I carry everyday all day. M&P 40C gen one loaded with 165 golddot.
Genuine Daily Carry People and Their Guns
- Thread starter SmithSwede
- Start date
I have been a daily CCW carrier since Jan '64, when I entered LE. Given that amount of time I have gone through a fair number of handguns and carry methods.
The ongoing challenge was always to balance 'enough gun' (as Robert Ruark would put it) with comfort and concealment, and thus the willingness to EDC.
I went through a number of semi-autos and revolvers during this time, too numerous to mention here. Overall the best balance, for me, was the K frame S&W. During this time, sometime in the mid-'70s, our department adopted the S&W 66 for mandatory carry, 4" for uniforms, 2 1/2" for plain clothes, and optional for command personnel.
Unfortunately our experience with these 66s was, at best, beset with problems. In '81 I was promoted to the top of the civil service chain. Shortly thereafter I had the opportunity to switch my patrol division from 4" 66s to 4" 686s, at no cost beyond sales tax. For my division, the largest in the department, the switch to the 686 eliminated the 66 problems. The 686s were perfect right out of the box. We still had the 66s for the other divisions though, and the 2 1/2" for plain clothes and detectives. Since it was my discretion whether to dress in uniform or plain clothes, I checked out a 2 1/2" 66 for when I was in plain clothes. I concluded that this configuration was ideal for .38+p or .357 concealed carry. Looking far ahead to retirement I decided I wanted such a configuration revolver for EDC, but not wanting the same issues we had experienced with the 66s, I chose a 2 3/4" Ruger Security Six. From the time of purchase I have had a nylon Hogue Monogrip and a spurless hammer on it. Great choice, great shooter, great revolver.
But the winds of change were blowing. We went through a transition period during which revolvers were issued, but personnel could also purchase their own semi-auto (from a wide ranging approved list) in 9mm, .40 or .45 ACP. During this time one of our CSI guys offered me a 9mm S&W 467 that the courts had assigned to our department following disposition of a court case. The department could use it as they pleased, but could not transfer it. I took a look at this pistol and found immediately that this double stack grip fit my large hand better than any other handgun I had ever handled. I shot it and really liked it, but the action was terrible. I had my local gunsmith do an action job on it, on my dime, despite the fact that I could never own it. With that action job on top of the fit to my hand, I just could not miss with that pistol. I had gone from a 4" 686 to a light weight cutdown 3 1/2" barrel semi-auto and could shoot it more accurately at 25 yards (the max on our qualification course) than my 686, and much more quickly. I was smitten.
But that was not to last. The department decided on the full size .40 Glock (forget the number) for all personnel, foolishly avoiding the then mid size Glock for plain clothes or command carry.. I could keep on carrying the 467 off-duty, but I decided I should have this great design for my own. So I bought the then current iteration, the 6906, and had the gunsmith do the same action job.
That pistol was/is the ideal balance. But then later along came the Glock 26, even more compact, double stack grip (along with added Pearce magazine extender), great trigger right out of the box, absolute reliability. This further refined my preferences and I carry it to this day. I won't be changing to a more compact later version because the State of Calif, fearful of something, I guess, won't allow these later versions to be sold in this crime free bastion of safety. Only too happy to contribute my part of course.
Even in the extremely safe area in which we live, I still carry every day. Even if we are only going to the closest town to shop, 30 miles, I want it with me in the event I come across an injured animal that has been struck by a car and needs to be put down for humane purposes. I have several methods of carry to suit my preference at the time.
We are well past kids as residents here, so I can leave my EDC out for convenience. But that is only for convenience. If I am aware of a possible threat, four legged much more likely than two legged, I have my Remington 870. But we are in an area as free of crime as is possible anywhere. Our property, without it being too obvious, is a compound. That is not to say someone can't get in. They can, but it won't be quick and it won't be easy. Thus far, in 29+ years, home invasion robberies, or residential burglaries, are not an issue here. Mucho different from where we lived when I was working, because that was gang-central.
The ongoing challenge was always to balance 'enough gun' (as Robert Ruark would put it) with comfort and concealment, and thus the willingness to EDC.
I went through a number of semi-autos and revolvers during this time, too numerous to mention here. Overall the best balance, for me, was the K frame S&W. During this time, sometime in the mid-'70s, our department adopted the S&W 66 for mandatory carry, 4" for uniforms, 2 1/2" for plain clothes, and optional for command personnel.
