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

[aarontpx]

I personally do not need all 3 fingers on the grip to keep my g27 steady, in fact it is quite comfortable with only 2. As comfortable as my g23 grip in my opinion.

 

[aarontpx]

I like a very short grip for concealed carry as that is the hardest part to hide.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

I personally do not need all 3 fingers on the grip to keep my g27 steady, in fact it is quite comfortable with only 2. As comfortable as my g23 grip in my opinion.

I like a very short grip for concealed carry as that is the hardest part to hide.

The grip on the XDS is pretty darned short. All of the reviews I've seen have the reviewers two fingering it. My hands are just small enough to fit nicely.

I like having all three fingers on it because with 230 grain ammo it can be a bit of a handful. My carry ammo right now is 185 grain Speer Gold Dots partly because there's not much selection but the 185 grain bullets are a lot easier to handle.

 

[aarontpx]

Availability is horseshit atm...especially for defensive ammo.

 

[Hail The Brain Slug]

Availability is horseshit atm...especially for defensive ammo.

I know. I'm patiently waiting for the new Barnes Tac-XPD to come out so I can buy a few boxes. Hoping I'll like the feel of the 185 grain +P cartridges to make up for the short barrel.

I was thinking about buying a box of the Gold Dot 200 grain +P from ammunition depot since they have it, but after a little reading it appears it's unpleasant to shoot in a larger gun, let alone a subcompact.

 

[boomhower]

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.

I dislike open carry for a variety of reasons. One it attracts to much attention. Wanting everyone to know you carrying just inherently doesn't make sense to me.

Second and more importantly it makes you a target. Depending on the situation you may not be able to use your firearm. When your standing there with a gun on your side you can be sure your the first one going down.

 

[gorb]

I want to get a M&P Shield in 9mm. I currently have a 3.8" 9mm XDM. I can't carry it unless I'm wearing a jacket or something. It's too fat.

 

[Charlie98]

I was thinking about buying a box of the Gold Dot 200 grain +P from ammunition depot since they have it, but after a little reading it appears it's unpleasant to shoot in a larger gun, let alone a subcompact.

I shot a few Gold Dot +P's in my 4" Kimber and they were NOT pleasant to shoot. I gave the remaining box and a half away to my old Army buddy.

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?

No, the P45 is broken in fine, it's not an issue with feeding or ejecting... I really think the problem is the striker pin is just a wise and beautiful woman hair too short. I have a new striker on the way as we speak. Speer Gold Dots feed and fire 100%, factory FMJ feeds 100%, but fires about 75%, my FMJ reloads are down to about 50%... and this is even after firing 3 TIMES on the same round with both types FMJ. I resprung it, it helped, but the primers still exhibit light primer strikes at times.

 

[Charlie98]

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.

You are very correct about situational awareness, that is part of an element of keeping safe. As far as being around my family 100% of the time, I'm around them probably 80% of the time (we home school and I work for myself out of the house,) but, indeed, there are times I'm not with them, but luck favors the prepared... I intend to be prepared.

I guess I'll just have to agree to disagree with you and leave it at that... I don't want to derail the OP's thread any more than I have already.

 

[aarontpx]

No, the P45 is broken in fine, it's not an issue with feeding or ejecting... I really think the problem is the striker pin is just a wise and beautiful woman hair too short. I have a new striker on the way as we speak. Speer Gold Dots feed and fire 100%, factory FMJ feeds 100%, but fires about 75%, my FMJ reloads are down to about 50%... and this is even after firing 3 TIMES on the same round with both types FMJ. I resprung it, it helped, but the primers still exhibit light primer strikes at times.

Does sound like a striker.

 

[aarontpx]

luck favors the prepared...

You definately increase your odds. When I am around I am going to give myself the best chance to protect my family.

 

[aarontpx]

Second and more importantly it makes you a target. Depending on the situation you may not be able to use your firearm. When your standing there with a gun on your side you can be sure your the first one going down.

True but in reality they probably won't notice as in my open carry experience hardly anyone notices. Sometimes concealing is too much of a hassle, but to each their own. In some cases I am sure a bad guy seeing a gun makes him think twice about robbing a place, its not like the majority of criminals carry guns.

 

[clamum]

Another single stack 9mm I would like to feel up. I'd also like to get my hands on a walther p99c AS.

