Although not an all metal gun I carry a full size. Springfield XD 45acp 5" 13+1 of Remington HTP and a spare mag. My only plastic gun.
I have carried for a bit my 92FS but need a better holster for it. And when I get a holster for my 5906 (with new night sights) it will join the rotation.

The Sig P220 is my favorite semi-auto. Here are two. The top one is a stainless Match Elite (5") and the bottom one a plain jane W. German. I cant carry living where I do, but I'd carry the latter one mentioned if I could.

Attached Images

20190419_091806.jpg (55.0 KB, 39 views)

In full size (or slightly larger) I have the S&W M&P Pro (5" barrel) and a Glock 34 with a 5" barrel. But the heaviest of all is my Sig P226 Elite which is all stainless steel which weighs in at a whopping 42.2 ounces. So yes, some of us still buy full size pistols.

I found a like new S&W Sigma SW40VE at my LGS for $199 not long ago, put it on layaway, picked it up in October, and have been carrying it ever since.

Being a polymer-framed pistol, it's light compared to full-size steel-framed pistols at 24oz, but when fully loaded with 15 rounds of 180gr .40 S&W it weighs in at over 30oz. It's easily light enough to carry, especially on a cold day, but it's a full-size, double-stack .40cal pistol with a 4" barrel.

It feels good in my hand, packs plenty of firepower, and didn't cost me a lot of money.

__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I own four hammer-fired, metal Sigs, including a full-size 1911 TacOps .45 auto that gets carried in a shoulder holster in the backcountry. My M11-A1, P239, and P225 A-1 are carried in OWB rigs, and conceal well under a jacket or loose cut shirt. A heavier handgun requires a high quality, sturdy belt/holster combination for comfort, security, and concealability.

Never.

Would like to sometimes, but anything over about 28 ounces loaded pulls my pants down unless I wear suspenders. And I am too hot-natured to wear a covering garment inside a building all the time, and outside most of the time, even in winter.

So if it won't fit in my right front pocket, ( in a pocket holster ) I ain't carryin' it.

My Springfield Armory TRP 1911-A1 .45 ACP might be my favorite handgun. It's SA's factory production version of its famed Custom Shop FBI gun. That gun is as close to 100% reliable as a handgun can get. However, fully loaded with 8 230 grain rounds, it's one heavy handgun. I do carry it in wilderness areas where it's possible to run across a real mean critter.

Yes, if you consider Commander-length 1911s full size. Have two, beside gun (all steel) and CC (alloy frame), both in .45 ACP.

Sure. My normal carry gun is a full size M&P9. Only when I can't carry the full size gun do I carry a compact 9mm.

TriStar P120, all steel, right around 40oz

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

I have a S&W 38 special that I load with Hornady self defense HP, carried in a pocket holster. After a few minutes it's like I have nothing in my pocket. I also carry a CZ-75 Compact all steel and quite heavy, but when I want more rounds (16) that's my go to. A good leather holster and belt help with the weight.

I wear cowboy cut blue jeans 99% of the time and nothing larger than an LCPII .380 will fit in my front pocket so that's what I have most of the time and its my only small centerfire handgun. In the mountains of Eastern, OK where we have a hunting lease I mostly wear a Browning HP 9m/m or Ruger stainless Security Six .357 and we have seen some huge black bears on our game cameras. My other centerfire handguns are a Springfield Mil Spec .45, Tri-star CZ-75, and a S&W M-28 4" .357 and they are all big, heavy guns and I wear them in the woods but I wouldn't want to pack one for 10 hours straight.

I'm still waiting for someone to come up with a better design than the 1911-A1 and a better self-defense cartridge than the .45 ACP.

I have a copy of the Springfield Armory TRP .45 ACP that is my dedicated wilderness handgun for use where mean critters roam. I've yet to hold a handgun that has the divine, natural point of a 1911-A1. I've yet to carry a big handgun that is as easy and comfortable to carry as a 1911-A1. The deal sealer, considering its other enviable attributes is the ease and speed a 1911-A1 can be brought to battery.

I know the argument. There are better cartridges for griz defense. The way I see it, I'd rather hit a charging mean critter 9 times with 230 grain bullets that can be fired within seconds with another 8 ready to go within another couple seconds. My take might not work for others, bit it does work for me.

I'd pay to watch anyone rapid fire with accuracy a 4 or 6 inch Model 29 with magnum rounds. I've tried it. I couldn't come close to rapid fire, and I'm not recoil averse. I can put 9 230 grain rounds out of a 1911-A1 on target as fast as I can yank a trigger.

