Circle of Life

R

redstategunnut

New member
A decade and a half ago, I got my carry permit. At the time, the county sheriff issued the permit and it was specific to one gun, listed by serial number on the face of your permit. I wanted something I could carry anytime, anywhere, so I permitted a snubnose, 5-shot stainless .38 special.

Life went on, the laws changed to allow a permit holder to carry any gun they lawfully owned or possessed. I bought more guns, traded a couple, and presently have a bunch of handguns in a variety of makes, calibers and platforms. I've been carrying a Glock 32 and a couple different 1911s for years now.

It's been warming up around here, and I got to thinking I "needed" a pocket carry gun. I've got a Kel-Tec P3AT, and I like it, but I wanted something to slip in cargo shorts that had a little more punch. I surveyed my local gun shops, surfed this and other web sites for information. I looked at the Walther PPS, Kahr PM9, and a couple of others. The Walther is reported to be reliable but it's a little big and spare mags are ridiculously expensive. The PM9 has proponents and skeptics, and when I handled one it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy.

In the end, I decided to put the ole snubnose back into action, fifteen years later, and it feels good. The circle is complete, once again.
 
Thats the way it was in 1982 pa permits .showed them the gun you owned.still have that pistol ruger security six.only one that did not get lost i boat accident:rolleyes:
 
When I was a young man and followed trends and gun magazines,I bought into the "Carry the biggest gun you can conceal" doctrine...

My first carry gun was a six inch model 629 in a shoulder holster loaded with Keith rounds......

When the auto pistol boom took off in the late 80s, I started toting a Beretta 92 then a S&W 645......
I used to laugh at the old timers who would recommend snubby .38s.

"Mouseguns" I would declare, then start in a Jeff Cooper approved tirade....

To make a long story short, when I bought my first Chief's Special, it dawned on me why so many old timers had so much respect for the five shot snubby.

My only regret was I got a model with a hammer spur. My current five shot snubby is a hammerless model. I wish I could go back in time and advise myself of what a sensible and PRACTICAL defense gun the snubby is.
As Fred Rexor put it, - it's the gun you will have in your pocket when you leave our custom .45 at home-.
 
Funny you mention that. As soon as the state law changed to allow me to carry whatever I lawfully possessed, I became possessed and got a Glock 21, the full size .45 ACP. I carried that gun for years, and I loved it and never hesitated to bet my life on it. But, it was silly big and if I wasn't in a suit, just about impossible to conceal.
Both my snubbies are concealed hammer varieties: Taurus 85 CH (5 shot .38 special) and Taurus 606 (.357 BIGBOOM snubnose). I'm still going to carry my 1911s and the Glock, but I'm done looking for a pocket semi-auto 9mm. If that's what you like, like it, but I've done the math and I'm happy with my choice.
 
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Always been a revolver guy... I do have a CZ Compact in 9mm & a full sized Witness in 10mm that do get carried on occasion... but my 5 shot air lite L frame 44 special is just too easy & light not to love... I also have an air weight 6 shot J frame 32 H&R magnum, if I'm feeling "mousey" that day, but that 3" L frame is my 99% gun... today, & likely as far into the future as I can predict...:)
 
I made that same circle. I just got a S&W airweight 38 special. I still carry my kel-tek p32 at times but now switching to the more powerful 38 special +p cartridge.
 
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