Unfortunately our experience with these 66s was, at best, beset with problems. In '81 I was promoted to the top of the civil service chain. Shortly thereafter I had the opportunity to switch my patrol division from 4" 66s to 4" 686s, at no cost beyond sales tax. For my division, the largest in the department, the switch to the 686 eliminated the 66 problems. The 686s were perfect right out of the box. We still had the 66s for the other divisions though, and the 2 1/2" for plain clothes and detectives. Since it was my discretion whether to dress in uniform or plain clothes, I checked out a 2 1/2" 66 for when I was in plain clothes. I concluded that this configuration was ideal for .38+p or .357 concealed carry. Looking far ahead to retirement I decided I wanted such a configuration revolver for EDC, but not wanting the same issues we had experienced with the 66s, I chose a 2 3/4" Ruger Security Six. From the time of purchase I have had a nylon Hogue Monogrip and a spurless hammer on it. Great choice, great shooter, great revolver.
But the winds of change were blowing. We went through a transition period during which revolvers were issued, but personnel could also purchase their own semi-auto (from a wide ranging approved list) in 9mm, .40 or .45 ACP. During this time one of our CSI guys offered me a 9mm S&W 467 that the courts had assigned to our department following disposition of a court case. The department could use it as they pleased, but could not transfer it. I took a look at this pistol and found immediately that this double stack grip fit my large hand better than any other handgun I had ever handled. I shot it and really liked it, but the action was terrible. I had my local gunsmith do an action job on it, on my dime, despite the fact that I could never own it. With that action job on top of the fit to my hand, I just could not miss with that pistol. I had gone from a 4" 686 to a light weight cutdown 3 1/2" barrel semi-auto and could shoot it more accurately at 25 yards (the max on our qualification course) than my 686, and much more quickly. I was smitten.
But that was not to last. The department decided on the full size .40 Glock (forget the number) for all personnel, foolishly avoiding the then mid size Glock for plain clothes or command carry.. I could keep on carrying the 467 off-duty, but I decided I should have this great design for my own. So I bought the then current iteration, the 6906, and had the gunsmith do the same action job.
That pistol was/is the ideal balance. But then later along came the Glock 26, even more compact, double stack grip (along with added Pearce magazine extender), great trigger right out of the box, absolute reliability. This further refined my preferences and I carry it to this day. I won't be changing to a more compact later version because the State of Calif, fearful of something, I guess, won't allow these later versions to be sold in this crime free bastion of safety. Only too happy to contribute my part of course.
Even in the extremely safe area in which we live, I still carry every day. Even if we are only going to the closest town to shop, 30 miles, I want it with me in the event I come across an injured animal that has been struck by a car and needs to be put down for humane purposes. I have several methods of carry to suit my preference at the time.
We are well past kids as residents here, so I can leave my EDC out for convenience. But that is only for convenience. If I am aware of a possible threat, four legged much more likely than two legged, I have my Remington 870. But we are in an area as free of crime as is possible anywhere. Our property, without it being too obvious, is a compound. That is not to say someone can't get in. They can, but it won't be quick and it won't be easy. Thus far, in 29+ years, home invasion robberies, or residential burglaries, are not an issue here. Mucho different from where we lived when I was working, because that was gang-central.
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RetCapt makes some good points.... my Dad was a RetCapt too.
The S&W 6906 is a great balance of size, weight ,capacity 12+1 [extra mag(s) are 15rds w/ +2 adaptors] reliability and shootablity!
The Glock 26 even with the Pearce extender and a rounded trigger guard just wasn't right for me!
As posted earlier in my quiet "Burb of the Burgh" I'm good to go most days with a 3913 and an extra mag or 2
The S&W 6906 is a great balance of size, weight ,capacity 12+1 [extra mag(s) are 15rds w/ +2 adaptors] reliability and shootablity!
The Glock 26 even with the Pearce extender and a rounded trigger guard just wasn't right for me!
As posted earlier in my quiet "Burb of the Burgh" I'm good to go most days with a 3913 and an extra mag or 2
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BAM-BAM,
We are closely akin here. The 467/6906 is still the best grip on any handgun I have ever grasped. The tuned action is the best, both DA and SA of any pistol I have ever handled. I have a S&W 52-2, and I think my 6906 SA is even better than my 52-2. It feels like pressing a micro switch and the pistol fires.
For recreational shooting I prefer my 6906. It is looks like any other small pistol. The knowledgeable will see its resemblance to its customized cut down 39/59 antecedents. Its performance makes me look really good.
Your 3913 is closely related to the 6906, so you can see my reasoning.
What I primarily preferred on the Glock was the greater concealability. Not being in a gang area any more I don't think I sacrificed anything on payload. The shorter grip with the Pearce extender is not perfect, but, in my opinion, a reasonable compromise.
But there is one additional factor I did not mention. We moved to where we are because we are both very outdoor people. I am also a fly fisherman. I often find myself in hostile environments, natural not man-made, where I may slip and fall, sometimes into and under water. Except for its Kydex holster (older model Blade-Tech), the Glock is in the open. That means there is a possibility I may lose my footing and fall against rocks or vegetation and impact on the Glock.
