What causes you to carry one gun over another?

I never considered this until this morning and I was reading an article on the difference between a court gun and a BBQ gun. It dawned on me that I carry for the way I am dressed.

If I am in a dress suit for weddings, funerals and other celebrations, I carry a Kimber Custom .45 with nice aftermarket ivory grips in a Galco shoulder holster.

If I am dressed in sport clothing such as western dress shirt and knit jeans, I carry a S&W model 66 with 4 inch barrel in a pancake holster.

If I am working serving papers or in the street doing evidence work, I carry a Glock model 22 in a pancake holster with a spare mag and cuffs in a case on my off side.

If I am out on the lake, I carry a S&W model 36 snubbie in a S&W side holster.

If I am walking through the woods where I may run into critters, I carry a S&W model 29 in a pancake.

How does your method of dress determine the type carry you do?

Very simple. The only time I do NOT carry my 3" 625 is when I'm out around the house. The pocket gun is a 940.

Dave Sinko

What I'm wearing, where I'm going and what I'm driving.

The better vehicles require more firepower, such as the M&P 9.

Lighter/tighter clothes require the KelTec P3AT.

Driving to Florida, traveling through less savory areas or walking through the woods requires the M&P45C.

Evening use may require the 60LS with CT grips.

Fishing can get by with the 637 with snake shot.

I usually carry a full sized auto or a K frame Smith IWB in normal attire of jeans or dress trousers and a tucked in polo shirt. The same goes for winter time with sweaters or sweatshirts.

When I go for my five mile walks in warm weather, I carry a S&W Model 36 in a Desantis Nemesis pocket holster.

If I know I'm going to have to disarm, I carry the same Smith 36 in the Nemesis.

Being at work, and the physical nature of my job itself, calls for deeper concealment. Usually I'm carrying a 360 PD and a NAA Black Widow there.

When I'm not at work I "pack heavy" and dress around the guns. Yesterday, even while mowing my hilly yard (and yes I have a cheapo push mower) that was a 5" S&W 629 with reload, a Taurus 605 .357 snub with reload, and the nearly omnipresent Black Widow.

I always carry as much firepower as I can get away with and dress accordingly.

Simple. I usually carry my 442...if I stub my toe getting out of bed, spill coffee on myself or miss the bowl, I grab my P2000.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Hello, my name is Gary and I'm a J-frame-a-holic. I have to have one wherever I am. Home, yard, boat, river, lakes, truck, car, shopping, everywhere! Sometimes my addiction is so bad, like when I'm out in the boonies, that I have to take a K-frame .357, or, God help me, a M28! Will I ever recover?

A lot goes into such choices. Initially there's personal experience with a given system, budget, and perceived needs. That influences what guns a person ends up owning. There's also differences in local laws (such as mag capacity limits in some states) and flora and fauna (man eating critters in some states, or the ever present danger of being Bigfoot's forest bride) vary from region to region.

Thus - what do I have, how well do I know how to use, and what is it for/going to be used for are as much deciding factors as how it is to be carried and whether or not it matches the day's outfit.

Lately I've liked my Sig P229R in .357 Sig. In VA (I'm now in SC), .357 Sig JHPs were the only defensive loads that I could reliably find. The gun has night sights which I like, and offers a reasonable balance of carry convenience, power, and capacity. I tend to always carry one or more J frame .38s and generally keep a pile of spare .38s around.

I actually prefer SA autos, but I don't feel like wearing out my old Colt 1911 which is less expendable.

Depending on how I dress I carry either a 1911, M&P 40C, Glock 22, or BHP.

The BUG/second gun is always a 642.

9 times out of 10 its a 642. Most of the time I use a simple IWB, but if I'm dressed up, then I'll carry it in a tuckable IWB holster.

My choice would be whichever one is the most reliable that I shoot the best. So, it wouldn't be a function of occasion, wardrobe, etc.

I rotate between my S&W CS45 or my Charter Arms Bulldog or my S&W 37 Airweight.I just carry the gun that I fantcy at the time.I mostly carry my Bulldog now because it is light and has the punch of a 44 Special.

I always carry my SW9VE, usually in my IWB holster unless I'm wearing shorts or sweats, then it goes in my belly band holster.

I'm a guy, I'm shallow (my Wife would say a hearty AMEN). I guess I carry whatever mood I'm in at the time. Could be J,K,L or N frame. Could be my Kahr PM40, could be a Glock. In hotter weather it's usually a J-frame or the smallest Glock. If I KNOW I'm going to need a gun that makes my choice simple, I'm staying home. If I have to go out in that case, I'm going to take my M12. Not my snubbie .38, mind you, my Winchester 12 Ga. one. Now if I could just find a comfortable holster for it.

Normally, my E. German 9mm Makarov in a belt slide. I decided that I should enjoy using it rather than keep it in the safe, despite its beautiful finish. It's fairly small and light-weight, has never jammed, is accurate, and I feel comfortable with the old CorBon JHP's I carry with it. Otherwise, I just carry whatever I'm going to shoot at the range.
Chris

The good news is...no, you will not recover. Why would you want to recover?

