What's Your Daily Use or Carry Piece?

[kilogulf59]

My normal carry piece is my old Charter Arms 2-inch Undercover .38 Special loaded with 158grn. LSWCHP +Ps, usually Remington brand, in a UM Super Belt Slide with a Speed-Strip in the pocket.

The gun is pushing 24 years old but functions perfectly with many thousands of rounds through her, non +P for practice of course.

I bought her because she was half the price of a J-frame and I was living in Chicago at the time with my wife and a baby on the way. I needed something concealable to escort them through the more questionable areas of the city.

[FireMaker]

Issue gun is Sig 229 (.40). Typical second is SP101. Also use PPK and NA .22 for deep concealment if needed. Put a lot of round throught the SP101.

As an aside. Put laser grips on the SP101 (crimson trace) about 2.5 yrs ago. Always carry it as second gun for work so was good to have the option. Also carried as second gun for raids and the laser sometimes was helpful. Around Christmas the switch was shorting out. Sent it back to Crimson Trace and they reworked it to factory new, replaced the batteries, gave me new allen wrenches and the little lenz cleaner. Turn around time was 7 days over the holidays. Very impressed.

[lostinthewoods]

my wife and a baby on the way

Was it a mail order bride? Sorry man I couldn't resist! ;)
For some reason that just jumped out at me! lol

Anyway usually everyday I carry a KEL TEC P3AT in 380.
It's a sweet little piece and has always functioned perfectly for me. It usually rides in my back right pocket infront of my wallet. You'd never know it's there.

If I'm out with the wife and kids then I usually carry a Tauras Millinium in 45ACP. It usually rides in a IWH on my strong side just behind the crest of my hip. Also a Flawless preformer with plenty of stomp for ANY occasion. This pistol fits the hand very well and is a joy to shoot.



lost

[Old_John]

For me it's a Ruger............
Either a 3" GP100 or an SP101.......every day.
But, only when I'm awake.

[Uncle_Alvah]

CZ .45

[RangerRick]

Colt Goverment Pocketlite in .380 hollowpoints for summer carry and a 1911 with 4" barrel in .45 hollowpoints for the rest of the year and my 24/7 back-up is as always a North American Arms .22 hollowpoint 5 shot revolver in a knife holster on my belt.

Rick

[Backwoods_Bob]

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o320/etdbob/guns/P1010025-1.jpg
I carry the .44 around the homestead, and carry the .357 in town.

[HillbillyPapa]

Here's my Smith & Wesson 38 special. I wheeled and dealed the Hock Shop man down to $310 bucks on it and got a full box of Remington shells to boot. Tax and all was included! It was in the original box it came in in 1955, and had only been shot 4 or 5 times I was told. It was in perfect mint condition, and still is. I carry it in a back pocket type holster with a clip on it. It is very accurate at 30 or so yards. The man was wanting $400. bucks for it without the shells or taxes, so I got him talked down pretty good don't cha think?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/HillbillyPaPa/MVC-047S.jpg

[Whiskey_D.]

Glock 19 carried in a Galco SOB holster.

[Tuckahoe]

My carry gun is a Taurus Ultra Lite .38 special. I carry it in a nylon pancake holster or a Galco ankle holster. My next handgun will be a Taurus Tracker in .44 magnum.

[NowKnowYe]

Wheel guns fer me....
Wintertime regular carry: Ruger SP101 hammerless .357 magnum...BUG and summer regular carry is S & W 642 .38 +P

:D

[Matthew]

I carry an H&K USP Compact in .40 S&W.

http://hk-usa.com/index.jsp?loc=101&SITEID=A&PartNumber=704531

I carry it in a Milt Sparks Versa Max 2 (IWB) if I'm not in a suit:

http://miltsparks.com/

If I'm in a suit I use the Mitch Rosen 5JR from the express line:

http://www.mitchrosen.com/product_line/product_line.html

And both holsters are used with a North Carolina-made gun belt from:

www.gunnersalley.com

[wy0mn]

Ruger stainless Birdhead in .32H&R Mag. Only handgun I currently own. Next one will be a BFR from Magnum Research.

[kilogulf59]

Sorry I haven't been back for a few. I belong to many forums and have my own as well so I've been a bit busy.

Lost...they came FedEx man...

WOW...you all have many nice weapons.

What do think of Ruger's SP101?

Backwoods Bob...isn't that a sweet Security-Six I see on the flap holster? BTW, do you make your own rigs?

HBPapa, that's a great deal on an even greater gun. I love those snubbies...

Matthew how are H&K pistols? I have zero experience with them but many rave about 'em.

wyOmn, I think, for a plinker, that the BH Rugers are way cool and .32 Mag is a nice cartridge. Do you hand load?

