Have you switched your concealed carry gun? Why?

G

glock06

New member
I live in the south and much of what I carry is dictated by my clothes.I have gone through several carry guns trying to some one that work.

I used to carry a stainless 357 Mag revolver in a bellygun as my carrygun. Ok but the accuracy left much to be desired, the roundcount was low, the muzzle blast was aggravating and the trigger was horrible.

1911-yup. I carried one but just couldn't get it to feed reliably with anything except ball and I wasn't going to carry ball ammo in my carrygun when better SD ammo was available.THe thumb safety took practice, the trigger ripped shirts with a fast draw and the thing was HEAVY and a real pain to tote all day.

Then came the Kahr. Nice gun and great to carry around but low round count.I like this gun and still carry it when it works with my clothing.

Finally-the Glock.Good gun, reliable, reasonably accurate, high round count.Don't like the trigger,the stock sights have to go, but overall a reasonable carry gun.

Finally the LCP is a great BUG and when you can't conceal a real gun in summer clothing, a ?backup carry gun that's better than nothing---

How many carryguns have others gone through??
 
I & many others have several.
I have not gone through guns as you stated.
Daily carry is 1911 under Western Vest. Summer or winter.
Sunday is Ruger SP101 in belt holster during winter when a coat is not unbearable.
Summer Taurus 85UL in pocket holster w/ no coat.

I dont wear shorts, swim, or go shirtless so no issues there.

Basically I dress around my gun, not gun around my dress.
Others differ & still come home safe every night.
 
New clothing = bigger gun

I typically carried a PM40 or Glock 33 in Kydex clip on IWB just to the right of zipper under an untucked loose t-shirt.

I would prefer a 45 srtong side IWB and a regular grip, but don't want any printing.

After years of solid shirts, I saw a post about plaid:barf: shirts and concealment, how they cover / camo printing. Well, it works!

I bought several loose short sleeve plaid shirts. I would have never worn anything except solid shirts before. It's in style to wear untucked plaid shirt with t-shirt underneith. It also allows a little printing when I lean over as getting a drink at a fountain, but it's unnoticeable with the loose plaid cover.

My new summer carry is either a Glock 38 (45 GAP) or the new Springfield 45 XD compact I purchaed when I realized I could carry a pistol strong side IWB effectively concealed beneith my new favorite:) attire.

Edit: I've also changed my pocket carry buy intentionally purchasing pants with deeper pockets; not all carpender jeans / shorts pockets are created equal. I've gone from a P3AT 380 up to either a 442 (works very well) or the PM40.
 
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I switch with the seasons ... I carry a Kimber UCII when it's cool (3 or 4 days a year here, it seems) and I can wear some kind of cover garment ... jacket, fleece pullover or shirt over a t-shirt. when it's hot, I pocket carry a Kahr PM9 in a Mika holster. I'm retired and wear cargo shorts pretty much all summer and the Kahr works great. the round count is an issue, but I always carry the spare mag along, so I have a total of 14 rds ... the Kahr is a great gun, I barely know it's there ...
 
Oh sure.

-Started with an XD, didn't like the ergonomics for my hand size.
-Got a CZ 75, carried that heavy sucker for a while. Still do every so often in the winter.
-On a whim, bought a P11. Once I discovered the belt clip, it got used a LOT, until my friend decided she wanted to carry.:rolleyes:
-Sig 220, again...in the winter.
-At some point I realized "hey, I don't have a revolver" and settled on a 3" SP101. But like you I realized the muzzle jump/blast and round count just wasn't cutting it if I had to use it. If I was going to use 38+P in it, might as well get a 9mm with higher capacity.

My latest? Kahr K9. Gets carried all the time.
 
I used to change from a full size witness/cz to a beretta 86 due to the summer.

But since I found the crossbreed super tuck holsters, I carry the full size witness, or when the pants are a bit tighter a full size 1911 all the time.

Most comfortable holster I have ever used, and hides either gun very well.

I have started carrying the 1911 more because of how thin it is, but can get away with either gun in t shirts and shorts.
 
