Carry options

[rct269]

Don’t waste your money on high speed go fast tactical training until you master the basics of sight picture, grip and trigger control.

That tacticool training is not a substitute for mastering those essentials.

I couldn't have said it better myself!!

"Tacticool" training has little to nothing to do with learning/mastering the basics. As a matter of fact, if you couldn't put an entire load into one kill zone or another on day one---and rather rapidly, you would almost certainly be sent home---with an invitation to come back after you learned how to shoot. The only shooting instruction I recall went like this: FASTER-FASTER-FASTER!!!

As a matter of fact, we came to refer to the tactical training as "Kill 'em and eat'em school!"

Ralph Tremaine

 

[Shibadog]

I regularly carry a Shield 9mm in town and a 45 Shield everywhere else........Don't like glocks or taurus's.......You poll has some voids.

Like “none of the above”?

 

[Model 15-4ever]

That poll needs "None of the Above"

 

[Sgt. Buzzard]

I don't know about "tacticool schools" but I did go to the FBI firearms instructors school. Survival lesson number one, set your grip while it's in the holster. Now draw the weapon, does it line up in your hand with your wrist/arm? When you point your arm at an object is the gun lined up? If not you may have to change the grips, or the gun.

I can't shoot double stack Glocks they line up 15° to the right. The single stack G42 lines up perfectly. It's one of two carry guns for me. The Smith J frame with their two finger synthetic grips also line up for me. I have this grip on three J frames, my carry is a 442. The others are range toys.

I went looking for a higher capacity 9mm. Tried the G48 it was OK. then picked up a 365XL. that one followed me home, but it's bigger than I want to carry.

Find what lines up for your hand/wrist/arm and does the grip itself feel comfortable? Are you willing to deal with the size and weight? These forums are filled with tacticool guns with RDS, flashlights and huge extra capacity magazines. The writers claim that it's their EDC. I doubt that in many if not most of the time.

I shoot regularly with a bunch of guys that are retired cops, deputies, special agents and intelligence officers. We all own big tacticool guns that are our range toys or maybe home defense weapons. Most of the EDC is G42, G43, J frame and 365 both 9mm & 380. No one carries the G19 or 48. To big to hide.

On the guns you list I'd jump on the 365, only because I know it fits me. I'd stay away from red dots for up close and personal defense. 3 shots, 3 seconds, 3 yards. Been those figures since before any of us were born. Equip for those conditions and practice, practice, practice.

 

[rwsmith]

I feel for ya.....

I live in a restricted state so 10 rounds is what I can have so that is another factor that limits choices at time.

As for limited choices I am open to other suggestions but these have been the ones I have come to feel are the ones that I would carry and have read a lot of reviews on.

I hope I never have to worry about that.

 

[URIT]

I voted the Glock 48 MOS. It appears you've outfitted yourself with an optic that works with this gun and you have experience with Glocks.

It think the barrel length over 4 inches may cause you a concealment issue if you wanted to go IWB.

 

[Goldstar225]

I may not be much help but I own both the Shield Plus and the Glock 48 and endorse both. The Shield is what I carry most of the time but have no intention of shedding the Glock. I shoot both about equally well.

 

[madmikeb]

I carried nothing but revolvers for many years, didn't own any plastic. Then I picked up a P365 X-macro with a factory optic and liked it so much I bought a P3665 XL with no optic. This has been my main carry piece since I bought it last fall. Dependable, carries and conceals well.

 

[BB57]

I don't know about "tacticool schools" but I did go to the FBI firearms instructors school. Survival lesson number one, set your grip while it's in the holster. Now draw the weapon, does it line up in your hand with your wrist/arm? When you point your arm at an object is the gun lined up? If not you may have to change the grips, or the gun.

I can't shoot double stack Glocks they line up 15° to the right. The single stack G42 lines up perfectly. It's one of two carry guns for me. The Smith J frame with their two finger synthetic grips also line up for me. I have this grip on three J frames, my carry is a 442. The others are range toys.

I went looking for a higher capacity 9mm. Tried the G48 it was OK. then picked up a 365XL. that one followed me home, but it's bigger than I want to carry.

