What are the things you value most in a carry gun?

[lrrifleman]

OP: my requirements are similar, but a little different. I also want to qualify my response in advance.

I have no issue carrying either a revolver or a semi-auto, but with today's climate, I will lean towards the semi-auto!

Immediate requirements:
1) easily concealed: nothing hanging off a rail, no RDO
2) accurate: this includes: acceptable ergonomics, good sights, a respectable trigger
3) powerful cartridge: please read this as of a large enough diameter to induce bleeding, with a flatter nose (metplat) to induce shock

Secondary requirements:
1) a common, readily available cartridge: this use to be a 38 Special, but has become 9mm, which is susceptible to availability interruptions due to military and LE needs. Definitely needs to be more available than 41 Remington fimfire!
1a) this can be supplemented by an availability of reloading components (powder and primers) for a relatively unending supply of ammo. I cast my own bullets.
2) availability of readily available drop-in parts that could be stockpiled: recoil springs/RSAs, magazine springs, and striker assemblies. In most respects, revolvers negate this requirement at the expense of capacity.

My preferred carry is currently a P365 (9mm or 380), a G42/G43, or a Ruger SR1911CMD, followed by the following revolvers: 686+ 3" or a 629 3".

 

[1sailor]

I think that a lot of people overlook concealability. Not just when wearing the clothes you need to cover it up but also the ability to easily carry when dressed in everyday clothes. Over the years I have spoken to a lot of guys who carry (very common where I live). Many of them tell of the multi round semi they carry which will simply mow down the bad guys. However, a whole lot of them would then go on to say they don't have it right now. Usually because they are not wearing the right clothes. The harder it is to conceal the less likely you are to have it with you. If you plan to carry every day and not just on special occasions, then you really need something you can just grab on your way out the door regardless of what you're wearing. I carry a J frame. Only has a 5 round capacity but I always have it. Far better protection then anything that has been left at home in the sock drawer because it's a hassle to carry. To quote Massad Ayoob, the first shot is a whole lot more important than the 15th. I'm not saying by any means that the J frame is the ultimate, only that if you plan to carry every day then whatever you choose needs to be easy for you to just grab on the way out.

 

[Shibadog]

I think that a lot of people overlook concealability. Not just when wearing the clothes you need to cover it up but also the ability to easily carry when dressed in everyday clothes. Over the years I have spoken to a lot of guys who carry (very common where I live). Many of them tell of the multi round semi they carry which will simply mow down the bad guys. However, a whole lot of them would then go on to say they don't have it right now. Usually because they are not wearing the right clothes. The harder it is to conceal the less likely you are to have it with you. If you plan to carry every day and not just on special occasions, then you really need something you can just grab on your way out the door regardless of what you're wearing. I carry a J frame. Only has a 5 round capacity but I always have it. Far better protection then anything that has been left at home in the sock drawer because it's a hassle to carry. To quote Massad Ayoob, the first shot is a whole lot more important than the 15th. I'm not saying by any means that the J frame is the ultimate, only that if you plan to carry every day then whatever you choose needs to be easy for you to just grab on the way out.

Echos my experience completely. Frankly I just roll my eyes when some dude talks about his high cap maxi blaster and handful of hi cap mags he “carry’s” only to then admit it’s “in the truck” or “at home”. Sorry, that is NOT an EDC piece. If you cannot or do not carry it all the time it “may” be an “occasional” carry piece but it’s sure not an everyday gun. If you Knew when trouble was coming then that might be spiffy, but in the real world the only thing that matters is what you actually have with you, each and ever day, all day. Anything else and you’re just kidding yourself. If you want to play that game that’s your choice, but don’t carry on about your master blaster as the ultimate EDC when it isn’t actually USED that way

 

[375hh1973]

First off its gotta look cool. Most of mine are 2 tone.

2nd its gotta be in a legit caliber.

3rd it must be comfortable to carry

 

[AJ]

First off its gotta look cool. Most of mine are 2 tone.

2nd its gotta be in a legit caliber.

3rd it must be comfortable to carry

"gotta look cool", you are kidding aren't you?

Just what do you perceive as a legit caliber?

 

[Shibadog]

First off its gotta look cool. Most of mine are 2 tone.

2nd its gotta be in a legit caliber.

3rd it must be comfortable to carry

I dunno. I’m still gonna go with reliability and accuracy, the ability to shoot it well, and easy to carry. As for looks, who cares? If you’re doing it right no one but you will ever see it. My carry guns all show holster wear and use marks. I maintain them carefully, but I don’t worry if they show some honest wear.