@SixGunSancho
Colt Delta Elite - 10mm Auto (Or whatever flavor of 10mm 1911 you fancy.)
Still a 1911, but chambered in a more powerful cartridge, and holds at least 1 more round in the magazine. 10mm Auto can be loaded to duplicate the performance of .45 ACP or surpass it for use against four-legged predators.

<inb4Glock>

__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I keep a full sized Beretta M 92 as a home self defense gun. Way too big to carry but that much firepower might be very discouraging during any kind of confrontation. But I would never consider carrying that tank!

They're called double action pistols, actually.............

Now this I agree with you on:

My favorite story on that subject is when I took my first Texas CHL Instructor's course and we had to shoot pistols and revolvers (and I admit I used a .45 ACP 1911 model and a M 586 with a 6" barrel.). The young buck shooting next to me brought out a wood stocked .44 Magnum revolver and a 50 round box of full house .44 Magnum ammunition for the 50-round test. Which is timed and shot relatively quickly. This gent was a studly police officer from Central Texas. I was astounded and inquired if he was really planning to shoot all fifty rounds for the test. His affirmative response was firm and included how great a shot he was as a Texas LEO, etc. Sigh......okay.......

50 rounds later his hands were blistered and bleeding and he allowed that my skepticism was correct and that he would "never do that again".

Thanks for the memories! It always makes me laugh.

__________________
Come and take it!!

Check out the 92 Compact ........been carrying one concealed (Sparks Summer Special) since 1988..... Mec-gar now offers a flush fit 15rd mag for the Compact.... and VZ makes ultra slim grips....................

If you got to shoot 50 rds of any ammo ...... you brought the wrong gun to the fight!!!

Nah! All those clunky old full-size handguns are anachronisms at best, probably only good for paperweights in museums.

I will offer to pay up to half the current market value, just to relieve you nice folks of the need to take those old timers to the recycling center. Only because I really care.

As a frequent J frame carrier I usually feel pretty comfortable with just 5 rounds but my preference of late has been to switch to a compact 9mm with 8 rounds plus an extra magazine. Which brings me to same level as the 15 round Model 92 Beretta. If I need 50, yeah, I am in deep "malarkey".....

__________________
Come and take it!!

Did Dirty Harry ever carry more than 2 speedloaders???????

Just 18rounds

To be fair, there isn't much on Earth that couldn't be handled with 18 rounds of .44 Magnum.

Heck, even if that line in Magnum Force about Dirty Harry carrying; "A .44 Special load." wasn't poorly worded and he was indeed carrying .44 Special, there still isn't much in North America that couldn't be handled with 18 rounds of .44 Special.

__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

My favorite carry gun is my 640 Pro Series. My next favorite is my Colt GCNM in a Stoner shoulder rig. But my last purchase may take over the carry duties. It's a CZ 75B stainless. Time will tell.

Attached Images

	IMG_20181120_180205165_HDR.jpg (66.7 KB, 53 views)
	IMG_20181120_174152927.jpg (48.7 KB, 50 views)
	IMG_20191111_154639208.jpg (82.3 KB, 52 views)

My last several purchases were a Sig P210, P226, SW4006TSW, Sig P229 and Sig P239, Dan Wesson 1911. Besides the Sigs there is a pattern there.
No plastic and all full size or at least not micro sized. I sold my 1911 style P938. I also pocket or ankle carry a 649 or a 640/32 revolver.
I like full size pistols. Home defense and truck for sure. CCW--3913, 4513 P239, P229.

Edit: In same theme my last 6 revolvers: 460XVR 3", Ruger 454 Casull Alaskan, 500SW 4", 44 Magnum Mountain Gun, Model 66 and 19 357 magnums.
If they are not full size I don't know what is!

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

CZ SP-01, 10mm kurz

I think first you must be over 40 oz to be considered heavy.

Loaded full of 155 XTP that run around 1250, she tips the scale to 47.5 oz. not my edc, that’s only 39 oz and would not qualify as heavy.
This is my only rail gun, so it has bedtime duty. But it does get carry time.

As L&S said, a good holster and belt go a long way. Nelson leather makes all day, not so bad.

That Sig 10mm is on my list of heavy guns to buy. But for now, the 10mm kurz will do.

Love my 1911's.

A giver, you are.

Rob

I grew up with 1911s, having bought my first in 1962 @ age 14 (jr NRA and DCM), and had at least one ever since.

I now have 4 1/2, the 1 1/2 being a SM ACE with a series 70 .45acp top end fitted, the others are all .45acp.

Carried a 1911A1 full size for a number of years in a Milt Sparks Summer Special and Sparks gun belt.

Now it's 2" J frames because of reduced hand strength along with RA in the hands makes manipulating the 1911 iffy at best, so you adapt as needed.

