I’ve changed what I’m carrying a few times in the past. Since 1995, Ive been unfortunately bound by a set a bullshit rules that govern what I get to tote around.

Years ago, in a place far, far away- a BHP was the gun of the day.
Came on the job and carried a P-226, then I learned the joys of a snubby.
I found the P-220 was slim enough for an IWB.
Sometimes I bucked the rules and used a PPK.

Then came the Glocks. G-21 for work, and that lil brick called a G-30 as a BUG/Off Duty.
I switched to a G-19 for off duty.
Then Glock had to come out with the G-43x and I found Shield magazines- so I have a smaller, thinner G-19! What’s not to love?!?!

Until I find something comparable to the G-43X and Shield Mags, that’s what’s on my hip.

Im probably not much different from many CCWr's - started out with one manufacturer and cycled thru others until I found the right combination (dictated by situation/clothing. Please read and enjoy:
Ruger 9mm (forget model)> SA XDS 45> SW 457> LCP> Sig 239 40> Sig 226 40> Sig 229 40> Sig P365 9> Sig P239 40> now Sig P229 40 or P6 or P365. I carry the P229 ~70% of the time, the P6 25% (all depends on my mood), and the P365 the reminder (wearing gym shorts time).

I guess if I went through list barring any short try it out dalliances, mine pretty much went.
SIG P239/P229 (more P239)
HK P7M8
J-Frame in a pocket
Glock 19/26(more 19)
Walther PPS M1
HK P2000/P2KSK (more P2000) (9mm and .40)

Those are the big ones/long timers. The P2000/P30 is still my go to for most things although I have gotten lazy and started carrying one of the small single/stack and a half offerings more and more such as a Hellcat Pro or HK CC9 with the Glock 48 on occasion.

I’ve relied on the P2000 for more than a decade and it doesn’t seem to be changing.


Like I said there have been others as tests over the years and I have plenty I would be perfectly happy with but those are the big ones. I will say the Glock 48 is the most comfortable gun I’ve ever carried. The P2000’s are far and away the most comfortable of the “duty sized/compacts”, but the 48 is absolutely a joy to carry in terms of how it feels on my body, the weight, the angle etc.

I have not changed too much at all, but I've been carrying only since 2013, and the first four years were done without a permit; living in CA at the time, it was impossible to get a permit, and I tried. I made the decision to not let a corrupt govt. dictate to me my method of self-defense. I finally bought a Ruger LCP in .380 shortly after they came out from a private seller, and it served me well mainly because it was the smallest centerfire pistol on the market, and deep concealment was paramount given my legal status of carrying.

After moving to TX, I got a G43 and it is still my primary, I see no need to change, I'm quite satisfied with it and the numerous holsters I have for it. My LCP became my backup, but I changed it a couple of years ago to a Sig P238 and it has become more than a backup; at times during hot weather, it becomes my primary because of the size for pocket carry. Both my carry guns are not the latest flavor, but I see no problem in carrying them for years to come.

I’ve been carrying an Sig P239 which is 9mm for close to 20 years but recently Ive moved off that and onto an Sig P220 which is the 45.

Times have changed.

So to answer the specific question, just once.

In 2007 I started with a P2000 40sw. After a few years I switched to a G27 then to G32 then G19 and now G45.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
HRK, I still keep my P238 for Bantamweight carry. I have no complaints, it is 100% reliable. I really do enjoy that one. I just decided that especially for winter around here, 9mm or better would be a better choice.

Loved both but found the AMBI safety would click off from time to time, I'd pull it out of my pocket and it was off, didn't care for that, and at the time dealing with deleting one wasn't simple.

But if you like the P238, get a P938 Legion, comes with 3 7 round mags, and is $799 full retail vs $1,149 for the Colt.

You can buy a lot of ammo with $350 extra in your pocket, or more mags and Ammo

Both are excellent, and the legion isn't much more than a base two tone 938 which only comes with 2 mags, 6 and 7 rounders

I'm just not comfortable with the 238-938 and the safety's ability to stay engaged with my pocket carry.

Did your 238 and 938 have ambi safeties? My 238 has only a single safety.

I have 3 guns (Sig P220ST, CZ Shadow SP01, Kahr CE45) I choose depending on the cloths situation I will find myself in.I Always dress to the gun and the gun will always be one that I shoot the best,period.
I use the KISS principle. No safety, no procedures, just a gun I can quickly deploy, aim, pull the trigger until the threat has neutralized.
My first option will always be a full sized gun and at least one extra magazine.

Essentially never. I have OWB, IWB and Bag Carry for a 229 which is my daily companion based on clothing, which is supplemented with a 938 in front right pocket carry or right hip IWB.

I have holsters for 1911 (full size and officers model), 2022s, and OWB for some serious revolvers.

But I have never varied my daily carry.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Loved both but found the AMBI safety would click off from time to time, I'd pull it out of my pocket and it was off, didn't care for that, and at the time dealing with deleting one wasn't simple.

I have pulled my P238 in/out of my pocket hundreds of times, the ambi safety has never switched off. My safety is firm in action, with a distinct click.

I used to carry commander size 1911 using leather IWB holster. First .45 cal, then 9mm. My all around carry when at home and running errands is a Gen 5 G19. But I mostly carry my CZ Shadow 2 Carry model these days using OWB holster.

