I was readings posts on the site of Illinois Carry where someone posed the question as to what gun new licensees are carrying and I was somewhat surprised at the very few mentions of any revolvers. It seems everyone (practically) plans to or is carrying some high capacity semi-auto. I guess carrying a revolver like my 642 or my 640 puts me into a small old-fashioned minority.

New folks to carry = folks with new guns?
I'm just happy for them being able to carry something better than a rock.

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Reg. Magnum wants/Rossi wallet

Once they start lugging around three pounds of loaded 9mm 16rd. pistol they'll come around to the reality of every day carry.

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SOS USA

A friend of mine that is an instructor has already come to that reality. He has bought and sold a half dozen handguns in the last 6 months. I don't think he is settled on any yet.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I realize we're talking about IL but hopefully they have more choices than that.

just took the Illinois carry class...
most instructors are (imho) pushing semi-autos..
the more rounds the better sort of thing..i like my 5 round revolver, but did use semi-auto for qualifying

now i wait 4 months if lucky

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is it just me?

I am currently carrying a 669. I have carried it for years with my Florida permit in other states. It is easy now as very cold and always wear a big jacket. I have a J frame and may consider it when, and if, it ever gets warmer here.

Just a remark on the shooting qualification for an Illinois license. Large silhouette targets were set up, at 5 yards, 7 yards, and 10 yards. An applicant had to shoot 10 rounds at each distance. A passing score was getting 70%, or 21 shots, through the paper target (not the silhouette of the person on the target, but the entire piece of paper which was about 2 ft by 3 feet in size!). And not 70% at each distance, but 70% total. You could get 10 rounds on the paper at 5, and 7 yards, then only 1 out of your 10 rounds on the paper at 10 yards and still pass the test. It was so ridiculously easy that even some folks in my class who stated that they had never fired a gun until that very day had no trouble meeting this requirement. You did not have to use the gun you intended carrying, but any gun that you could "mostly" conceal in a holster. I saw several folks using 4 and 6 inch barrel revolvers just for the shooting part of the class. Almost a joke.

Don't be dismayed about how long the Illinois State Police will take to send your license. The law allows them 90 days, and another 30 if you did not submit electronic fingerprints. I submitted the prints and completed the application right on 1/5/14, the first day you could legally submit (some actually submitted earlier and were accepted) and received my license in the mail almost exactly 60 days later. I have carried every day since.

What is a 669? Never heard of that model.

you forgot the part about twenty minutes to complete..(unless that is just our instructors requirement)..

i got po'd at myself for putting two outside the 8 ring..
but you are correct about "just hit the paper" to qualify..

not dismayed at the time frame..just thinking about the 6 weeks that turned to 4 months when applying for Florida last year.

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is it just me?

Do you know how to do a search on the internet? You will get an answer!!!

Tip: You are on a SMITH & WESSON forum.

My instructor kept telling me to slow down when I qualified. But I figured if I had a sight picture, why wait. I threw 3 shots into the 9 ring, the rest were x's and 10's. Didn't get application in till 2-2-14, still waiting.

so far I have been carrying model 60 pro everyday, just got a holster for my 9mm shield lastnite, im going to try that out today

^^+^^ Ain't that the truth. Don't forget the bandolier of spare 16rd mags.

I'll be sporting a LCR or Smith 60 but, I'm over age 50 too.

Been 90 days today since my application went in without fingerprints so ..... we'll see if they use the full 120 or more.

I DO know a couple who have their permits in hand and it was LESS than 90 days.

I put my app in jan 5 with prints and got my permit the first week in march. yours should be coming soon.
I have model 60 pro and 9mm shield, I find myself carrying model 60 a lot more

Thanks sawlog ...... I've got a good quality leather ankle holster and a Simply Rugged IWB with straps that each gun will work with. Holster will depend on how I'm dressed I suppose. Not sure about casual summer wear or the RARE occasion I wear shorts. Guess some "Magnum PI" shirts may be in order.

I, too, like being old fashion....