I can't say anything about the P99C but if you can get your hands on a PPS at a gun shop or range, I recommend it. It's very slim and comfortable, especially for me since I have smallish/medium hands and the slimness and small size is nice for carry since I'm a thin guy.

Very simple field strip and no problems thus far but I haven't been able to shoot it nearly as much as I'd like because of the ammo shortage. I got it shortly before Sandy Hook and since then the ammo around here has been nearly zip.

 

[aarontpx]

I can't say anything about the P99C but if you can get your hands on a PPS at a gun shop or range, I recommend it. It's very slim and comfortable, especially for me since I have smallish/medium hands and the slimness and small size is nice for carry since I'm a thin guy. Very simple field strip and no problems thus far but I haven't been able to shoot it nearly as much as I'd like because of the ammo shortage. I got it shortly before Sandy Hook and since then the ammo around here has been nearly zip.

As far as single stack 9s go, the 3 I would be interested the most in firing/owning would be the s&w shield, walther pps, and kahr mk9/k9 elite. Or possibly even the kimber solo, but more so just out of curiosity.

 

[aarontpx]

I was thinking about buying a box of the Gold Dot 200 grain +P from ammunition depot since they have it, but after a little reading it appears it's unpleasant to shoot in a larger gun, let alone a subcompact.

I'd like to get my hands on some 175gr hornady critical duty in .40 and also some remington golden sabers in 180gr to see how they perform. Speaking of speer gold dots, I have had nothing but good experiences with them.

 

[z1ggy]

I put .380ACP only because I have only carried two firearms- A full size m&p9 and a bersa 380.

I prefer the 380 only because it is light and compact. However, now that CT has banned the carry of a maganzine which holds more than 10 rounds (don't even get me started....) I am thinking about getting a compact .45ACP for winter carry and I just don't see the point of carrying a large 9mm when I can only hold half the rounds in it.

 

[Charlie98]

I carried a Colt Government .380 for many years before I retired it for the CW9. I consider the .380 the bare minimum for a defensive round; having said that, I would rather have the .380 on my person than a .45 back in the truck console. The Colt was pretty accurate and I felt confident I could hit with it even given it's horrid sights, plus it has the same manual of arms as my 1911.

and kahr mk9/k9 elite.

Pretty pricey pistols, but nice nonetheless. I was always concerned about losing my pistol, either by theft or seized after a shoot... a concern recently proven out. While I hated losing my CW9 after they broke into my truck... I would have really been upset if they took my Colt or Kimber .45. I can replace a $350 CW9 anyday, I can't replace the Colt for under $700, and the Kimber, to me, is irreplaceable.

Speaking of speer gold dots, I have had nothing but good experiences with them.

Gold Dots rule... they are my go to factory carry load. I run the 230grn Short Barrel Gold Dots in my .45's, and standard Gold Dots in .380 and 9mm. Never a problem with feed and function. The nice thing is the bullets are also available as reloading components, so I loaded those in .357 and .41Mag, too.

We are lucky, though... we live in a day where any recent self defense ammo will perform about as good as you can get as far as penetration and expansion. Golden Sabers, TAP/FPD/XTP, Cor-Bon, HydraShok... pick one and you can be assured of good performance.

 

[aarontpx]

Gold Dots rule... they are my go to factory carry load. I run the 230grn Short Barrel Gold Dots in my .45's, and standard Gold Dots in .380 and 9mm. Never a problem with feed and function. The nice thing is the bullets are also available as reloading components, so I loaded those in .357 and .41Mag, too. We are lucky, though... we live in a day where any recent self defense ammo will perform about as good as you can get as far as penetration and expansion. Golden Sabers, TAP/FPD/XTP, Cor-Bon, HydraShok... pick one and you can be assured of good performance.

Currently I am carrying federal hst in 180gr. Federal is a local company and I like to support in house Agreed, ammunition technology is at an all time high. No shortage of quality loads!

 

[aarontpx]

I can't say anything about the P99C but if you can get your hands on a PPS at a gun shop or range, I recommend it. It's very slim and comfortable, especially for me since I have smallish/medium hands and the slimness and small size is nice for carry since I'm a thin guy. Very simple field strip and no problems thus far but I haven't been able to shoot it nearly as much as I'd like because of the ammo shortage. I got it shortly before Sandy Hook and since then the ammo around here has been nearly zip.

Yea if I get the chance to shoot one I might be sold.