Find what lines up for your hand/wrist/arm and does the grip itself feel comfortable? Are you willing to deal with the size and weight? These forums are filled with tacticool guns with RDS, flashlights and huge extra capacity magazines. The writers claim that it's their EDC. I doubt that in many if not most of the time.

I shoot regularly with a bunch of guys that are retired cops, deputies, special agents and intelligence officers. We all own big tacticool guns that are our range toys or maybe home defense weapons. Most of the EDC is G42, G43, J frame and 365 both 9mm & 380. No one carries the G19 or 48. To big to hide.

On the guns you list I'd jump on the 365, only because I know it fits me. I'd stay away from red dots for up close and personal defense. 3 shots, 3 seconds, 3 yards. Been those figures since before any of us were born. Equip for those conditions and practice, practice, practice.

Absolutely. The biggest mistake I see people make when selecting a self defense handgun is determining if it even forts their hand.

Establish a proper grip on the pistol or revolver, look at a “target” close your eyes bring the gun up into your line of right and open your eyes.

Are the front and rear sights both visible and more or less aligned?

If you can’t even see the front sight, just put the gun back down on the counter and move on. Same if it’s way too far to the left or right.

If it doesn’t fit you reasonably well you’ll never achieve a natural sight alignment with a grip that naturally aligns the rear sight with the front sight.

Very rarely do I ever see gun store staff help with that selection criteria or even suggest it. Most, like most folks on line, suggest guns based on features or brand or reputation or cartridge, or really stupid stuff like “optics ready”.

Often selection comes down to what their friends (who also usually shoot poorly), or folks on line suggest, or what law enforcement uses, not understanding the entirely different roles, or that most LEOs are not “gun people”, don’t shoot to a very high standard, and have entirely different tactical needs.

 

[ladder13]

P365 of those or any other choices.

 

[Dvus]

I've carried a P365 every day for the last five years. Shield is also a solid choice. The Caniks are excellent guns, just on the larger side. I wouldn't recommend a Glock to anybody. Not a fan of the Taurus but I would take it over a Glock. Just my opinions.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

Absolutely. The biggest mistake I see people make when selecting a self defense handgun is determining if it even forts their hand.

Establish a proper grip on the pistol or revolver, look at a “target” close your eyes bring the gun up into your line of right and open your eyes.

Are the front and rear sights both visible and more or less aligned?

If you can’t even see the front sight, just put the gun back down on the counter and move on. Same if it’s way too far to the left or right.

If it doesn’t fit you reasonably well you’ll never achieve a natural sight alignment with a grip that naturally aligns the rear sight with the front sight.

Very rarely do I ever see gun store staff help with that selection criteria or even suggest it. Most, like most folks on line, suggest guns based on features or brand or reputation or cartridge, or really stupid stuff like “optics ready”.

Often selection comes down to what their friends (who also usually shoot poorly), or folks on line suggest, or what law enforcement uses, not understanding the entirely different roles, or that most LEOs are not “gun people”, don’t shoot to a very high standard, and have entirely different tactical needs.

Take this to the bank!

 

[Model 15-4ever]

I don't know about "tacticool schools" but I did go to the FBI firearms instructors school. Survival lesson number one, set your grip while it's in the holster....

...These forums are filled with tacticool guns with RDS, flashlights and huge extra capacity magazines. The writers claim that it's their EDC. I doubt that in many if not most of the time.

...I'd stay away from red dots for up close and personal defense. 3 shots, 3 seconds, 3 yards. Been those figures since before any of us were born. Equip for those conditions and practice, practice, practice.

Right on, brother. The truth is in short supply in the industry.

 

[gym cat]

I wouldn't worry what everyone else likes or uses. Rent or borrow your choices and determine which one fits YOU.

 

[hardluk1]

As I get older I know I'm getting slower and my trifocal vision is not getting better . I noticed I no longer shot my lw commander in 45 well enough and its time I really need to carry a pistol with dot optics and more rounds per mag before slowly swapping mags when empty .

I'm not a firearm collector so solid my 1911 and brought home a Hellcat Pro Comp optic ready for a lighter carry option .
I'm still pretty good with my m&p 40 but I will spend it off to be milled for a dot optic and I have a m&p compact 4" optic ready 9mm with a dot optic I have been practicing with for the last year but the hellkittys is smaller and lighter for when thats wanted .