Hey, if anyone needs to contact me just e-mail...like I said, sometimes I get lost for awhile.

Later folks.

[Matthew]

I like H&K, but they are pricey. I got mine for $655 out the door, NIB. The thing that sold me on the H&K was the grip angle. From the first time I held it up, it pointed exactly right for my hand. I have the traditional DA/SA trigger, and it is nothing to write home about. I carry it hammer down, safety off. The first pull something like 12 pounds, so very much like a revolver, except not as smooth.

Never had a misfire or malfunction and it is easy to maintain. Some don't like the mag release, but I love it. Bottom line, they are worth the money if they fit your hand well. Otherwise, there are cheaper options. (Glock)

[kilogulf59]

Matthew,

Can we refer to Glock Pistols as "less expensive" as opposed to "cheap"...LOL... :D

Seriously now, you said "The thing that sold me on the H&K was the grip angle. From the first time I held it up, it pointed exactly right for my hand. " That's a key point in a weapons purchase and often overlooked.

Reliability is number one and "fit" and pointability is No. 2 in my opinion. Ease of use is a close third.

BTW, I find the Glocks good pointers and fit my hand well. Though my G30 is pushing even my limit, the G19 (on my wish list) is near perfection...for me.

Now you have my interest up and I'll have to scrounge up a H&K to try.

[Matthew]

Matthew,

Can we refer to Glock Pistols as "less expensive" as opposed to "cheap"...LOL... :D


Sure, fine by me. I think Glocks are great weapons. I had one before I got the H&K. The real difference is that when I would go shooting with the Glock, I had to concentrate real hard on the sights being held just right to hit anything. Once I tried the H&K, it was point and shoot.

I'm not knocking the Glock, it is certainly less expensive than the H&K, and just as reliable, but the angle wasn't for me.

One Glock I'd like to try is the 36 in 45ACP. I like the single stack grip size.

I looked at Sigs, but I couldn't get past their "weird" controls, with the decocker forward of the slide release. They pointed almost as easily, but when it came down to it H&K won out.

Give them a try, you may like them.

[jim]

I shot a Glock 36 at a range last year. The thing had a sharp recoil, but I had no trouble keeping the slugs on 3" targets ar 25 yds. I was shooting Winchester FMJ white box.

jim

[Matthew]

I have noticed that Winchester White Box is some hot ammo. That's some good shooting too!

I have a friend who is looking at getting a Glock 36, so maybe I'll get to try it soon. Thanks for the info. -Matthew

[kilogulf59]

Oh hey Matthew, I was kidding about the "cheap" thing and I feel you made the correct choice for the right reasons.

That G36 is a sweet piece and, if one can handle the recoil, an excellent combat weapon. Years ago I wrote Glock about a single column Commander size pistol in .45 ACP. Needless to say I never heard a thing.

FWIW....45 ACP is the only caliber that I use ball ammo in for combat purposes.

I like the G19 because it's an all-around type gun/caliber. Everyone in my family can handle both the weapon and the cartridge's recoil. Not to mention is conceals well, is easy to operate, and has a good magazine capacity.

[foxfire]

I carry a Sig P220 .45 . Wonderful pistol.

T.

[kilogulf59]

T, The Sig's I have handled were well designed and made pistols. How do you find the grip angle?

[HPshooter]

Well, I take a common student protractor and align the flat side with the line of the barrel... ;D

Sorry! I couldn't resist!

I have two carry pieces. My favorite is an old 1911 made by (get this) Norinco (yeah, the Chinese outfit). I paid ~$200 for it almost 20 years ago and it still shoots great and hits what I point it at.

My other one is a S&W "Sigma" in 9mm. (This is the S&W frame with the Glock slide on it. It's very similar to the G19, but about $150 less. (or more "cheap" ;) )

My 1911 is about the same width as the 9mm....!

[Crash]

My normal carry piece is my old Charter Arms 2-inch Undercover .38 Special loaded with 158grn. LSWCHP +Ps, usually Remington brand, in a UM Super Belt Slide with a Speed-Strip in the pocket.

The gun is pushing 24 years old but functions perfectly with many thousands of rounds through her, non +P for practice of course.

I bought her because she was half the price of a J-frame and I was living in Chicago at the time with my wife and a baby on the way. I needed something concealable to escort them through the more questionable areas of the city.

kilogulf59,

A double rifle in .470 Nitro Express backed up by a .458 Lott bolt-action....

Actually, wish I could carry the .470 NE, but my boss probably wouldn't like it, so when I do carry (can't at work because I work on an Air Force base), I carry a 642.