The 6906, besides the attributes I mentioned, is a beautiful piece of work. And they are no longer being made. I don't want to risk potentially damaging this pistol in these adverse environments. The Glock is easily and cheaply replaceable. In a worst case scenario where I have to use deadly force, whichever handgun I am carrying will go into evidence for however long and under unknown storage conditions. So there is an element of expendability here.
At the end of all this, I get maximum reliability and durability. Arguably there may be other handguns just as reliable as the Glock, but I have never seen an argument mounted that some other handgun is more reliable than the Glock.
The scariest sound in the jungle is 'click'. I don't ever want to hear it.
We are closely akin here. The 467/6906 is still the best grip on any handgun I have ever grasped. The tuned action is the best, both DA and SA of any pistol I have ever handled. I have a S&W 52-2, and I think my 6906 SA is even better than my 52-2. It feels like pressing a micro switch and the pistol fires.
For recreational shooting I prefer my 6906. It is looks like any other small pistol. The knowledgeable will see its resemblance to its customized cut down 39/59 antecedents. Its performance makes me look really good.
Your 3913 is closely related to the 6906, so you can see my reasoning.
What I primarily preferred on the Glock was the greater concealability. Not being in a gang area any more I don't think I sacrificed anything on payload. The shorter grip with the Pearce extender is not perfect, but, in my opinion, a reasonable compromise.
But there is one additional factor I did not mention. We moved to where we are because we are both very outdoor people. I am also a fly fisherman. I often find myself in hostile environments, natural not man-made, where I may slip and fall, sometimes into and under water. Except for its Kydex holster (older model Blade-Tech), the Glock is in the open. That means there is a possibility I may lose my footing and fall against rocks or vegetation and impact on the Glock.
The 6906, besides the attributes I mentioned, is a beautiful piece of work. And they are no longer being made. I don't want to risk potentially damaging this pistol in these adverse environments. The Glock is easily and cheaply replaceable. In a worst case scenario where I have to use deadly force, whichever handgun I am carrying will go into evidence for however long and under unknown storage conditions. So there is an element of expendability here.
At the end of all this, I get maximum reliability and durability. Arguably there may be other handguns just as reliable as the Glock, but I have never seen an argument mounted that some other handgun is more reliable than the Glock.
The scariest sound in the jungle is 'click'. I don't ever want to hear it.
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RetCapt
My primary 69xx is a is a Performance Center Shorty-9 I bought used off a friend in 95/96.... have accumulated a couple other 6906 and 6904s and two 6915 FrankenSmiths.
It's my Goldilocks gun.... not to big not to small..... just right for EDC
My primary 69xx is a is a Performance Center Shorty-9 I bought used off a friend in 95/96.... have accumulated a couple other 6906 and 6904s and two 6915 FrankenSmiths.
It's my Goldilocks gun.... not to big not to small..... just right for EDC
Banjo 10-79
Member
After a career plying the police trade I don't find it that onerous to pack a pistol in civvies. After all the years of packing around a duty belt, vest etc. Also a trunk full of riot gear that we had to strap on during "demonstrations." Usually it's a Glock 19X or a Browning Hi-Power these days. Sometimes just a J frame if the back injuries are really flaring up.
RetCapt
My "knock about" "Truck" guns are a couple of S&W 915s I picked up used back in the 90s for IIRC about $200 apiece OTD. If I ever bust one then what's left will become "parts" for other 3rd gen guns.
Actually have extra parts from when I built my 6915 .... a 6906 frame mated to a 915 slide. CCO in 9mm.
My "knock about" "Truck" guns are a couple of S&W 915s I picked up used back in the 90s for IIRC about $200 apiece OTD. If I ever bust one then what's left will become "parts" for other 3rd gen guns.
Actually have extra parts from when I built my 6915 .... a 6906 frame mated to a 915 slide. CCO in 9mm.
I carry every single day, the only place I can't is the school I teach at. Even then, it takes seconds to have my gun back on me once I am in my vehicle. I was one of those people you describe who would not carry due to the hassle of it when I had a larger, heavier revolver. I found that if I wanted to carry everywhere I possibly could, the only option would be a gun under 20 oz with nothing else. Some might say it's crazy to not carry a reload/light/knife/tourniquet/gadgets but I have found the simpler the load out the more likely I'll have it on me.
I'd rather have a J Frame with no reload on me at all times possible than be decked out like an operator every few weeks when I have the time. If people want to do that, power to them, I am sure if something does go down they will be better off than I. My bet is that for most of us nothing ever happens and if it does I will at least have my J Frame on me and I am comfortable with that.
