Concealed/open carry...what gun? How often?

[aarontpx]

Springfield xd-s 45acp n82 pro.
S&w 442 38spl mika

God its like I want every gun here

 

[PrinceofWands]

Taurus Millennium PT140 Pro, small of back owb holster (concealed), if I'm wearing clothes I'm wearing the gun. Carry a spare mag in a weak side pocket about half the time.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

LOL, America.

 

[aarontpx]

:'(

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

It's not about feeling tough. It's also not about preparing for the worst case scenario. In my opinion, it's about bringing a weapon that is [reasonably] equivalent to the most powerful weapon that someone intending to harm you might try to use on you. My personal handgun choice has more to do with ergonomics and comfort than caliber (I decided the XDS was the perfect gun in all other aspects, so I accepted the fact it currently only comes in .45).

As for carrying, well, if I bought a gun with intention to defend myself I had better have it with me. It doesn't work if it sits in a safe or locked case in my closet. I made the decision to carry a weapon after a few interesting incidents around my home and after discovering our county sheriff's department only has patrols 16 hours per day.

 

[edro]

Glock 30 .45ACP

I never open carry and have only concealed carried a handful of times, during high risk situations. (Craigslist deals, late night encounters, camping, etc.)

 

[velillen]

I don't own a firearm but what's the justification for open carry? Is it merely because one can? Wouldn't openly carrying a weapon just be more of a hassle? I did see a gentleman open carrying a handgun at a Microcenter last year. It didn't bother me or anyone else at the store from what I could see. I am just curious.

Guy i work with always open carrys. But he was doing it 5 or 6 years ago too. Its just a rights thing for him. He is legally allowed to so why not do it. Course he educated himself as well and knows when and where he can carry and the laws and regulations around it as well. Sometimes its just easier to toss a paddle holster on and open carry than try to conceal.

Springfield xd-s 45acp n82 pro.
S&w 442 38spl mika

I have the n82 holster for my xds as well. Find it super comfy. I could only get the basic model though as they didnt offer the others in left handed >.<

 

[shortylickens]

Oh, in my case it really isnt the caliber so much as the gun.

380 is the absolute minimum for personal defense but I prefer 9mm.
I like the LCP because its small and pocketable and draws easily. Was thinking about getting the P938 since to me it looks like the best of both worlds.

 

[aarontpx]

As for carrying, well, if I bought a gun with intention to defend myself I had better have it with me. It doesn't work if it sits in a safe or locked case in my closet.

Very true. My thoughts exactly, it does you no good in the safe.

 

[Charlie98]

I 'prefer' to carry my .45, but I normally carry my 9mm Kahr... it's simply far easier to conceal and weighs about half as much. I carry it in a high-ride High Noon belt holster or a Galco IWB holster.

To be honest, I'm not a big proponent of open carry, never have been. Not that an open display of a handgun bothers me, but, especially around where I live (people with more money than sense...) I would expect to see a bunch of posers strutting around with their Wilsons and Ed Browns in their fancy holsters, or 5.11 mall ninjas with leg rigs. I have a concern about retention and safety as well. If open carry becomes permissible in Texas, I hope they require a permit much like they do for the CHL.

 

[aarontpx]

I normally carry my 9mm Kahr

Which kahr model might I ask?

 

[Charlie98]

Personally, I think you are afraid. You are afraid of the big bad world and what might happen when you go out in it so you go through the hassle of arming yourself for what "might" happen. Even though nothing does happen every single time you leave the house.

Your damned right I'm afraid! Read the news everyday of people who disappear, who get slaughtered, robbed, assaulted. If you are not afraid, or if not afraid how about 'aware...' then you live in a dream world.

I'm afraid for my family, that they will get hurt... or worse, and I would be standing there not able to do anything about it.

 

[Charlie98]

Which kahr model might I ask?

Originally I had a CW9... I bought it as sort of a test pistol to see if I would like it... and I fell in love with it! The controls are very much the same as my 1911 (minus the safeties) so there is no transition between weapons. Very accurate and 100% reliable. Unfortunately, my truck was broken into and the Thugs stole my CW9, and all I was able to find, given the current gun craziness, is a CM9... the slightly smaller version of the CW9 (6rds vs 7rds.) It's OK, but I prefer the CW9 and I'll be getting one once supply comes back.

I also bought a Kahr P45, intending to ultimately carry that as a full power replacement to my 1911, but I have not had as good of luck with it as the CW9... including failure to fire issues. Not a good thing for a carry piece. Besides the failures, the P45 is a fine pistol.

