Why a tiny gun?

[Glockman9mm]

Pocket rockets and single stack 9's are all the rave now days. Many folks feel content with a pocket 380 for carry like an lcp, bodyguard, Kel Tec, ect.

The single stack 9's are going like hot cakes now. The sheild, LC9, karh, beretta nano, walther pps to name a few.

My edc is a G19 in a supertuck and I've never had a problem with it! I browse on some other gun forums and see so many say a fullsize or compact gun is just to big or thick, I want something tiny or smaller that's comfortable to carry.

Last time I checked carrying a gun isn't Spose to be comfortable but comforting! As for me I like the bigger guns because I shoot them better and they don't lack capacity compared to the single stacks. I'd rather have more rounds on my side plus more rounds in my reloads than than what these tiny guns offer.

Another thing that gets me is folks worrying about printing! I have many story's regarding printing, my shirt riding up on my pistol, people bumping into me saying sorry I hit your cell phone ect.

I'm convinced general society is lost in there own little world and are to stupid to realize you have a gun.

Your thoughts?

 

[Marshwheeling]

My thought is: YMMV. What works for you may not work for another. Comfort, concealability, cost, availability, power, and the perceived need for a self-defense weapon are all variables that have to be taken into account.

I'm glad you are satisfied with your Glock. I would not be. Self-defense is only one of a number of reasons I own guns. It is not really very high on the list. There are a lot of guns I would rather own that I cannot afford, and many guns I would prefer to carry.

There is not a little bitty pocket gun in my collection, but I have often thought one might work for me. I would be more likely to carry it than any full-sized pistol. The likelihood of ever needing to actually use it is exceedingly small. I have managed to come through a couple of situations in the course of a lifetime where I might have used a gun if I had one. I am still here nevertheless, and in each case, a little bitty pocket gun would have been more than sufficient.

 

[snowman]

My nephew carries one of those, I think a Bodyguard. He let me handle it awhile back and I thought it would be awfully difficult to learn to shoot well. But to each his own and if people can become proficient with them so as to defend themselves effectively, more power to them.

Andy

 

[walnutred]

You carry a 9mm? ;D

 

[O2Guy]

I carry a G19 as well as a G30, but not all the time. Where I'm going and what I'm wearing dictates what I will carry. When I have to dress in khakis and a tucked in shirt, I pocket carry a PF-9 or a J frame.

A pocket gun is not a tack driver like the larger guns but, pinpoint accuracy is not really required at defense distances. Remember, your first choice is to distance yourself from the threat.

 

[blujax01]

'Cause those 22 shorts from NAA are just so cute!

Seriously I hear ya'. I was taught to "dress around the gun" and manage to pocket carry a M64 snubby. Or a 3" M65.

But as others have said, to each his own...

 

[Titan]

I suspect that a good number of folks, especially first time gun owners, are buying small because the most important thing to them is to be able to say they have a gun in their pocket.

I know several folks who give little if any thought to stopping power, because they don't expect to ever actually need to use the gun defensively.

 

[ralph7]

i am active physically at work and have had my shirt ride up over my larger gun on occasion. that is an offense that could get my chl taken from me.
i carry a seecamp .32 in a side pocket that nobody will ever see until i pull it, that will stop an attacker in his, hers, or it's tracks w/a face shot if needed.

even a j frame in that same side pocket is just too bulky.

 

[CajunBass]

I carry a gun most of the time. Can't do it at work, so that's about the only time I don't. I don't really carry one for self defense. I carry it mostly just because I can, and I like guns. I CAN use it for self defense, but I seriously don't ever expect to have to.

I've run the gammet of carry guns. Full sized 1911's, K frame revolvers, Model 39's, Glocks, XD's, snubbie revolvers. Right now, I'm carrying a Shield (silly name, ain't it?). Seems about right to me. I may yet switch to something else, who knows?

If someone else wants to carry something else, it's ok with me.

 

[Rule3]

I ain't a big guy. Live in Florida and wear shorts and a t shirt or Polo type shirt. Kinda hard to carry a full size gun. Plus it clashes with my Speedo How many pocket carry a 38 snub??

I love Seven of Nine

You watch too many movies or TV. How much firepower do you need? You expect to fire 15 rounds in a SD situation??

 

[perfectcircle1]

I think it greatly all depends on who you are, what you do and where you live. I live in Maine which probably has the lowest crime rate of any state in the country. I carried a glocks 17 for a while and decided that lugging that thing around was basically pointless. I've now switched to a shield and that spends most of the time thus far in my truck. In all reality a normal guy like me will never get in a gun fight therefore no need for a larger high capacity gun. If I were to get in a gunfight and I can't take someone down with one of those 8 rounds in my shield, than I deserve to die! Lol! Also, i read in the NRA magazine one time that the average gun fight in America consists of 2.8 rounds. So no need for 15, 16, or 17 rounds.

 

[StatesRightist]

Guns are tools, not fashion accessories. You should carry one that will do the job well. It's a given smaller ones are not as effective. Small guns are made for Bugs and to carry when you can't carry anything else.

Thinking you'll never need to defend yourself is naive at best. CCW is about possibilities, not probabilities. The odds are a police officer could not carry a gun for a week and not need it, by the same logic they should just skip carry one then?

I understand a mouse gun if it's all you can carry in a situation, beyond that, carrying one as a primary gun is not responsible. I understand it's your right to carry whatever you want, but it's still a mistake, one others could end up paying for.

