UPDATED I've Decided To Stop Rotating My Carry Guns.

NZshooter said:
I never understood why anyone would rotate their carry guns. Sure, a big 44 in the winter and a little j frame in the summer holstered in the same place on your belt makes a little sense. But reading guns forums and having worked in two indoor ranges there are people that carry a glock one day, 1911 another, Beretta 92 another then sometimes a j frame or Seecamp. Yes I'm talking about the same person(s) carrying this much variety, sometimes in different location (strong side, crossdraw, pocket, and unbelievably ankle). Good luck with all THAT in an SD situation.
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Maybe they're practicing so they'll be prepared for any eventuality? Regarding the ankle holster, nothing wrong with carrying a backup. You never know what might develop during an SD situation.

When I go to the range, I'll often take two or three different guns on the same day...revolvers and pistols...and practice with all three during the same session, usually going back and forth among them all. Plus, I'm easily bored. If I shoot a hundred rounds of .357s, I'm ready for some .44 Specials or some .45 Colts.

I don't normally carry all of them, but I want to stay competent with them all. I like to have a choice, rather than being locked into one gun all the time. It's said that familiarity breeds contempt. That doesn't really equate with a concealed carry gun in my opinion, but I do think if you're limiting yourself to one choice and you become proficient with it, you run the risk of becoming a bit bored or complacent. Then you might lose your edge if you aren't careful. Emphasis on the word "might", by the way.

Just my opinion, you understand.
 
I think this whole concept of rotating carry guns comes from us being gun enthusiasts and wanting to make use of several of the guns we have -- to enjoy them.

I bet this issue wouldn't even come up with someone who isn't interested in guns but just carries for self defense. He/she would probably buy a suitable gun and just carry it every day and wouldn't have a whole safe full of alternatives.

Well, for me, I've decided that I'm going to keep my list of carry guns down to 2 -- even though I have a bunch of guns that would be suitable for concealed carry.

And of the two, one of them will be used most of the time, with the second as be a backup in case the main carry gun goes into the shop.

I'll use the rest at the range for fun now and then.

But carrying for defense is serious business and I want the most suitable weapon choice and I want to maximize my practice with it.
 
I rotate conceal carry guns and if you don't want to I can understand.

Most times I have no restrictions on clothing worn, but that is not always the case. When I rotate it is mostly due to clothing circumstances which require something different be carried to fit the specific circumstances.

My rule is that each gun in my rotation is similar in how it works and functions so the mere fact of the rotation itself does not bring something unusual in to the mix. No pieces in my rotation deviate from that. They basically differ in size, perhaps in caliber and most often round count.
 
Cal44 said:
I bet this issue wouldn't even come up with someone who isn't interested in guns but just carries for self defense. He/she would probably buy a suitable gun and just carry it every day and wouldn't have a whole safe full of alternatives.
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Kind of like how I only own one vehicle, but there are those who own multiple.

On the other hand, I have four guns bought for the soul purpose of being a cary option.
 
I'm not sure I qualify as a firearms enthusiast anymore. I use them but I don't have any special attachment to them. Over the last year or so my attitude towards firearms has changed dramatically; I've developed a pretty strict " If I Don't carry it I don't keep it" rule and I've dumped over half of my "collection". I'm down to 5 handguns and 2 of them are on borrowed time.

I've said a couple of times in this thread that I'm not dead set that I'm only ever going to carry the one gun but that carrying either of my others is going to be the rare exception rather than the rule. In fact tonight after I take the 6906 to the range I will be carrying the 4006 while the 6906 is soaking in Hoppe's.

The training opportunities I've been given are a part of the reason I've decided to quit rotating guns. I want to get the most I can out of this training and might be wrong but I think that if I limit myself to the one gun in training I have a better shot at that.

I also think that if I'm ever in a real gunfight the fact that I'm carrying the same gun I carried over and over in training will give me an advantage and (God forbid) if it ever happens I want every advantage I can have.
 
I guess some of us "rotate" our carry guns just because we have several guns that are suitable for carry and we like to feel that we are adequately using them to justify still owning them. I have probably five guns that I can use for concealed carry, but mostly carry either my 642 or my new Ruger LC9s. I really like both guns and find that it is almost chance which one I grab from the small gun safe I keep in my dresser.

But sometimes, like yesterday, I was wearing a pair of pants that has smaller pockets, and since I was not planning on wearing a jacket or leaving my shirt outside of my pants, I carried my Ruger LCP in a Remora holster in my right front pocket. It was easy to carry this tiny 380acp pistol fully concealed, whereas even my 642 might have left the handle a bit exposed if I pocket carried.

I'll admit I go through the same thought process as the OP from time to time, and I think if I ever really decided to always carry the same firearm day after day, I would feel almost obligated to sell the others since none of my carry guns are ideal for home defense, nor fun to shoot at the range, nor ideal for plinking. And since deep down I don't really want to sell any of my guns, rotating my carry gun makes me feel better.
 
I mostly carry a j-frame revolver- there's not alot of difference between them. On the rare occasion I carry an auto, it's a 3913 or a 5906. Again, draw and a long DA pull, just like the revolvers.

