Different CCW for different environments Pt. 1

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Playboypenguin

Moderator
I know some people like to focus on one single "all around" carry gun or one primary and a "bug" while others have different guns for different situation.

In this thread I would like to focus on people who have different carry guns for different activities outside of normal daily activities. I am asking "who has different guns for EDC, Hiking, Camping, Biking, etc?"

I personally have a few guns for daily carry but primarily carry a .45acp Colt Officer's Model 1911.

For hiking/camping in areas south of my home I primarily use a 10mm Glock 29. Two legged predators are always the most likely threat but in these areas (animal wise) I am most likely to experience small bear, cougars, bobcats, deer, etc.

For camping/hiking in more northern areas I still pack a .44mag S&W m629 revolver for the extra power but that might change after I get my Double Tap 200gr XTP ammo. In these areas I am more likely to experience larger bears, moose, elk, etc.

I also take a rifle for camping if we are going to be there for an extended stay.
 
I'll play "Devils Advocate" and offer up an answer that may not be exactly what your fishing for.
From a operational perspective, the problem with multiple carry guns can be the multiple manual of arms for those guns.

I think any right minded person would agree that your primary carry gun should be your "ingrained" gun. It's the gun you can clear a jam or field strip in total darkness, the gun you can fire left or right handed, upside down and sideways.
The gun that your muscles and brain are so interwoven with that any and all operations are completely natural.

Now, if you have 3-4 guns and they all have the same manual of arms... that's not too bad other than the size/caliber/recoil/point-of-aim - point-of-impact variables.

I don't know the details of you or your abilities, experience or environment, so unlike many here, I won't presume to tell you what to do... just offer something to consider.

Saying all that, my two carry guns are a P7M8 and a Seecamp... but in personal defense of the obvious differences, I've been carrying and shooting those same two guns now for over 15 years.

C
 
I can understand the desire of some people to limit themselves to one gun and one platform...but I also feel that alot of that is based on the desire to cling to the idea of the fast draw scenario coming into play sometime during their lives. I also feel that most people are capable of learning more than on manual of arms very well and mentally capable of knowing what they are carrying and when.
 
I do.

I have a beater 38/44 heavy duty I carry concealed or open for work in the field (I am a geologist and I found it concerned folks less when they saw a geo-type with a beater revolver then the glock 20 I used to carry).

I have a P7PSP for general day in and day out carry.

I have a colt 380 for exercise and jogging (walking?).

I have a detective special for around the yard stuff. It slips in the pocket easy.

I use a 610 with nasty reloads for the back country work and a bunch of speed loaders. If I am going to be a while I bring along a 30/30 94.

Why would you not have several guns if you are familar with them all. I think about each one when I switch, but most of the time I stay with the P7PSP.
 
I change guns based on environment, potential threat level, mood, phases of the moon or star alignment. You name it. My normal EDC is a Colt Detective Special with an IJ TP22 as BUG. If I am working I carry either a 4in. S&W M66 or a Browning Hi-Power. If I am working around the yard or the barn I carry an old S&W M&P .38 or a Norinco 213. For general woods bummin' either my Taurus 441 .44spl or my old Colt New service .45. If I am traveling by auto in rural areas a Colt 357 backed up by a Maverick 12ga trunk gun. If I am going to the city, a 3in. S&W model 65 or the Hi-Power or my 1911a1.

None of these are carved in stone except the work guns as I have to carry something I have qualified with. I have an old beat-up Colt Official Police 4in. that I love and carry often but have carried a S&W 629, Ruger Vaquero, Uberti s/a .45, Smith M28,etc. Pretty much any handgun I own has been used for CCW except my Broomhandle or M11/9. Then again everybody who knows me says I ain't quite right.
 
I have a large .40 S&W Steyr S40 semi that's my main carry weapon. I have a yaqui and two belt slide holsters for it. It goes under an untucked shirt and I carry it about 95% of the time. When I must tuck my shirt, I have a pocket holster for my Taurus 85 .38 spcl. snubbie. If I'm frequently going into places where I must disarm (banks, doctor's offices, etc.), I have a paddle holster for a compact Keltec 9mm.
 
What CCW

Creeper hit the nail on the head. Get to know your carry weapon so you react, not think about what you're going to do when in a hostile situation. Practice, practice and more practice at avery kind of target you can think of. Take p/protection classes that put you in a bad guy situation. Believe me, they are worth it.
Mickey
 
I suppose then you dont want to talk to me. I'm of the One Gun Crowd, for carry.

