Your Concealed Carry Evolution

[john5036]

I've only been actively carrying for two years.... I haven't "evolved" yet I don't think. I'm carrying a Glock currently, and I'd like to move into a 1911 as my next available carry.

Great thread OP!

 

[mgregg85]

I love these threads, always interesting to see how people's preferences change. I've been carrying for a little over 4 years now.

I still own the ones that are bold, the rest I have sold over the past few years.

1. Taurus PT145
I liked this pistol but it broke on me, I did buy it used but after that I didn't trust it.

2. XD45 Compact
Still have this pistol, still carry it during the winter months and sometimes in the summer.

3. Bersa Thunder .380
Nice pistol but too big for pocket carry and not powerful enough to justify it's size and poor magazine capacity. Ended up selling it.

4. Kel-tec P11
Nice pistol but I didn't like the plastic sights, they were loose and the trigger pull was nasty. Sold this pistol quickly

5. Kel-tec P3AT
I loved this one, put a crimson trace laser on it and it was perfect. Then the magazines started popping out randomly, I tried changing the magazine release button but that only fixed it for a short while so I replaced the mag release button and sold it.

6. Taurus PT-140
Bought it used on a whim, nice pistol but after the PT-145 failed me I didn't trust it so I didn't carry it other than as a BUG for my XD45. Sold it quickly.

7. Ruger LCR .38 Special
Just got this revolver, I love it. Nice and light, good trigger pull, easy to conceal. I installed the XS tritium front sight and I plan on getting a nice pocket holster and belt holster for it.

8. Sig P238
Bought this one yesterday, awesome gun. Tiny, light, easy to pocket carry, great trigger pull and it came with tritium sights that are big and easy to use. Just gotta get a good pocket holster for this one, it currently rides in a cheap blackhawk pocket holster.

 

[NMPOPS]

I started with an S&W M-60 as an off-duty/backup weapon in 1978 and over the years carried various J frames and now carry a M-642 dailey as a retiree and always with 2 speed strips.

 

[Joshua M.]

AR 15 pistol with 15 spare mags to Remington 870 with 50 spare rounds.

WOW...that is being ready for something...Either you my friend are a mountain of a man, or one that always is in a trench coat

 

[Ringer]

Hard to respond to the poll because I have multiple options depending on what I am doing and how I am dressed. While caliber has gone down, gun size and capacity go in both directions. Amount of ammo is simply based on the gun I'm carrying. 1 spare magazine could be as little as 6 to as many as 15 rounds.

I started out wanting to carry .45 ACP. After trying several guns I couldn't settle on a platform that met my needs such as; manual of arms, conceal ability, shooting accuracy etc... All .45's sold off.

I tried the revolver road for a while with an SP101 with moon clips. Reality is as much as I like them I just don't shoot revolvers all that well. I could likely get there with much more range time. Currently it's a safe queen with my 586.

Currently I'm carrying strictly 9mm various size guns. All are similar with no manual safety. Most common for me is my Glock 19. I shoot it well, it's reliable and fairly easy to conceal. I also have a Kahr P9 when I want something a little more comfortable inside the waist band and PM9 for ultimate concealment. I really like my full size M&P but it's just a tad on the large size for carry. I'll use it on road trips when I am mostly in the car and sometimes on the night stand. Normally the G19 goes on the night stand as it comes off the belt.

 

[Jonah71]

It all depends on where I'm going and what I'm wearing. Most of the time I OC anyway. No big deal around this area. I no longer own my first carry gun. Now I'm down to 4 different carrys. The G-23, or 26, my old Kimber .45, or the S&W Mod. 36.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

WOW...that is being ready for something...Either you my friend are a mountain of a man, or one that always is in a trench coat

Someone has to protect the malls of America!

 

[Quaamik]

When I started carrying I had two guns available:
A Para P14 and a Walther PPK in .22. Niether was ideal. I wound up carrying the Walther more than I wanted too because the Para was difficult to conceal any time but the winter.

