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wingriderz

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A quesstion for the folks that tend to carry a larger firearm in the winter or cooler months. The real question is Why??. Being a lifelong florida boy we pretty much wear the same cloths year round.So my firearm of choice in rotation usally has no bearing what I am carrying other than lets say church. (I tend to go lighter). Is it a case where you folks up north bring out the heavy stuff to match the heavy clothing?
 
I think that is the reasoning behind it. I have never understood how it makes a difference unless you never take off your winter jacket. I always find myself going into a store or restaurant where I have to remove my heavy jacket. So I usually wear a fleece vest and carry the same weapon. My other choice is to pocket carry my 442.
 
Many Reasons

I think the issue is that we tend to find excuses to have more guns than we really need. In that group I would include myself.

Then, some of us are initially influenced by others. Someone new to guns might read a host of magazine articles and check with the experts and decide that the best CCW is an all-steel, .45 ACP, Model 1911 with five-inch barrel. After a while, carrying nearly 40 ounces of steel becomes an issue and we buy a smaller, lighter gun. Then, something even smaller and lighter catches our eye and we're off to the races.
 
Heavy clothing? What's that? I live two levels above hell...It's still in the 90's here in the Garden of Lucifer.

I can hide my Glock 23 just fine under a T-shirt. The Mod 60 hides better. It's the holster that makes the difference. Unlike most citizens, I have to carry what I'm qualified with so my choices are small. But, I've learned to live with what I have and make it work.

A Glock 43 is definitely on the want & NEED radar.
 
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I find that a smaller gun may not be as easy to handle, for instance a Glock 43 vs. an XDs, Glock 19, or Commander. I’ve found guns below a certain size just get in the way.

For me to reload a G43 I have to shift it in my hand more, due to its size than the others above. Then there’s the problem of the heel of my hand sitting below the mag well on the G43, so I have to shift my hand again, and use my weak hand to pull the mag out of the pistol before inserting a fresh mag. (with my hand out of the way)

Are the smaller guns more concealable, of course, but with the bigger guns there’s less interference when working the controls.

Bill
 
A sports jacket, suit jacket, shoot-me-first vest or even a tails-out shirt, any of which will easily cover a 1911, a BHP or a 4" revolver up to N frame, may not be comfortable in the summertime.

Most folks don't like to carry a K frame in a pants pocket, and an ankle holster, while unsurpassed for certain purposes, is a street weapon ordinarily of somewhat less value than a sharp stick.

I do not go unarmed in the summertime.

Are you now telling me that it is somehow wrong, or just some kind of a fashion thing, to carry a real gun, rather than a J-frame snubby, when the weather permits?

In my old age, I sometimes carry a lighter gun than what I would like to shoot, but, as much as possible, I carry the best gun that I can conceal. One of the advantages of living up north is that that is a respectable firearm many months of the year.
 
My Beretta PX4 Sub Compact is 6.2 inches in length and 4.8 in height and my p229 is 7.1 in length and 5.4 in height .. and only a difference of .1 inch in width ..

So less then an inch difference between a full size pistol and one considered a sub compact in length and height .. But I carry the above and my S&W Compact both summer and winter ..

Where I will be and what I am wearing has more to do with the pistol I am carrying that day then the weather on most occasions ..

winter clothing a BG is wearing can make a difference but a larger caliber may be needed not a larger pistol !!

In the summer my Berretta PX-4 in 9mm is a reliable conceal carry for summer use .. But when heavy winter clothing is used during the colder winter months of December thru February where I live .. I move to a S&W Compact in 40 or my P229 in 40 for the extra punch .. Also during the winter months my Sig P238 goes in my coat pocket as it will be the most easily available in most case while wearing heavy winter coat..

A larger caliber not necessarily a larger pistol for winter carry !!
 
In the summer, my 640(.357) resides in my pants pocket. in the winter time it sometimes moves to a jacket pocket. I like the KISS method it seems. That's all I got to say about that.
 