I'm only authorized to carry two firearms. For work and for when I'm hiking in the hills where I might meet a mountain lion, I carry my 696 in .44 Special. When I'm going out to dinner, movie, social settings, etc. then I carry my Browning BDA380. I would like to carry my US Firearms revolver with the ivory grips, but I'm not allowed to carry a single action revolver.

I'm a retired cop.I carry a Colt DS in a Galco pocket rig in hot weather, and the same gun in a LoboGunLeather enhanced pancake the rest of the time.

If I get really hinked up I carry a Sig 239 IWB in 40 S&W..

In the woods a 44 Mtn Gun.

Life is simple out west.

Tom

That's pretty much me. Just whatever I feel like carrying at the time. I'll admit it usually the newest one, but not always. Sometimes I swap "just because."

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John 3:16 .

I have not and never will pick my gun by the way I am dressed...I dress to the gun and that means a full size gun. The only exception would be jogging...then I did used to down size but since I don't run any more it is no longer an issue.

Have carried a Colt Commander or a S&W 6906 daily both on and off duty since 1980. That is as small as I go. I've had too many friends who got caught with MouseGuns on one of those "it's not going to happen today" days and have learned from the mistakes of others. I no longer carry MouseGuns for a backup now just duplicating the primary and carrying a Mouse for a ThirdStringer. As my once-upon-a-time partner said...if you have to go for a backup gun you are going to need it very badly... (In the FBI Miami shootout both Agents Hanlon and Risner found this out the hard way)

This is very timely as yesterday I gave a presentation to new to CC students on CC. Totality of what I was wearing was jeans, t-shirt, blue jean vest and Wellington boots....and 18 guns...the only one showing was the bottom of a strongside OTW holster that was deliberate to show how one must be careful in choosing a cover garment/holster system that really does "conceal"....in the holster was a 6" Desert Eagle.

So no, I don't pick my gun by what I am wearing...I have chosen my weapons and dress to them....

Bob Makowski

Since 1985 my only carry piece has been a 1911 Gov't model .45 in a Bianchi 3s IWB. I just dressed around it. Lately I've been carrying a 39-2 clone in an old Safariland Model 28 high ride holster. I just work my wardrobe around it.
I don't switch from auto to revolver and back because all my formal training has all been with a 'Bottom Feeder'. And I know for a fact that in a stressfull situation 'SHTF' you will revert to your training as an automatic response to the situation. I would be lost with a revolver. I have several and love shooting them all but I still handle them as if I have two left hands wearing gloves. I guess to answer the question as to 'What decides which gun?' It's the one I know how to use the best and have the most confidence in.

Here in the People's Republic of Wisconsin, you either carry a cop, or take your chances. (Sorry if the term "cop" sounds derogatory, not
meant that way). TACC1

I have always "lived" with one gun at a time. A 642 is my 24/7 gun with Gold Dot short barrels in it. Have more but live with one, shoot one, practice reloading with one, etc. You know the saying, be aware of the man with one gun, he probably know how to use it. TC

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There's no justice, just us.

I carry a variety, depending on where I am, what I am doing. Out in East texas it is usually a N or L frame .357. In Dallas, a Para .45, para 9mm, p7m8, Kahr, or glock 26. In west Texas it is often a J-frame in a poscket holster. In New Mexico Mts, S&W 29 or /Colt Govt.

But that could change - - -

Doc

I heard it just a little bit different: "Beware the man with one gun; he probably knows how to use it." I think it is attributed to Jeff Cooper.

There is a lot of truth in that statement, but like anything else, it can't always be true. If a guy only has one gun, but never shoots it, he's no better off than the gun collector who doesn't shoot any of his enough to be good with them, either.

But the guy who owns one gun AND shoots it a lot....beware of that man.

If I'm not expecting trouble, I carry a 642 in my pocket. If I am expecting trouble, then it's an 870 or an AR-15 with the 642 as backup. I truly believe Clint Smith's admonition that a handgun is best used to fight your way back to your rifle, so there's never one too far away.

Buck

Glock 19 AIWB most of the time. J Frame in the pocket some of the time. KelTec P3AT in the pocket once in a while. S&W M10 snubby AIWB once in a while.

The weather and how I dress impacts my choices. In colder months I carry a Kahr K9 or P9 Covert in a belt slide under a jacket. In the hot months I go to a 442 or Kahr P380 in a pocket. I love shorts with cargo style pockets for carry.

I fortunately am not duty bound to go to trouble, so I carry smaller more comfortable guns.

I carry a S&W 40c about 99% of the time. I believe you should stick with one operating system and become proficient with it. Maybe its because I'm getting older but I do suscribe to the muscle memory theory. Of course, I also carry a 340CT as a backup.

The other option of "dress" is regarding holsters. I can choose the same gun for different situations but alter my carry method by choosing a different holster. Primarily, I carry a 640 .357 mag in an IWB holster. As soon as I find an ankle holster, I will carry that way at work. I want to be able to carry everyday, and my work/dress situation prevents that. When traveling during the winter time, I might opt for a K frame because my mode of dress is more accomodating.

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otis