Just buy a bunch of mags, buy some extra mag springs and a few guide rod springs and enjoy. I have a p229 I’ve had almost 20 years and I think maybe one mag has gone bad and I just put a new mag spring in it and gtg again. Your gun will last forever, just look at all the old surplus guns that work just fine

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I’m still gonna wait for someone to chime in with some love for Colt.

I was first introduced to the 1911 in 1961 courtesy of the US Army. About 95% of the time since, some variation of that has been my carry.

I am a dinosaur… iron sights only! Optical “Red dot, etc.” seem to me to add too much extra bulk to easily conceal.

I’ve got a Colt Defender and I’m kind of mixed on it. The factory dual recoil spring assembly is a major PITA to reassemble after cleaning. Replaced it with the EGW recoil spring assembly and it is much easier to re-assemble and it also closes the gaps around the guide rod at the muzzle end. Problem is it’s a little more finicky and I need to try some different spring weights.

It does carry very well. Galco OWB holster and it diaappears under an untucked shirt. Haven’t been carrying it much lately. Prefer the lighter weight of my Sig P365. When in the mood for carrying a 1911 I usually grab some variation of a lightweight commander.

To answer your original question I have changed platforms a few times over the years. It gets to be expensive when you figure ammo for additional training, holsters, additional magazines, etc. Times and technologies change. Twenty years ago when I first started carrying things like the Sig P365 didn’t exist. I even change carry platforms during the week, all depends on the situation. Going into town on a grocery run it may be a j-frame in the pocket of an Sig 365 in a holster. Going out hiking or for photography it may be a large bore revolver or a 10mm auto loader.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
Hurts to shoot and god awful triggers.

^^^THIS!^^^S&W 340PD^^^

I guess I'm simple minded or something.
When I read "change platforms" I thought of 2, revolver or semi-auto with the semi-auto having sub categories.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
Guns go in and out of production all the time, they don’t however have a shelf life. If you are happy with PPS, buy extra magazines and maybe an RSA or two and use it till it breaks (if it ever does). If that happens decide on a new platform then.

I have plenty of guns no longer supported and I can’t think of one I wouldn’t carry. Hell my go to platform is now discontinued. As far as the PPS goes I have an M1 (with plenty of mags) I’d happily carry.

Heck PPS’s were so cheap last I saw, buy another one as a “parts/backup gun”

For the OP's specific problem, I agree with cslinger. If you like the gun don't change it. Being out of production doesn't matter. The gun will last for years, and if you're really concerned buy a spare.

As to my personal carry history, I wish I had been disciplined enough to stick to a single platform, but I'm too much of a gun nut/tinkerer for that. Here's what I've carried over the past 20 years, not counting duty guns because I didn't have a choice with those. Dates are a best estimate):

1. Beretta 92FS full size 2006-2008. Because it was my first gun and the only one I had.

2. Sig P6 2008-2011. The Beretta was huge, and I got this cheap when there was a glut of them imported as surplus.

3. Glock 26 2011-2017. I got this when I started at the PD to carry as a backup. Same capacity as the P6, smaller package.

4. P320 Subcompact 2017-2020. This was actually an issued backup, but it replaced the G26 as my off-duty gun as well.

5. P245 2020-2021. I got on a .45 kick around 2020, and carried one of these for a couple of years.

6. P220 Compact 2021-2023. A continuation of the .45 ACP infatuation, I found a good deal on this one and decided to save the wear on the P245.

7. P229 SAS 2023-2025. Decided capacity and affordability made a strong case for the 9mm when I found one of these at a reasonable price in a local shop.

8. P229 Elite with RomeoX 2025-Present. I wanted an optic and didn't want to cut up my SAS slide, so I bought this and had it milled for an optic.

9. Glock 43xMos. Not yet doing serious carry duty, but I'm experimenting with it at the moment as a lighter, thinner option.

There have also been a series of J-Frames in there as BUGs. A 360J, a 640Pro, and currently a 642UC have seen actual carry time. I used to carry that G26 and P320SC on the ankle a lot, but when I got diabetes they told me poor circulation could cause me to lose my feet eventually, so I got rid of the ankle holster and went to a J-frame in the pocket.

I changed and carried many different handguns over the years. I moved through different caliber as well as different platforms. I wish I had more discipline or had better training early on in my shooting. I shoot striker fired, DA/SA, revolvers, and the occasional 1911. I’ve gone through different calibers and like a majority of shooters have settled I back into 9mm as my primary CCW round.

1992 - Sig P228
1994-1999 - too many to list
1999-2005 - 1911s
2005-2007 - Sig P225/1911 WC CQB/c
2007-2019 - HK P2000/P2000Sk (357 Sig then 9mm)
2018-2019 - Sig P938 SAS
2019-2020 - P365
2020-2022 - Glock 19
2022-current - P365X/P365Xl

I also still carry a J frame 642, a K frame 66, CZ PCR, Glock 19/SS MR920. I still train with and without a pistol optic and only just starting CCW’ing a gun with an optic this last year. I am seriously considering going back to a DA/SA platform for primary carry. I would say that I shoot and train with Glocks, P365s, and my CZ PCR or Sig MK25 the most at the range. I also dry fire quite a bit between range sessions. On the list of carry guns in my rotation, I feel very competent with all of them and would have no issues with any of them being my only CCW gun going forward. The only gun on my radar at the moment is a CZ Shadow 2 Carry and I may try out a Gen 6 Glock. Other than that I’m pretty content.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dking271,

Changed many times. Have returned to da/sa pistol.