I carry my 642 in my pants pocket throughout the year. That way its always in the same spot no matter what I'm wearing. I can always get my hand in my pocket and it dosnt leave a print.

I believe concealed means concealed.
 
Nope.

I only have one but I don't need another. Glock 33. 20 below zero in January, 95+ in July and August... heck, it's already been 95 and it's not even June, and I have no problems. There's hardly a lighter gun out there (a few but not many), I have 10 rounds of 357sig.... love it.
 
I like to carry - in this order:

Steyr S40 (.40 S&W)
Springfield XD9SC (9mm)
Taurus 85 UL (.38 spcl. +p)
Bersa Thunder .380 (.380 ACP)

All are carried in a OWB under a loose, untucked sport shirt
 
380 at Gander

Anyone who has been looking for .380 Auto, the Gander Mountain in Hilliard got a good shipment in yesterday along with a bunch of other calibers: 9mm, 223, 45, 38Special. 2 Box Limit Per Household per day, but at least they have it!
 
My LCP is my anywhere carry
LCP and my 38 snub sometimes
I put my KAHR CW9 away untill winter or clothing permits
 
Basically I carry one of two guns. In the cooler months where I have a coat/jacket/etc... I carry my Sig P220 45acp. In the warmer weather when I'm not wearing a ton of clothing, I carry a walther or it's FEG clone 32acp. Both have decockers, both go to double action for the first shot or a missfire on ammo, so both are extremely safe and reliable. Hell, I don't think the Sig P220 has EVER had a misfire. I just to carry a Springfield 1911A1, but it's just not conducive. If I was carrying it open carry, cocked and locked might be acceptable. But concealed, clothing and such catch on the gun. It simply just wasn't meant to carry concealed. People do, and I'm not saying they shouldn't. Just that it's not for me.

I feel just as comfortable with the 32acp as I do with the 45acp. Just about any crime against a person carrying is probably going to be a robbery/rape type of situation. Possibly the being in a mini-mart type place at the wrong time when a robbery occurs. If you're going to use your gun, it's probably going to be within 20 feet. If it's more than that, you usually have room/time to get away. The bad guy is not trying to get into a "Fight at the OK corral" with you. I train with the 3+3+1 method: Shoot 3 immediately at center of mass: Instantly access the situation: shoot 3 more at center of mass: Instantly access the situation. Shoot 1 more. The objective is to get out of a harmful situation. The 32acp and the 45acp will both do that for you.

The important thing about swapping around your carry gun, which I only swap the two, is that you are equally familiar with both. That's why I like both the walther style 32acp and the sig p220 style 45acp. They both shoot the same style. One in the chamber; decocked; double action. I also have an additional safety on the walther which is part of the decock, but once it's back to double action, it's as safe and similar as a double action revolver, so I don't really carry with the safety on. Anyway, having both guns shoot identical to each other means that no matter which of the two I am carrying that day, I don't have to mentally change the way I shoot. Which can definitely come into play if you carry a single action only like the 1911A1 either cocked/locked, or none in the chamber; and then possibly a revolver or double action style semi-auto. You have to get your brain right. But that's why I am partial to the double actions. Semi or revolver, they both can be carried and operated the same. Now, if you do carry the 1911A1 and a revolver or double action gun of some type on occasion; just make sure you practice with both a lot and make sure that you mentally are ready to use it. Nothing like thinking double action and the safety is on with the 1911A1 and it won't fire. Or worse yet, carry it cocked without the safety and thinking double action and the trigger pull is almost hair like and you accidentally discharge.

