So I’m due to renew my CCW in the not so great state of CA, but with all the hubbub against the P320, my renewal will exclude my formerly listed 320 compact. My reigning carry champ is my Glock 26 with no optic, carried probably 90-95% of the time for the last almost 8 years. My easy second choice is my newly acquired P365XL with Holosun SCS, the one I’m hoping takes over as my main carry. Now to round it out, I can go with the other long running backup CCW and my favorite gun I own, my P226 in .40, my “legacy” piece or the other favorite/cannot sell handgun my Dan Wesson Commander Classic, or the newly acquired nothing sexy CA P229 that feels and shoots damn good and easy. I’m mostly leaning toward my P226 or P229, but the DW is a strong draw, as well. Don’t consider weight or size, etc, as I’ve already got that factored in, just curious what the SF mind-hive would choose. I’m leaning P229 to avoid my two most beloved pistols that I hope to keep forever and leave for my kids.

ETA Before anyone brings up size, I’ve carried my P226 under a t shirt a few of times without issue. It’s a fairly large pistol and I’m a fairly large man.

Question:
Pick your favorite for CCW

Choices:
DW CBOB
P226
P229

 

In restricted states .45 is the only logical choice. I live in a free state so I'll take a boat load of 9mm, however if 10 is the number might as well go for a .45.

Hard to beat a 1911 for IWB carry.

I voted P229. While I agree, being in a ban state with stupid magazine restrictions does make the .45 more compelling on your case, I'd still rather have 10+1 9mm than 8+1 .45. I have both a P226 and P229s...for CCW the P229 carries noticeably better.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
In restricted states .45 is the only logical choice. I live in a free state so I'll take a boat load of 9mm, however if 10 is the number might as well go for a .45.

My feeling as well.

I lean more to the Sig’s
But then I carry a Sig 239 DAK in 40 s&w

Ah I dropped the ball there. My P229 is 9mm and I only have 10 round mags. My P226 is .40, but I have 12 and 15rd mags for it.

P226 it is then.

I really like 1911s as well as the SIG P226 and P229 - not a bad set of options any way you slice it.

I voted for the P226 - that’s been my frequent choice this summer carried either IWB or OWB.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSauerP226:
Ah I dropped the ball there. My P229 is 9mm and I only have 10 round mags. My P226 is .40, but I have 12 and 15rd mags for it.

Man, I'll never be able to understand the logic behind CA gun laws, lol. The above being the case, I'd go with the P226 over the P229. The significant increase in capacity trumps the slight convenience of the P229s smaller size.

I voted P226 simply because you already have two smaller guns. So go with the full size gun as your third

I decided I’d go with my P229 today, and I qualed just fine, but I actually wish I would have gone CBOB or P226 haha. My P226 is my favorite and I have “large cap” mags, that CBOB is a beaut, but I decided all 9mm. I think that was a mistake. I should have chosen a larger caliber. I’d never choose to carry it over my Glock 26 or P365XL, so kind of a waste of a pick. Stupidest part of the day is when I was told we can have 5 on our CCW, when I thought it was 3… Best part of the day is how well I shot my P365XL with Holosun SCS. I was hoping it’d be my new carry piece, and I shot it the best. It’s my only gun, aside from my compact 320, that has a dot, but when I did my part it shot very well for me. One small thing I noticed is I’ve become accustomed to the large colorful front dot sights on my Glock and SIGs, so when I shot my P229 with standard 3 white dot night sights, in the bright sun, heat, and sand, I didn’t find my front sight as easily/naturally. I’d say half the time I had to take a split second to realize I was actually seeing my front sight on target.

All in all, it was a good day, but the deficiencies you don’t really get on the static shooting ranges came up and I have work to do.

Good choice to add a full-size to your assortment. This state is drives me nuts, some counties its 2-3 models listed, others its 5-6 you can have listed.

I used to carry my 229 from time to time as it was in my console vault as a truck gun for years. If I walked out without my P365XL, I would just grab the P229 out of the vault and carry it. Its a lot bulkier than the 365XL, but I love the weight of the 229 and shoot it better than the 365s.

Lately my G19 has been riding in the console vault. I might switch back to the 229 when the weather cools off.

When God is having a bad day and wants to feel powerful, he picks up a 1911… in 10mm.

When I lived in Ca and was restricted to the 3 guns, I settled for a small, medium and a large. Being a farmer and outdoorsman I felt I needed access to something with some punch. 1911 or a.357 usually filled this out.
If i was in So Cal I would have gone small, medium, medium.
Something like an Sig 238 for pocket, Sig 365 for pocket or IWB and a Browning Hi Power. (or your preferred size equivalents)
Good luck!

Consideration should be given to carrying a P239 in .357 sig with a CA Compliant extended 10 round mag plus one in the chamber---ergo: max penetrating power and max allowed capacity.

I had a P239 in .40 at one time. Great little gun with the rubber hogue grips on it. Top heavy and low capacity but kind of wish I had held on to it. It may have earned its way onto my CCW. Now that I know it’s 5, I think I could keep my Glock 26, P365XL, P229, and add the P226 and 1911 next time. Unless I get a Glock 29 I’ve wanted bad for some time

Can’t you add other pistols in between CCW renewals? We can here in SD County, just need to have your instructor qualify you in the new pistol. I’m thinking about that since I currently just have my 365 and my 320–I removed my 226 and 2022; sort of silly that I did.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Can’t you add other pistols in between CCW renewals? We can here in SD County, just need to have your instructor qualify you in the new pistol. I’m thinking about that since I currently just have my 365 and my 320–I removed my 226 and 2022; sort of silly that I did.

Some counties do allow modifications - some do not. Sacramento County does not, but El Dorado County does (at least at this time).