JMO

 

[Arik]

I carry a G19/17 SW5946 and a HK USP9 (not all at one time) I sold off all my little guns (PPS and Kahr CW9) after I finally realized that a real gun belt and a real holster are actually worth the money I wasnt willing to spend. Once I got a Crossbreed IWB and a real gun belt the weight was no longer an issue. My pants wernt falling off, and there was no discomfort. In fact I carry full size gun everywhere but at home, even in the summer when it gets hot and humid, it doesnt bother me. I can conceal full size guns no problem with an IWB holster, Im 6ft, 165lbs and wear form fitting clothes.

I disagree about the whole "gunfight is 2.8 sec so why do I need 18 rounds" True most of us will never be in or even close to a gun fight where we need that many bullets but I'd rather have em and not need them then need and not have. The same can be said for the 8 round single stack 9s. If the avg gun fight is 2.8 sec then all you really need is a 2 shot Derringer. After all thats about all you'll get to shoot in under 3 seconds. You never need it...untill you need it

 

[brucev]

Re: OP. CC is a personal decision driven by the needs of the individual involved. Some will choose one type/caliber. Others will choose something else. Reality is that circumstances vary. There is no one size ideal.

When it comes to daily cc, reality is that comfort is a consideration. It is one of the realities one must consider. The popularity of smaller pistols/calibers reflect this reality.

The idea that one must have the most powerful, the most up to date, the most newest design, etc. sells a lot of handguns. But for the typical persons such concerns are just not relevant. They are not going to engage a platoon of Mexican dope peddlers in the midst of a multimillion dollar deal. The need for high capacity, power, etc. are trumped by the needs for portability, conceivability, convenience, etc.

Currently I do not cc. That is likely something I will again move to in the near future as I am moving to a new pastoral assignment. Printing is a very real issue. Legal or not legal, there are simply many places and many people who will not accept someone carrying a weapon in their presence unless that person is a police officer. I know pastors who carry a pistol on Sunday morning under their robe due to the nature of the areas in which they serve. Like it or not, reality is that they could not do so if there were any concern that that pistol would be visible during interaction with members/visitors, etc. There are folks in commercial experience who have the same issues requiring concealability.

General society is not stupid. Nor are they lost in their own little world. They are people who go about their daily activities in exactly the same manner you or I go about our daily activities, dealing with the routine that is everyday life and, from time to time having to deal with the unexpected incidents that break that routine. One can to some degree anticipate the unexpected. But it is the height of foolishness to think that one can prepare for every possible eventuality.

Those who carry cw's do so for the same reason folks carry health/life insurance. They hope it will never be needed. They recognize there is a possibility such preparations will be needed. Some might be considered under-prepared. Others might be considered obsessed. Each takes those steps that they consider best meet their needs. Some spend large amounts of money for this protection while others spend less or even as little as they possibly can. It's no different with ccw and those who cc them. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.

I'm convinced general society is lost in there own little world and are to stupid to realize you have a gun.

Your thoughts?[/QUOTE]

 

[mg357]

If i may add my humble 2 cents to this thread some people may not have a lot of hand or arm strength or body strength so carrying a large gun is difficult for them.

So that is why they chose to carry a smaller gun because that is what they are comfortable carrying.

BTW when illinois passed concealed carry my carry gun will be a s&w model 36 with a 2 inch barrel and it will be carried in the front pocket of my olive drab green fanny pack that i carry everywhere.

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
IMHO your G-19 is the best CCW.
I CCW a G-17 because I don't have a G-19.
I am hoping that those "Glock Bashers" will send me theirs'.
Another reason for CCW a full size weapon over a "Tiny" is that when drawing there is more for your hand to grasp (no fumbling).

 

[David LaPell]

During the cold months I wear my 3 1/2 inch Model 27 under a light flannel jacket and now during the warmer months I carry my 649 in a pocket holster. I used to carry a Para Ordnance Warthog but the Model 27 carries so much better. The size of the person also makes a difference and I'm a bigger guy, someone 5'5 and 130 pounds might not be able to carry a larger gun. I think carrying a gun should be like picking a caliber, shoot what you are good at shooting. We have a woman at work who is in her 50's and has the profile of an ironing board with a face. Watching we carry a full size department issue Glock 21 is downright comical. If you think of the gun as anchor eventually you will tire of it and then say to heck with and leave it home, not where it is supposed to be.

 

[squidsix]

I was taught very early:
Learn to conceal a fighting gun, NOT to fight with a "concealing" gun.

 

[Gary]

I have a CHS but do not usually carry concealed. I live in a middle class area with a low crime rate and haven't found it necessary. I keep a 9mm in the console of my car so I am covered when driving back and forth to work. When I am in a suspect area (infrequently) I carry a J frame Bodyguard loaded with +P ammo. I shoot often enough to be effective with anything I carry. To me the first rule if you find yourself in a dangerous situation is to do everything possible to get out of the situation without using a gun. That includes retreating whenever possible. The only way that I would use deadly force would be if I found myself or family in danger of losing their life if I didn't act.

 

[Rule3]

I doubt any ( or a teeny tiny percentage) non LEO on this forum or most any forum has ever had the need to draw and actually shoot a bad guy out in public. If they have I also doubt it was more then 2-3 shots or lasted more than a few seconds. You have a better chance of getting hit my lightning or run over by a bus.

No, I do not live in the crime ridden inner city of a major metro area, I have not seen any Zombies yet (but one of the original films was made right here) Most meth and crack heads do not weigh in at 250 lbs and I have not seen too many of them either.

So my 9 or 380 in my pocket is better than my 45 or 44 mag at home. (since we are throwing cliche's)