Finally Settled on my Carry Guns

[Lobster Picnic]

I like the OP's idea of the mouse gun (NAA Pug) being the "always" gun. Then you can add more fire power as locations or conditions require.

I started with a NAA Black Widow in .22lr because it was small and cheap, but very well-made, easy to carry, and fit my hand and pocket well. Later I got the .22 Mag cylinder and use that for carry.

Years later when I could afford something else I thought the 11-oz, 7-shot DAO J-frame 351c was a better choice than the Black Widow. I'm still not so sure. I carry the NAA more often than the S&W. Sometimes a J-frame is still too big.

 

[Topsarge]

Perfect carry

Well, I have several in my rotation. I like big bores so it narrows it down. The one I carry the most is a Charter Arms .44, others include a Taurus PT 145 Millenium .45 10+1, a Colt Defender 45, a Lew Horton S&W 24-3 .44 sp, and I just ordered a S&W Talo 3" .44 mag (that I will only carry .44 sp). I also have a custom Smith 25-2 2.75" that was converted to .45 Colt and hard chrome finished that on occasion goes in an iwb. The 44 mag will replace the model 24-3 since I just found out it's a Lew Horton and I don't want to mark it up. I have a Smith Bodyguard but I'm not too secure with the 380 round. I will be getting a Ruger LC9s to replace that in my rotation. You said that you like the 1911 but they are too big. Take a look at the Colt Defender or the Kimber. My Colt is around 24 oz and fits very nicely in an Alien Gear iwb. You have too carry what feels good on you. Some of the ones I mentioned are N frame revolvers which are quite big. I had an iwb made from Craft Holsters that is pretty comfortable. What ever you decide on is good, as long as you carry. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[lisamegan]

I prefer to carry 9.8 Million Volt Black Lipstick Stun Gun/Flashlight Combo w/ Bling that is the best self defense product I have ever used. Easy to carry and use.

 

[bonspy]

Dog gone, that's a ...

My carry gun is a Sig P228 9mm Swiss police trade in

... a beautiful Sig P228. I lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for awhile and my neighbor was a LEO. He was, by the way, about 6'4" and went about 260 of roughly 75% muscle, was African American and was one of the most physically intimidating guys I have ever known. In uniform, I can't imagine anyone not just melting into a "yes sir/no sir" to whatever request he may have  ever spoken.
Regardless, he carried a SIG Sauer and was one of the first LEO's on his block to go to the SIG. He and I spent more than a few minutes talking about guns together and he had switched to the SIG Sauer P220 from a Browning Hi-Power, that he had carried since graduating from the academy and just felt he needed to move to a newer firearm. At the time I was carrying daily as part of my job as a private investigator/personal protection specialist (OK, I'll say it, bodyguard, LOL). He used to tease me about carrying my very old technology Colt Combat Commander. I usually said that "what worked for the doughboys was good enough for me". That being said, his P220 was chambered in .45, LOL.
Back to the point, SIG definitely makes some pretty darned nice looking firearms. Excellent choice in handguns fyimo!

 

[chipper]

NAA 22mag with a clip holster in front pants pocket. Kahr CM9 IWB and a S&W 360 in my coat pocket. All at the same time. Nothing is faster the another gun instead of a reload.

I see lots of Shields being carried for some reason. Why not just a M&P compact?? That 1/4 inch in width isn't worth the decrease in ammo, IMHO.

 

[gwpercle]

My perfect carry has evolved to the S&W model 637 Airweight , 38 special +P. Tried a lot of different guns from the 1911 government model to the 637. It has been pocket carried since 2005 .

A Taurus model 455 in 45 acp is second . Think beefy all steel J frame, 5 shot , in 45 acp. Not an airweight and not as easy to pocket carry but rides in a belt holster nicely.

Just about every time the 637 gets placed in the pocket , the 455 is good on a belt or in a winter coat pocket .

Nothing in life is perfect , everything is a compromise of sorts.

Gary

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

I have come to the conclusion that there is NO one perfect CCW weapon, this after decades of CCW'ing. I determined that I need a summer, low profile weapon such as the S&W Shield. A pocket pistol such as the S&W 642/442 and a "fighting" gun such as a hi-cap 9 or 40 with extra magazines to boot. The holy grail of one gun that does it all, just has not developed yet.
IMHO but I could be wrong.

 

[shooter1911]

My carry gun is a Sig P228 9mm Swiss police trade in

Did the Swiss ever shoot that thing? It looks like new.

 

[camsdaddy]

NAA 22mag with a clip holster in front pants pocket. Kahr CM9 IWB and a S&W 360 in my coat pocket. All at the same time. Nothing is faster the another gun instead of a reload.

I see lots of Shields being carried for some reason. Why not just a M&P compact?? That 1/4 inch in width isn't worth the decrease in ammo, IMHO.

When I carry my shield its simply because I shoot it well. I find it accurate and easy to shoot. I have considered a M&P9C. I had one at one time and sold it because it was so similar to my Glock 19. As time has progressed Ive grown to really like my Shield.

 

[JK-linux]

It seems the older I get, the more guns I own, and the number of them that I actually carry with any meaningful frequency becomes smaller and smaller. Anymore it's almost always a compact Glock of some description, or a J/K Frame in 38/357. The wheel guns win the honor about 75% of the time. I think I like that the aforementioned are pretty simple to operate (to me a Glock is a semi auto revolver) at least as far as defensive shooting goes.

My favorite guns are SA semi-autos, especially the BHP and 1911. However, I just don't seem to actually strap them on as much as I use to when I head out of the house. Maybe that should be my resolution in 2017? To go SA and save the wheel guns and Glocks for later years?

Meh. First world problems.

 

[joebiker]

Glock 42, 26, 19, and for the woods and hunting a 20. All the same platform. Works for me, YMMV. Did not like them till I shot them.

 

[Donn]

Shield 45, period.