The Ultimate Carry Gun?
- Thread starter otis24
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Pef
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A fair question, and one I did not answer.
A gun is "good enough" if 1) it is one I will carry often; 2) is concealable (I carry concealed); 3) and with practice I can shoot well.
1) I will carry a gun often if it is small and light weight. A lightweight defender is about as large and heavy as I want to go. I have Browing Hi Powers, Government Colts, etc. Great guns. But carrying them all day is a pain. Literally.
2) I prefer to to carry concealed. I also prefer AIWB. So a short barreled gun it is. I've carried OWB, but it's not for me.
3) I shoot both the 637 an the 9mm LW Defender relatively well. But any gun, with enough practice, can be shot well.
I'm not overly concerned about capacity. So I have no concerns if I'm carrying a 5 shot j-frame or a 9+1 Defender, even though there are 10+1 or 12+1 small guns out there.
There are hundreds of guns to choose from. I have no doubt that if I did an exhaustive search and trial of guns, I would find a gun or two that I would much prefer over the 637 J frame or the 9mm colt. But that would take a lot of time, and money, and I've got a lot of other things I need to get done. I've shot my 637 and Defender so much that shooting both is a very familiar exercise.
When I first started carrying and buying guns I was trying out new ones all the time - j-frames, 1911 commanders, Shield 1.0, XDS, XD Mod 2, CZ 75D PCR... you get the idea. Funny thing is I settled on guns that mostly predated all of the newer carry guns.
So I have two carry guns - a 637 when I need really "deep concealment," and a Colt 9mm Defender for all other occasions. I practice with both, and each has some advantages and disadvantages.
I'm glad there are so many offerings now available to people in search of a handgun. Options and choices are good things.
But, like with women, you just need to know when to stop moving on to the next one, because doing so can be pretty dang expensive!
OLDSTER
Member
My EDC for six years. This is my "ultimate carry" pistol. I feel confident and well protected with my Seecamp .32, and in this Jackson Leather holster, it disappears in any pocket.
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After 32 years in Law Enforcement and now 16 years as a "Retiree", I have carried a gun daily for nearly a half century. At one point or another I think I have carried nearly everything, and I have a box of holsters to verify it.
The older I get, the smaller and lighter full power gun I like. For the last couple years I've settled on an S&W Shield as my ultimate carry gun. Now that I'm into my seventies, my eyes are not what they used to be.
So, I have switched to a Springfield Armory Hellcat with a Hex Wasp red dot. A perfect combination of small size, light weight, Hi-cap magazines, full power round and single plane, bright red dot sights for my aging eyes. I love this gun!
Carried in a "Vedder" Litetuck AIWB holster, with a spare mag, I feel pretty well heeled.
This provides all day comfort and is the "Ultimate" set up for me.
The older I get, the smaller and lighter full power gun I like. For the last couple years I've settled on an S&W Shield as my ultimate carry gun. Now that I'm into my seventies, my eyes are not what they used to be.
So, I have switched to a Springfield Armory Hellcat with a Hex Wasp red dot. A perfect combination of small size, light weight, Hi-cap magazines, full power round and single plane, bright red dot sights for my aging eyes. I love this gun!
Carried in a "Vedder" Litetuck AIWB holster, with a spare mag, I feel pretty well heeled.
This provides all day comfort and is the "Ultimate" set up for me.
safearm
US Veteran
My most comfortable carry pistol is a Sig P239 SAS; it just feels right in my hand, it's easy to conceal either IWB or OWB, and with 8+1 of 9mm and a spare magazine, it has enough capacity to get me to a safe place. It's not the only pistol I carry, but it I could choose only one, this would be it.
gregintenn
Member
I've not been able to beat the Ruger LCP.
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The past bunch of years I settled on J-Frames being the perfect gun for me. A 3" waistband 36 and one of the lightweights for the pocket. A few weeks ago I brought out my Glock 26. I kind of missed that gun. It's a little thick and heavier than the J-Frames but, with a G19 mag it's ok in the waistband. So, all is good except, I hurt my back AGAIN, now about all I can tolerate is a J-Frame in my pocket. Oh well.
heeter3
Member
I don't have to tell you as you already know haywood that you definitely can't go wrong with j and the 3 inch always seems to make it better.
I've not been able to beat the Ruger LCP.
Who made the holster in the top picture?
gregintenn
Member
LCC,
I make my own holsters. Fun hobby, and handy since I'm left handed.
I make my own holsters. Fun hobby, and handy since I'm left handed.
The only "change" for me is switching from pants to jacket pocket carry in cold weather. The carry rotation thing goes against our training to carry the same gun the same way all the time. I do, on occasion, carry my LCP, but first go through dry fire practice at home if I can't get to the range.
