What gun should I buy to carry?

[Raisin]

How many times have you been asked that question? I have seen it so many times is just silly. I think a better question to ask is "Why don't you carry that pistol you bought?" so we can all learn from others mistakes.

How many holsters do you have in a drawer some place that looked so great at the store, or were recommended by friends, that you don't use at all. If beginners heard more about the problems, the experienced people had when they began to carry, I think they would be able to make better decisions on what to buy. Maybe this topic should be a "Sticky" item.

In my case bought an M&P 9c and really liked shooting it but it was to heavy to carry, I was constantly pulling my pants up. After two holsters and it still didn't work for me it became one of my home defense guns.

Then I bought an M&P Shield 9 and it works pretty well
but it is still hard to hide for a small frame person like myself (5' -3", 140 Lbs.) It's easy to hide under a coat, sweater or sweatshirt but that doesn't work well in the summer.

So "Why don't you carry your pistol"?

 

[Jakpro]

I have one pistol that I love to shoot, but it is really too heavy to carry regularly: Sig P229

I have several great holsters and three heavy belts to carry it which all work well, but I usually carry my Shield or my Nano. It is just easier.

Once I discovered the smaller, thinner, and lighter pistols, there is just no going back--for me!

Sometimes, I will decide to carry the P229, though. It is just too nice to sit around with its' Grizzle holster!!

 

[keithherrington]

Try a revolver

In a Milt Sparks holster the guns below are just so very comfortable and easy to carry. Plus, you probably will never really need all that ammo.







Keith

 

[howiema]

I have had the same dilemma many times and the old standby 442 always gets carried. A light gun 38 special, the round has been proven, yeah only 5 shots. In the summer it rides nice in the cargo shorts pocket in a pocket holster. Just my 2 cents but I always go back to it.

Good Luck

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Very interesting idea for a thread.

Well, for me the first handgun I bought was a G19 although at the time I didn't think I'd carry it much, (maybe some in the three weeks out of the year that you need a coat here.) but I did find out it wasn't bad to carry even under a light t shirt and turned it into my primary EDC for three years. The next (one week after the G19.) was a 642 .38 J-frame that was to be my general carry gun, but turned into my EDC BUG and I still carry it in that role today five years later.

Next was a G30sf that was a very good shooting compact .45 and I wanted to like it and shot it relatively well, but my weird sized hands (large glove palm but medium glove fingers.) didn't afford me the proper trigger reach so it went.

Then last year I happened to find a S&W 3rd gen compact .45 (Shorty 45 MK2) for a good price at a LGS and bought it as I do prefer hammers on carry guns. Well it turned out to be a great shooting gun for me and after running the first 150rds through it I couldn't seem to miss under 15 yards, so it became my EDC. I have since picked up an all steel version (4516-2) and tend to carry it more now as the Shorty is a rarer pistol.

Then lastly, sixish months ago I traded for a 2" model 10 (I watched to many old cop tv shows like Adam-12 as a kid and have a soft spot for revolvers. ) that was going to be more of a fun range gun and maybe a "house" gun, but found out that I shot it just about as well as a 4" K-frame past 15 yards and just as good under 10 yards when firing fast in DA that I started to carry it on "light" days and was surprised how easily it concealed IWB with boot grips that it turned into my discreet carry belt gun. (I can even pocket carry it in a select few pants pockets.) I traded it out for its stainless cousin the model 64 as it is quite humid here and rusting is a real problem for me.

I'm now on the look out for a model 12 the aluminum framed version that weighs 20oz vs 30oz.

Sorry for the length of this post, but just felt that it was needed to fully answer your question.

 

[pacecars]

What belt were you using? The most important item for carrying a pistol is a good quality "gun belt", one that is designed to hold up a gun. You will be amazed in the difference it makes. I have carried a full size N frame 5 " Model 25 comfortably and even a Colt Peacemaker .45 with no problems. My EDC started with a Glock 20 and for the last few years it has been a 10mm full size 1911. I have used several different IWB holsters and can usually just wear a T-shirt to cover them.If I need to wear more covering will. I made a conscious decision many years ago to carry every day and to dress for the gun. I just bought a full size M&P .357 Sig and a Bladetech holster and an Alien Gear holster. I am planning to make this my EDC after I shoot it enough to get comfortable with it and the holsters.

EDC is a state of mind. You just have to set your mind to it and follow through.

 

[timn8er]

A few years back when the Shield was just a rumor, I got back into S&W's & bought a 40c. Not that much bigger than a Shield & not that much heavier...right? Right! I did end up with a Shield 40 as my carry gun, & the 40c was moved to night stand duty. I got some Truglo TFX's for the Shield last week, so today I took it to apparently the only LGS within thirty miles that has an actual gun smith, & he's backed up a bit. So I drop it off, & I says to myself we'll just pop the Streamlight & the extended magazine off & out of the 40c, go back to the smaller magazine, & pop that puppy into my pocket holster. What I never realized was that little bit of weight difference would be so bothersome. I can't wait to get my Shield back!

 

[AGoyette]

My first carry gun was a Steyr M40. It was too big and had issues so I traded it for my 9c. I too am finding the 9c a little heavy to carry. Mostly when I am wearing yoga pants and switch to a sticky holster. I am on the road in Nashville for the NRA convention. The gun I am carrying is my new Sig p938. Just spent the day hiking along a nature trail. No problems with it and the Remora holster. I left the 9c at home with the kids (youngest is 19 yo and competes with us). It's in the youngest daughter's room as a hd gun. The eldest has her own hd gun.

