About Carrying A Gun, Again

S

Shotgun693

New member
I hope this is a different look at carrying concealed. Anyway, I always carry and always carry a larger handgun. The Glock 22 is the smallest gun I carry. I often carry a Colt's SAA. In 34+ years of carrying a gun daily, off duty, I think my gun has been seen 3 times. Once was when a Lady hugged me and felt my revolver. IMO, the concern that your gun will be seen has led many to carry a gun that is to small to be practical. I want a gun I can control and depend on if things ever go real bad. I just don't feel that way about a gun in a fight stopping caliber that you can only get 2 fingers wrapped around the grip.
 
Not sure if you are asking about going to a smaller gun or just saying that the G22 is your limit.

I have similar concerns. I carried a G36 (.45ACP) compact for a long time, but I am older and it was just a little bigger than I wanted. I did not want to get caught into the trap of carrying a small gun that is super comfortable but not having the fire power if needed.

I should mention I also carry my Smith 36 and Colt Det. Special in my rotation.

Anyway, my recent solution is my new Ruger LC9. It weighs 20oz loaded. Conceals just great and has 8 rounds of 9mm Luger....+P if needed.

I stopped worrying about showing a bulge long ago. I live in a very gun friendly area and as long as I am not printing then others can think what they want.
 
I don't like my pinkie hangin' either... But I don't feel a need to carry a double-stack most of the time... I prefer three-finger single-stack compacts in 9mm like the Kahr P9 and CW9, Ruger LC9, and Walther PPS... 7+1 9mm's is enough for me. But I totally support your preference too!... I occasionally carry double-stacks if I feel like it.
 
I agree on the pinkie. My LC9 & G36 have the mag extender, so it's not an issue.

But I think about all of the compacts Kahr, etc can be had with the mag extension.

PS. I find the mag extensions don't hurt my conceal at all.
 
I carry all day long on my property, I dont have my ccw yet, so i dont take my gun off of my property. I have my gas station convenience store on the same property my home is on. When i first moved out here i would carry my .45acp(para ordanace p12.45) its compact but is 12+1. It was a burden carrying that and taking care of customers (bagging minnows, and other physical things i do around the store) I have a taurus .38spl, and a sig p238 that i carry now instead of the .45acp. Im not out looking for a gun fight so im not concerned about having a high capacity weapon, i do carry extra ammo. i can understand if your LEO, if i was i would carry a full sized/ high capacity firearm. But like i said im not trying to get involved in a gun fight, I just want to be able to protect myself and my family. I dont have huge hands either, so the p238 with pinky extension suits me well. Its lite, and compact. I also have a glock 26, which is nice, but not as comfortable as the sig, or taurus. From all of my guns i shoot my best groups with the sig p238 .380acp. At about 15yards

Honestly I guess i dont know how it feels to carry a average sized handgun, all of mine are compact. My ruger MK 1 is the largest handgun i own...lol
 
I'm in complete agreement with you, but would never condemn anyone else's choice of carry gun. My two SD carry guns are a S&W 4006 .40cal and a Ruger speed six 2 3/4" .38spl. Both are considerably larger and heavier than most more modern handguns intended for CC. I've carried since the 80's and never had anyone mention that they noticed it by accident (I don't claim that it's never happened, only that no one's said anything to me). During hot weather I carry at the SOB. The Ruger IWB, the S&W holsterless. Even wearing only shorts and a loose T-shirt both guns conceal well, remain stable, and are comfortable for me. As to the added bulk, I'm a proponent of the old maxim;"Carrying a gun should be comforting, not comfortable."
 
Fortunately, I don't have to worry about my gun "being seen" here in KY or in VA where I used to live. Texas will probably get an open carry provision soon as well.

My smallest carry gun is a Kahr K9. I can get all three fingers on the grip but it's small enough to hide well in 'social situations'. Winter months, it's either my CZ 75 or 97.
 
I carry a Glock 26 and am quite comfortable with my accuracy and control. If you think of your fingers gripping the gun as a tube, you just curl your pinkie so that it forms the floor of the tube. With that method, 10 rounds at 10 yards can look like this:
 

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That's good shooting, Tail Gator!!

I like the concept of a single stack 9, too. My next gun purchase will probably be one of those, but my lead contender at this point remains a .38 snub, probably 642 honestly. It was LCR, but I think the 642 is a hair easier to just throw in the pocket (with holster) and go.
 
I was thinking about this earlier. When I work, I go to attorney's offices, courtrooms, formal settings. I will not wear my gun there, (can't in court anyway) need the tuckable holster for one. Beside the fact, however, that may be a situation I would throw it in my bag or something and have it close to me should I need it as long as carrying is permitted.

What are some other situations where people make compromises? I can see now why some buy "truck" guns that live in the glove box. Geez, I'm going to have 20 guns before this is all said and done. LOL.
 
You have to look at the overall design of the pistol and not just the number of fingers one can get on the grip.
Sometimes a larger grip is just excess bulk.

I can control and shoot my Glock 26 just as well as I can my Glock 17.
 
With that method, 10 rounds at 10 yards can look like this:
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I've been in gunfights. Being able to calmly, under idea conditions, squeeze off rounds at a stationary square to you target is nice. It does not mean that with some perp breathing hot and heavy while wanting to spill your guts in a dark place you'll be able to duplicate this group. You'll absolutely need everything going in your favor. An easy to manage weapon that you have compete control over is, IMO, one item you can predetermine. Maybe you will, maybe you won't.
Carry whatever you want, it's your butt. If you're ever in a gunfight/shooting come back and tell us how it worked out for you.
 
Shotgun693 said:
Being able to calmly, under idea conditions, squeeze off rounds at a stationary square to you target is nice.
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That's a good point. It there is a difference between target shooting and an actual close (stressful) face-off. But practice does help.

I think the statistics are something like 5 feet for the normal SD gun fight. Staying calm is the real ace in the hole.

I am always amazed at how many rounds miss the mark at 5 feet. Probably the same people could hit at the range at 25 ft...........so staying calm and focused is the first priority.

Yes, I have had the stressful situations. Did not have to shoot, but I did everything calmly up to the point of shooting....that won the day.
 
It does not mean that with some perp breathing hot and heavy while wanting to spill your guts in a dark place you'll be able to duplicate this group.
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I did not say, and did not mean to imply, that I will shoot as well in a gunfight. I only intended to display that the 2-finger grip can be managed in such a way that accuracy is acceptable if other variables are the same. Do I understand you to say that the accuracy of a shooter will decline more with a 2-finger grip than with a full grip?

If you're ever in a gunfight/shooting come back and tell us how it worked out for you.
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If that is the standard, then TFL membership is going to decline very considerably. Unlike some on here, I don't consider video games to be an educational resource, and I try to take firearm ownership and self defense seriously. I also pray every morning that this will not be the day that I have to defend myself or my loved ones with lethal force, and for the strength and skill to wield it successfully if it is. Sorry if you feel that such an attitude is beneath your respect.
 
"I think the statistics are something like 5 feet for the normal SD gun fight. Staying calm is the real ace in the hole"
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- madmag in THE FIRING LINE

"... I found most men aren't willing, they bat an eye, or draw a breath before they shoot. I won't..."
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- John Wayne as J.B. Books in THE SHOOTIST
 
TailGator said:
I also pray every morning that this will not be the day that I have to defend myself or my loved ones with lethal force,
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Not trying to answer for someone else. But one of my shooting friends use to say "if he goes his life with just shooting targets then that's fine" he hoped he would not have to use lethal force....but he would to protect his family if necessary.
 
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