The #1 reason you carry the semi/wheel gun you do

I carry what is likely among the top 2% weirdest CCW pieces, as most of y'all know. Heavily modified Ruger New Vaquero in 357, daily-without-fail.

I've been tuning this critter since 2005. It's now at a point where I can't show any pictures of the latest mods, because I begged Tim Sheehan to let me use design elements of his sight system that he hasn't yet used himself :). In all other respects the gun is more or less a part of me, I've adjusted the ergonomics to fit and I have little interest in shooting anything else.

To me, accurate guns are interesting. In terms of the gun's practical accuracy (and fast accuracy, if the question is "first round on target"), this gun is way past "interesting". It's also heavy enough (42oz) to use real 357 ammo, the gnarliest stuff DoubleTap Ammo or Tim Sundles at Buffalo Bore can whip up...matching or beating most 10mm rounds for raw power.

I likely only have six rounds in a fight (I do carry reloads but it's still an SA wheelgun!) but I think I can keep my head and make 'em count.
 
3 inch barrel nickel plated S&W model 36 in .38 special, Don Hume Jit Slide holster and standard pressure Hornady Custom XTP 125 grain hollowpoints, the number one reason I carry it is because I can hit what I'm trying to hit with it
 
Full size, all steel, 1911, .45ACP. Reason: it's the experienced one in self defense. All the rest are trying to catch up.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
For quick in the pocket (etc.) any of my J's,

for traveling over the road, either J or K, or 4"9mm or .45.
Depends on situation, if going to a Service rifle match late @ night then 9's or .45ACP.

Pulled into Motana campsite about 11:30PM one night years ago.
Swept the site with eigth-cell coon light and when to bed in caravan back.
4:30Am, woke to engine starting, raised up and spotted pick-up 50 yds away, puts on parking lights wheels around and pulls next to me.
I leaned forward and switched on my parking light to give a 360 low level light field. Did a quick 360, with 4" .357 in hand and a J on the floor naxt to foot.
Pick-up accelerated out of there.

I followed 45 minutes later, with 12 bore as "Shotgun" (slugs)
 
S&W model 642 Power Port Pro. I bought it because it's a "sweet spot" handgun: not perfect at any one thing, but rather strikes a very good balance between several things. Plus it looks neat.
 
Question for Daryl

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You say all your guns are reliable. I'll take you at your word.

But I will ask, does this mean you either repair or weed out any gun that ever malfunctions? Or have you been very lucky in your purchases to date?]

(Even reputable makes have been known to hiccup on occasion.)
Click to expand...

Yes, I do repair or weed out firearms that are not reliable, and yes, I've had my share of problems with some firearms.

I had a CZ 75b that, no matter what I did to remedy the problem, never once fed an entire magazine of ammo without several failures. Good maker, but a lemon of a firearm. I finally got rid of it.

I had a Springfield "Mirco-compact" .45, a short version of a 1911. Dang nice firearm, except that it kept breaking guide rods loose from the guide rod head. It was in working order when I sold it after having shot less than a box of ammo through it, but I didn't trust it any more. Two guide rod's in less than 50 rounds was unacceptable to me, and I thought about it long and hard before I sold it. It really was a very nice 1911.

I've also had some that needed repair, and afterwards proved to be reliable.

A lowly Taurus snub in .32 H&R mag that I recently aquired had two to three misfires with every cylinder of ammo I loaded into it. After some evaluation and thought, I filed the hammer just a bit so that the transfer bar would put more force on the firing pin. The firing pin was barel sticking out of the frame with the hammer resting on the transfer bar, and I used my (reliable) j-frame for comparison. The hammer, when fired, still rests it's weight on the frame, but enough force is applied to the transfer bar so that the firing pin now protruded from the frame sufficiently to fire the rounds reliably. Problem solved, and I've fired enough ammo through it to insure reliability. In it's current state, I'd carry this revolver without reservation; with it's ported barrel and low recoil chambering, it's a very fast and accurate shooting snub.

I also have a Ruger Vaquero that malfunctioned, although the cause was obviously ammo related. The bullet in a heavy recoiling Cor-Bon .45 Colt cartridge jumped crimp. That's easily solved by running the rest of the box of ammo through a crimp die to put a better crimp on the bullets, and then insuring that bullets are crimped well in my handloads.

The list could go on, but the main point is that you're right; all makers can turn out a firearm that has a problem or three from time to time. None of them, or us are immune to a failure. However, I won't keep a firearm that continually fails, or seems to have some sort of design flaw that renders it unreliable.

So, to get back on topic, reliability is a prerequisite for me keeping a firearm; Once proven reliable, or "made" reliable, I have other reasons for carrying what I carry on any particular day.

I stated earlier that the reason I carried a snub is concealability. There are times when easy concealment is necessary, since I live in southern Az, and it gets somewhat warm here.

And I stated that the reason I carry a G23 is increased firepower. I live about 10-12 miles north of Mexico in an area known for illegal drug and human smuggling. 'Nuff said on that.

:)

Daryl
 
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Glock 19. When I can't, Model 36.

The Glock 19 is a recent development for me. Deciding factors were availability of ammunition to practice A LOT and that practicing has yielded a very high level of confidence in my abilities and its reliability.

The Model 36 always goes boom and can be extremely accurate with the right loads. Those loads aren't optimal for self-defense however, and I'm leaning toward taking it out of the rotation. The size and shape make it extremely concealable and comfortable to wear in warmer weather.
 
i carry my M&P 357 sig compact.

because i know it from front to back and in the dark.

i have full trust in its ability to protect me or my family @ a moments notice!
 
All the guns in my carry rotation are reliable and accurate.
All of them operate in such a fashion that is either DA revolver friendly or SA auto W/frame mounted safety friendly. I will at times carry a SA revolver and I do this because I've shot these three platforms enough that my hands basicly recognize which grip and operation is a reflex action.
As to which I carry from my guns it's usually attire and plans which most of the time leads me to my LCR.
 
"Just state what gun you carry, and the NUMBER ONE reason why."

Rohrbaugh 9.

I love being told I spent too much, it's too delicate, it doesn't hold enough rounds and that I could have gotten something just as good for $199.95.

And that a Glock 26 is just as easy to carry in a front pocket.

Did I miss any of the usual blockhead remarks? :)
 
One or another of two identically set-up 1911s.

Because it's the centerfire gun I shoot the best.


johnbt said:
Did I miss any of the usual blockhead remarks? :)
Click to expand...

Haters gonna hate. ;)
 
My EDC is a Ruger..........

I like my Ruger SP101, 2.25", .357 mag. because it is compact but plenty powerful enough to take care of business. And it fires every time I pull the trigger........Well, for 5 shots, anyway.
I carry S/S, in a Galco high-ride open-top pancake holster.
 
S&W 649 in 357 with Crimson Trace grips. Easy to carry, and it's on time every time. When the situation permits it's a S&W 1066 in 10mm with the 649 as backup. Never underpowered, never unarmed and sleeping well at night........zzzzzzzz
 
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