Maybe do being an old man I was a well seasoned shooter before the internet forums made it to sw fl so I never ask for option about what might be a good firearm for me and always did my own research be fore buying .

 

[CajunBass]

For what it's worth, I've got a Taurus G-3 TORO, the full size one and it is a very nice gun, for not a lot of money. When I recently downsized my "collection" it was the only semi-auto handgun I kept. I don't carry it, but only because it's a full size gun with 15 and 17 round magazines, so it's heavy, but there are more compact versions available. I suppose there are smaller magazines too, but I've never checked into them. Nice trigger, never malfunctions (to date anyway after about 1000 rounds) and shoots at least as well as I can. Not bad overall.

 

[Guevera]

Another vote for the P365 with the Wilson grip module. I wouldn’t tart it up with a lot of RDS stuff, either, but shoot it with irons in its original, compact mode. A Vedder “Light Tuck” holster, couple spare magazines, and brother, you are literally good to go.

 

[31FordA]

My brother has the Shield Plus, and I’ve shot it a bunch. I really like the sights and the trigger. I generally prefer carrying my revolvers, but I’ve been thinking of getting one for myself.

One of my colleagues carry’s the Glock 48 at work. He’s happy with how it conceals under a polo shirt, and with how it shoots. He certainly shoots it better than the M&P 45 he previously carried. I’ve shot it a few times, couldn’t find anything to complain about, but I personally prefer the trigger on the Shield Plus.

A good friend has a 365. He carries it regularly and has nothing bad to say about it. I’ve shot it a little, seems like a good pistol. They certainly sell a lot of them.

I think any of the three would provide good service as a carry gun, but if I had to buy one it would be the Shield Plus.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

I had a P365 and other than my affinity for revolvers and hatred of loading magazines I would have kept it. Mine was an earlier one that failed to lock back, and when that happened I traded it rather than send it in for the fix. Shot great, incredibly smooth shooting gun with little felt recoil, unbelievable ergonomics, and the best stock sights I have ever seen on a pistol. The fact it is optic-ready gives you options too in case you decide the night sights are not sufficient for your needs. For those reasons, I voted P-365, as well as being the only one I have experience with.

While I cannot endorse any of the other options as I have not owned or shot any of them, I do know I would avoid the Taurus. I think if you go with any of the other 4 options you will be better served, nothing personal against Taurus. A Taurus 856 was my first gun and it never failed me once, I just feel that Taurus ergonomics are not as refined and I did not enjoy shooting either of my 856 revolvers, perhaps their autos are different though.

I think the best thing would be to rent the top 4 and shoot them yourself, what works for us may not work for you. At the very least hold them to see what fits your hands best, which has the controls you like, etc... I think any of the 4 outside the Taurus are fine and it comes down to preference on those things.

 

[grizz700]

Absolutely. The biggest mistake I see people make when selecting a self defense handgun is determining if it even forts their hand.

Establish a proper grip on the pistol or revolver, look at a “target” close your eyes bring the gun up into your line of right and open your eyes.

Are the front and rear sights both visible and more or less aligned?

If you can’t even see the front sight, just put the gun back down on the counter and move on. Same if it’s way too far to the left or right.

If it doesn’t fit you reasonably well you’ll never achieve a natural sight alignment with a grip that naturally aligns the rear sight with the front sight.

Very rarely do I ever see gun store staff help with that selection criteria or even suggest it. Most, like most folks on line, suggest guns based on features or brand or reputation or cartridge, or really stupid stuff like “optics ready”.

Often selection comes down to what their friends (who also usually shoot poorly), or folks on line suggest, or what law enforcement uses, not understanding the entirely different roles, or that most LEOs are not “gun people”, don’t shoot to a very high standard, and have entirely different tactical needs.

That is the criteria I have been using for years. I have had people look at me funny when I hand them one of my handguns that they are wondering about. I hand it to them (After showing them the chamber is empty and an empty mag is in it) and tell them the grip the gun, look at a spot about 20 yards in front of them, close their eyes and bring the gun up and open their eyes. They are amazed when one gun will be on target and another will be off. An easy way to see if a gun fits in their hand properly. Especially women. I know the world revolves around the Glock, but when I do my blind pointing test the Glock will be pointing down towards the ground that would cause me to hit the ground in front of the target. They just do not fit my hand.