I always hear the following on gun forums: "I carry brand X type of handgun/caliber/holster/carry method because "it works for me".

Now I understand this from a purely fundamental standpoint, we use the type of gun/caliber/holster/carry method we like and feel most comfortable with but until we actually need to utilize and apply those things in a real gun fight or self defense scenario and come out on the winning end then how can we know with 100% certainty that it "works for us?"

I've never been in a gun fight or had to shoot someone in SD and I suspect that the majority of the "works for me" crowd hasn't either so how can I definitively say what does or doesn't work for me?

After all, the reason why I choose to carry a gun is for self defense purposes above all and if everything I do in preparation for that ends up failing when called upon (and assuming I survive) I would then have to rethink my entire strategy, what I did wrong, the gun/caliber I was carrying and how I carried it.

In essence, I could never say any gun/caliber/holster/carry method "works for me" unless it was tried and proven in a combat/self defense scenario and I'm the one who comes out on top.

After all is said and done, nothing beats personal experience.

Here’s what an SD handgun that “works for me” means to me...

1. It’s reliable. I’ve shot it enough that I feel confident if I need to use it it will go bang. That reliabilty includes no mechanical failures, it doesn’t have an issue with shooter induced failures like from limp wristing or control operation, it’s not ammo sensitive, and it will work if it’s a bit dirty.

2. It’s small enough and light enough I’ll carry it all day, every day, everywhere it’s legal, and no one has a clue I’m carrying.

3. I can shoot it accurately enough, fast enough. I test my carry gun in IDPA matches. Can I keep my shots in the -1 zone or better while shooting at a decent pace.

4. Does it carry enough rounds to for what I see my risks as without reloading. In your day to day life, if you think there’s a realistic chance you could experience a deadly force attack from 3 bad guys, a 5 round pistol might not be a good choice.

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Vegan by proxy.

Maybe it should be "I hope it works for me " !!!

Very few of us have used our weapon in a self defense situation ..
And even fewer have shot anyone !! so we don't really know whether it will work or not ..

There are many factors that come into play in the use of deadly force, so many variables in fact that "what works" one time may not work in the next..instance.

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LEX ET ORDO

"Works for me" means that my training and practice of drawing , presentation, and firing would hopefully be good enough should I ever be in a life or death situation, along with everything Ziggy2525 said.

When I read that statement, I translate it as "It's what makes me feel comfortable . . . "

Nothing wrong with that . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Ditto..... IMHO with special emphasis on #2........ mine is a 9mm,single stack 3913; which is 7+1+8 reload.. in a Milt Sparks IWB summer special for EDC in the furthest "Burbs of the Burgh".

Working for me since 1991!!!!!!

Mine works in practice sessions. I hope that’s all I ever experience

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Two Handguns every day

Based on the criteria set forth by the OP, I'm glad I can't definitively say that what I carry "works for me".

Based on my training, education and knowledge of my own situation day-to-day, I can say that I always carry "what works for me".

Hopefully I will never have to compare and contrast the two.

It works for folks until it doesn't.

Nothing wrong with the statement "It works for me." It probably does, and the math says it will continue doing so.

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Because of the metric system?

"It works for me" means this is my choice - not yours and yours is much better for you than me.

There is no 100% certainty in life. Even your light switch will fail to turn on the lights when the power is off or the bulb burned out.

As stated by lawandorder, there are too many variables. Situational awareness and the ability to think quickly play an important part as well.

If you’re caught off guard what works for you may not work at all.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

LOL So nothing works for you?

Just funnin!!!!!

Going back to about 1992 I and a few others at our local club shot USPSA with our EDC gear from concealment. The high speed, low drag "game'ers" beat us with their fast draw holsters and super hi-cap .38 supers.

But we got experience.....

Then along came IDPA...... better but still a game but we still shot with what and how we carried.........

Lately I've had the opportunity to do some simulation training..... not with my carry gear....... but "manno on computer".......

and ALICE Training with cops as the "active shooter(s)" ..... OK OK the Chief shot me once out of 8 but he was gunning for me!

So I've done the best I could to assess what "Works for me".......... hoping I never have to really find out if I'm right!!!!!!!