Have you switched your concealed carry gun? Why?

All these people with guns over the years.... I recently switched my concealed carry from... nothing... to an S&W Model 60 5 shot revolver. Also took my CCW class and sent in the paperwork several weeks ago. I expect the permit will arrive any day. Meanwhile, I've been practicing -- dry fire, at the range, and out in the boonies (BLM land) where I can practice quick draws and other self-defense techniques with a loaded gun. (They frown on such things at the range.)

Now I just need to figure out what kind of holster will work best for me for concealed carry. I have a shoulder holster, and like it for open carry when hiking, but for concealed carry it has the disadvantage of requiring a cross draw (slower) *and* presenting the butt of the gun to an attacker. That's not a problem while hiking; never did meet a bear, cougar, or snake who would try to take the gun from you. ;-) But in the city, there are some two-legged varmints that definitely will.

Hmmmm... Maybe I'll start a thread on CC holsters -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.
 
I've always carried a GLOCK 20. Then I added a Kahr PM9 as a BUG. I like that gun but not the caliber, so I changed it out for a second G20. I also carry an extra mag with a +5 base.

As to the ammo count question, this happened at a store I frequent:

http://www.ksat.com/news/18884266/detail.html
Police Search For 4 Armed Robbers
Men Wielded Semi-Automatic Hand Guns
POSTED: Sunday, March 8, 2009
UPDATED: 8:46 pm CDT March 8, 2009
SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio police are searching for four armed robbers who held up a CVS Pharmacy on the city's northwest side.
The robbery took place at about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at the CVS at Wurzbach Road and Ironside Drive.
Police said three men carrying semi-automatic handguns went into the store and ordered customers and employees to the ground. They then went back to the pharmacy and stole a case of prescription cough suppressant and Xanax.
According to police, the trio took the stolen drugs and left with a fourth man in a maroon SUV. As they were leaving, a witness followed them to an apartment complex nearby and called the police.
Detectives located the vehicle and had it impounded but were not able to find the robbers.
"I believe they are here somewhere," said Detective Robert Ramos, with the San Antonio Police Department. "We're going to do our homework and try to locate them."
Detectives believe the robbers either live at the apartment building or know one of the residents.
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Funnily, there is a bank without a guard right next door, though it's closed Sundays. I go there also. Even with 52 rounds and a knife on board, I wonder how I might have reacted.

Carry what you want, guys, but realize no matter how we equip ourselves, some circumstances can get out of our control.
 
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CCW

Another Florida resident here. At the very least I will have the Keltec P3AT, it disappears in the Superfly pocket holster in my slacks, shorts, or anything else. The PM9 is number 2 carry, usually in the pocket with the Superfly holster of cargo pants or shorts. The Kimber Ultra CDP II fills a couple of rolls. When I'm driving I keep it in a cross draw holster, and switch it back to an IWB, depending on what I'm wearing. On the cross draw, I bought a right handed holster even though I'm a lefty. I practice the offhand shooting, so as not to be caught short handed. Great Stuff. Shoot well.
 
I was carrying the glock g19 9mm but switched to my Kahr CW45 ACP after proving it self for accuracy,reliability and practice with it.I find I can draw and get a site picture very quickly with the bar on dot sites.1 extra magazine given me 12 rounds of 230 Gr JHP.
 
Switched once from an HK USPc in 357 sig to a 4in 686. The reasons are for accuracy, range, and firepower. I get better accuracy and longer range with the 686 and thats important to me. I also can load the 357 magnum hotter and with alot more choices in bullets.
I underestand the whole "personal comfortability" aspect of picking a carry piece, but think too many people are swayed to autos for the wrong reasons. I think if everyone who carries tried a few different choices in revolver and autos there would be alot more people carrying revolvers. Just my opinion.
 
First choice is Ruger LCP or KelTec P3AT carried in my right pants pocket. When it gets beastly hot in Houston, your clothes are constantly wet and it will actually soak your wallet clear through. I use a fanny pack then just to keep my stuff dry. Usually with the fanny pack I carry a S&W Mod 36 38spl or a S&W Mod 640 SS in 357 mag. I like the J frames even though I have huge hands.