I carry a 642 in my pocket, loaded with 150 grn SWC. I do a lot of horseback riding. camping, fishing, land crusing, etc. When I'm out, I like to supplement my dinner with rabbits or other critters for the pot. My little pistol with the above rounds suits me fine.

My 642 is always in my pocket, I've grown accustom to it as I have my pocket knife and truck keys.

When I'm out, like everyone else I shed my gear with setting up camp or tending to horses. When I carried a heavier pistol, I found it stashed with the saddle or other gear while I set up camp, fetch water or wood, etc. Most of the small game I put in the pot is what I see while doing camp chores. Where is my pistol, my heavy pistols would be with the saddle & tack, fishing gear, or pack. Not so with my pocket pistol, its in my pocket.

I shoot this pistol quite a bit, and have gotten a bit of confidence in it and my shooting.

They say a 2 inch revolver should be good for 2 inches per 10 yards, or shoot 2 inches at 10 yards, 4 inches at 20 yards, 6 @ 30, etc. That makes it well with in the range of a cotton tail or such.

Regardless of weather, or what I'm wearing my pocket pistol is concealed in my jeans pocket, yet always ready if I need it, not in the pile with the pack or tack. No heavy pistol making my hip bones ache (been there dont that with 20 years carrying a service revolver as a cop).

I like the comfort, I have developed the confidence in my ability with this pistol, its cheap to shoot. ( I cast and load my own). I have my Laser sights for when light conditions make the sights difficalt to see.

If I was hunting, I'd take a rifle. I've finished off more then one critter with my 642. See no reason to pack a heavier pistol. I dont live in bear country. Worse I figure I can run into is maybe a mountian lion or a two legged varment. I've convinced I could discourage bad behavier in either.

But this is just me, the way I live and travel. Not saying I dont have other pistols, I do, several, I still like my Bullseye Pistol and other matches.

JMHO
 
PBP

Not only do I have different handguns for different activities, I also have different manners of carrying them.

Driving - cross draw.
Snow go - shoulder rig.
Dressed up - pocket holster.
EDC - OWB 3:30 -4
etc...
I even vary the carry methods for each type of activity.
My body knows where the gun is: weight, practice, etc...

I am also of the opinion that enough practice with and time spent carrying equals proficiency with differing guns and modes of carry. Muscle memory is a good thing; and you can have "multiple" memories for different actions/situations.

Now changing up manual of arms and location of a HD gun might be a little confusing at o'dark thirty when you are startled out of a peaceful slumber...
but wide awake with a history of carrying the guns in their holsters, and having practiced drawing and shooting them this way, personally don't see much of a problem. And I have had to draw under stress, on more than one occasion, still managed to find the correct tool straight away each and every time.

Direct and simple answer: Yes, different guns for different purposes. Deep conceal weapon does not give me great confidence concerning big bears.
 
Lets see now, go to work-P40, go to store CW40-go on a hike CW40-go visit CW40-go scooter riding CW40, all carried SOB in Don Houme or clip-draw. ;)
 
When vacationing in Maine, the usual snub-nosed .38 is replaced by a Ruger SP101 with 3" barrel (accompanied by a variety of .357 and .38 ammo).
 
In summer CC almost mirrors kraigwys with the 642 and C/T laser grip in pocket holster. In woods,hunting,fishing,hiking etc.-same. Jacket weather its Para Ord. Carry Companion 45 single stack. On a road trip(car or bike) its both with 45 either in glovebox or saddlebag.
 
With me,I've found I can usually conceal my Glock 32 most anywhere,and 14 rounds of 357sig will handle just about anything I can imagine I'll run across.On the rare occasion where that may be on the large side,(usually just in my mind),either my Kahr P40 IWB,or my FEG SMC-918 or KelTec PF-9 in a pocket holster.But as I get more accustomed to concealing the G32,I find it is my "go to" gun almost always.As others have said elsewhere,a GOOD holster and belt make all the difference...

That said,when I'm in the wilderness,one of my AK's is always with me,either the 308 or the 223...
 
I have few that get rotated around depending on the circumstance.

My 642 goes with me almost every day. It's very convenient and inconspicuous. I happen to think it would be enough for the majority of confrontations that one might face. Sometimes my Colt CCO or a Gov't will get daily duty but not as often as the 642 because it is just too sweet for the job.