If I still carried the 1911A1, I would still feel comfortable with the walther style 32acp. Because besides having a decocker, it also has the safety. I would carry it with the safety ON, thus by teaching my mind that BOTH guns I carry need to have the safety turned off. Yes, the walther would be double action and the 1911A1 would be single; but both would function the same. Safety off, point and click. But it's difficult to carry different guns that operate differently. Real situations are not like people see on tv, practice for, and imagine in their minds. The adrenaline, fear, anxiety, etc... are off the charts. The shooting part has to be 100% MUSCLE MEMORY. What your mind has to do is to calm down; determine a way OUT of the situation; if no way out, how to protect yourself; and fire your weapon as a last resort. And ALL of this is done in as little as a second or two. Having to think about HOW to shoot a particular gun is not something you want to be worrying about at that time. When you decide to pull the weapon and fire, the rest has to be instinct.
 
the trigger ripped shirts with a fast draw and the thing was HEAVY and a real pain to tote all day.
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Never saw a 1911 trigger rip anything. Been packing one since late 60's Military and civ. If your 1911 was unrelieable with HP should have been returned for warrenty work . Todays 1911's should be relieable with all type of ammo .
I carry a Dan Wesson bobtail or my Colt Defender depends on dress A 1911 in a good holster and belt isn't hard to carry or heavy . Kel Tec in pocket sometimes .
I belive round count not a factor. The pistol is used for SD not attacking some fighting position. 5 shot 6 shot pistols and 7 or 8 shot autos have been defending people for over a 100 yrs. In war or on the streets of America.
 
Agree 100% with you Michael on the round count. More than 90% of carry situations won't require even pulling the trigger. The mere presence of the gun is usually enough to diffuse the situation. If you do need to pull the trigger, 5-7 rounds is more than enough. I don't say this to say NOT to buy a 9mm with a 15 round magazine. I say this so you don't buy a 9mm BECAUSE it has a 15 round magazine. If a revolver is what feels right to you and it's what's best for you to carry, then that is what you should get. If it's a 7 shot 32acp or 45acp, then that is what you should buy and carry. Having a 10+ magazine as a high priority on your gun selection list is not a good criteria. You could be eliminating a number of possible guns as an option that might be so much better for you to carry, but because someone told you that you NEED 10+ rounds in the magazine, these guns aren't an option. Find the most comfortable and reliable gun to carry FOR YOU!!! Maybe a 32acp Bersa. Maybe a 7 shot P220. Maybe a 5-6 shot S&W revolver. Maybe it IS a 10+ round 9mm glock. But don't let the 10+ magazine be a consideration. Self defense scenarios aren't going to require that. You aren't a police officer confronting a drug deal, multiple gang members, etc... It's for personal self defense. Get the right gun for you.
 
I've switched around a bit. I started with my Walther PP .32 Auto. I soon found that I could conceal a larger gun just as easily so I switched over to a Taurus 445 .44 Special. It was OK, but I just never could warm up to it so I sold it and bought a S&W M66 with a 2 1/2" barrel. I now alternate between that S&W M66 and my Colt Cobra in the summer and my S&W M28 and 629 in the winter.
 
I haven't switched but I have added another gun to my CC "arsenal".

I used to CC exclusively in a bellyband, 12 O'Clock low. It conceals extremely well, even with a shirt that is tucked in, but is slow to get to, uncomfortable at times and demands that you carry a gun that is quite small and that doesn't have sharp edges. I could only manage to carry a small .380 using that setup.

I started carrying IWB 4 O'Clock a lot of the time with an untucked shirt (any time an untucked shirt was appropriate), and when I made that change I realized I could bump up the size of the gun a bit. Now when I carry IWB, I carry a Kahr CW9 which gives me an extra shot and is chambered 9mm which will achieve the FBI penetration standards with expanding ammunition.

I still carry the PPK when an untucked shirt is not appropriate, but the majority of the time I carry the CW9.
Never saw a 1911 trigger rip anything.
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I have to agree that I don't understand how a 1911 trigger could rip something...
 
A number of years back now, after about 25 years or so, I quit carrying 1911's and switched to SIG's. A P220 at first, then a P226 (357SIG), and for the most part now, a P229 (357SIG).

I got tired of trying to find a 1911 that was out of the box reliable, and didnt need fiddling with, which was the main reason for the shift. The SIG's havent let me down yet.

I carry basically the same two guns, in the same place, year round, with just some minor changes in dress.
 
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