CCW help.

[Graywolf727]

I have thought long and hard about getting my permit and have decided to do so but am still unsure on which firearm to carry and which caliber.

I am dead set on Glock first off. I just don't know if I should get the 19/23 or the 26/27. So any help there would be nice. They both feel good in hand but its not like I can test carry them each for a week. I'm a stout guy (5'10, 240lbs) and commonly wear loose clothing.

Also the caliber issue is a tough one to crack since everyone has an opinion. I would prefer 9mm for more capacity and with a Glock the 33rn mag is great for range fun. But is 9mm a viable round with todays loads? Or should I just go straight to the .40 smith? what are the pros and cons of the 9mm and .40 smith?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[10-96]

I'm not a Glock man, so I cain't help you there.

However, I can tell you the greatest secret known to modern handgun shooting man...

There is no magic bullet or cartridge or caliber that will be a 100% sure bet to stop a man in his tracks. For as fragile as humans are regarding surviving airplane crashes and such- they can do the most amazing things after absorbing X number of shots by X and such caliber firearms. It's all about shot placement. If anyone ever said they designed the perfect badguy stopper- I would not want to be behind the trigger of such a beast. Truth is- there are desireable features of almost any ctg from .22 Short up to the various .50's but none of them are worth a dime if you don't put the shot where it counts. In my state, we are taught to "shoot to stop the threat, (and keep shooting until the threat stops)." No, I don't think you'll find that in it's entirity in print- but it is the accepted consensus.

So in my opinion, buy the chambering that you think you can: 1, Find the easiest. 2, Practice with the most. 3, Shoot most accurately with (with flashlight, one handed, off handed, awkward positions, etc.)

In gunfights, it's the guy that places the first accurately placed lethal shot that wins. Years after a shooting, no one will remember the caliber, stance, tactics, brands, etc- they will remember who lived and who died. Col Jeff Cooper said something along that line.

 

[Graywolf727]

I hear you on that one. You could carry a S&W 500 and it don't mean nothing if you can't hit what your aiming at. Its for that reason I think I might end up with going 9mm so I can have more capacity.

 

[Chesster]

Welcome to the forum. Up until 1990, you couldn't give me a "tuppergun". Then I handled and shot a G19 and have had several ever since. To me, the second gen G19 fits my hand and my idea of the perfect IWB CCW gun. The babies are too big for my idea of a pocket gun, and If you carry IWB, you can carry a 19 just as well as the small 26 with 50% more capacity and better handling ergonomics.

 

[Derekadavis]

I recently went through the same thing. I went out and rented both 23/27 (I had already decided on .40). After shooting both I liked the 23 better. Mainly because of the extra grip area.

The reason I went with the .40 is lone wolf makes a 9mm conversion barrel for the .40 cal glocks. This way you can practice with the cheaper 9mm while still having the option to carry .40. While I still haven't bought one it is on my to-do list.

I also am a large man (5'8" 250lbs). I have no problem concealing the compact framed 23. I use a $10 IWB cheapo holster at 3:30-4 o'clock. While u can easily feel it's there, it's not a pain.

Hope this helps!

 

[blume357]

My vote the 19 in 9mm

I'm not a glock fan, but since this is where you have widdled your choices down to.

One big advantage to 9mm.... you can shoot a lot more for less money.

 

[CWPinSC]

Carry what you shoot best. You'd rather put a .32 in the BGs eye than a .45 ACP in his arm. Shot placement is king.

The "best" gun is the one YOU like, not anyone else. It will be a compromise of:

1. Fit - It should fit in your hand like you were born with it there.
2. Reliability - It should go BANG about 99.8% of the time you pull the trigger.
3. Accuracy - In YOUR hand. It's how well YOU shoot it.
4. Concealability - It should be comfortable enough to wear and easy enough to conceal so you won't leave it laying on the dresser at home.
5. Cost - You don't want to scrimp on your "life protector" weapon, but you probably don't need a $1,000 Kimber, either.

 

[Dwight55]

Your best choice:

THE one you can shoot the best.................

THE one you WILL carry (glove compartment and console doesn't count, . . . night stand doesn't count, . . . safe doesn't count)

THE one you feel most comfortable with.

I carry my all steel 1911, 8+1, IWB and 1 extra mag (minimum), and have no qualms nor worries. It hides better than any of the wide bodied tupperwares, is solid dependable, and I can hit what I shoot at with it (THE SINGULARLY MOST IMPORTANT IDEA).

Please be careful in you selection, . . . I see a lot of young people going down the slippery slope of capacity VS accuracy. Spray and pray is really good strategy when you are killing wasps or mosquitoes, . . . not worth a diddly when you are trying to protect your life.

May God bless,
Dwight

 

[WvHiker]

Modern 9mm SD ammo has come a long way. It's a fine caliber. I myself carry a G19. I like the size of it; it's nice to carry a gun that's comfortable enough to take to the range once a week. You really can't practice too much. And that's why I chose 9mm over .40; it's way cheaper if you shoot a lot. I hear a lot about buying a .40 and a Lone Wolf conversion barrel to shoot 9mm, but I didn't think that having both calibers was worth the extra cost. I'd much rather spend that money on ammo and range time.

 

[TailGator]

I went through the same process about a year and a half ago. I had carried a S&W 642 for several years and wanted more capacity.

I settled on a Glock 26. Modern 9mm ammunition such as Speer Gold Dots are pretty effective, and the G26 is a nice combination of concealability and capacity that I carry comfortably on a daily basis.

Not a thing wrong with any of your other choices, but I am satisfied with the 9 mm cartridge, and I can afford to practice with it. If your range time is practice rather than fun time, I have to wonder how good it is to practice with one caliber and carry a different one. As for G19, I like shooting them, but the short grip of the G26 makes it a bit easier to conceal, IMO, and with the right grip the G26 is quite accurate and fun to shoot.

