Is There Others Growing Tired of Packing?

[RussC]

Are there anyone growing tired of packing their Shield?

Before I get a bunch of hate mail I want to qualify my question.

My Shield 9mm has been a pleasure to shoot and has never failed in 1,500 rounds.

I have pocket concealed my Shield at work 10 hours per day for the last 17 months. I will not consider another means of concealment, pocket is a quick method to arm yourself and present the weapon. IWB, belly band nor ankle can not match the shear speed pocket provides presenting your weapon or arming yourself for the day.

I am not knocking folks who use IWB but let's be honest it takes time to tuck a shirt in with IWB and the bathroom breaks reconfirm why I choose pocket over IWB.

I may do what I would have considered unthinkable 17 months ago, trade caliber for weight. The Ruger LCP feels awkward in my big hand and I much prefer my Shield 9 mm for quality, accuracy and recoil but the fact is when you drop a Ruger LCP in your pocket and jump up and down a couple times you have to second guess the 9 mm advantage. Is it worth packing a 9mm when it is twice as heavy for 10 hours per day?

I have read all the ballistic reports and I know the 9mm is superior to 380 that is why I purchased a Shield 9mm, but I don't feel a daily threat to my life and that is why I may trade caliber for comfort because a mouse gun in my pocket is worth more than a rocket launcher in the safe.

Are there others beginning to question if the added weight and size of the 9mm single stack a better choice over a mouse gun considering most self defense situations occur within 3 ft with 3 rounds and ending in 3 seconds.

Russ

 

[ralph7]

I have to side with you on this issue. I not only carry when I work, but have to do some pretty strenuous physical labor in the Texas heat from time to time. I do not need a heavy, bulky gun residing in my front right pants pocket, so I carry a mousy Seecamp in .25 with a clip full of Glaser and some other aftermarket hot rod rounds I don't remember the name.
Beats a sharp stick in the eye.

 

[snubbyfan]

You could always just stick one of these in your pocket instead.

 

[Smitty357]

Does anyone else get tired of putting their shoes on every morning?

IMO, my carry weapon is just like my shoes. I put it on every morning and i take it off every evening. Same thing every day, nothing changes. I'm so use to it now that i really dont even have to "think" to put it on anymore. Just like i dont have to think to put on my shoes before i leave. And im so use to wearing it that i never think about it in my waste band. Its just like my shoes, i wear them all day long and i dont think about them on my feet either..........I'll keep it like i have all these years. No sense in trying to fix something that isnt broken.

PS: I carried my 1911 many years before i ever got a Shield. My Shield is a feather compared to my 1911. Often, i will leave the house with my 1911. But it wont be on one of my 12hr works days, lol

 

[gdauth]

Are there anyone growing tired of packing their Shield?

Before I get a bunch of hate mail I want to qualify my question.

My Shield 9mm has been a pleasure to shoot and has never failed in 1,500 rounds.

I have pocket concealed my Shield at work 10 hours per day for the last 17 months. I will not consider another means of concealment, pocket is a quick method to arm yourself and present the weapon. IWB, belly band nor ankle can not match the shear speed pocket provides presenting your weapon or arming yourself for the day.

I am not knocking folks who use IWB but let's be honest it takes time to tuck a shirt in with IWB and the bathroom breaks reconfirm why I choose pocket over IWB.

I may do what I would have considered unthinkable 17 months ago, trade caliber for weight. The Ruger LCP feels awkward in my big hand and I much prefer my Shield 9 mm for quality, accuracy and recoil but the fact is when you drop a Ruger LCP in your pocket and jump up and down a couple times you have to second guess the 9 mm advantage. Is it worth packing a 9mm when it is twice as heavy for 10 hours per day?

I have read all the ballistic reports and I know the 9mm is superior to 380 that is why I purchased a Shield 9mm, but I don't feel a daily threat to my life and that is why I may trade caliber for comfort because a mouse gun in my pocket is worth more than a rocket launcher in the safe.

Are there others beginning to question if the added weight and size of the 9mm single stack a better choice over a mouse gun considering most self defense situations occur within 3 ft with 3 rounds and ending in 3 seconds.

Russ

Try a Sig p238 with a 6 or 7 round mag. fits my pocket and my extra large hand. One proviso though, with a small gun like the Ruger or the Sig, it is harder to shoot accurately. I go to the range once a week and i take the p238 with me along with what ever gun i want to use. I put at least 50 rounds through the Sig. I have done this until I can produce 3" groups at 7 to 10 yards.