As I could afford to I purchased a Kel-Tec P11 (9mm), a Kimber Compact (.45) and a Hi-Power clone (9mm). The Walther has been retired (now a range toy only). The Para has become much more of a range / competition gun and is seldom carried. The Kimber has become my most common carry gun, with the Kel-Tec filling in when I need somethign smaller. The Hi Power gets carried when I feel the need / want for something different.

Overall, I'd have to say the size and capacity have stayed the same. Calibers have increased on average, but not always.

Walther (8+1, .22LR) retired - replaced with Kel-Tec (10+1, 9mm)

Kel-Tec (10+1, 9mm) still used - partialy replaced with Kimber Compact (8+1, .45 ACP)

P-14 (14+1, .45 ACP) still used - partially by Kimber Compact (8+1, .45 ACP), also partially replaced by Hi-Power (15+1, 9mm)

 

[GregC]

Started off carrying a G-27, but I always felt self conscious due to the thickness. Now I have a P238 that I can carry in my pocket and I forget its there. For me, it solves the ago old issue of a .380 in your pocket is better than a .40 or .45 that you leave at home!

 

[armoredman]

First was a Jennings J-22, MANY MANY moons ago, first handgun I ever owned, carried it legally concealed in my home only, no CCW in AZ at that time. I think I was 16 or 17. Yes, it was legal for me to carry it openly in AZ at that time.
Today, CZ P-01 9mm with two spare mags, so I upgraded a LOT in every catalgory since then, especially the one you don't list - reliabilty.

 

[Luis Leon]

I evolved to a smaller gun, same caliber 9mm, smaller magazine, so less spare ammo. I still feel well armed.

 

[sixgunner455]

I started with what I had, my only gun, a Ruger MKII .22. Then a Star Firestar .40 - smaller gun, lower capacity, much bigger round. It broke, so I got rid of it and got a gun I figured wouldn't break - a 4" S&W Model 10. It was too big for comfortable summer carry, so I went to a KelTec P11. I carried it for a couple of years, but the trigger sucked, the recoil sucked, and I got tired of wrestling with it to shoot it enough to be accurate enough. Got a Makarov, since my brother had one and it was easy to shoot and quite accurate. Got a smoking deal on a Colt Detective Special, and fell back in love with double action revolvers. Then I got a S&W 642 to save the old blue gun's finish, and then a CZ75 so I could have a "big" gun when I want it.

I carry the 642 in a pocket or SmartCarry most, the Colt when I want a light belt gun, and the CZ for open carry, hiking/hunting, and for under a coat or heavy shirt. Usually carry the 642 in addition to whichever of the other two I'm carrying, but that depends on clothing. Whichever gun I carried is likely to be set on the nightstand when I go to bed.

So I've gone up and down. And if my arthritic wrist acts up, guess what? I carry the Ruger.

I always carry at least one reload.

 

[JohnBiltz]

The only change for me is I stopped carrying a spare magazine.

 

[doc540]

Since I have to carry in deep concealment in a SmartCarry rig, it went something like this:

Glock Glock 40

Glock 26

Ruger SR9C

Kahr PM40

Smith M36

Colt Detective Special

Colt Agent

Colt Cobra 1

Colt Cobra 2

Colt Agent 2 (current)

The D frames are virtually invisible, and there's zero chance of being made.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I started out with a standard M1911A1 many years ago -- before Jeff Cooper decided it was the ideal carry gun -- and I've stuck with it.

 

[clance]

I’ve been carrying now for little over 30 years and I've tried a little of everything during that time. My first carry gun was a Colt Combat Commander in 45acp and my current gun is a Kahr TP-9 in 9mm. Between the two I have had single stacks, double stacks and revolvers. My calibers have ranged between .380 to 45acp, but I have to admit over the last 30 years I generally have carried a 9mm.

