Truly settled on your carry gun?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jtduncan:
what are you folks doing carrying full-sized weapons and 1911s?

The size makes concealment difficult for most.

I'd stick to compacts or smaller.
[/quote]

you go right ahead, I'll stick with my full size Glocks, haven't been made yet, not that it is a big concern in an open carry state
 
Another advantage to carrying a full sized gun is VELOCITY. Ammo companies design their ammo for a certain barrel length, and when you go below that, you are outside of the design parameters (velocity) for the hollowpoint to work like it should.

Anyway, I carry a Glock 30, so obviously I live with the fact that I lose 50 fps of velocity from it. But other than that, it is extremely accurate and holds 11 rounds of .45. If I could find a mousegun that could do that, I would be interested. Until then I will carry my midsized Glock 30.



Another thing that I am even more pleased with is settling on my CARRY AMMO.
I have always used 230gr hardball for practice (now I reload hollowpoints just because they are only a couple dollars more per thousand, and since I shoot literally thousands of rounds of hollowpoints through my Glock, I know it functions reliably with them). But, I was switching around carry ammo, trying to find the holy grail of stopping power.

The thing is, I never knew if the fancy defensive ammo functioned that well, because I could not afford to test it all with enough rounds through my gun every time I switched. Do any of us really put a few hundred rounds of our carry ammo through our gun, in fast paced shooting, to see if it is reliable? I know that I cannot afford to do that with the latest greatest ammo. REMEMBER, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOUR GUN GOES "BANG!" every time you pull the trigger. RELIABILITY!

And also, being that so many carry ammo types are different weights and velocities, they all shoot differently to different points of impact. Try carrying hot 185gr +P ammo when your practice ammo is 230gr ball. Talk about a world of difference. They don't even hit in the same place on the target, and they feel very different in recoil impulse and timing.

So, I also settled on a carry ammo and stopped chasing the "stopping power" myth. I practice with 230gr hollowpoints, and I carry 230gr hollowpoints and that is the end of it. My carry load and pracice load shoot the same, feel the same and most importantly, hit in exactly the same spot. When I pull the trigger, I don't have to try to remember what brand/type ammo I have in my gun and adjust my point of aim, I know EXACTLY where it is going to hit because it is always the same ammo.

RELIABILITY is number one, and next is SHOT PLACEMENT. You have to have a gun that works, and you have to hit your target. Everything else is extra after that. Using the lastest fancy-dancy ammo can lead to a compromise on reliability and accuracy unless you spend the money to practice with that ammo.

(I am preaching to myself as much as anyone, as this is all a new revalation to me).


It feels really good to carry the same gun and same ammo all the time and practice with it. No more guesswork. Placement is the most important thing anyway (after reliability), so I figure that getting to know your gun and load intimately are the first priority in stopping power.


Geez, I am starting to sound like a lot of the old timers that I used to make fun of. Except for the fact that I carry a Glock.... ;)



[This message has been edited by DerGlockenpooper (edited October 13, 2000).]
 
I am truly settled on my carry gun...at least for a while! I have changed "formats" and calibers several times. However, when I start carrying something "new", I become "dedicated" to that one format. I like to become so completely ingrained with the format and/or cailber I carry that any possibly needed response will be as "natural" as it can be. No fumbling with a safety, or trouble with a trigger function or etc. I envy those talented enough to be able to switch back and forth daily.
 
i prefer the kimber pro carry. it is weighs less than than my full size 1911's and still has the same type of feel and function and it is reliable. as for ammo i prefer 230 grn federal hydrashock.
if i was on a tighter budget and couldn't afford a good semi-auto i guess i would carry a cheap 38 revolver and hollow points. as many of you have said, as long as it goes bang every time it is better than nothing.
 
Sold my Sig P239 and bought a Glock 19. Replaced one carry gun with another.

When I'm feeling really froggy, I wear my Glock 21 in my belt holster for all the world (at least that part of it here in Virginia) to see.
 
I'm with P.F. in the harem routine going from DE 41/44 to 1066 to Glocks to Stars.

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"In my opinion, anyone pushing through anti-gun legislation is a bloody traitor and should be sent up for treason" N.H. Stuart
 
Yep, I've decided on these carry gun's:

1) for casual wear, every day carry Glock 27

2) for serious social encounter's Sig P220A
.45ACP

3) for Ghetto carry; whereas there are
serious threat's to life, limb, or
property. Both #1 and #2, as well as
a Remington 870 Marine Magnum 12 gague.
Backup Gun: Smith & Wesson Model 629-5
.44 Magnum Classic.


