How Do You Decide What to Carry

cp2146

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This is just another one of my "just curious" questions.

For those of you who have multiple firearms, how do you decide which one to carry on any given day? Does it depend on what you are wearing that day, or where you might be going (i.e., on a trip vs. just knocking around town)? Anyway, as I said, just curious as to what others do.
 
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When going to work (office environment), what I'm wearing has the most sway over the decision.

For playtime, it's more what I'm going to be doing. I choose between three handguns in the warmer months, and three in the colder months.

Very rarely I'll carry a different one if I'm planning on shooting at a range, but that usually just goes in the range bag.

I always try to carry the most effective handgun I'm able to for that day.
 
I carry the same gun all the time with a few exceptions. My work attire is casual, so t-shirts and jeans, which also happens to be my typical dress. So the gun is always the same. I have a few guns and I've tried them out but I always go back to the same one.... which has been my daily carry for about 6 years.

The only time that changes is when my attire changes. If I have to wear something formal/suit & tie.....then I carry a different gun


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Pretty much. It's dependent on dress, activity, and venue for the most part.

It's nice to have choices.

I was a "one gun" carrier for many years until I saw the light.
 
It depends on what I'm wearing especially in the summer when I wear a tee shirt and shorts most of the time. I switch between a per 36 chief and a Sig P228.
 
PetePeterson.....summed it up ..........

Since about 1990; 95% of the time in the "burbs of the Burgh" it's my single stack 3913NL/14 IWB in a Sparks Summer Special..... but I can up-gun to a 6906 (12+1)which also more often than not; fills the role of "trip gun" or 915 (17+1),

I really like my Beretta 92 Compact Type-M (single stack 8+1 4.2" barrel) but I can also up-gun to a 92 Centurion or Elite II if I want 18/20+1...... either of the latter two can serve as a companion to my Beretta CX-4 Storm...... 9mm carbine using the same mags or the 20/30 round factory mags.

For some unknown reason...... the Cabin in the Laurel Highlands or just "Woods bumming" calls for a revolver.......generally a 3 inch 66, maybe a 60-10 (micro-686) or rarely my 4 inch 686.



On call... are a Smith J-frame 337PD, 380 Colt Mustang Pocket lite and my old "tux gun" a Walther PPK.

If I "just have to have a .45"................... Sig 220 or 245.
 
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Yep, sounds pretty much the same as me. I can't carry at work in any capacity, but the rest of the time it depends really on what I'm wearing. Here in Texas, we now have open carry so I can go either way if I want. In those cases I carry my Shield 40 and just pull my shirt tail over it for quick conceal. For those times when more deep concealment is necessary, church for example, I run my BG380 in a pocket holster in my front pocket. My wife carries her 38 special revolver in her purse.

Keep those cards and letters coming. I like reading what other folks do. Who knows, I might even learn a thing or two.
 
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I have a lot of firearms, but only carry one. I have carried it for over 20 years. Model CS 45. No decision, as I believe one should always carry one that they practice with, and are familiar with.
 
It depends on what I'm wearing especially in the summer when I wear a tee shirt and shorts most of the time. I switch between a per 36 chief and a Sig P228.

fyimo-

Where in Arkansas are you? I was born in Ft. Smith, raised in Hot Springs, and lived in Springdale before I moved to Texas. Who knows, we might even know some of the same people.
 
I have a lot of firearms, but only carry one. I have carried it for over 20 years. Model CS 45. No decision, as I believe one should always carry one that they practice with, and are familiar with.

Agreed. I guess that's why I only have two...well, three if I swipe my wife's revolver. :-)
 
I agree with everything already posted here.....

Much depends on season and attire.

Warm weather - either Model 36-no dash in Mika Pocket Holster or Model 60-15 in Milt Sparks VersaMax II (IWB)

Cooler weather - Model 66-4/Model 19-5 in Snubbyfan custom OWB holster, or Kimber Ultra Carry Series I in a custom small-of-back holster.

I also tend to practice most with the guns in my current seasonal rotation.
 
Two at the top of the carry list. First is my Colt Defender 45, it is with my all the time. Filled with Win Ranger-T 230gr or Gold Dot, fitted with Crimson Trace laser grips, night sights and two extra mags, ('clips' for our liberal readers) nothing finer.

Second is my walk the dog gun, a S&W 686-4 2.5 inch 357mag with 7 PDX 125gr in the tubes.

And for deep backbush trips it will always be my S&W 629 5" 44 mag. Loaded with 300gr hardcast Hammerheads.
 
Two at the top of the carry list. First is my Colt Defender 45, it is with my all the time. Filled with Win Ranger-T 230gr or Gold Dot, fitted with Crimson Trace laser grips, night sights and two extra mags, ('clips' for our liberal readers) nothing finer.

Second is my walk the dog gun, a S&W 686-4 2.5 inch 357mag with 7 PDX 125gr in the tubes.

And for deep backbush trips it will always be my S&W 629 5" 44 mag. Loaded with 300gr hardcast Hammerheads.

Dang! I hope I never get in a firefight against you. :-) There'd be some serious lead coming at me.
 
This is just another one of my "just curious" questions.

For those of you who have multiple firearms, how do you decide which one to carry on any given day? Does it depend on what you are wearing that day, or where you might be going (i.e., on a trip vs. just knocking around town)? Anyway, as I said, just curious as to what others do.
For me, it's driven by the perceived threat.

Before the rise of "sudden jihad syndrome" on THIS side of the pond, I mostly pocket carried a 2" Smith 36. That seemed more than enough to deal with a meth head in the parking lot.

But then I started seeing more and more instances of people trying to kill as many random people as possible, and the Chief's Special just started looking inadequate.

I've since switched to either a Glock 19 or a 3 1/2" M1911, either one IWB. I'm still working on a holster for the Citadel 3.5 CS, but have recently bought commercial holsters for both, in case my trial and error holster making continues to drag on.

The threat has changed, and with it my response.
 
As a retiree my daily orbits are pretty tame but I carry the same thing most of the time, LCP .380. If things go bad I don't want to fumble w/something I'm not familiar with. These are lessons I learned over my 30 years on the street, and three instances of having to use my service gun to protect myself or others.
 
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