How Do You Decide What to Carry

[fyimo]

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 live in the Russellville area

 

[SAFireman]

Ask the Magic 8 Ball

 

[loknload]

Depends on where I'm headed, but most of the time it's my LCP in my pocket.
Other selections would be my 36 or my Glock 27

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I've got quite a few full size guns and holsters... but I mostly pick my LCP because it's the only one that will fit comfortably in my front pocket. Now and then my 642.

 

[grcoffman104]

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.

Deep cover...Airweigh Chief's special with nyclads.
Little town 2 in K fram 38 with silver tips
Big city CS9 with 2000 fps rounds ( maker excapes me)
All with 2 speedloaders or 2 extra magizines.
Front right pocket carry on the chief's.
AE nelson summer special for the k frame.

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.

 

[kip595]

If I'm doing a light hike or camping (not in grizzly country, mind you) I have a 3" Model 36 I belt carry in a leather pancake holster. For daily city/town carry I've long favored the old school Walther PPK in .380, usually pocket carried, very rarely IWB.

And as we all know, always know and practice with whatever you choose!

 

[Inusuit]

I live on 50 acres. When I'm out on the tractor or driving the beater pickup, I carry my KelTec PMR 30. DRT for feral cats, ground squirrels, or dogs after livestock.

Going to town for groceries, S&W Model 38 IWB with a speed strip reload.

On the road to visit the grandkids 1000 miles away, or other traveling that entails strange places and staying in motels, Glock 19 in a paddle holster with two extra mags.

I like what was said about carrying to address perceived threat. I don't go stupid places likely to occupied by stupid people. Situational awareness is the first and perhaps most important part of going armed.

 

[Brasky]

First criteria is select a firearm you can shoot accurately and quickly.

I hear too often "a firearm you carry is better than one you leave at home" like that's some justification for using a small gun that the user can't hit a target with. If you can't hit the target accurately and quickly that gun is almost useless

 

[haywood]

Out of all the guns I have, these are my carry picks. I pick Two daily. They just kind of call me. Lately it's the Two 442s but, can change at a moments notice.

 

[JCFindley]

Daily carry involves a couple Emerson knives and a 650 lumen pocket Streamlight. As I work on a military base I cannot legally carry a firearm there.

Daily stuff away from work that is pretty low threat gets the pocket gun which is a American Arms 22 magnum.

Longer Trips or unknown threat area gets the M&P 45.

Cougar country, which we have now around my family land in S Alabama gets the 45 but moved to an open carry. (Not that I would likely even see it coming with a cougar mind you.)

Grizzly country gets the Henry 45-70.

 

[STCM(SW)]

As others have posted, depends on the weather.
M 638 is a main one in the summer.
Fall and spring a Browning HP/1911/10-5 2" with a jacket.
Winter is not that much different.

 

[Goldstar225]

I have the same approach as most of the others here. I carry the largest, most powerful, and most accurate gun that I can under the circumstances. Most of the time it's a 1911 commander size in .45, sometimes it's a Kahr K40, and on occasion a 642. Out woods bumming or hunting its a 3" 60-15.

 

[chopshopcop]

There are two things that I'm never without no matter where I'm going, a working ink pen and a good knife, currently a Benchmade auto opener. Before I bought the Shield, I carried my old duty weapon, a Sig P229R.

I live in a mostly rural area now and still carry the Sig if I go into the city for anything, mostly for the larger mag capacity. As I become more familiar with the Shield though that will likely change.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I live in a major metropolitan area where bad things are more likely to happen than in Podunk USA. That and the weather dictate what I carry.

Like many I have several carry guns. In cool weather it's always a Glock 19. In warm weather and depending where I go I have the choice of a Glock 43, 442, or LCP.

Last week end it was 90 degrees. I had the LCP in one pocket and the 442 in the other.

Just don't bring up the subject of how many holsters we have.

 

[FireMarc]

Dress. Basic EDC is a 9mm Shield or XDS 9. Running to the store in gym shorts usually gets the TCP in the pocket. Winter or going to be in a high crime area it will be a glock 19 or SD9VE. Truck gun is usually a ruger Sr9c with the 17 rd and 10 round mag if I run out of the house and forget a CCW gun then it fills that role but its a general always have a gun type of gun. It will probably be replaced by in the future. I don't care too much for it.

 

[DevilDog72]

My normal carry is a 19-4 snub and on occasion a 66-3 snub every day no matter the weather or season. Around the house a 642-1nl. When in the woods a 19-8 4".

 

[Rpg]

Pretty simple for me.

Colt Commander 90% of the time in town.

M 38 the other 10% in town.

Out of town, usually a Colt 1911 unless hunting.

A good deal of my out of town carry occurs while I'm hunting.

When I'm carrying a shotgun or significant rifle ( as I do when hunting), I don't need a sd handgun.

When I'm hunting, I carry a pre war Colt Woodsman.

 

[Rick_A]

20160724_072007 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20160724_072120 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20160428_090145 (1) by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr
20160428_085721 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20130927_115944_Richtone(HDR) by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

Out of all the handguns that big N frame is the most comfortable. It's a little too big and too pretty to carry full time. That CZ is also very seldomly carried as it's quite bulky. I wish I had flush magazines for it.

This is my most common combination these days:
20160718_074717 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

When dressed light and it can only be one it's the 442.

The VP9 backpacks with me most days and makes a fine on body carry when possible.

That Beretta folder comes along on aquatic adventures. The belt knife is supplemental where guns are prohibited. The other Benchmades seldom get picked, but will occasionally based on mood.

The 649, 442 or 642 get carried in pairs depending on the occasion and dress. They stay with their respective pocket, ankle, and waistband holsters.

When dress allows the government sized 1911 will come along. It's surprisingly comfortable albeit a bit bulky. It used to be carried year round, but layering clothes on mid summer is no fun.

They all have their place.

 

[keith44spl]

.

 

[fdw]

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.

I agree that the threat has changed and have pretty much taken off rotation my ruger 5 shot, I've been carrying an LCP with extended mag but just ordered and received a CZ compact with 14+1, it will be loaded with 124 grain Federal HST.