* Alternate selections may include any of
the following: a) Sig P226, Sig P228, or
S&W Model 60 .38 Special; or a Browning
Hi-Power "Practical Model" 9m/m.

+ Last resort weapon: North American Arms
.22 Magnum w/ 1-1/8" barrel carried in
front pants pocket!!! :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member :D
 
I heard a quote not too long ago, "Beware the man with only one gun." The logic behind this being that this person having selected only one gun as his weapon of choice for a certain job knows his weapon well. When selecting a personal carry pistol I look at many factors.

1. Training:
You must select a weapon that you know well. How much time have you spent at the range with this pistol? Can you shoot it well both strong and weak handed? Is its design one that you know instinctively? A good example would be that someone who has always carried a DAO revolver should not be using a condition one 1911.

2. Reliability:
This goes back to something you learned at the range with THIS gun. Does it jam with any ammo that you would want to use as a defensive load? Does it jam if it gets dirty or after it heats up? Do the mags cause jams in this gun with this ammo? Concealed carry throughout the day does bad things to your gun. You sweat on it, the holster wicks oil out of it, lint and dust and dirt work into the moving parts. A good carry pistol should still fire well if you drag it in the dirt if a scuffle.

3. Stopping Power:
Does this combination of calibre, ammo, and barrel length provide me with enough stopping power that I can reasonably expect it to stop an angry, large sized, man from doing whatever it was that made me have to shoot him?

4. Capacity:
Most rounds fired under stress miss. I don't care how good a shot you are, when your life is in danger you adrenal gland, heart, and nervous system go into over time. This makes for shaky hands and badly or unaimed shots. Do you have enough rounds to fire at a target and miss with the first volley of shots?

5. Concealibility:
In today's gun fearing world you can expect that if someone sees your weapon they will call the police or security on you. This is an inconvenience to anyone even with a CCW Permit. Most states require of those who have a permit that nobody see your pistol. Being made at gunpoint to put your hands up and go face down on the floor by the police at the mall would not be fun. Find something that you can hide easily on your body and still get to quickly when needed. A 110 lb woman should not try to carry a full-sized service pistol like a Glock 17 or 21.

6. Recoil:
Can I fire multiple rounds at a target quickly? Too much recoil and muzzle flip take away from your ability to fire second and third shots quickly and on target. This is the good type of gun control.

I hope this helps someone out there.

------------------
Sean C.
Infantryman
Army
 
PS. I carry a 1911 officer's type, Springfield V10 Ultra Compact High Capasity .45 with Hydra-Shock 230gr and 185gr +p ammo.

------------------
Sean C.
Infantryman
Army
 
StogieC,
I agree with you. That is why I carry a Glock 26. I have wrestled with these points for some time now. Up to the point when I got my carry permit, all of my pistols were full size, Ruger P95, Walther P99, Beretta 92FS...etc. I quickly found that in the world of CCW, these were inadequate. I opted for smaller things. I considered that as I was already familiar with the 9x19 cartridge, that it was best to stick with that. Hence, the G26, one of the better platforms for launching the 9mm in a highly concealable package!! :) My service size pistols largely stay in the safe now, although I will carry my G19 sometimes.

------------------
Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Glock 26: 17 rounds of concealed carry DEATH comming your way from out of nowhere!!! THAT'S FIREPOWER, BABY!!!"

Taurus 605: Five hits of .357 MAG that will just ruin your day, Scumbag!!!!
 
I think that carrying the same gun or same type of gun all the time has a distinct advantage if you ever have to use it. Of course I am a 1911 Dinosaur, but in stressful situations, and ANY armed encounter will probably be stressful, I know where it is and my hands dont have to think.

------------------
You have to be there when it's all over. Otherwise you can't say "I told you so."

Better days to be,

Ed
 
Summer time I carry my sig 239 in 357 sig loaded with speer gold dots. In the winter I carry my duty gun a Glock 21 loaded with department issue 230 grain golden sabers. I also sometimes carry my glock 31 with golddots in the winter.
PAT

------------------
I intend to go into harms way.
 
I tend to carry one of my 229's nowadays. One in 357, the other in forty. During the summer I carry my P7M8 (hardchrome). Ever since I got the new finish on the P7 I have been loath to carry it (exactly the opposite of what I intended). That said, I can usually be encountered with a 229 in 357 sig with 12 rounds in the mag and one in the pipe (Gold Dots).
GHB
 
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