Jsig29 FALSE
And I hope I do not get flamed on this board for this but MY go to carry is a S&W 640 .38spl
I have owned and carried this revolver for almost 18 years. It is loaded with .38spl Fed Nyclads .125gr along with a speedloader or 2.
I can carry it on ankle, strong side hip, or pocket pending weather and circumstance. This is not my only carry But my tried and true. Remember you need to shoot your ccw well be ultimatley familiar with it and want to have it with you all the time and be comfortable. Right now I am pondering 1 of 3 sigs that are in a local shop a 239 .40S&W, a 245 and or a p226 9mm. Remember Be prepared to put at least a few hundered rounds down range to start with your carry weapon.
Sorry this was so long
Carl

1. No. I have two authorized duty/carry (plainclothes) weapons. Sig P226 .40 Stainless Elite and a P229 Stainless Elite .40.

2. Yes.

3. Refer to #1. I work 8-10 hours a day and carry either the P226 or P229 with no complaints. A lighter weapon would be more comfortable to "wear", but, I purchased the guns to use, not as a "fashion statement." I find that the recoil is more manageable with the heavier stainless Elite pistols than the lighter, aluminum alloy pistols. In other words, the heavier guns are more comfortable to "shoot" than to "carry". Ayone that wears a gun, wears it to shoot (defend his or someone else's life) and not so much for comfort. Or at least that's my philosophy. I'll stick with the heavier guns. You want a lighter gun, carry a 9mm with aluminum alloy receiver.

"Comfort" in carrying or shooting, is secondary to confidence. If you are both confident in carrying and shooting a weapon, "comfort" isn't much of an issue.

While there is much in this world that is unknowable, and much that will remain an enigma, there is one certainty: you WILL wind up with an entire wardrobe of carry guns if you stay interested in this... thing.

For me right now it's like this: In cool weather when I can throw on a sportcoat and leave it on all day I wear a 228 in either a Blackhawk Serpa or a Grizzle OWB. I find OWB to be the most comfortable and easiest to draw that there is. The Grizzle leather holster tucks into the 4:00 position beautifully and other than the weight on my belt I never know it's there. The Serpa rides slightly further out from the waist but has adjustable cant and draws more quickly and naturally for me.

For days with no sportcoat I carry a Kahr CW9 either in a Hume leather front pocket holster, a Comptac tuckable IWB, or a Grizzle leather OWB.

For days with lighter summer pants where the front pocket option prints a bit more, I'll throw a Ruger LCP in the back pocket in a Talon Training pocket holster.

There are others, but I don't use any of them regularly right now. If it was 100% reliable I'd carry the KelTec PF9 in a heartbeat -- shorter and 3oz lighter than the Kahr, with the same payload and a good feel in my hand. Plus, I shoot it a little more accurately. But it continues to struggle with FTEs so I don't trust it. Going back to Florida this week.

NGB

My carry is a 3.5 inch Kimber. I shoot it extremely well, and Im one of those folks that tinkered with handloads to mimic the feel of my carry ammo, to the extent possible. I strongly believe you have to practice with what you carry.

Echoing what lots of folks here have already said. I wouldnt carry anything I wouldnt shoot well, not matter the circumstances. Living in Phoenix and carrying during the summer dictates for me that I carry a compact handgun. The Kimber is the smallest handgun that I shoot well. Ive tried others of various calibers and havent found anything that I like better.

I dont doubt there are people out there that carry a weapon for its size, concealibility, and comfort. If they dont like to shoot it then they wont practice with it, and if they arent practicing with it that will prove to be a liability when their lives are on the line. YMMV...

quote:

Originally posted by Shooterdude:
JSig29,

This is how firearms dealers stay in business.
The simple reality is that no one gun will accomodate every situation you find yourself in.
In cold weather you may be able to conceal a much larger firearm than during warm weather months. Suits don't hide guns as well as flannel
shirts do, and so on and so on.

After 30 some years of carrying a gun I've learned this much: "You will carry what is convenient to carry." I mean independent of caliber. The logic is: "Some gun is better than no gun."

Ultimately you will own several different sizes
and calibers of "carry" guns.

He has carried for 30 I've carried for almost 40 and I agree.

That's just crazy talk. I love to shoot my carry. Oh and even living in Phoenix I find no trouble carrying a full size P226ST on even the hottest days. Guess I've just been here too long.

