my CC permit is on its way and i am currently in the market for a pistol. am i overthinking this? i am also considering guns other than S&W - so please have an open mind

honestly - i pretty much have the money on hand to get a decent range gun as well as one of the compact pocket pistol type guns. but, i have been looking at getting something that would serve 'double duty'. the guns that are on my list are the M&P 9 or 40 cal, SD9, Glock 17/22, Ruger SR9c and a 1911 Kimber (i know - a bit all over the place). these are all good guns for the range - and i wont leave after shooting 100+ rounds wishing to soak my hand in ice from the gun killing me.

i am also seeing how my choice of gun will very much have an effect on how i carry - and in some ways limit how i can carry. being in FL, you dont have the jacket weather like the rest of the country (it was 80 today).

so do you say "screw it" and get a good home defence/car carry gun that is comfortable to shoot and fits well in your hand while finding something small - along the lines of the Ruger LCP size gun for you true concealed-carry? i will add that the compact guns (except for the Ruger SR9c because of the extended magazine) do not fit well in my large hands. and because i have big hands, the small guns dont really go well with me either.

i would appreciate the thoughts and opinions from you as my money is more than burning a hole in my pocket thanks in advance

What you end up with will be what you like the most and not what others think, like or have.

I say get something that feels good in your hands, that you can handle well while being accurate with.

Over the years, I have carried about everything under the sun, in every caliber other than .22 or .380 and did so year round. For over a year, I have carried a full size 1911 and enjoyed doing so. Yet I have carried for 38 yrs professionally, am 6'3" and weigh more than 250 so I can carry larger guns with them being concealed better than a smaller framed person could do.

As I said, buy what you want and enjoy carrying it. What is good for others may not be good for you.

I'm sure there are plenty of folks in FL cc'ing full sized handguns (if this is what you mean by range gun), probably with a tucked in t-shirt, gun in an inside-the-waistband holster and an untucked unbuttoned shirt on top. Do an honest threat assessment of your area and try to plan accordingly.
If you have big hands perhaps the larger guns are for you then. But don't just match gun for hand size, you need to make sure that you can operate the gun properly, you might be surprised how small you can go.
If it were me, I wouldn't go as small as an LCP when there are J frames and LCRs in a heavier caliber out there.

I'd ask myself, "What's the purpose of this 'range gun'?"

If it's just to put holes in cans or paper, get a .22 semi-auto--cheap to buy, and cheap to shoot.

If it's to play shooting games (IDPA, CAS, etc.) then get a gun best suited to the game you plan to play.

If it's for practice it should be as close as possible to your carry gun. If nothing else the manual of arms for the two should be identical.

As to guns that will serve both purposes, it's tough to beat a steel J-frame.

I carry any one of my pistols, I also live in Florida.
My M&P9 and 40 I carry both in waist band in a Don Hume leather Holster at the 2.30 to 3.00 position. My Glock 23 also is carried in waist band using a Crossbreed Supertuck at the 2.30 to 3.00 position.
The big guy, a 5" 1911 is carried in a Galco leather pancake type holster outside the waist band using a good quality leather belt.
I always wear either a T-shirt tucked in and a shirt outside my pants to conceal the weapon or a t-shirt outside to hang over for concealment.
Truth be known I find the 1911 the easiest one to wear, but after wearing any of them after a little while you forget they are there.
Just for clarity I only wear one at a time

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M&P9 40 15-22
SW1911 Pro G23

Congratulations on getting the permit. One thing I would bring up is it would in my opinion be a mistake to think one handgun is going to fill all your needs. Home defense can be handled by full size pistols and revolvers, and in fact I would prefer them for that role absent a rifle or shotgun. For concealed carry you will find different guns appropriate to different roles. Wearing a suit means you can easily conceal a full size gun, if you're wearing shorts and a t-shirt that may be more difficult. I live in Iowa and we have weather like today that means I'm wearing a sweatshirt. I have a Glock 22 on my belt and an S&W M340PD in my left front pocket. This summer the belt gun may be the Glock 27 or something smaller.
My advice is find a handgun you shoot well, but don't expect it to meet all your needs all the time. If you ask most of us on here, you'd find the majority have at least one S&W J-Frame. They are very easy to conceal, but personally I would rather not use it as my primary self defense gun if I have the means to carry something bigger. However it serves it's purpose well for me as a backup, although it has occasionally been my primary.
Try several guns, but I'll bet you'll need more than one. At least that's what over 25 years carrying concealed has taught me.

this is where my thinking is taking me - i guess its nice to "have" to go but a couple guns

i just want to make sure im not completely off track and using the gun junkie thinking of just wanting to buy another gun versus getting something that fits the role for everything

This is my range/carry gun. I found this little 908 at a pawn shop. Big enough to fit my hand, small enough to disappear under an untucked t-shirt. Plus it's a whole lot of fun to shoot!