 

[375hh1973]

"gotta look cool", you are kidding aren't you?

Just what do you perceive as a legit caliber?

IF it don't look cool, I don't want it

Got a P226 in .357sig two-tone

Accurate, dependable and most importantly it LOOKS cool.

 

[moosedog]

Reliability and stopping power, I'll do the rest.

 

[Oldsalt66]

Must be legitimate service caliber, 9mm parabellum or better
Reliability
Ergonomics
Sights
Capacity

 

[John Patrick]

IF it don't look cool, I don't want it

Got a P226 in .357sig two-tone

Accurate, dependable and most importantly it LOOKS cool.

I have one in 9mm. Other than in a shoulder holster under a sport coat it’s both uncomfortable and hard to conceal, in my experience.

And holds only 15rnd magazines, which a Glock 43x will do with Shield magazines. Or 14 with an Sig P365x with Maguts.

On the other hand, with a Sig 22lr kit installed it makes an awesome and 100% reliable 22lr auto, and suppresses well.

 

[375hh1973]

I have one in 9mm. Other than in a shoulder holster under a sport coat it’s both uncomfortable and hard to conceal, in my experience.

And holds only 15rnd magazines, which a Glock 43x will do with Shield magazines. Or 14 with an Sig P365x with Maguts.

On the other hand, with a Sig 22lr kit installed it makes an awesome and 100% reliable 22lr auto, and suppresses well.

I use a Galco IWB between 3 and 4 oclock

Been carrying it so long, don't even notice.

Have thought about getting a 22lr kit.

Any issues with those?

 

[AJ]

IF it don't look cool, I don't want it

Got a P226 in .357sig two-tone

Accurate, dependable and most importantly it LOOKS cool.

I guess it takes all kinds of mind sets.

 

[gun1]

From Experience .

#1 - It has to be on your person .

If the gun is Too heavy , too bulky , too uncomfortable , too whatever the reason ... not to have it on your person , all day , everyday, then that gun is unsatisfactory .

The gun that goes with you , out the door , every day and stays with you , all day is the the one you want .

Having the gun on your person ... is THE Most important thing ...

#2 Importance ... shooting the gun accurately (in a gunfight only hits count) .

Gary

Well said.

I would add to this that you aren't going to find one gun that is going to "check all the boxes".

What you find that you carry in the summer with shorts and light clothes isn't going to be what you carry down an alley at night in the 'hood. That isn't to say you'll be in either of those scenarios, but it is food for thought. Take those scenarios you come up with and apply them to Gary's #1 and #2.

I think with enough practice and work (not just sending rounds down range willy nilly just to burn brass) you can shoot anything reasonably well. For a close range defense scenario you should be covered.

In my experience - the smaller and lighter the pistol is, and the higher the caliber, the harder it is to shoot. The bigger and heavier the pistol is, and the lighter the caliber, the easier it is to shoot. With that having been said - my preferred carry pistol is a metal 9mm - a Kahr MK9. It is pretty compact, but with the metal it has mass that makes it easier to be accurate for me. But it is heavy. So I go back to #1. If it isn't "there" it's useless. So I have other options.

It has been said before that you shouldn't necessarily carry what you want - you carry what you need. And your needs will vary. For a light, easy to conceal option chances are you aren't going to be accurate at a distance. But that may be what you need for a given scenario - otherwise you may have nothing.

Lots to think about.

 

[John Patrick]

I use a Galco IWB between 3 and 4 oclock

Been carrying it so long, don't even notice.

Have thought about getting a 22lr kit.

Any issues with those?

No issues, they’re great.

With the kit installed the slide doesn’t lock back on an empty mag and the gun weighs a bit less because the kit’s slide is aluminum and the 22 magazine is phenolic, also, 10 rounds of 22lr, the
22 magazine’s capacity, don’t weigh what a magazine full of 9mm or 357 Sig weighs. As converted to 22lr the gun will fit your holster, or any P226 compatible holster.

Swap barrel, spring and slide, store your 357 Sig barrel, spring, slide in the box the kit comes in and enjoy. Swap back to 357 Sig in moments.

The 22 barrel is threaded and accepts typical 22 suppressors without an adapter. Comes with a thread protector.

With the kit installed my P226 has been 100% reliable unsuppressed, which I can’t say about any other 22 pistol I’ve owned, and it been 100% reliable suppressed. Not finicky with ammo either.