Rob

I also live in the PRNJ, so no CCW. As a Life Member of SNM-Sons of Neanderthal man-it's steel only for me.

Toted a full-sized Colt Government Model into the DFW Metroplex today. All day comfort beneath a business suit in an IWB holster supported by a real gun belt.

I do my best to avoid J-Frames or any shrunken automatics. While they're great for totin' I would prefer not to be stuck with one for actual gunfighting.

The only full-size S&W I carry on rare occasions is my 5906. My 3904 is a safe queen. The 4006 and 4046 are strictly range guns.

Most days, I'm carrying a 3953 or 4053 because I feel more comfortable with the DAO models for EDC after carrying revolvers - model 15 and 19 for over 30 years. I've found it hard to overcome my decades of training with DA.

I like the compact models best, and favor the single stack over the double stack models.

Winter carry: Springfield Mil-Spec 1911a1 in a Milt Sparks IWB holster.

Summer carry... yeah, plastic! Glock 26 in a TT Gunleather IWB
A purpose-made gun belt and quality holster make a world of difference!
(Coming soon, a 686-4 snub in a TT Gunleather IWB!!)

I carry a longslide Glock 24 from time to time..

We've all heard everything is bigger in Texas!

Where’s all those folks who always claim 5 shots is enough for us mere mortals?

__________________
Sure you did

I've been considering carrying my Sarsilmaz K2-45, but I have to order the holster from Turkey or have one custom made. That and a CZ SP-01 tactical are my only full size autoloaders that get regular use.

K2

__________________
SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

That K-2 with 15 rounds of 45 would surely qualify. Mine has a light attached and sleeps in my nightstand. Great gun by the way.

I don't often carry full sized steel guns, but I am wearing a 4516 now, and my 6906 is probably my most often carried firearm. They're not full sized, but both are 2 lbs plus with full mags. As mentioned above, a good belt goes a long ways towards comfortable and trouble free carry with heavy guns.

I carried my K-2 one day to try it out, and decided it was more than I wanted every day. And then some.

Still carry the same 70 Series Government Model I bought new in 1972 pretty often .

__________________
Grumpy Old Man With a Gun

Just picked up a Browning Hi-Power at a gun show last week with two 13 round magazines. 825$ out the door.
Kind of always wanted one and with all the crazy stuff going on in Richmond with all the anti-gun politicians being in power now I figured it was now or maybe never.
Picked up a .30 M1 carbine last month for the same reason.
Just saw a local feature on one of the TV news outlets, gun sales/background checks breaking all the old record numbers.

I have 5" 1911s and Ruger SR9/SR45, Witness PS, SAR B6P.

__________________
Shut up and reload!

I own several plastic guns I do not carry any of them. I normaly carry is a 1911, either full size, commander or officers model. either 45 acp or 9mm. I will carry a S&W J frame model 60 with 3 in barrel or one of my 686's I like the 3 in barrel model. I like the weight gun on my side and in my hand. Plastic guns don't have soul.

__________________
Carpriver.

Carry autos here in PA: BHP, Kimber CDP, for town carry. Both full size and metal. A variety of S&W and Ruger revolvers for field and trail carry. Ah, the freedom of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

My favorite carry 1911,



.

__________________
"IN GOD WE TRUST"

That's one fine lookin' outfit!!!!!

Just in from a huge lunch on the bay side.
Took this out of my waist band.
Combat Commander 45acp...1978 IIRC.

all steel Commander sized 1911 in .45ACP.

Buying and using absolutely. Carry no. I pocket or ankle carry a J frame all the time and most often a Sig P239 357 Sig or SW 3914 or or 457 in 45ACP.

But I buy and shoot full size. Like Sevens said on the 1st page I'm an enthusiast 1st. Just this past year bought a SW4006TSW, Sig P226 9mm, Sig P220 Elite 10mm, CZ75 SP01, Dan Wesson Valor 1911.. and several early P220s from 1970/1980s in various calibers.

__________________
John 1:17
NRA Life Benefactor

I take it you posted this comment without reading a single post in the thread?

Honestly, we're nearly 4 pages in and the thread is full of people who are using full-size pistols.

__________________
Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Mostly I carry a Ruger LC9s Pro. However when I feel a need for something a bit harder hitting I'll slide my 45 ACP Ruger SR1911 CMD into my IWB holster.

1911 fan here. I carry a Commander in a Galco "Miami Classic" rig. 9mm MAY expand, but 45 won't shrink.

Oh, c'mon Harry! Didn't Briggs say "Three..you always carry three," when he got the drop on you in the car?

I carry a mid to full size mostly , I can get a faster grip and go with them . I have a small gun or two but on a dark morn I can grab a full size a lot faster . I use all good holsters