Remember, shooting is like real estate, it is all location, location, location!

 

[Pisgah]

Pocket or belt carry of relatively weighty handguns comes down to one thing for me -- a decent belt. By "decent", I mean at least 1.5" wide and STIFF. It needs to cinch tight and stay put. A skinny belt won't cut it, nor a very flexible one. I pocket carry a Springfield XDs .45, and even though it weighs significantly more than my 37-2 it doesn't pull my pants down.

I will also note that belly fat works against even a good belt, so if you have a few extra lbs. you can shed, that helps, too.

 

[DocSunShine]

My .40 shield is like an AmEx card, never leave home without it. Truthfully, the shield is an absolute joy to carry, IWB pocket or even AIWB... Of course I used to EDC a G19 & USPc .45 so in comparision the shield is a dream... I also carry the compact & even full size .40 depending on dress.

 

[Rpg]

Excellent leather makes all the difference in comfort!

You'll spend $300/400 on a top holster and belt (always from the same maker). And you can wait months to get it. But it is worth the $ and the wait.

What you carry, how you carry or whether you carry is a personal decision.

Carrying a pistol or revolver presents certain inconveniences for sure. They can be managed. It's a little like using a seatbelt: something you learn to do and eventually just do it automatically.

Don't kid yourself that a pocket carry is anything close to belt carry in terms of speed. Like comparing Olympic sprints with duffers jogging.

 

[SmurfHunter]

I carried a sig 1911 in a crossbreed. Got so sick of the weight. I now carry a shield 40 either AIWB or pocket carry in a desantis sof tuck.
I also carry a ruger lcp pocket or in waist using the quick clip on it. I just installed a hogue handall on the Lcp which made it fantastic.
I will be changing the lcp out though for the beretta pico

Original carry set up

Shield in desantis

Lcp with quick clip

Lcp with hogue

 

[Texas40]

At just over a lb loaded the shield is not heavy IMO. My 4046 .40 cal is heavy. Second a good holster and belt is the key. Im on my third holster in the last 8 months and it works well but Im still looking for the perfect one. Ill be picking up another to try soon. Holsters are like women ya gotta try a few for awhile to find the perfect one. Im still looking for the perfect holster but I have the women.

Ill tolerate the weight of my .40 shield before Ill settle on a wimpy 380.


Oh I do carry my shield in my shorts pocket when need be in fact I did it yesterday for about 7 hrs at a local small town festival I attended. Shorts sandals and t shirt so pocket was best option for comfort.

 

[K1500]

Just a thought and not a flame. If you are faster out of a pocket than you are IWB, then your not very good at the IWB. Have you ever put a shot timer on it? There is no way someone who is well trained is faster out of a pocket that they are out of a proper IWB holster. It isn't even close. That being said, it is my belief that speed of draw is not paramount when it comes to a carry gun. It is nice to carry in a manner that allows a swift draw, but an extra second is probably fairly low on the list of things that will allow you to survive an attack.

 

[huskybiker]

I carry mine everyday for at least 10 hrs in a ETW brand IWB holster I bought on EBAY. After a while, I can't even feel it. For me, the Shield is as close to perfect for EDC as I'm likely to find.

 

[forrestinmathews]

"Carrying a gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable." -Clint Smith

At some point you have to cowboy up and make a choice about it and live with that choice. You sacrifice power and accuracy for size and conceability. So hit the range and make it happen. If you can't get the hits stay with a bigger gun.

 

[bp231986]

I work 12 hour shifts and 17 hour shifts. My back up gun is a Glock 19 IWB when on duty, I have never really considered it to be "heavy" but im also wearing a 2 inch duty belt that helps support it well. When i carry off duty its still a Glock 19 IWB and have never considered it heavy even when i dont have my duty side arm and all my other gear. Some people notice additional weight more than others, i just see it as i rather have a little extra weight on me and be armed than not be armed. I would probably say that most people stop carrying because it annoys them to have the weight on them and the loading and unloading of the weapon in morning, bathroom breaks and unloading at shut eye time.

 

[Hunter991]

I carry mine everyday for at least 10 hrs in a ETW brand IWB holster I bought on EBAY. After a while, I can't even feel it. For me, the Shield is as close to perfect for EDC as I'm likely to find.

Is there a cant on that etw?

 

[Arik]

I carry a G19 all day IWB. I cant understand how you guys can get a good grip on these little guns!