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There's nowt so queer as folk

I also bought a simply rugged for mine and a milt sparks versa max 2, I had to wait 13 weeks for it but its really worth it.
very comfortable

Forgive my intrusion on this thread. I'm from Indiana and carry laws are fairly liberal here. We (as of now) have no training course that's mandatory for a carry license. Once you receive the license you can carry pretty much any handgun, and even multiple handguns if you so choose. Are there any Illinois permit holder restrictions on handguns, as in you have to carry what you qualify with?

Thanks, Jim

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SOS USA

hello, no restrictions on handguns, you can carry what you want. anything from a small 380 to a full size 1911

Nope. My instructor URGED you to qualify with what you intend to carry but as far as I know, no legal requirement or restrictions.

That being said, he knows I have many years experience shooting handguns and didn't blink when I qualified with a 4" Security Six that I have no intention of carrying. But, I shoot it well.

i can assure you i will feel no safer when traveling in Illinois (with their CC class room and hands on qualification requirements) than when traveling in Indiana (with no CC class room or hands on qualification requirements).

I am all for responsible and safe gun handling and ownership.

Too bad that critical element gets lost in all the state mandated application process that seems to be designed to discourage applicants, appease middle of the road anti carry voters (or excuse the legislators that were anti carry) and raise $$ for the state.

However, when all said and done, it is a great step for the citizens of Illinois. And yes, I will feel safer in Illinois with CC than I did before.

I guess a little freedom is better than no freedom

im in central il and I have yet to see any anti gun signs posted, except for schools and banks of course. in a month I have not had to disarm when going anywhere. I think there is more freedom here then what people are making it out to be

I am old fashioned and carry a 442 revolver, I'm of American Indian descent so I guess that make me a minority but at 217 pounds I don't think I can call myself small.

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Keep on Chooglin'

I'm in west central IL and the "No Guns" signs are everywhere here. Really bothers me for a number of reason .... one reason is that my area is known to be about the most conservative in the state.

However, one large regional bank HAD the No Guns signs posted but took them down after a large number of customer complaints.

Here in Rockford neither Alpine Bank nor PNC Bank are posted.

Spoke with a friend who works in a retail store in Illinois...

Yesterday, a customer asked her a couple of questions about merchandise, and then out of nowhere, he proceeded to change the subject to handguns and conceal carry. Then the guy decides he needs to lift his jacket and "show" his conceal carry handgun to her

Idiot. Nimrod. Fool. Dangerous. And a few other names.

He's the kind of guy who shouldn't be carrying and should have his license taken away, or at least suspended.

To my friend's credit, she was not shaken, but shocked nonetheless that this guy did this.

In a state where lots of citizens still drink the Madigan, Quinn and Emmanuel Kool Aid, the last thing Illinois needs are instances like his to spin bad conversation about an otherwise favorable new law.

Growing pains, I guess

we have a bank down here that allows cc. another bank said they "have to put the sign up" but don't pay attention to it.

The states that require you to only care the gun you declare are BS. I don't know if that was some measure they gave in on to get it past the Dems, and now that it is passed they are stuck with it. I have many guns I carry depending on weather, dress, where I am going.

I don't agree with having to pass a test. Only that should be known is when it is legal. The should have you sign one page form with size 24 font, listing when you can use a gun to defend yourself.

Every one knows you pull the trigger a bullet comes out the end. At 10 yards you probably run the risk of the DA accusing you of murder. So why demonstrate you can shoot that far?

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Beware the man with one gun.

In my class of 22, only 2 of us shot revolvers. Many (about one third) were women, and most of them shot .380's. Several LCP's, and at least 2 Walthers. I shot the qualifier with an 10-2 snubbie, and put all the shots inside the 8 ring. The other revolver guy had a 4" 686.
Our instructor said we had to get 70% inside the 8 ring to pass on the standard B-27 target. He mentioned that he carried a Glock 17 normally, but was a fan of the j frame for back up and summer carry.

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Mike

I used by 617, a gun I would never use as a carry piece.

I used my Ruger Single Six 22. 3 cents per round vs. 30 cents per round for 9mm.

The class I took supplied the guns for us, Ruger SR22's with silencers. Glad Illinois does not require a test for the gun you will actually carry, giving me more choices.