That guy was a moron. I shoot my carry gun BECAUSE I love it. That should be the gun you shoot the most so you are comfortable with it.

1. I carry a full sized P226R
2. I shoot it more than any other pistol
3. With the right belt and holster, you can comfortably carry and conceal any full size handgun. I carry the P226R all day with no issues in a Versamax II holster at 4:00 on a Wilderness Instructor belt.

I have several carries. One, the Kel-Tec P11, I find unpleasant to shoot, but it is accurate. Two Bersa .380s and a Ruger LCR on the way. I have no desire to carry a full size. IMO, the odds of getting into a long term firefight of more than ten shots are slim, none and nil.

If I am out running errands or whatever, I am comfortable with a mouse gun. Its all about whatever makes you comfortable, your level of confidence and sense of security. The less of these things you have, the more you probably need a full sizer

I also believe that shot placement is more important than the size of the bang. That being said, there is an array of full size guns at the house of those who may consider intruding....different story.

I carry either a g33 or a M&P 40c. The size allows me to carry about any where with minimal effort.

I shoot the guns regularly and put about a considerable amount of rounds through them every time I go, because I feel I need to be comfortable and capable with them.

Saying that, neither one of those guns, do I consider fun, like my .22, Glock 19, or full sized 1911. They recoil more and are harder to shoot with accuracy like a full size gun. I don't mind shooting them, they are just not as enjoyable as others. FWIW, I shoot my jframe with +p loads every time also, and don't think it's fun at all. But practice with whatever you are going to carry because it is foolish to stake your life on a gun you never shoot.

I carry a 225.


It is a joy to shoot. I shoot it far less than my IPSC/3-gun pistol though.

Sounds like the gun shop owner is a moron.

Unfortunately, owning a gun shop seems to attract the wrong kind of people. With a few refreshing exceptions.

We simply must start a sticky for

"Gun counter BS."

I won't carry a gun I don't enjoy shooting. I may not enjoy carrying it but that is not the point of the gun.

1) My carry gun is a P226, so no.
2) I shoot it FAR more than any other gun I own. You're carry gun really needs to be practiced with until you are proficient with it and it's operation becomes second nature.
3) In the right holster on the right belt, either a P220 or a P226 can be a great carry weapon. I really carry only on the weekends, but it's usually an all day thing. Once I got the right setup, it's been gravy.

Wow.. I carry a G23 or a G19 and I love to shoot them both, in fact I am sad I dont get to shoot them more!

As I was not at the gunshop when the conversation occured, my guess as to what the owner was meaning when he said "You'll never like to shoot your carry gun" might mean, while carrying, any person carrying a gun would not want to be put into a situation where he/she would have to "shoot the carry gun", meaning shooting at another human perhaps.

Maybe that is what he meant.

I'm kind of in the same quandary. I shoot my 1911 the best, it's not bad to carry, but with my income down, I don't shoot .45 much.

I bought a Keltec P11 to carry in 9mm so I could shoot more, but I don't enjoy shooting it. But it's easy to carry.

My favorite is a toss up between 2340 and 229 (both .40) which I try to carry but they don't always fit the way I dress. Love shooting them though.

I haven't found the perfect fit yet either.

I carry a P232 that I enjoy shooting. Used to carry a G26 but just sold it to my friend since I own a G19 that I sometimes carry.

How very odd.

I currently carry an H&K P7 and I shoot it more than any other pistol.

In the past, depending on location and weather, I have carried guns varying in size from a 226 or 5" 1911 down to a P7 or 239.

It's just a matter of "the right tool for the job."

What ever you decide on caring I would recommend that you shoot it often enough to be familiar, comfortable, and proficient with it.

Any gun is better than no gun, i.e. first rule of a gun-fight is bring a gun...

...with that said, IMO carry the largest frame in the largest caliber that you can shoot accurately. If you need to pull it out, it should be a big gun. Clint Smith has taught this for many years.

The most important thing after getting a firearm is to buy ammo and training with that firearm. Shoot what you carry so you have confidence in your ability with that firearm. When the SHTF you'll default into what/how you've trained.

My carry repetoir consists of the following: G21, G26, 1911, P250, XD9, and LCP

He was trying to sell you two guns.

I mostly conceal carry the P226.

I enjoy range shooting the P226 among others.

If you are concerned about size of P226, try the P229 or the 228 they are slightly smaller.