I dont think a Shield is heavy at all. How much does it weigh? 15oz? I think it gets to a point where every oz begins to bother people like its several pounds. NAA makes a great 22 that is light. In the bathroom I put the gun on the sink. In a public bathroom I put it on the toilet paper dispenser/water reservoir/or worst case keeo it in the holster. When I come home I just place it on the nightstand

Btw. I carry IWB and never had to tuck my shirt in. Put on my pants, throw on a shirt and go. On the other hand I find anything other than pocket change in my front pockets a PITA

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rastoff]

"Carrying a gun is supposed to be comforting, not comfortable." -Clint Smith

At some point you have to cowboy up and make a choice about it and live with that choice. You sacrifice power and accuracy for size and conceability. So hit the range and make it happen. If you can't get the hits stay with a bigger gun.

Exactly!

It matters not what gun you carry if you can't hit with it. If you can present the gun, from concealment, and put two shots on the bad guy, within a hand span of each other, in under 2.4 seconds, at 7 yards, then that's a gun you can depend on. Anything less and you should reconsider what and why you're carrying.

Many will challenge me on the above statement. Many more have no idea how quickly they can present and shoot accurately. More still don't even practice with their carry gun. I'm ready to answer any questions.

I carry a Commander length 1911 for a couple of reasons. First, it's the smallest 1911 I feel is completely reliable. Second, it's the gun I shoot best, period. I can shoot my M&P .45 as stated above, but I'm faster with the 1911.

Sure, it's heavier than the M&P. I even carry it OWB because I just don't like IWB and I don't want to buy any more pants. In the end, it's about what you shoot best. Carrying anything less than that, at any weight, is a compromise I'm not willing to make.

By the way, this belt is outstanding at supporting the weight:

It's the best belt I've used by far. Much better at holding it's shape than any leather belt I've used and I've used a bunch.

 

[agksimon]

Just a thought and not a flame. If you are faster out of a pocket than you are IWB, then your not very good at the IWB. Have you ever put a shot timer on it? There is no way someone who is well trained is faster out of a pocket that they are out of a proper IWB holster. It isn't even close. That being said, it is my belief that speed of draw is not paramount when it comes to a carry gun. It is nice to carry in a manner that allows a swift draw, but an extra second is probably fairly low on the list of things that will allow you to survive an attack.

I carry my Shield in the pocket of Cabala's 7 pocket hiker pants, of which all my pants are.

Cabela's Legendary 7-Pocket Hiker Pants : Cabela's

They have very large front pockets, allow for a very easy, quick draw and there is no "printing" at all.
I can draw and shoot from an IWB holster in an average of 1.5 seconds. When I pocket carry and see a threat, I already have the gun in my hand and most of the way out of the holster, but still hidden in the pocket. Using a shot timer, from draw to first shot averages .75 seconds or just over. As long as you have big pockets and have the gun in your hand, pocket draw can be twice as fast as IWB draw.

 

[SmurfHunter]

I carry my Shield in the pocket of Cabala's 7 pocket hiker pants, of which all my pants are.

Cabela's Legendary 7-Pocket Hiker Pants : Cabela's

They have very large front pockets, allow for a very easy, quick draw and there is no "printing" at all.
I can draw and shoot from an IWB holster in an average of 1.5 seconds. When I pocket carry and see a threat, I already have the gun in my hand and most of the way out of the holster, but still hidden in the pocket. Using a shot timer, from draw to first shot averages .75 seconds or just over. As long as you have big pockets and have the gun in your hand, pocket draw can be twice as fast as IWB draw.

Agreed 100%. People never take into account the fact when you pocket carry you can have your hand on your weapon ready to go at any time. That's just not possible for iwb. If I feel a threat I can be hand on gun ready to draw and no one knows. If I'm wrong and it's not a threat then it's no big deal. If I was carrying iwb I just couldn't do that

 

[Lost Lake]

I won't disagree with you about pocket carrying a Shield. I never have, never will pocket carry one.

But when I'm not carrying a 9c, Shield or a 3913 IWB on my hip, I am carrying a lightweight J-frame in my front pocket.

With the curved grip and light weight, a J-frame can hide anywhere, and you literally will forget about it. I know some folks say they forget about their gun, but with a J-frame you actually can forget it.

Now you can get a J-frame in .38 or .357. No need to go down to a .380 for pocket comfort.

Today I'm wearing Duluth Trading Company jeans with my 642 in front. An absolute dream combination.....

.