 

[OldCocker]

I've gone from a G30s to a G27 w/dot sights and a Sticky holster(which I now use on all my guns as carry holster) to a Sig 938 that has become my everyday concealed carry gun

 

[OldCocker]

My only problem with the Sig P938 is the safety which is not really a problem until I get a Glock 43.

 

[RobzGuns]

What belt were you using? The most important item for carrying a pistol is a good quality "gun belt", one that is designed to hold up a gun. You will be amazed in the difference it makes.

EDC is a state of mind. You just have to set your mind to it and follow through.

Exactly what I was thinking when reading the comments about needing to constantly tug up their pants... There are many belts out there claiming to be 'gun belts' that aren't. If someone thinks an M&Pc is too heavy to CC, they MIGHT not have a real gunbelt.

My first CC handgun was Pre-Glock. There was no such thing as a poly-Pistol. It was a S&W 19-3. My first CC pistol was a Gen2 G19 that I carried for about 20yrs, until I decided to give Pocket Carrying a PF-9 a try (then moved to Pocket Carrying a Shield).

If I need to IWB carry, I can choose between my old (pretty much retired now) G19, my XDMc, or my G26.
My Wife's CC of choice? Her G26 in a Remora, but she can also successfully carry her XD-Service (using a good quality belt).

What constitutes a good quality belt?
Let's just say that if you can bend/curl it over (top to bottom width-wise), that ain't it.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Shrug. I carry normal guns. K Frames , P225 , P90 , and even sometimes Sheriff Vaquero. After some more trigger time , G29sf will join the rotation. Often enough two.

To repeat myself , 70% clothing, 20% holster and belt, 10% gun. It's about deciding to carry a real gun.

Admittedly business casual is the hardest to conceal , but I'm usually casual casual, and when required dressy, but never the half way inbetween.

 

[Arik]

Started out not knowing much about holsters and belts. They were just things a gun went into and the other held your pants. Carried my first gun, Ruger P 95 in a cheep OWB nylon holster with on metal clip. That was lousy. Eventually sold that and carried something in a uncle Mikes IWB holster with one plastic clip. No where in here did a gun belt come into my mind. Later on I moved on to a Walther PPS and a OWB nylon holster but this time with 2 elastic bands. Did you know that those bands stretch out over time!?!?. Who da though! Later still I moved to a Kahr CW9 in the same uncle Mikes IWB holster. This whole time I was hating these little guns. Too thin, not enough surface to grip, have to constantly re adjust my grip to drop the mags.

Finally 6-7 years ago I was at a gun show and one vendor was making they hybrid IWB holsters like crossbread. He made it for whatever you wanted, all he needed was your gun. I gave him my Kahr CW9 and had a holster made. After trying it I realized what a proper holster actually felt like. The gun is light to begin with but not it was even lighter and more comfortable. I started thinking that if I get a gun belt I can maybe finally carry a real gun. So that's what I did. Got the belt, bought my first Glock, G19, and a Galco King Tuck. Has been my daily carry ever since with very few exceptions

 

[growr]

The problem is not your guns it is your belt or lack thereof...if you can fold it in half vertically it is NOT sturdy enough.

Carhartt work belts are a great and not very expensive solution.

Randy

 

[Ofc.JL]

It gets so hot during the summers here in Texas that much more than a loose shirt and shorts w/ slaps is all anyone wears. The pistols I have rusted or corroded carrying IWB are many(Grumble, grumble.). Polymer pistols are much better for sweaty carry, trust me. If my Shield is not going out w/ me that day, than into my pants pocket goes a Tagua pocket holster and my trusty S&W 638. Pretty flat, un-obtrusive, and still decent firepower w/ 5 hot .38's. 2 speed loaders in a vertical carry in right hand back pocket. And that's about all anyone can stand in 105' heat. But, of course, as always, YMMV.
Ofc.JL

 

[Florida J Frame]

The answer to your question is the biggest gun you will carry whenever you are dressed. In my case it's an LCP loaded with 90 gr. hollow points that provide 15" of penetration. It's in my pocket whenever I am wearing pants. At home it's backed up by an Ithaca model 37.

 

[CaptRon956]

I live in deep south Texas where its over 90°f eight months out of the year. Although I bought a Shield 9mm and absolutely love it, I find myself carrying my M&P Bodyguard 380 most of the time. I'm seriously considering picking up a S&W 642 because...well because gun

 

[Old cop]

I've been carrying a small frame .38 for over 40 years, it's what we did for off-duty way back when. In retirement I continue to carry the J frame (Model 38 or 442) & recently got a no laser M&P .380. It gets carried in dress slacks and/or when the J frame will not conceal very well. The heavier guns just don't work for me.

 

[AGoyette]

The problem is not your guns it is your belt or lack thereof...if you can fold it in half vertically it is NOT sturdy enough.

Carhartt work belts are a great and not very expensive solution.

Randy

Randy,
I do not believe it is my belt. I am not the first to find the 9c a little heavy for carrying. If I am wearing jeans and my belt, I often do carry it. And I cannot bend my belt in half length wise. At 1 lbs. 15.2 oz loaded (almost 2 lbs!) it is not the lightest choice out there. The Sig 938 does fill that need nicely.

 

[growr]

In YOUR case maybe not...in many cases it IS the culprit...