There and Back Again: From Luxury to Budget -- My Primary Carry Gun Experience.

[Chief Wiggums]

interesting replies.
I have never taken into consideration , the "what-if" scenario of giving up my EDC to LEO in the event of it being used for SD. My main concern is that it goes bang when required.
I'm a Beretta convert to M&P 2.0 and the dreaded G company.

 

[WC145]

Gun shop tried to sell me the Wilson 9mm EDC9. Awesomely crafted gun it is. $3000 is the price of admission.

For that kind of money I can get five G19s. And my G19 carries 16 rounds. Wilson only carried nine. So I run out of ammo quick, and the thugz get my $3000 gun as an extra prize. Whereas if I'd packed the Glock, I'd have stayed alive.

Hilarious!

 

[stansdds]

For me, the carry weapon is a tool, and one that is likely to be carried a lot and possibly never used other than at the range. Given that it is a tool, and like my hammers, pliers, screw drivers, etc., none of which are fancy, my carry weapon is very utilitarian. I don't see the need to carry a $3000 custom pistol when a $300-$500 off the self pistol carries just as well and works just as well. I'd rather invest the money saved with an off the self pistol for some nice leather and a lot of practice ammo.

 

[RobertJ.]

interesting replies.
I have never taken into consideration , the "what-if" scenario of giving up my EDC to LEO in the event of it being used for SD. My main concern is that it goes bang when required.

My thought exactly.

I carry the nicest I can afford. I have other nice ones to carry in its place, if need be.

 

[CH4]

IF you were ever to use your gun in a self defense situation, it will be seized as evidence and it will likely be years before you ever - if ever get it returned. So, keep that in mind when you consider carrying the Wilson, Les Baer, Smith PC model, etc. As a side note, it will not receive the care it gets at home while residing in the police property room…

So essentially what you're saying is everyone would be better off driving a beater car so it won't hurt as much when it's stolen, damaged, etc., or if you have a nice car or gun it should be relegated to the garage or safe. Life's too short for beater cars and cheap guns.

 

[oldiegoldie]

all of us probably have at least one handgun we'd never carry due to possible confiscation. a Colt Python [i'm 3rd generation owner and it will go to a fifth generation when i'm called home] and S&W 386Sc Mountain Lite are two i'd never carry and both would be good carry guns during cooler weather. the 386 is a 7 round revolver and very light weight. a joy to shoot. the Python speaks for itself.

 

[jjmIII_Ruger]

My Carry history:
38 Special LCR
9mm Shield 1.0
9mm Shield 2.0
9mm Glock 43x
9mm Shield Plus

38 Special M36 rotates in there sometimes.

Like a broken record I sing the praises of the new Shield+. I'm in love and home again after the Glock.

 

[stansdds]

So essentially what you're saying is everyone would be better off driving a beater car so it won't hurt as much when it's stolen, damaged, etc., or if you have a nice car or gun it should be relegated to the garage or safe. Life's too short for beater cars and cheap guns.

I drive an old Honda CR-V, it's paint is faded and it has plenty of parking lot dings. The dings bothered me when it was shiny, new vehicle, but now I really don't care if it gets another ding or scratch. If I had a 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang, it would not be my daily driver.

 

[S&W Fan]

Something to consider that depending on all the legal wrangling that could go on during the investigation of a shooting you could lose any/all firearms you own depending on the prosecutor.

Carry whatever you want, have a good attorney on speed dial and don't give any statements until after you've consulted with said attorney.

 

[Echo40]

I've heard folks say this quite often, but I've yet to see any compelling evidence to suggest that a prosecutor can successfully convince any Judge/Jury that an otherwise perfectly legal self-defense shooting was in fact manslaughter.

I'm sure that there have been some such occurrences in anti-gun states where folks have been successfully socially indoctrinated into having a negative predisposition towards firearms in general, but obviously that only applies to specific regions and therefore shouldn't be a factor for someone who lives elsewhere.

That being said, anyone who has chosen to carry a firearm for self- defense ought to be aware of the local laws regarding concealed carry/self-defense, have a legal contact, and to always consult legal counsel prior to making any statements to the police in the aftermath of a self-defense shooting, that's just common sense.

 

[hostler]

I'm not a collector, and guns are tools to me, so whatever works is what I own and carry. My feeling is that carrying a firearm is serious business, not a fashion show.

 

[sousana]

You carry for what does the job and suits you NOT for how freakin flashy it looks. You want flashy, join a parade.

 

[S&W Fan]

There can be a long time between an incident and a decision by a prosecutor or grand jury to choose to indict. In that time frame one could find themselves unable to possess a firearm. In 40+ years of being a firearms owner I know of one such instance that resulted in no true bill against the person-he lost temporary possession of all his guns until that point. They all were returned in the same condition as surrendered.

I carry what I'm most familiar with/handle the best. As anyone should imho. To each their own. I've nothing more to add, stay safe all.

 

[Lobster Picnic]

I can understand going with top quality or spending a little extra just because it makes you happy, but a carry gun is just a tool, like a hammer. That said, I'd never carry a plastic hammer.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Do whatever you are assured/experienced with. If you are confident in your self defense, no other opinions matter (provided applicable laws). Be safe and good wishes, TH.

ETA: I have a relative who only owns one gun, a S&W Model of 1905, 2nd change, I believe, in .38 spcl. for self defense. This old gal has it by her bed. Good for her and who cares, at the same rate. Husband died and it is her self defense.

Addendum: The value of a tool does not matter. In trying to be objective, addressing your post, I FEEL that price does not enter the correspondence. I am sorry, but this line of thought is non-sequitur. It does not follow.

 

[Echo40]

I can understand going with top quality or spending a little extra just because it makes you happy, but a carry gun is just a tool, like a hammer. That said, I'd never carry a plastic hammer.

Oddly enough, I've never carried a hammer, regardless of what material it was made of, simply because I've never needed to carry one.
But then again, I didn't even know that they made actual hammers out of polymer, nor that they could perform the task of hammering just as well as their steel counterparts, thus rendering your statement a valid, apples to apples comparison, so just shows what I know.

 

[Smithsrevenge]

I've done the same thing. i used to only carry high end Sigs *229,220,226,228* and HKs *mainly USP Compacts*. and.......kimber 1911s.

I carried a 226 on duty, 229 or USP Compact off.

But the more times i had to draw down on someone at work, the more i realized that there was a increasing chance that i may have to use said weapon. And for duty use....accuracy and reliability are all that matters.

So I put my exotics back in the safe and picked up a M&P .357 sig for duty, and a M&P 40 for off duty carry.

if they get taken to evidence land. I dont care, i can buy another. actually at todays pricing on .40 cal guns I can buy 3 for the price of one of my sigs.

Budget works. Budget is good :-D