Ever Been Tempted to Switch to a SEMI for CCW?

[Whitwabit]

I got a Sig P250sc in 9mm for the 12 + 1 capacity and the DAO trigger. The trigger is very revolver-like and lighter than most (~6.5#), and I shoot it well enough. However, compared to my preferred carry, a 2" S&W 64, the trigger feels about 1/4" longer. Even though the K-frame trigger is heavier, I still favor it. The other thing is, for me, the K-frame just points so naturally. I can draw and press out with my eyes closed, and when I open them, the sights on the Model 64 are always aligned on target. I've yet to find a semiauto that works like that for me. I'm considering some type of DA\SA auto, the Beretta PX4 Storm compact seems promising, and the CZ 75 PCR looks really good on paper, but I have yet to shoot one. Currently, I'm looking at only hammer-fired pistols (hey, baby steps), so if anyone has a suggestion, I'm open to it. But for now, the Model 64 just feels like an old friend: predictable, reliable, and comforting.

The Beretta PX4 Compact is a pretty large compact .. I have the PX-4 Sub Compact and its about the size of my S&W 40 Compact .. It is a very nice shooter .. mines in 9mm .. I use a Beretta made holster that looks like Galco's Summer Comfort but the cant is adjustable on it .. you will have to contend with the bat wings unless you change them out to the smaller ones like I did also made the wings a de-cocker only no safety ..

 

[joe44va]

Yep.
Switched to an LC9sPro because of an Ayoob article. Better defense in court according to him.
Still carry a 69 in the woods.

 

[wheelman44]

Simply no.

 

[BigBill]

Home protection and ccw carry is two different situations.
A pistol should handle a home invasion or a 12 ga pump.

For ccw carry I always preferred a 44mag. But lately it's the 41 mag.

 

[Mister X]

Yep.
Switched to an LC9sPro because of an Ayoob article. Better defense in court according to him.
Still carry a 69 in the woods.

I'm baffled what might be the possible reasons why Mas would say that. I can't imagine how a striker-fired pistol would be regarded as a more defensible choice in court than a DAO revolver. Do you have a link or remember where you read the article?

 

[rwsmith]

I was a revolver guy.....

I didn't like semi's for reasons of safety. (There are so many configurations that require different handling) I wasn't worried so much about ME being able to learn and handle them safely, but someone in my family, even if I taught them well, wouldn't have hands-on time like me and if they handled a different configuration at some point there may be misconceptions as to how they are handled. For home defense I didn't have problems with a revolver.

Then came home invasions and gangs, meth, bath salts, murders near my neighborhood. I thought that I might need more firepower and considered carrying. So I bought a few semis that were suitable for carry and a mod 36 revolver. I feel more well armed for various situations.

I have a 686 for home. A model 5943 (alum frame) that I could carry but it's full size, a Shield, a Kel tec and the mod 36. Not a bad rotation.

Instead of just shooting I'm learning more about SD situations. At some point I'll get my CC permit and may start taking a firearm with me in the car.

 

[BC38]

I carry either a Ross 971 (comparable to a K-frame snub) a Charter Bulldog 44 spl, or a Taurus TCP 380. I'm looking for the right micro 9 and am leaning towards one of the Kahr's - CM9 or PM9. For bottom feeder carry guns I only do DAO with no other safeties though, for the similarity of the trigger pull and general function...

 

[The Big D]

Quite the opposite.

Carried a semi-auto for the last half of my LEO career. Upon retirement began carrying per LEOSA. Initially the great state of Maryland allowed qualification with both types of handguns. When a night fire component was introduced time constraints did not allow for that. I decided to go with a revolver. Why? Ease of carry, total reliability, and plenty enough firepower...at least for me, it is.

Currently carry a 60;NY-1 or a 642. Coincidentally, LEOSA qualification is at noon this very day. Will provide the customary range report in a separate thread later.

Be safe.

 

[tops]

Yep.
Switched to an LC9sPro because of an Ayoob article. Better defense in court according to him.
Still carry a 69 in the woods.

I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination and I only have a 3rd grade education but I am more concerned with what is the best defense in a self defense situation. If I live through it then I will work on my court defense and if it is really self defense it shouldn't get to court. Larry

 

[Whitwabit]

Yep.
Switched to an LC9sPro because of an Ayoob article. Better defense in court according to him.
Still carry a 69 in the woods.

What was the article that caused you to switch to the LC9sPro ??

 

[reppans]

I went the other way.... Glock 19/26 > SW 638/649. Started AIWB carry for comfort, access, and deep concealment reasons and my snubs ride much lower and thinner where it counts, so I actually carry them more. On average, I think I shoot both about the same, but for some reason, my revolver groups are more consistent.

