfortably.... well good for him! But if our first poster finds himself leaving the Glock at home to avoid bulkiness, then he has made the wrong decision.
 
I carry a small weapon as my primary (P3AT) and feel armed well enough. I would feel better armed with a .45 but then again it might be big enough to be left home sometimes. There is no reason not to take the P3AT with me. I can just slip it in a pocket holster and off I go.

<edit>
 
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I still like my LCP as a daily carry pistol....Its as easy as sliding it into your pocket when going into a store or for a walk etc...Not many other pistols are soo easily concealable on a short term notice. If you feel that 7rounds are not enough, its not a problem just carry another mag that is the size of a pack of gum and you now have 13 rounds at your fingertips. I am looking at a Glock 26 for my next carry pistol but the LCP will still be used most of the time. My LCP has also been 100% reliable which is also very important in choosing a carry pistol...oh and i purchased it used for $200 to boot! :D
 
Slightly more uncomfortable? Maybe. Peace of mind? Tons better.
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That pretty much sums it up. While I don't want to sell all my small CCWs, such as my lovely pm9, because there are times when I need to carry a small gun, want a back up or am just lazy and comfort seeking that day.

Don't get sucked into the status quo of CCW=tiny gun. Bigger guns are only a little bit more uncomfortable if you do it right. My CCW is either a Glock 17 or M&P45 unless one of the above reasons happens.
 
I carry a 22-4 S&W N-frame during the winter, and a Glock 23 during the summer. I think the two carry about the same, but the glock is more sweat resistant for the summer months.

I can't stand small semi-autos. I feel like I have to pinch them between my thumb and forefinger to shoot them. For me, they would be a back-up at best. My brother, who is larger than me, loves his Ruger LCP 380. He calls it his "get off me" gun, and I have seen him conceal it (unloaded) in his mouth just to prove the point. From my perspective, carrying a concealed firearm should be comforting, not comfortable, (forget the author of that quote), and while an LCP is marginally better than pepper spray or a stun-gun, I have a hard time considering it a reasonable primary carry weapon. The only credible reason I can think of for not being able to conceal an all-steel S&W J-frame revolver is if you typically wear a spandex jumpsuit all day. I can carry an N-frame in my front pocket with my shirt untucked and have nobody be the wiser, so a J-frame in a pocket holster seems perfectly reasonable unless fashion is more of an issue than security. In that case, perhaps you shouldn't be carrying at all.
 
While I support each individuals choice to carry whatever they choose I personally do not feel under gunned carrying a S&W 642 or a Kahr CW9. They are easy to carry and a gun on me is better than no gun.

I think people get caught up in the idea that they are going to be in a long drawn out fire fight. The stats do not support that.

In the end everyone needs to carry what they are comfortable with.
 
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