L to R: CW9 and P45. Note the P45 is only 1/8" bigger in each dimension (1/2" I think taller...) than the 9mm.



...and the P45 in Don Hume leather, the CW9 in the High Noon...

 

[IGemini]

SIG Pro SP2022. Always concealed. Only about 25%, it's too bulky to carry at work. Working on getting a smaller option. I'd carry a spare if I had one, mags are in short supply lately without spending a ridiculous amount on top of SIG prices. I don't plan to ever pocket carry, already have too much stuff in my pockets.

 

[Kristi2k]

S&W .45 ACP 1911. I carry it everyday unless I'm at work.

 

[aarontpx]

I also bought a Kahr P45, intending to ultimately carry that as a full power replacement to my 1911, but I have not had as good of luck with it as the CW9... including failure to fire issues. Not a good thing for a carry piece. Besides the failures, the P45 is a fine pistol.

Agreed that is not something you want in a carry gun. From what I know about Kahrs is they are machined to very tight tolerances, so depending how many rounds you have put through it it might loosen up and become much more reliable for you. Do you have problems with both hollow points and fmj?

 

[Oyeve]

Aqua Power XR75.

 

[Daishiki]

California...enough said.

It's easier in some counties in CA to get a carry permit based on your good cause statement. I believe Sacramento is one of them. LA? Good luck.

Orange County is in the middle. If I do get a permit, I would carry my G19.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Your damned right I'm afraid! Read the news everyday of people who disappear, who get slaughtered, robbed, assaulted. If you are not afraid, or if not afraid how about 'aware...' then you live in a dream world.

I'm afraid for my family, that they will get hurt... or worse, and I would be standing there not able to do anything about it.

Fact is that unless you are around your family 100% of the time you won't be there to do anything about it anyway.

Being aware of what is going on around you is about the best any of us can do. Owning guns really doesn't make me feel any safer. Carrying it daily just seems like a huge pain in the ass. Even if I could carry legally I probably wouldn't.

 

[Abe Froman]

S&W M&P shield 9mm, every day. Loaded with 8 124g gold dot short barrel rounds. I also carry a spare mag. Both in custom made kydex holsters.

I've got a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm as well.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a Colt Officer's Model .45 ACP
Smith & Wesson model 629 with 8" barrel .44 Magnum
Para-Ordnance 1911 .45 ACP
Glock model 17 with 4 17 round clips (I like to use this term because it pissed the gun looneys off)
Beretta Tomcat (I have no idea why I bought this gun. You can't hit shit with it, it is punishing to shoot and it isn't very powerful).

I use Wilson magazines for the .45s. They give +1 capacity and are the most reliable out there. I have 2 for each gun so that gives me 7 rounds in the Officer's Model and 8 rounds in the 1911 (+1 on both if I remove the mag after chambering a round and put another round in the clip).

 

[*kjm]

So, I've shot the M&P Shield and the XDS, but my hands are pretty large. Is there anything I can do about the grips for those guns so they fit my hands better?

"With two interchangeable backstraps, Springfield Armory® has stayed true to their focus on providing the user with the most comfortable, and easy to point pistol possible by allowing you to custom fit your grip."

Did you try the other (bigger) backstrap for the XDS?

 

[rh71]

I own 5 handguns but it is impossible to get a carry permit here so to answer the how often question? Never.

curious - did you teach your kid about the guns? Or how do you keep him from getting to them while allowing you easy access in case of a home invasion?

 

[JulesMaximus]

curious - did you teach your kid about the guns? Or how do you keep him from getting to them while allowing you easy access in case of a home invasion?

I have one in a safe place that I can access if needed. The rest are locked in a floor safe.

I have taken my son to the shooting range a couple times. He really enjoys it. Been meaning to pick up a Ruger .22 pistol for him to shoot. I borrowed a friend's once and he really liked it.

He knows how to handle a gun properly but I still don't want them lying around where anyone can find it.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

"With two interchangeable backstraps, Springfield Armory® has stayed true to their focus on providing the user with the most comfortable, and easy to point pistol possible by allowing you to custom fit your grip."

Did you try the other (bigger) backstrap for the XDS?

The bigger backstrap is what comes on the gun. The only way to make it "bigger" is to use an extended 7 round magazine with the grip extension. Even with the bigger backstrap it's still a very small grip. My hands are small enough I had to change to the small backstrap and I can still fit all three fingers on the grip.