 

[John Patrick]

Fwiw, here are a couple of my thoughts on weight vs recoil: A wise fellow once pointed out that gravity is constant but recoil is momentary. It’s true! Also true, at least for me, is that the same recoil which is uncomfortable at the range is hardly noticed when your attention is 100% on the target. I haven’t been in a gunfight and pray I never am, but I’ve used a bunch of guns with uncomfortable recoil while hunting and the perceived recoil when shooting at game is “just enough to let you know the gun fired.”

 

[oldiegoldie]

reliable, safe, concealable.

 

[jbull380]

Fwiw, here are a couple of my thoughts on weight vs recoil: A wise fellow once pointed out that gravity is constant but recoil is momentary. It’s true! Also true, at least for me, is that the same recoil which is uncomfortable at the range is hardly noticed when your attention is 100% on the target. I haven’t been in a gunfight and pray I never am, but I’ve used a bunch of guns with uncomfortable recoil while hunting and the perceived recoil when shooting at game is “just enough to let you know the gun fired.”

As long as it doesn’t prevent a person from training. My wife went from a Kahr K9 which she loves to shoot but hated to carry to a Ruger LCR which she loved to carry but hated to shoot. Would not shoot it. She is back to the Kahr.

 

[John Patrick]

As long as it doesn’t prevent a person from training. My wife went from a Kahr K9 which she loves to shoot but hated to carry to a Ruger LCR which she loved to carry but hated to shoot. Would not shoot it. She is back to the Kahr.

Excellent point.

One of the great things about revolvers is the ability to maintain 100% reliable function with ammo of very different power levels.

For an easy example, a 357 magnum is reliable with everything from mild 38spl wadcutter target ammo to full power 357 loads.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Being carried on my person when outside the home

 

[gun1]

As long as it doesn’t prevent a person from training. My wife went from a Kahr K9 which she loves to shoot but hated to carry to a Ruger LCR which she loved to carry but hated to shoot. Would not shoot it. She is back to the Kahr.

Kahr makes some good pistols. At one point a long time ago the K40 was at the top of my list as the next gun I was going to get. The soft polymer grips and the all metal frame really sold me. At the time I had switched calibers to 9mm with the smaller, more concealable MK9 and the K40 went on the back burner. Life got in the way and I still don't have a K40. I just went looking recently and they don't even show the K40 on their site as a current product anymore. I am sure the K9 is even softer and a pleasure to shoot, but the idea behind the K40 in my view was to have the heavier round in an easier to shoot pistol.

You can say very much the same of the MK9 - its all metal - compared to the composite options in that it is a heavy to carry pistol. I agree, but with its size it is still concealable. And I find its balance of caliber, concealability, and shootability 2nd to none in its class.

When I took my CCW course many years ago I tried a tiny Beretta in 9mm. I shot one round and said "forget it". I'll never forget that one. Somehow a lot of people like those - they are concealable and a sizable round. But that goes right to your point - it is an easy to carry gun, but in my view is absolutely terrible to shoot.

I think it is a responsible decision on anyone's part that carries to be comfortable with what they are carrying - both the shooting of it and the carrying of it. That takes some time to develop personal preference because sacrifices have to be made on every end of the spectrum. You aren't going to find a 2.5" barrel 9mm that weighs 12oz that is going to shoot like a full size pistol with a 4.5" barrel and weighs 35oz.

In terms of both the shooting aspect and the carrying aspect - if God forbid you have to rely on your carry piece - there is going to be an investigation. You can bet every aspect of your gun ownership and training is going to be questioned. If you are comfortable and confident in your abilities that will go to prove the case of being a responsible gun owner. And shooting pistols isn't the same as shooting rifles. Pistols require a lot more skill, which is why training is so important - to develop that skill. An investigation is going to pick that apart pretty deep.

On the other end of the spectrum on training - in a lot of sates now we have "Constitutional Carry", and more legislation is in the works in a lot more states to pass the same (not to get in to politics, but don't you find that ironic? In an era where the 2A is under so much attack - several states already have gone Constitutional Carry in the midst of it? I think that is great). If someone is legally allowed to own a gun, yet never shot one, goes out and buys one, then puts 20 rounds through it in the back 40, and tosses it in their pocket and gets in to a quarrel a week later and uses it - do you think their "training and competency" is going to hold up in an investigation the same way someone who went to a formal concealed carry course or permitless carry course and had trained for a couple months would? Or the contrast, further yet, to some of us that have owned and practiced with guns for decades? Or LEO's/military, former or current? The competency makes a difference in the perception of a jury - and the less you have the more ground the prosecution has to try to undermine the case. Work the odds back your way by gaining ground on the competency end.

And to that last point - what gun you carry and how you shoot it (how comfortable are you with it) makes a big difference.