 

[LordTio3]

Great Choices

First off, I was at exactly the same point as you are about 2 years ago. To the letter. I ended up choosing a Glock 19 and got a really good deal on a Like-New one. It has never failed me and I have never wished "I had a bigger gun" so to speak.

That being said, the .40S&W Glcok 23 is the same width, length, weight (1oz diff.) but in a bit larger and more expensive caliber, but one that is easier to find right now quite frankly.

As far as the effectiveness of the 9X19mm round in modern loads... I have a friend that researches Ammo even more than I research new firearms. The 124gr. Spear Gold Dot is a fantastic round to be shooting out of a 4" barrel. It reliably expands to almost an inch in diameter and hits as hard as a 9mm can hit. Carrying loads of this "caliber" would ensure that you are never "under-gunned" as I have never felt that purchasing my Glock 19 was anything but a great decision.

My vote is for the G19 in 9mm. Do a little research on the defense load you want and you won't be sorry you bought it.

Good luck on the purchase,
~LT

Edit: to clarify... I am as average build as it gets. 5'9" 165lbs and I carry my G19 IWB at 4:30 and no one is the wiser. I often wear cargo shorts and t-shirts and have never had much troubel concealing. The G26 would better suit those much smaller than yourself by design IMO.

 

[Jim Downey]

Welcome, Greywolf.

Glocks don't work for me, but they're fine guns and you should have no qualms about any of the calibers they are available in - you do your part, the bullet will do its. For more data, look at my .sig

But the "do your part" thing is absolutely critical, and as others have noted it means choosing a gun you can shoot well, and *will* actually carry. That means figuring out carrying options for different dress requirements, as well as getting some training and plenty of practice. It may not happen with your first selection - that's OK, you can usually trade off for another gun without too much trouble (or do like many, myself included, do and have several different carry guns for different purposes).

Cheers, and good luck!

Jim D.

 

[1goodshot]

Why not a Glock 36? You should shoot as many different guns as you can then pick the one you like best. Caliber is secondary.

 

[Graywolf727]

Well I have decided to go with the 9mm. I can practice with it often and on the cheap. I just need to chose the 19 or the 26. I hear that the 26 can have grip issues for big handed people like me so I am thinking the 19. Anyone who carries either one please let me know what you like and don't like.

Also on a side note, due to the heat of summer here I have already decided on a second ccw for the lightly dressed days. I am going with the Sig p238 since I heard a lot of great things about it. Again if anyone carries it or has fired it a lot please let me know the pros and cons. But from all I heard it sounds solid like most Sigs.

 

[07pats]

Well if you want to overpay for a Sig when you can get the same results with either of these CCW S&W M&P 9C, XD sub compact 9mm, Walther PPS 9mm, G26 - all about half the cost of that Sig -

But hey it's your $$$

 

[RT]

I have both the G19 and the G26. I prefer the G26 for CCW because of it's smaller size and weight. A CCW gun is useless if it's too heavy or uncomfortable and you end up leaving it in the car or at the house.
Also check out the MTAC IWB holster for your Glock.

 

[Kreyzhorse]

I have thought long and hard about getting my permit and have decided to do so but am still unsure on which firearm to carry and which caliber.

Congrats. Getting your permit is a wise decision to make. As far as caliber, 9mm is cheaper to shoot and that means more practice time.

While I prefer a .40 to a 9mm, I think the better choice is likely the 9mm.

As far as starting out from a CCW standpoint, be prepared to make changes and adapt your carry methods as you go. I started with a S&W snub nose IWB and has since morphed into a 1911 OWB or a Ruger LCP in my pocket. The S&W doesn't see much use these days.

 

[ClayInTx]

Buy none.

The class will not have you shooting at 100 yards nor demand bulls eyes.

Rent the smallest that is allowed and the type for a full license. Example: here in Texas the smallest allowed is .380 and must qualify with a semi or be stuck with a “revolver only” license. I rented an S&W 9mm because all my guns were revolvers except one old old .32 auto.

You can then begin shopping and after you get the CCW you decide on what you want, you pay the money, and take it with you, no waiting for a background check—that gets done as part of the class and you can’t CC until your license is issued, anyway. Well, at gun shows you can take it and walk (cue sound of liberals screaming in the background).

You might learn that many recommendations are based upon someone’s personal preference or defending their purchase. Make up your own mind as best you can and be prepared to end up with a few you don’t like all that much.

Now I think the one you really need is.....

 

[Puntmefar]

well my friend ill tell you i carry a glock 17. its a standard duty size gun not a compact. im avrage size guy 5-8 and have no problems concealing it in fact in the past week i stood and shoot the breeze with 2 LOE's and neither noticed. here we dont have to inform them unless were asked if we have any weapons. the second officer was a gentleman who was from the same area i grew up in 3 states away and before i left he knew i was carrying it came up in conversation and he was suprized when he found out he was standing less than 2 feet from my gun and didnt know it was there.


please forgive my puncutation,and capitalization laptop is getting sticky keys these days

 

[2cooltoolz]

I like 9mm a lot. It's cheap and plentiful and a pleasure to shoot. You want to be able to shoot what you carry a LOT!-to get your skills up where they need to be in a stressful situation. And I believe that any of the top brand premium 9mm JHP defense ammunition will do the trick for a carry piece.
I've never owned or shot a G19, but my logic in buying the G26 was, you can extend the grip and extend the capacity of the G26, but you can't shrink the G19. When you want to deep conceal, the G26 is pretty small, and you can carry a G19 mag with an adapter (or larger!) as a reload.