Feel free to blame it on us. You have our permission.

You could always look at two of the same caliber ... makes ammunition simplier. Example S&W 686, 4" revolver, and S&W M&P 340. Both are ,357 magnum/.38 Special.

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Hook686

If I can carry my model 19 with a thin t-shirt then you shouldn't have any problems carrying a full sized automatic. Just find the right holster and you would be fine.

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Don't look, reload and shoot!

I do not have "range guns" per se. The guns I take to the range are the guns I carry, generally, which are Colt Commanders and Ed Brown 5" 1911's. I will take the 22-4 and the 325 Night Guard, as well and, on occasion, carry them, too. Now, I have .22lr and .22WMR which are pretty much relegated to the range and my 1917's get their workout there, although my hard chromed one goes on my waist when camping or in the canoe.

Only you can decide what part a particular gun plays, but, in my opinion - you should be looking at a gun you can carry AND shoot on the range.

what feels right and natural to YOUR hand and not someone else's suggestion. I have several fine older S&W revolvers, as well as a very reliable 1911. I mainly carry a Rossi 462 stainless snubby .357. I have replaced the hammer spring with one from Wolff Springs that they make for J frames-they recommended it to me-and it has a GREAT trigger, very good weight (26 oz) great grips and caries 6 rounds.
It is accurate and reliable.
But not a Smith, of course...but it really seems made for my hands.
I don't have "range guns" either...I have carried all my handguns at one time or another.

mark

ADDED: If you wanted someone th talk you out of "gun junkie thinking", I respectfully say you have come to the wrong place.....

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Liberals made the USA

To paraphrase, "Beware of the man with one handgun".

I shoot what I carry and carry what I shoot.

Not that I have just one handgun, mind you. That would be sick.

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VIVERE MILITARE EST

that was a test - if you tried to talk me out - i wouldve stopped posting - lol

i understand - in the last 30 days i have purchased 3 more for the collection - and i will be getting at least 2 more today... one of which will be this gun we are talking about.

If I were limited to one gun, I could probably do everything with a G19. If limited to two, I'd add a j-frame in for pocket or ankle use in situations where no better option for deep concealment exists. As it stands, those two platforms, along with Gov't Models and 4" N-frames comprise my carry inventory.

As for the super-compact guns - LCP, Seecamp, KelTec stuff, baby Kahrs, etc. - I really don't see the point. Sure, they're better than no gun at all, but they tend to be unreliable in actual use and that is not really a desirable quality in a defensive firearm.

My advice... you need three guns.

I'm sorta in the big brother/little brother camp.

If I chose a J frame to carry then I would want a K or L frame for the house/range.

If it were a Glock 26 or 27 as my EDC, then it would be a larger 9mm or 40mm brother at home.

The third gun would be a Model 17 or 18 on hand for cheap fun and accuracy/trigger muscle building.

My current carry is either a Model 442 or a 649. I have an L frame for the range as well as a Model 17.

There is no easy answer to this question because every person has different needs. I know guys that go to the Range and ONLY shoot a steel plate target with their self defense carry gun. To them, shooting at the Range is just practice with their CCW weapon, period.

Then their are other folks (myself included) that go to the Range for DIFFERENT purposed at different times. There will be times I'll shoot a few hundred rounds with my daily CCW gun, and return home. There are other times I go to have a relaxing day at the Range ( with a stogie as well - of course) honing my target shooting skills. There are times I feel like shooting an Auto, a Revolver, a .22 Target pistol, shooting skeet and trap, or sometimes a rifle. I think you get my drift here...........

So as far as the Range and Carry gun being the same gun, it's all up to you. Tack driving Target guns usually do not go hand in hand with guns that make for a nice concealed CCW package, so unless you are going to the Range for the sole purpose of practicing with what you carry, you will need more than one. Aside from which, WHO ONLY NEEDS ONE GUN!??



Chief38