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Retiring a carry gun

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August 16, 2025, 06:38 AM
92fstech
Retiring a carry gun
I've been enjoying carrying the P229 SAS for about two years now. It's been a good performer, works well for me, and is comfortable to carry.

I decided a few months back that I'd like an optic-equipped version for carry, but didn't want to cut up that nice, svelte SAS slide and mount a bulbous tumor on it, so I found a good deal on a P229 Elite and got it cut. I've had it for a few weeks now and have thoroughly vetted it on the range, and it's ready to go to work.

I'm excited about the new gun, and appreciate the optic as a bit of a force-multiplier, but emotionally it's kinda tough to retire the SAS to the safe. It'll probably still come out now and then on the rare occasion when I don't want the added bulk of the rail, beaver tail, and the optic, or if something breaks on the Elite, but its first-line EDC days are over and that's a little sad.

Anybody else have a trusted workhorse or two that have been retired to the safe in favor of the new hotness?




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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
August 16, 2025, 06:57 AM
GCE61
Yup for sure.

Most notably would be my good old Glock 26 and 27. The 43X with an EPS Carry pretty much replaced the older guns 99% of the time.

Another would be my 39-2. But, I just talked to Paul at PJ Holster to make me a modern Kydex IWBA holster which may get that old Smith back into the rotation.
August 16, 2025, 07:21 AM
kho
Previously my primary carry guns were a 239-9 and a 232. Now it's a M&P 2.0 Compact-9 and a 365. The 239 and 232 only come out occasionally for range time.

I would not describe it as new hotness, more like newer innovations better suited for the purpose. Like your change to an optic.
August 16, 2025, 07:37 AM
12131
quote:
I would not describe it as new hotness, more like newer innovations better suited for the purpose.

Exactly.

Mine: P365. The P228 and G19 now serve as home defenders.


Q






August 16, 2025, 08:11 AM
92fstech
quote:
Most notably would be my good old Glock 26 and 27. The 43X with an EPS Carry pretty much replaced the older guns 99% of the time.


I carried a G26 for years. Loved that thing. I sold it when I decided that my training time would be best devoted to a single platform, but that's one of the few guns that I've let go that I kind of miss. Just got a chance to fondle my brother's 43X again earlier this week, and every time I pick that thing up I'm impressed by it. I've tried the smaller guns, including the P365, and just could never get comfortable with them, but those slimline Glocks fill my hand perfectly. It's almost enough to make me wish I was a Glock guy...especially now that there's a possibility of getting one with a COA and there are high-cap mag options for it.

So yeah, I absolutely get where you're coming from on that one, and I'd have made the same choice.


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
August 16, 2025, 08:16 AM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by kho:

I would not describe it as new hotness, more like newer innovations better suited for the purpose. Like your change to an optic.


Totally agree. The "new hotness" was just a kind of unintentional reference to a scene from a stupid movie that always made me laugh a little:




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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
August 16, 2025, 09:04 AM
Pete K
Retired a Colt Government model 1911 after about 8 years of carry.
Glock 23 (Gen 2) after about 16 years.
Next up was the Glock 27. That lasted about 5 years before jumping back to a newer Glock 23 (Gen 4). About 4 years on that one.
Last (and current) is a P229 with a red dot that has served almost 4 years. I don’t see that one hitting the safe any time soon.
August 16, 2025, 09:05 AM
kho
My old 239 and 232 both have more hotness than my current carries! Cool
August 16, 2025, 09:40 AM
92fstech
quote:
Originally posted by Pete K:

Last (and current) is a P229 with a red dot that has served almost 4 years. I don’t see that one hitting the safe any time soon.


Well that sounds familiar Big Grin! What red dot setup do you have on it?


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Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.
August 16, 2025, 10:04 AM
Pete K
quote:
Originally posted by 92fstech:
quote:
Originally posted by Pete K:

Last (and current) is a P229 with a red dot that has served almost 4 years. I don’t see that one hitting the safe any time soon.


Well that sounds familiar Big Grin! What red dot setup do you have on it?


Holosun 507K.
August 16, 2025, 11:25 AM
Chowser
Finally retired my gen3 32 that I bought 25? years ago. I think the callous on my right hip belongs to that 32.



Not minority enough!
August 16, 2025, 12:18 PM
YooperSigs
My German P225 Classic. My favorite of the Sig old school guns. Just too difficult to replace (mags especially) if I should use it and lose it.


End of Earth: 2 Miles
Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
August 16, 2025, 06:24 PM
flesheatingvirus
I went backwards a bit. I carried a P226R in .357SIG for years. Now I carry my W. German P226. Not much of a change; I just like the balance and slight difference in how it carries.


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-- Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past me I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. --
August 16, 2025, 07:25 PM
Appliance Brad
Well, the P2340 and the P239 in .40 have been retired to the safe. I had a hard flirtation with the P320 and i still run one in classes, but i couldn't get comfortable reholstering a striker fired gun IWB. So I carry a Grayguns tuned P239 in 9 now for my EDC.


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Writing the next chapter that I've been looking forward to.
August 16, 2025, 08:11 PM
jljones
I carry what suits my needs for the particular day. It may be a 43x, it may be a 19 or it may be a 17. None of it is an emotional attachment for me. It’s about what I need for the level of performance I anticipate for the day at hand. I add lights, extra capacity mags, and holster choices based upon the needs.

Scalability is a bigger deal to me than the choice.


________________
People hate you. Train like it.



August 17, 2025, 07:10 AM
220-9er
My 365xl has become my everything gun.

The accuracy is amazing, the most accurate gun I own for me. I have a grip sleeve that makes it fit my hand perfectly. The capacity with a Magguts +2 is 15 with less than an eighth of an inch extra grip length. The only other thing I added is a large fluorescent front night sight. I tried an optic but it takes away from the size aspect too much.

The only change I’ve made was to do much more frequent cleaning and lubing and my accuracy improvement has been startling. As my older eyes are not improving, that’s been a surprising result. I’ll have to see if this continues over the next few weeks to confirm it wasn’t just a more random thing.

In any event, this has made it an easy choice for me since this one gun does everything so well.


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Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible.