I carry a beauty challenged 19-4 snub because I trust it ...p e r i o d. I f I have to use it and survive and the police take it I will take my 66-3 snub from the safe and press on. I really love my 19-4, but, I carry it because I love my family and self more. I am 100 % sure it will do its part if I do mine.

For a number of years a 4 inch Smith & Wesson Transition 3rd Model .44 Special was the handgun that was on my nightstand and I oftener carried it hiking and in the Winter. It is a revolver I shot well and I never questioned if would do the job if I need it too.

I retired my .44 and bought a Glock 30SF .45acp. It would be sad and almost criminal if that old and very rare .44 ever ended up electro penciled and put on an evidence room shelf. The Glock is completely dependable, I shoot it well and it will do the job, it holds twice as many rounds and it is just a Glock. The Glock isn't rare, it will never be collectable; it was a cheap handgun and will always be a cheap handgun. In many ways the 30SF is a better tool for the job but honestly that isn't why I bought it.

The other Smith & Wesson that I carried was a 642. It has been replaced with a Smith & Wesson 45 Shield. The 642 moved into a "carry sometimes handgun" just because the Shield does about the same job but does it better (it holds more rounds and they start with .4) I bought the Shield simply because it was a better tool for the job than the 642. I can't just toss the Shield in my pocket (well maybe depending on the pants I'm wearing) but it conceals easily on my belt line. Seven rounds of .45acp always beats 5 rounds of .38 Special.



gotta toss a couple pics in.

The old .44


The Glock 30SF



Momma's 9mm Shield and my .45 Shield...a plug for the .45 Shield...it is one of those handguns that really fits my paw...it is close to ergonomically perfect for me; much more so than the wife 9mm. It is amazing what a 1/4 inches here and 1/32 of an inch there can make when it comes to how a pistol feels in your hand.

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Bill Bates

I carry whatever I determine to be the most effective weapon for personal defense irregardless of other factors.

My choices are Glocks or S&W snubs. Looks are irrelevant to me, but I don't really consider any of them expendable per se considering what they cost.

I carry a plain G19 and Hornady ammo because "I read on the internet someplace they're pretty good."

No modifications, no special grips or stickers etc. I don't want a jury looking at it and seeing me as a vigilante. Also because they're easy to replace.

Just my .02

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Isaiah 41:10

Exactly!

I carry the finest snubby .38 I can afford, a Colt DS.

And I have a list of back-ups!

I've pocket carried a Smith M640--an early one, 1990, from a limited special run--in a pocket holster the year around, in Kentucky where we also get heat and humidity. Never a problem, even under the grip (it's a Pachmayr one-piece, I wouldn't call it "stocks"). It's been perfectly suitable for my needs.

It's a nice gun, and I'd hate to part with it. But it's also as near 100% dependable as a handgun can be. The chances of my ever having to use it, especially given the quieter life that goes with old age and poor health, are tiny. But if I'm ever forced to draw it I want to be very, very sure it will speak its lines on cue.

I'll take my chances about having it confiscated.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I have found two reasonably priced, well made, ergonomic, reliable, and accurate carry guns that would be easy to replace. I've carried my trusty M&P 40 compact for over two years, and my recently acquired Shield .45 has also proven itself as worthy of being carried. But even if they were $1000+ guns, I wouldn't hesitate to carry them, because their performance in defense of my (and my loved ones) life is more important than their cost.

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What, me worry?

My carry guns are a S&W 642 & 638. Neither is all that hard to replace if needed. If I don't get the gun back, I expect I have more to worry about than replacing it. That said, it is nice to have at least 2 guns that are identical or nearly so in case one gets stuck in evidence for a year or so.

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Support your Police, & NRA

I picked #1, but only worry about it when carrying on my motorcycles. I bought a Glock 43 for such use - don't care if it goes bouncing down the interstate.
Otherwise, I don't worry about losing it to LE if used in defense of myself or others, cuz I'll get it back.

P.s. I wouldn't mind losing a Smith Shield or M&P, but I couldn't bring myself to even owning own.