IN THIS TOUCHY/FEELY WORLD???

"BRING IT IN", HUG IT UP", DANCING CLOSE, "ARE YOU THAT HAPPY TO SEE ME?" ??? All good opportunities to get busted CC'ing. Whatcha gonna do? Get away from me, don't touch me? Then people are gonna really think you are weird. The time/place/weather/dress/expected behavior/personal preference all factor into the compromise. No wonder there are so many different methods of carry, & carry guns.
 
CA Escapee said:
I find that a smaller gun may not be as easy to handle, for instance a Glock 43 vs. an XDs, Glock 19, or Commander. I’ve found guns below a certain size just get in the way.

For me to reload a G43 I have to shift it in my hand more, due to its size than the others above. Then there’s the problem of the heel of my hand sitting below the mag well on the G43, so I have to shift my hand again, and use my weak hand to pull the mag out of the pistol before inserting a fresh mag. (with my hand out of the way)

Are the smaller guns more concealable, of course, but with the bigger guns there’s less interference when working the controls.

Bill
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, my agency just went to the Speer GDHP 9mm+P 124g. load. I thought it would be a handful in the 43. It's not. The range staff did an unscientific test. They took two female officers; one is decent shooter the other is a passable shooter, neither are really into the shooting aspect of this profession. Range boys loaded the G43 mags for them; one with 124g GDHP's and the other with 124g. +P GDHP's. Then they were instructed to shoot two mags each without having a clue what ammo was in the guns. Both of them said they didn't see a difference in the recoil, or at least didn't notice it.

No one said a word when they quietly transitioned the ammo for the 9 shooters since they're using G17 or G19's on duty. I've shot both loads in the 43 and I did notice a difference, but I'm also a long time shooter that can tell, but it's minor, very minor. Under stress no one would notice.

You are correct though, smaller guns do have some drawbacks. I too thought the slim Glocks were too small, but after some trigger time with the 43, I dig it! My Sgt. has one and loves it for ODC.
 
I have a couple of concealed carry vests that I wear in the cold weather with a heavy coat over it as needed. I am able to carry my Para LDA 45 in the vest it gives me a lot more comfort than my small 9mm or 38 summer carry. Its not just the caliber but more gun to hang onto.
 
Here in the sunny AZ Valley, doesn’t really change. My 640 or my 66. In Utah though, I had a hard time in cold weather with my hands being cold being able to grip a smaller gun. Add in gloves if you use them and can make things a bit tougher. So a bigger grip and trigger guard can help in those aspects. And I typically wear more layers or baggier clothing in cold weather. So easier to hide.

Might be one reason.

But I also agree with poster above. Always looking for an excuse to buy a new gun
 
I carry the largest revolver I can easily hide....usually that's a j frame.

In colder months when I wear a sweatshirt inside and outside that allows me to carry a full size revolver.

I haven't found a way to comfortably carry my 4" 686 with just a t-shirt....that's just me.

I'd rather have a duty size gun on me at all times....but reality (for me) is that a smaller gun is the compromise I have to make.
 
When I'm in the Phoenix area, no matter the time of year, I carry either a 638 or 642 in my pocket or in my waistband. When I'm in Michigan, even with the cooler weather it's still more often than not a J frame. I do sometimes carry a Glock 26, but realistically 5 rounds of .38 special are all I really need.
 
My CCW pistol

is a Glock 17 9mm Parabellum pistol. My carry load is the excellent CorBon 115gr JHP +p which I have chronographed at 1400 FPS. I CCW my pistol at 11 o'clock IWB.
 
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Packing

I live here on the gulf coast of Texas, very hot most of the year. I pretty much year around carry a 5" 1911 inside the waist band. I do have to admit that I do carry a Glock 19 when heavy rain is expected, my rain gun. Almost all of the time I cover it with a golf shirt, un tucked but sometimes a fishing shirt. With the right holster it is no problem.
 