The revolver is especially appealing to me. If it goes "click", just pull the trigger again!

Carry small but carry always.

Flash
 
I have a rotation of 5 guns that do most of my carry duty.

4" GP100 does the woods bumming duty in the wintertime/deer season. Open to concealed, doesn't matter.

2.25" SP101 or LCR do the revolver daily carry either OWB, IWB, or pocket (LCR).

Ruger P345 is carried a couple times a week typically either IWB in a Crossbreed Supertuck or OWB in a Don Hume JIT.

LCP is a pretty regular pocket companion. Occasionally gets carried in a Crossbreed minituck.

I've had other guns but not gotten rid of them due to carry issues. More shooting issues or preference.

Even in the summer I have no trouble carrying a gun the size of my P345 or even a P97 or P90. Wear a good belt and holster and you're good. Just this morning I headed out to fish and my P345 was on my hip under an untucked T-shirt.
 
It just really depends on where I might be going. If I go downtown Birmingham a 1911, extra mag, A trip to wall mart My NAA 32 or AMT back up 380 and it always depends on what I wear.
 
Mr. Ayoob's statement that the first shot is the most important one
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If I am not mistaken, he clarifies that it is the first "telling"/on target shot that counts.

As to the OP's question, I have had many different CC guns over the years. Just because I am always looking for one that I will like better; the holy grail of CC guns. (A look at my holster drawer will confirm this in a heartbeat!)

For the majority of the last eight years I have carried a Glock 29. During that time I have also used various Colt 1911s, Rugers, Smiths, Berettas, Glocks, etc... Before the G29 it was still a mix back all the way to the beginning...

I am currently waiting for my new Colt Commander to come back from Colt. I will try this one out as a CC and see if it can unseat the G29. Eight years is the record, so far, for me with one main CC handgun. Although recently I have been carrying 1911s a lot more often...
 
I've carried several different guns in my short stent carrying, about 3 years.

When I turned 21, I only had 1 handgun, a Taurus 24/7 .45acp. When I got my carry permit not long thereafter, I carried this on occassion, but really didn't carry much. It wasn't really 'too' large, but more than I wanted to carry.

After a couple months of casual carry, I decided I would get a dedicated carry gun, one that was small and easily concealed and comfortably carried. I looked around and decided on a revolver. I ended up buying a Taurus 651 .357 snub. I know, another Taurus! Gasp! I never had any problems with them, and Taurus was the only make that I was able to get a shrouded hammer on with ease. I wanted a shrouded hammer so it wouldn't catch on clothing, but could still be manually cocked if I wanted SA.

About another 7 months or so later, I was cruising through the local gun-shop and found a Glock 36 that I wanted to handle. I had always heard good things about Glock, but never liked the way they felt in my hand. The 36 was different, being a single-stack, it was much more comfortable and sleek. I really liked the consistant trigger pull of a DA (or in this case, Striker Fired) and found it not much bigger than my 651, thus easily carried.

I picked up a small Colt .32 about a year ago now, which saw a few pocket carries, but never became a steady CCW.


Now-a-days, my Glock is my primary carry choice, since I have the best gear for it. I still have a tendency to prefer a revolver for carry, so I switch back to the 651 from time to time for a bit.


I am looking to get a nice 3" revolver, probably a .327, to by my new main carry gun.
 
One of the posts in the thread brought this question to mind. How long would you expect a carry gun to last if actually carried every day, though not fired a lot. And by carry gun, I mean either open or concealed. And by not fired a lot, well, that's a little harder to pin down, but let's say not more than 500 rounds a year.

I don't recall having see this exact topic before and it might deserve a thread of its own. But I am really referring to the handgun coming close to being unserviceable, not just holster worn.
 
BlueTrain, if the gun gets reasonable care, it should be around for your great-grandkids, at least. Guns from the early 1800s are still perfectly serviceable, and modern materials are much better!
 