If possible, I enjoy having a large and easily recognizable weapon when out at night. I also enjoy being able to see my sights in low light, so I have a Colt Government and a Glock 17 equipped with night sights. The 1911 sees considerably more carry duty since I'm more familiar with 1911's and it's more comfortable to carry by a long shot. I'm confident in my ability with either though, as I have shot extensively with both platforms.

For hunting, I'll generally pack a nasty .357 for the local wildlife, as I trust it more than a .45 or 9mm for the purpose.

At this point, I've shot so much out of 1911's and revolvers that they constitute the brunt of what I carry. If I feel a situation might make me nervous and can't be avoided (I'll avoid them as much as possible, but sometimes bad situations can't be helped) then I'll think about packing the Glock.
 
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From reading this thread, it appears that most of us do carry a variety of pistols depending upon the circumstances.

I generally carry the biggest (caliber) that I can conceal easily in any given circumstance, so in the rotation are a Colt stainless Commander, XD9SC, 642, Rohrbaugh R9S, and an LCP.

I like to carry nothing less than a .380, with the LCP being the only one of the above in that caliber, and it only gets carried when I'm in shorts and a t-shirt.

When camping, my first choice is always the XD45 and several spare loaded mags.
 
I have two guns for ccw. They are different enough that when I hold each there is no confusion. A S&W 640 for summer and a m39/m639 when I have more clothing on. The rationale: When you REALLY need it all the preprogrammed stuff needs to take over. And that comes from practice. Lots of it. In my (not so) humble opinion.
 
I have several like most of the above.

EDC: is a G26 carried IWB at 3:30(90% of the time) a S&W M38 sometimes when its hot or I just feel like it.

Hiking I usually Have 2 guns if I am in an area where I can shoot. I will have a Glock 30 OWB is a Bladetech holster and a S&W 422. I got the 422 just for hiking. The 6" barrel and light weight = a light accurate pistol.

Camping and fishing in the Lower 48: I carry the G26 and 422 as above but I normally carry a rifle or two to shoot cans and stuff with.

In Alaska: I carry a Redhawk 5.5" 44Mag in a Simply Rugged Pancake and have a Marlin GG in 45-70 near by. My Dad carries a S&W M58 and a Win 94 30-30. We go together every year and stay about 10 days at the river if we are catching good fish. I usually have a 22 Rifle to mess around with too.

Deer Hunting: I hunt with a pistol about 70% of the time and carry a T/C Super 14 in 30-30(Most of the time) and a S&W 629 with a 6.5" Barrel. If I get a close in shot I will use the 629 but most are taken with the T/C.

Varmint Hunting I always have my G26 along with the Varmint gun I am using at the time. Its just for two legged Varmints and I normally have it with me all the time.

Walking and workout/running: I carry a S&W M38 or a Kimber Guardian Angle OC Spray. The Guardian Angle works good it has saved a few dogs lives. I love Dogs and I really don't want to hurt one. Most that come after me when I am running I just stop and then they get to know me and we are ok but some dogs are not very well behaved and need a little help to leave me alone:D
 
Unless it is out in the woods, my daily carry is my PF-9. Out in the woods it is my S&W 686. The little 9 is ok around in town, but out in the woods I want something capable of handling 4 legged baddies.

I'll play "Devils Advocate" and offer up an answer that may not be exactly what your fishing for.
From a operational perspective, the problem with multiple carry guns can be the multiple manual of arms for those guns.
Click to expand...
Oddly enough, the manual of arms for the 2 aren't all that different. One is a DA revolver, the other is a DAO pistol. Neither has a safety to hassle with. Granted, the reload drill is different, as is the malfunction drill. And the grips are completely different. But the critically important part -- the act of drawing and firing -- is pretty much the same: No safety, similar DA trigger.
 
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EDC is usually one of 4 DAO point and click(Seecamp,M&P 340,CA Bulldog Pug or AMT Backup 45)pocket carried.
I will also at times carry IWB SA/DA revolvers or SA/DA or SA autos.
sometimes (rarely) I carry both.
out on the farm/hunting/walking the dogs I'll carry about anything in the safe.
I'm enough of a gun nut and shoot enough to be proficient with about anything.
although I'm aware if my only goal was SD I'd be better off to train with one gun, what fun would that be.
 
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