I carried the Redhawk in 44 mag w/7 1/2” barrel shoulder holstered in the cooler weather so a dress shirt worn out of my pants covered the holster under my leather jacket too. In the summer I will carried the Redhawk in 44 mag w/5 1/2” barrel shoulder holstered under a dress shirt worn out of my pants. On the bike it was the RedHawks 24/7.

I carried a 357/6” python and a 1911 in between.

Had a car one night at the gas pumps with six drunken fools next to me when one said he was going to slap me and take my bike. I just grinned. The bullets in the Redhawk were vibrating, they weren’t happy. Lol I got my gas and left. Have to practice more control when packing.
 
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I live in South Florida, and I carry a 4" M29 and a snubbie BUG every day while dressed in cargo shorts and a untucked button up shirt. So I don't need winter clothes to conceal a gun.

That said, the one option I would like is the use of a shoulder holster. There's about 2 months of the year here where that is a reasonable option.
 
In winter you do have the additional issue of the OTHER guy wearing more layers and perhaps requiring a bit more ME to penetrate sufficiently. Instead of carrying different weapons - 357Sig seems to solve that issue regardless of time of year. ;)
 
Actually I am presently CCWing my Springfield Armory M1911A1 .45 ACP while my Glock 17 is being repaired in GA.
 
KSDeputy said:
I never understood rotation, or changing firearms with seasons. I have carried the same .45 for well over 20 years. I am totally familiar with it. That is an advantage should you ever have to use it.
Click to expand...



Um,...you’re carrying a .45. I don’t have a rotation, really. All I carry are S&W revolvers.
I’m more apt to carry .357 Magnum revolvers in the winter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
BigBill said:
I carried the Redhawk in 44 mag w/7 1/2” barrel shoulder holstered in the cooler weather so a dress shirt worn out of my pants covered the holster under my leather jacket too. In the summer I will carried the Redhawk in 44 mag w/5 1/2” barrel shoulder holstered under a dress shirt worn out of my pants. On the bike it was the RedHawks 24/7.

I carried a 357/6” python and a 1911 in between.

Had a car one night at the gas pumps with six drunken fools next to me when one said he was going to slap me and take my bike. I just grinned. The bullets in the Redhawk were vibrating, they weren’t happy. Lol I got my gas and left. Have to practice more control when packing.
Click to expand...

7.5 inch Redhawk? Awesome!
 
wingriderz said:
A quesstion for the folks that tend to carry a larger firearm in the winter or cooler months. The real question is Why?
Click to expand...
People prioritize differently. When I first started carrying legally I was still a little haunted by the times when concealed carry was not allowed for common folk. Back in the 80s -90s in SC a carry permit was only given if you regularly carried large amounts of cash or jewelry (your family's lives were considered less valuable I guess), so if you were going somewhere and you felt the need to carry, you made darn sure it was concealed.

It took me a little time to overcome the fear of being 'outted' when I was CCing. Then I discovered open carry was lawful, learned a huge amount about carry law and Terry stops, and carried openly on a daily basis. There is nothing in our laws here in WA that allows the State to take your CPL away if they don't like the way you're doing it. Now I carry indifferently; if it's concealed, printing, exposed when I reach, or half concealed, I really do not care.

So I imagine some are like I was; worried they might get in trouble if their CC is discovered. Some are ashamed of having others find out they carry; as though it makes them less of a man or something.

I prioritize effective gun in effective caliber first, comfort second, ability to remain concealed last.
 
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LoL ...... carry a 39xx 90% of the year..... sometimes I'm forced to carry a smaller gun in the summer...............................

A 3" .357 is my woods carry....... 65,66, 60-10 micro 686

In the winter I'll sometimes go to a 6906... for more double taps..... or a Sig 245 .45 ( about the same size as a 6906) for bigger holes in winter coats.......
 
Cooler weather and more layered clothing afford me the opportunity to wear some of my nice OWB holsters with one of my S&W Gen3s.
 
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