I'd rather have a J Frame with no reload on me at all times possible than be decked out like an operator every few weeks when I have the time. If people want to do that, power to them, I am sure if something does go down they will be better off than I. My bet is that for most of us nothing ever happens and if it does I will at least have my J Frame on me and I am comfortable with that.
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Very good post with a realistic perspective.
Eddie Southgate
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There is a gun on my hip or in my pocket 7 days a week every waking hour. Sometimes both.
Echo40
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I've been carrying on a daily basis since October of 2015 and that's no exaggeration. Even when I'm at home, I've always had at least a small gun in my pocket.
As for what I carry, that has gone through multiple changes over the years. My first carry gun was a Walther PPK/S chambered in .22LR, which I purchased in something of a hurry after a former classmate whom I'd been sharing a room with threatened to kill me over an argument we had, which I took seriously since he had once pulled a knife on me. He had been kicked out by this point, but fearing that he might come after me, I felt the need to begin carrying a firearm.
By the next year, having learned of the shortcomings of .22LR, I upgraded to a PPK/S chambered in .380 ACP.
A few years later in June of 2019, I retired the PPK/S for a Ruger LCP, which shortly thereafter became my BUG as I made a SW40VE my primary carry gun in October of that year in response to wild boar sightings in my area.
In January of 2021 purchased a S&W Performance Center M&P40 Shield 1.0 which became my Warm Weather Primary EDC.
In June of this year I purchased an M&P40c which has since replaced my SW40VE as my Cold Weather Primary EDC.
So there you have it, I've been carrying a gun every day for the past 8 going on 9 years, and have been carrying two guns everyday for the past 4 years.
As for what I carry, that has gone through multiple changes over the years. My first carry gun was a Walther PPK/S chambered in .22LR, which I purchased in something of a hurry after a former classmate whom I'd been sharing a room with threatened to kill me over an argument we had, which I took seriously since he had once pulled a knife on me. He had been kicked out by this point, but fearing that he might come after me, I felt the need to begin carrying a firearm.
By the next year, having learned of the shortcomings of .22LR, I upgraded to a PPK/S chambered in .380 ACP.
A few years later in June of 2019, I retired the PPK/S for a Ruger LCP, which shortly thereafter became my BUG as I made a SW40VE my primary carry gun in October of that year in response to wild boar sightings in my area.
In January of 2021 purchased a S&W Performance Center M&P40 Shield 1.0 which became my Warm Weather Primary EDC.
In June of this year I purchased an M&P40c which has since replaced my SW40VE as my Cold Weather Primary EDC.
So there you have it, I've been carrying a gun every day for the past 8 going on 9 years, and have been carrying two guns everyday for the past 4 years.
Retired LEO here. Also a department firearms instructor for 10 years. My daily carry gun is a lightweight officer's model 1911 in .45acp. I use an outside the waistband leather Bianchi holster. In the very warm weather, sometimes I pocket carry my Charter Arms Police Bulldog snub. A six shot .38 Special.
wrkerr
Member
garddogg56
Member
I have plenty of pistols and I'm not a flavor of the day or fad person I carry what I like and feel comfortable with.most of my life I carried a Smith 36 till 2015 then I tried a G-23 didn't like the feel and with in a year it rusted .ever since that I've carried a S&W Bodyguard .380 and after I learned to adapt to this little gun I have been very happy with it.
Ingramite
Member
I have concealed carry almost every day since January of1966 when I became a LEO. I have migrated through various 1911s, Walther PPKs, snubby revolvers.
I am 80 years old now and pretty much confined to my recliner or a wheelchair but I am armed 24 hours a day with a P365 in an elastic waistband belt and holster at chest level. It comes off for showers, but that's it.
It goes everywhere I go.
I am 80 years old now and pretty much confined to my recliner or a wheelchair but I am armed 24 hours a day with a P365 in an elastic waistband belt and holster at chest level. It comes off for showers, but that's it.
It goes everywhere I go.
max503
Member
Daily carry means the gun stays in your pants when you hang them over the chair at night.
Our local "character" sticks a 45 in his back pocket and walks about town. The cops know him and leave him alone.
I've seen more than one NAA or similar on a mother's hip when she's putting her groceries on the check-out conveyor, or she reaches for a candy bar for her kid and her shirt rides up.
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Back in December I posted about my daily carry. It started back in 2004. Jan 1. We arrived in Florida in yet another winter hiding from North East Ohio's winter. I brought a few guns with me and as at home a J-Frame is in my off hand pocket and most of the time a Shield 9 has been in my waist. If I'm just hanging at our apartment or strolling the immediate area I've carried only the J-Frame briefly but if we go anywhere else the Shield 9 goes also. At home we are in quiet suburbs. Here we are close to the beach and anywhere we go is Florida City Living. I'm not used to the City.
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22LR for Valhalla!!!
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