What do you actually CCW?

[iron addict]

I carry every time I leave the house. Either my Glock 27 when I am going downtown, or my 642 when in areas "relatively safe". I have not found a holster that makes my 686 TRULY comfortable. I guess I am trying to find a happy medium that gets me away from my Glocks but is truly comfy to pack. I am looking hard at the 386 night guard.

I am asking for what you find is truly comfortable for all day wear. I can conceal a 4 inch N frame under a baggy T-shirt as I am 6'1 225, but being able to do it, and it being comfortable are two different things. Ideas welcome.

Iron Addict

 

[lazlong]

I carry a 5" Springfield Loaded 1911 every day in a Tucker HF1 holster on a Beltman Horsehide gun belt.

The gun belt and quality holster make a huge difference.

I can also carry my 5" N frame in a shoulder rig when I feel like it with no discomfort, under a fishing shirt.

I'm only 5'8" and about 210#.

I find the 1911 both easier to conceal and more comfortable to carry than the Glock 23 that I carried for some time before that. I also shoot it a lot better, thanks to the single action only trigger.

 

[DustyJacket]

Usually S&W M40 unless it is a high-danger occasion.

 

[lazlong]

I'm new here, but isn't "high danger" somewhere you really shouldn't go, carrying or not?

Sorry, but I spent my entire life in "relatively safe" neighborhoods where people around me have still been the victims of rapes, murders, and home invasions, even though the dangerous parts of town are a long ways off.

I carry the most effective handgun that I shoot the best, no matter where I'm going, unless it's somewhere that I'm paranoid about concealment, at which time I'll carry a pocket pistol.

 

[blackrhino12]

Keltec .380 with a Laserarms laser in my pocket all the time. Colt Combat Commander 1911 when it's cool enough here to wear a jacket. Sig P220st under my pillow while I sleep.

 

[Sunkist]

I'm a fan of Sigs as well as S&W. My CCW most days is a Sig239, .40S&W. It's slim and carries 7+1. Reloads are fast with single stack mags that ride tight to the body. I prefer a Fobus holster and double mag paddle.

When I can wear a jacket a 686 4" in a vertical shoulder rig is comfortable and easy to forget.

I also feel well armed w/ a 686 2.5" in a high ride belt slide. It comes out fast and easy but speedloaders are bulky. I haven't tried the strips yet but I plan to get some.

The belt is a big factor, too. It has to be wide enough and thick enough to keep everything where it needs to be. I hate having to hitch up my britches all day long.

 

[ezb57]

The only gun I've ever carried to any extent is my Model 49 Bodyguard with 125 gr. Nyclads, in an old Safariland IWB holster, or just in a heavy overcoat pocket. It has been a good buddy on a few cross country road trips, and while doing evening errands during the time I was living in San Bernardino, California. Small enough to hide easily, yet solid enough to give a reassuring heft in the hand. Never actually had to pull it, although it was in my hand, yet still in my pocket a time or two.

 

[iron addict]

Sunkist,

what holster are you using for the 686? My 3 inch 686 is small enough, I think, but the holsters I have tried did not work well. I forget I have the Glock or my 642.

Iron Addict

 

[Blackcloud2]

A Model 37 with Tyler T's. It's light and easy to conceal. Is it enough firepower? Well, who knows, but I CAN hit the broad side of a barn with it, so I guess I'm okay!

 

[gunnut44]

Kahr K9 for me in a Ken Null holster, slimline small, but not too small, and runs great.

 

[mm6mm6]

For 20 years I carried my Walther PPK .380:

When I bought a Ruger LCP a year ago, it replaced my PPK. The Ruger is with me almost all the time:

Since I had my Colt Combat Elite .45's mainspring "Bobtailed," I have been carrying it alot since my winter jacket covers it well.

Every once in awhile, I carry my S&W Model 40-1 in a DeSantis pocket holster too:

 

[Tom M]

My moderate weather gun is a Colt DS-II in a Galco "Concealable Belt Holster". Winter carry is a 3" S&W 65 in a Galco shoulder holster.

 

[mnhntr]

i carry my 4in 686 in a fobus paddle or a galco miami classic shoulder rig with a VH1 holster on one side and double speedloaders on the other.

 

[WC145]

It varies, most of the time it is either the 9mm S&W 360 or a Kahr CW9, otherwise it is the Kel-tec P3AT (when nothing else will fit). Occasionally it is a Beretta Mini Cougar 9mm, depends on my work schedule.

 

[Lt JL]

a sig. 239 0r 229. .40cal. two spare mags. then usually a Colt Agent or a J frame. TRying the find a reasonable model 37 0r 12.

 

[Milanfire2]

Used to be my 92fs compact now its my S&W M&P 9mm.If just walk woods with wife 686 4" in shoulder holster.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Springfield XD-45. It holds 13+1 loaded. The extra mag I carry on the other hip makes the total 26 rds. It sits in a Comp-Tec paddle holster on the strong side. The mag. carrier is Safariland. If I can't get it done with that, i should have brought a rifle or a shotgun!

Like you, I am a fairly large guy at 6'2" and 260 lbs. It conceals easily under a baggy shirt. Even in the summer months, it conceals well under a baggy golf type shirt.

I do like to mix it up sometimes when I won't be going into high crime areas like I do during the work week. Weekends mostly. For covenience, when I am doing errands and such, I will usually take a j-frame.357 and drop it in my pocket. I do not feel under-armed with this gun. While it lacks capacity, I have total confidence in the Speer 135 gr. .357 magnum JHPs that fill the 5 holes!

Sometimes for variety, I will carry a 1911 in a Galco OWB holster, or a 686 snub in a Bianchi Black Widow #5 OWB holster. The only IWB holster that I use is a holster that I bought many years ago from a place called Montana Leather Works. This holster was made for the H&K USP Compact (.40 S&W). All of these guns are pretty much carried when I am going to the range exclusively.

I make sure that I practice with every gun that might serve as a CCW gun. This is an importnt habit to get into if you are prone to mixing thing up every now and then. To be honest, I don't think it's a great idea to use a variety of different CCW guns regularly. 99% of the time, it's the XD-45 on the hip, or the 640-1 in the pocket. Of that 99%, 90% of it belongs to the XD-45.

WG840

 

[Dregg]

Sig 239 .40
Been on my side since 1997

 

[Sportsterguy]

1990 Springer 1911 Standard. Been carrying it for 18+ years when I was first forced to move to Miami/Sunrise Fl. (worse place I've ever lived) and pulled it 3 times with positive results. Model 19-4 2.5" in a shoulder holster on the motorcycle.

 

[WC145]

Originally posted by Dregg:
Sig 239 .40
Been on my side since 1997

You've been carrying that gun since 1997?!! It's time to retire it to WC145's old gun home and get yourself somthing new! Don't worry, we'll take good care of it and only shoot it on warm, sunny Sunday afternoons.