Larger Caliber CCW

[WCCPHD]

Ammo choice and proficiency with the weapon/you carry is as or more important than the caliber.

Carry what you are comfortable with, what you shoot proficiently, and what you will consistently carry.

 

[fatcat3]

Just got home from the "city". Many of you would likely scoff at the size and it being called a city. Hay it's got a stop light.

this instead of my 638. Just no way I was going to haul around even a J-frame today. Comforting/comfortable, more ammo, bigger gun, etc. is all well and good but some days it just ain't happening. Still better than a harsh word and a mean look.

 

[Smoke]

The 40 can do anything the 45 can if you do your part.

And is that any less true for 9 mm?

Don’t over think things.

That applies to so many things.

 

[Whaler64]

Nothing has changed in my small world. It's either a single stack 9mm Glock, or a S&W J-Frame, and honestly, it's been more J lately.

I am planning some multi week long distance RV trips next year, and seriously considering all revolver/pump shotgun. 686's, 442/642, Rem 870...Unless I get my wife a 632.

 

[Smoke]

This discussion has already gone in so many different directions.

To directly answer the OP's question, No I have not changed my caliber in relation to current events.

I've been carrying 9 mm exclusively since 2013. The Only Exception was when I was working for G4S and they issued me an M&P40.

Second thing, and I say this all the time but it's true. I worked as a security guard in Colorado Springs for 15 years. The reason that's relevant is because people who wouldn't dare trifle with a cop didn't think twice about going after me. I've had a couple of incidences while I was working that people got triggered just because they saw me in my security guard uniform.

I can't say this absolutely but I'm quite certain that had I been wearing normal street clothes they wouldn't have taken a second look at me but when they saw that uniform and they realized it wasn't a CSPD uniform they went nuts.

So I think I had more than my share of encounters and nobody got hurt, nobody (with the exception of one Coyote) got sprayed and nobody (with the exception of one cow) even came close to being shot.

But my experience has been that people that had no fear of my gun at all back down immediately when I took my pepper spray off my belt.

So if I changed anything it was adding pepper spray to my off the clock carry. I will walk out my door without a gun before I walk out my door without pepper spray.

Last thing and this is just me but if you know that 9 mm tends to vanish during an ammo panic instead of switching calibers to something that's not popular why not stock up on 9 mm or whatever your preferred caliber is now?

no matter what it is it's never going to be cheaper than it is right now and it doesn't go bad.

 

[Smoke]

I’ve actually thought about going the other way. Yes my P365 is small and concealable. But a LCP with a TechniClip is even less of a hassle to carry. Making it more likely I don’t leave home without it.

When I read a post like this, regardless of who posted, it tells me that the person doesn't really believe they're ever going to need a gun.

I get bored totin the same thing.........Last week and week before I toted a snub S&W 34 and a snub S&W 63..........Nobody wants to get shot.......No matter how small the gun

Do you get bored carrying the same wallet? Do you get bored using the same car keys? Do you get bored with the same cell phone?

I mean what makes a gun that's supposed to sit on your hip or in your pocket and remain unnoticed boring?

 

[Bald1]

When I read a post like this, regardless of who posted, it tells me that the person doesn't really believe they're ever going to need a gun.


Do you get bored carrying the same wallet? Do you get bored using the same car keys? Do you get bored with the same cell phone?

I mean what makes a gun that's supposed to sit on your hip or in your pocket and remain unnoticed boring?

Well SMOKER you are correct. I believe I can live 2 lifetimes and never need a firearm in a self defense situation. But as they say, there’s always a chance. I’m not sure how going to an easier to carry gun, especially in the summer makes me any less prepared. As I stated. I’m less likely to leave it at home if it’s less of a burden. I don’t change my wardrobe to dress around a gun. No Hawaiian shirts for me.

 

[Smoke]

As I stated. I’m less likely to leave it at home if it’s less of a burden.

This is going to sound like I'm trying to insult you and I'm not and I want to be really clear that I'm not.

If whether or not it's a burden is a deciding factor on whether or not you're going to carry a gun then you're not committed. Of course, as you said you don't honestly believe you're ever going to need it. So I could see that undermining your commitment to carry.

I tell the story a lot because it had a major impact on me. I was on my way to work one night. I walked out the front door of my apartment building and while I was busy putting my lunch and my body armor in my car two guys walked around the corner of the building and tried to rob me.

When they walked around the corner of the building I was standing behind the open door of my car and I don't think they could see that I was carrying a gun. When I stepped out from behind the door and they saw that I was armed and that I was willing to use it they backed down.

All it took was that one incident and my program compliance went to 100%. From that night to this I have never walked my front door without a gun.

I don’t change my wardrobe to dress around a gun.

There's so many ways to address this. I'm 60 years old I've been married for half my life. I've got my woman, I don't need to look pretty. Which is a good thing because I'm uglier than a monkey's ass.

That said I didn't change my wardrobe to carry a gun I've been dressing the same way since junior high. In junior high I wore blue jeans and a t-shirt with flannel shirt over it.

Now it's Wrangler cargos and a t-shirt with a camp shirt over in the summer and flannel shirt over it in the winter. You can throw a rock in Colorado Springs and you're going to hit a late middle-aged man that looks just like me.

No Hawaiian shirts for me.

I love Hawaiian shirts. But I only wear them between Memorial Day and Labor Day and I only wear them on special occasions. Which means I only ever really wear them around The Goat Ranch


But they have to be authentic. Made in Hawaii ( my preference is Aloha Republic or Hilo Hattie) and they have to be 100% Cotton.

 

[old tanker]

Too old to be brawling, not inclined to take a whupping. Too fat to run so shooting the SOB is my remaining option.

 

[Bald1]

SMOKE, first of all. No offense taken. This is a forum where discussions takes place. As far as commitment goes. I’d be lying if I said I was armed 100% of the time. This morning I dropped some papers at a DRs’s office and swung by Harbor Freight. My 365 was in my truck console but not on my person (no I don’t leave it there unattended all the time). Sometimes I simply don’t feel the need. If we took a survey. And we probably should. I’d say I’m in the majority of forum members. Doesn’t make me right. It’s just how I do it.

 

[Smoke]

no I don’t leave it there unattended all the time

It only takes one time.

 

[Bald1]

True !

 

[Mike LaNier]

Smoke: DANG! THOSE ARE GREAT HAWAIIAN SHIRTS! I lived in Hawaii back in the '60s, and had a timeshare on Kauai for over 20 years, so we were in Hawaii every year; I still have a couple myself! Hilo Hattie's be mo' bettah, Bro!