A number of the times I have let others (self-proclaimed experts) opinions sway my choices until I figured out that it what I felt confortable with that matters.

 

[Glock Jock]

Baretta Tom Cat, to a Kel Tec 380 pocket gun then I grew up and bought a Glock 30, then a G 26, and a G 36. I rotate which I carry depending on what I am wearing and where I am going. I love the Glock guns.

I am buying this week a G 17 compensated. I want a gun that holds 17 rds while it is still legal to own such a gun. I bought 27 rd mags for my G30 and 33 round mags for my G26 while those can still be owned.

 

[Breakmyfootoff]

Mine first CC was small, Diamond Back DB380 (7 rounds of .380 with one spare 6 round mag). Next was a Kel-Tec P-11 ( 11 rounds of 9mm with spare 10 round mag), and then to my current Glock 26 carried with the flat 10 round magazine loaded and a Glock 17 mag for a reload. I think the 26 is as big as I'd want to carry on a daily basis though, except I said the same thing about the DiamondBack and the Kel_Tec too when I carried those lol.

 

[HiWayMan]

Evolution as follows:

1) Taurus 651 snub - .357mag
2) Taurus 651 snub - .38 +P
3) Browning Hi-Power - 9mm
4) Springfield 1911 - .45 ACP
5) Glock 17 - 9mm
6) Smith and Wesson 21-4 TRS - .44 Special

I've yo-yo'ed on the power scale and mag capacity for a while, but I guess I've read to much Keith. Besides the S&W puts big slugs in whatever it is pointed at at any range up to 100yds with relative ease. The Smith and I just click to together.

 

[ForumSurfer]

I went from a commander sized 1911 to a glock 19.

 

[CoRoMo]

I thoroughly researched the gun I was going to carry. I decided on the P11 and I carry it to this day. I've kept an open mind to any alternative out there. Nothing has proved to be a better option for me than the P11.

 

[Nushif]

I went from a snubbie with an additional speed-loader to a 92D with no extra mags ... to carrying an E9 with no extra mags when I get to carry.

The E9 seems to me pretty much ideal for my situation at this point. If I ever feel like I need more protection my self customized PT911 will do the trick for sure.

 

[ghostwriter]

started 22 years ago packin a .357 Smith Model 27 but too big for comfort and not enough rounds (carried for about 3-4 years... so...
went to the Browning High Power in 9mm and didn't pack an extra mag for about 5 years. Then started packing the Springfield XD 45 ACP last summer and an extra mag to offset the weight when using the shoulder rig. When using the belt XD holster no extra mag. When I'm ridin the bike, I carry the XD with two extra mags.
Yep, they're big, but so are the enemy.

 

[Fabricator]

I've Been CC'ing a stainless Taurus 85 (5-shot .38spl +P with 2" barrell) since 2004. Just traded it for the same frame style in the "Ultra-lite titanium" last month. I am a wheel-gun guy (personal quirk only), and just begun open carrying a 4" service-six (full house .357 maggie) in my shop/office, and local errands. I did add a Bianchi "speed strip" with 5 additional rounds of my preferred "fodder" for the .38spl to my "concealed rig". I currently do not carry any additional ammunition for the "service-six", as I am waiting on a speed-loader pouch from Midway, but if it "rides wrong" on the belt, I may use the speed-strip for the .357 as well, but will be testing a few different systems there.

Fabricator

 

[redbullitt]

I have really been enjoying a 3 inch barrel sp101 and a LCR.
strongside 4:00 on the sp101 and weakside pocket LCR. Seems to work pretty well for me, especially since both take the same ammunition.

Never really planned on carrying both guns, but once I bought the LCR and got used to it, I just kinda left it in my coat pocket whether I had another handgun or not since it is do darned easy to carry lol.

If i am not carrying the revolvers i go for an XD in 9mm (probably LCR in pocket still lol).

Started with a jericho in 45 acp (first handgun). That thing would sure drop your pants, but it was a great pistol. Wish I still had it.