I did drop the habit of carrying 1911s and Hi-powers awhile ago (despite loving the way they shoot) because of the additional step of the safety. These are now range toys. I'm also not a fan of the striker-fired trigger without a safety, but that's just a mental thing with me. I carried my girlfriends Shield for a week before she sold it, and it drove me crazy having that thing IWB!
 
Im battling this issue myself. I go through cycles. I have narrowed my circles to two platforms. I will carry Glocks for a while. Then I rotate a 26 and 19. I then go to carrying a J frame and a K frame. More often than not when I am rotating revolvers its 90% Model 60. I am considering going J frame only. Thinking of just getting a 642 and carrying it everyday in my right front pocket and carrying my 60 everyday that I can carry IWB. I shoot the 60 as well as anything I own. Just looking to reduce a little weight in the pocket.
 
Most of us have more than one handgun.

We all enjoy 'playing' with our handguns.

That's what the range and dry fire are for: you can play with all the firearms you want.

Rotating CC handguns for no better reason than to pay with your guns is a poor practice, in my view.

I carry a Colt Commander unless the weather is hot : then I carry a M38.

All the rest of my handguns are relegated to the range: not because they aren't usable for CC, but because I've been using the same system for many years and don't have to adjust to a different firearm.

Just my opinion, of course.
 
I carry about three or four different level of guns depending on what I am doing. For instance, I have a old s&w model 40 for my pocket running around shopping in town. That wouldnt make much sense while riding our rzr in the boonies where I OC a bigger revolver on my belt maybe or maybe not a untucked shirt or jacket over it. I dont worry either way about it as here in utah we can OC plus I have the permit. Still, if people are around I try to keep it covered. I suppose in wild theory it could make a half second difference in speed but I also think the odds on what I select are more important at maybe 25 yards off road rather than in arms reach to 7 yards downtown. I really dont worry at all about it to start with. Where when I was once young, strong, capable and carefree I recognize the fact that I am now a fat and out of shape old man I CC more.
While I do have a pocket holster for the model 40, I seldom use it. First the holster wants to come out with the gun plus it makes that much more thickness in my pocket. What I really do is often I wrap it in a old shop rag and carry it in the door of my truck. I do have to be sneaky and watchful around me when I transfer the gun to my pocket getting out of the vehicle. Real often I rather carry a 3" model 36 in a pancake with a untucked shirt. Actually I do that mostly now that the weather is cooler. This wont go well, but I only carry a pocket wallet of extra ammo in my vehicle. I do not bother carrying reloads at all walking around town. I just cant visualize getting behind a water trough and needing more than five shots.
 
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Rpg said:
Most of us have more than one handgun.

We all enjoy 'playing' with our handguns.

That's what the range and dry fire are for: you can play with all the firearms you want.

Rotating CC handguns for no better reason than to pay with your guns is a poor practice, in my view.

I carry a Colt Commander unless the weather is hot : then I carry a M38.

All the rest of my handguns are relegated to the range: not because they aren't usable for CC, but because I've been using the same system for many years and don't have to adjust to a different firearm.

Just my opinion, of course.
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But aren't your choices two completely different systems? I'm assuming cocked-and-locked for one with a light SA pull, and a long DA pull, no safety for the other?
 
I "rotate" in that I carry a DA/SA 3rd gen S&W IWB and a 642 as a BUG in my pocket.

I do have a duty sized .45 3rd gen that will most likely be a cold weather gun while the compact .45 will be warm weather and I'm sure the snubbie M10 will be carried a bit in there as well.

I do practice a good bit to stay very familiar with my carry guns.

Just my 2 cents, carrying a firearm is a very serious and personal business, if you feel that you should go with just one and think that's best then go for it.
 
I carry them all as I want to be proficient and familiar with them all...the moment my hand touches it I know what it takes to make it run.

I know that this is quite contradictory to what most believe...but that's my story and I am sticking to it!! LOL

Randy
 
It makes sense to carry the same gun all day every day. Familiarity and consistency are your friends under pressure. I say you are doing the right thing.

I carry only my 442 every day. No other gun. I used to have a rotation until one by one the guns got relegated to range toys - I got sick of strapping on my Glock, getting dressed, find it printing and having to redress or picking another gun instead. Just by natural selection, I found myself grabbing my snubby and shoving it in my front pant pocket on the way out the door. Now I carry and train with only that one gun. It just happened naturally and with time.
 
growr said:
I carry them all as I want to be proficient and familiar with them all...the moment my hand touches it I know what it takes to make it run.
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Said it before and I'll say it again

Until it doesn't
 
petepeterson said:
But aren't your choices two completely different systems? I'm assuming cocked-and-locked for one with a light SA pull, and a long DA pull, no safety for the other?
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You are correct: they are different.

After many years, it's a little like switching between an automatic and a standard transmission: something that doesn't require deliberation.

It does require spending the time and ammo to gain and, most importantly, maintain adequate proficiency with both.
 
Seasonal carry

With wild weather swings in Ohio, I find the most practical concealed carry for me to be-anytime/month that is hot n I'm not going to wear a jacket, coat etc; I'll carry my bodyguard 38 in a pocket w Desantis pocket holster. That rig is less conspicuous than carrying a smart phone!
In fall or winter if I have to wear a bulky coat etc.... My Beretta PX4Storm 9mm is the choice... Serious 19 rounds of preparedness
 
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