I also don't like the idea of half-cocked strikers (with enough potential energy to ignite a primer) pointing at my junk/femoral arteries 24/7, particularly when bending over and applying pressure to the gun. I know there are internal safeties, but given AIWB carry contradicts the 1st rule of gun safety, I prefer the verifiable physics of hammer down.

 

[TexasArmed]

When i started carrying I began with one revolver, then two.
For a long time I carried a CA 44 Special and a Smith & Wesson 38 Special both revolvers. But events last several year convinced
me of the need for greater round capacity. So now I carry a
Glock 30 (45 Caliber SA), and usually the Smith & Wesson 38 Special. I only own one Semi Automatic. I just don't feel that
five rounds before a reload are adequate in some situations that
might arise.

 

[18DAI]

I carried revolvers for serious purpose for 37 years. I carried them on and off duty and competed with revolvers. That said, I WAS a revolver guy.

These days, unless you are old or infirm and unable to rack a slide, carrying 5 rounds of 38 in a harder to conceal, harder to reload quickly gun, vs 8 or 9 rounds of hot 9mm or 7 rounds of 45 in a thin light weight, faster to reload pistol just doesnt make sense, to me.

And beleive me, I was loathe to give up my revolvers for the higher maintenance, not as easy to shoot accurately semi autos. But it just didnt make sense to me to carry a less effective handgun. Because it is no longer the world I grew up in. It is better to have more effective rounds, and in larger quantities, than not. My .02 Regards 18DAI

Edited to add: Capacity alone is not a reason I care about. After 20 years working robbery homicide I KNOW I will be out of time LONG BEFORE I am out of ammo. No matter what I am carrying. YMMV

 

[Neely52]

I prefer a revolver. You don't have to pick up brass before leaving.

There is some truth in that.

 

[Hook686]

No. In California I see no advantage regarding rounds loaded, but I have seen too many NDs, even by active SWAT officers, to be interested in carrying an autoloader.

 

[Mister_Smith]

Most times I carry revolvers, and sometimes I carry my Beretta 92 Compact AND a back up revolver, a J frame Smith. I have at times carried a 1911 as well.

Any time danger has come my way, there were usually three or more guys. For this reason I always carry a back up J frame when I'm out and about.

My primary gun is also a J frame Smith, and with only 5 shots, I want a second gun.

When I carry the Beretta which is 14 shots, I still want a backup gun and bring a J frame with me. I have had many jams with many semi-autos over the years, I never had a jam with a revolver, but I understand it can happen.

I must admit I do feel better with my Beretta given the 14 shots, and I'm good with a Beretta, I had some experience with it while in the army.

Many times trouble has come my way, there were four plus guys, once was maybe eight or so guys, and I was not armed at the time, they wanted my car. For whatever reason, after I told them "no" repeatedly, they decided not to push it. I just got lucky as there were somewhere around eight guys at 1 am on a deserted city street and most are deserted at 1 am, and that was the better part of town.

If you choose to carry a semi auto, and you can also carry a J frame back up, I would recommend it.

 

[DevilDog72]

I started carrying a side arm when I was in the Corps, it was a Seris 70 1911. Carried it for years and then got the itch for the mega round guns. I settled on a Sig 229, .40 and started to carry it in 1994. It was hard to carry in the summer here in Texas so went back to a Commander sized 1911,.45acp. In around 2005 I bought a Mdl 19-4 snub and have carried it every day since. I have added a 66 snub, 19-8 4" and a 642 as a bug. I sold the 229 and have regretted it...... all the above said, to answer to OP...yes I am considering the Sig 320 Carry in .45 acp to become my EDC.

 

[jackvs1]

Here is my everyday pocket firearm.

S&W Bodyguard, 380 w/o laser.

 

[coltgun]

I was issued a A smith mod 19 and carried it daily for over 20 yrs, then issued a Glock 23, which I carry daily to this date, I prefer the rounds in a Glock to a revolver,and recently conv the G23 to a 9mm...

 

[mazer]

My ccw weapons are:
Ruger Alaskan 44mag
S&W PD329 44mag
S&W 629-6 PC 44mag
S&W M&P pre-model 10 with 2"bbl 38spl
I've considered pistols, but, I can't get any pistols to shoot as well as any of the above out to 25yds in any pistol caliber, that I can using 44spls (only considering around town carry here). My hands are also large and smaller pistol slides hit my knuckle....and lets face it, they are very unpleasant to shoot. I've tried 1911's, Glocks, Berettas....just always come back to my wheel guns.