I started off with a taurus 605 then moved to my first 686 4 inch then carried a S&W 909 9mm,then a Sig pro 2340 and Sig 229 then back to my 686 4 inch.More recently i carried a Rossi m677 then i carried a S&W 4046 .40 cal then i finally broke down and bought my Glock 22 and carry it some but for them most part i still rely on my 686 4 inch

With my 686,i have never felt out gunned.
 
I find it funny how people argue that handgun is absolutely necessary even though the odds of needing it are incredibly unlikely, but a higher capacity handgun is foolish and unnecessary because the odds of needing them are incredibly unlikely.

People pick the gun first, then come up with reasons for choosing it. Do be careful.
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There is far more truth in this statement than is usually found on the internet. People tend to find a weapon that they like for whatever reason and rationalize why it is superior to the choice another person has made.
 
How long would you expect a carry gun to last if actually carried every day, though not fired a lot. And by carry gun, I mean either open or concealed. And by not fired a lot, well, that's a little harder to pin down, but let's say not more than 500 rounds a year.
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This one has about 10 years of daily use on it and it was shot at least twice a month, and at a rough guess, probably around 500 rounds a month. Sometimes less, sometimes more. Its been retired for about 5 years, but its still going strong and gets shot four or five times a year now.

ry%3D400


By daily use, I mean the gun is on me every waking moment, everyday. I work physically outside, all year, in all weather. The gun above was originally blued, and lasted about a year in leather IWB holsters before rust set in bad enough I couldnt stay on top of it. It was hard chromed and I switched to kydex, which basically stopped the rust issue.

I've been carrying a SIG P229 (actually rotating once or twice a month between two) for about 5 years now. They seem to be holding up a little better and show less wear. I also carry a Seecamp in a Smart Carry holster, and it shows no wear at all, but its pretty much totally protected.

They may be in a holster most of the time, but they still get beat up. Constant drawing and shooting also adds to things. While they may get used hard, if they are not abused and you maintain them, they will still give you good service. The may not be as pretty as most you see posted though, guns or accessories. :)
 
There is far more truth in this statement than is usually found on the internet. People tend to find a weapon that they like for whatever reason and rationalize why it is superior to the choice another person has made.
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This is very perceptive, and it works for more than just handguns. I think many people need some confirmation that their decisions on purchases are correct, whether it be handgun, rifle, car, motorcycle, etc. I see this all the time on motorcycle forums.

I don't care if anyone carries the same gun as I do, just as long as they think I am brilliant for choosing the one I did.:D ;)

Ron
 
Since I picked up my LCP I find myself carrying it more than anything else. It is simply the most comfortable carry gun I own.
 
If I might pry, AK103K, why did you switch from the Colt to the Sig (or Sigs)? Judging from your comments, it wasn't close to retirement age, so I assume the reason had nothing to do with the condition of the Colt.

I have seen many handguns that have clearly seen a lot of use, if not actually having had lots of rounds put through them, yet hardly any rust or pitting. The blueing was worn off everywhere you would expect it, leaving it nearly bright in places, like a well used tool. Small arms in the army, plus a lot of other equipment, takes on this appearance eventually if actually used in the field. On the other hand, I suppose there are plenty of guns that did wind up with lots of rust. It can easily happen overnight, as I discovered with a knive that I lost one night and didn't find until the next morning.

Former police handguns usually have a well worn appearance with very beat up grips from being carried in an open holster. No wonder military holsters have flaps, even if those using them sometimes overcome that inconvenient form of protection by folding them back out of the way, if possible.
 
I've 5 carry guns that are warranted depending on dress, weather, activity, etc. For the most part, my EDC is now and has been for years, a Kimber Ultra CDP in .45 ACP. Backup is an always, and is a KT P32. Vacation gun is a Glock 29, and night biking gun is a Glock 26. Biggest change for me was early on, and it was going from a H&K USP compact to my Kimber as primary. The HK was simply too big for my taste and isn't as accurate, or recoil-friendly as the Kimber. The HK still gets carried sometimes, usually in the winter.
 
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