Crash

[Rick_O_Shea]

Sig P226 .40

My filtering process for handguns has always been "fit, finish, features, favor" - in that order.

Fit - no matter how good the gun is, if you can't wield it, it's worthless. I want a gun to feel natural in my hand and to point well.

Finish - this is where I get critical taking the gun apart to look at the quality of the engineering. Inspect the machining, mechanisms, and tolerances. I want to be confident in a guns durability and reliability.

Features - I am always mindful of the thought behind the design of the product. For more 'traditional' guns, this is not perhaps so significant, but even modern wheelguns should be engineered to be drop-safe, for example. I have respect for people who really think about our needs as responsible armed civilians.

Favor - this is where I trawl the magazines and Internet for a pile of reviews, opinions, bullshit and hogwash. I want to know what armed professionals think, and fat Bob at the range, and little miss Suzy...then I distill all that information to try and get a condensed impression on what the gun is really like to own, carry and use.

Of course, there's always the never-ending macho bullshit about caliber...I view this as a parallel consideration. Let's face it, having your body perforated with any chunk of metal, regardless of diameter & mass, is never a good thing. A well placed .22 can be just as lethal as a .45. However, I'm no 'surgeon', and know my limits, so I tend to follow the rule of thumb that the only credible calibers start with a "4".

Then again, the whole argument can be reframed depending on the context within which you are buying a gun. Is it a fun plinker? If so, why not go for a .22? Plenty of good times shootin' the hell outta cans and stuff for very little expense! If you're looking for a gun for security or hunting purposes, then we have to think more seriously about caliber...and 'terminal performance' for the intended target(s).

[dannanchieftain]

I carry out in public a NAA 22 mag mini revolver for threats under 20 feet. If the threat is over 20 feet I employ the "RunMFRun" tactic or "Door Locks and Duramax Diesel"

Around the Homestead I carry a Ruger Blackhawk 45 colt or a taurus Raging Bull in 454 Casull.

[patrickstickler]

Ruger SP101 carried IWB with a clipdraw.

[Weezin]

I've been carrying a colt officers model -45 in S.S.
As I get older its becoming a bit heavy. So have been pack'in my Charter Arms 38 undercover.
Only carry when I go into the big city, Anchorage.
..................Dennis............

[Farmer]

For everyday carry -

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/KWMcClure/P5240038.jpg

And for backup or in light clothing -

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/KWMcClure/P2120001.jpg

[RioShooter]

I carry a S&W .38 snubby in a Mika's pocket holster in my front right pocket.

HillbillyPapa, that's a nice lookin' snubby. They are great carry guns.

[nancy1340]

For a small purse carry it's a 9mm Sig.
If I have room or travel by car it's .40 Sig.
If I in Colorado at a friends cabin it's a .44 S&W Mountain Gun.

[Badger]

I daily carry is a department stock Glock 22. My personal back up gun is a Glock 27 with Glock nights sights.

Off duty is either my Glock 22 with Night Sights or my Glock 19. Same BUG. Also a Sure Fire 6P light.

[AARTY]

well that all depends on what I'm doing. Never leave the house without my .32acp tomcat in my back pocket. Since the family and I are traveling for the wife's career I do not carry my more serious gear. in states I am allowed to CCW again always have the tomcat but carry a Colt Commander .45acp IWB-SS spares on left hip. While we are traveling I carry a Taurus 24/7 .45acp in a Miami Classic SH with cuff/light/spare mag on right with the Colt Commander IWB-SS. I do it that way so that while driving I can get to the taurus and when outside I have the colt more accessible. Since we have started to get into gem hunting I either carry my 2.5" Taurus 415 in .41mag or 4" S&W 586 .357mag Both in a belt slide I am however thinking about getting a dedicated pistol-belt and holster for gem hunting. I keep Hydra-shok's in the .32acp, Golden saber's in the .45's 210gr semi-jacketed soft-point's in the .41 and 158gr jsp's in the .357

[DM]

Depends on the time of the year... I carry a S&W M-29 in hunting season, or a Colt Woodsman on the trapline...

Over the years, i've carried a S&W M-19 more than anything else... Either in 44 spl., or 357 mag...

Here's the custom 44 spl...

http://www.fototime.com/BE455B3C554B45A/orig.jpg

DM

[Mossback]

S&W 642 - it's a .38 snubby with laser grips.


*********
www.girlwithagun.blogspot.com

[torenghout]

I used to carry an air weight 357 124hp as pictured above but now carry a blackwidow 22mag, but will probably buy a p3at to have mag compatability with my wife.

[ozarksnick]

NEF snubby in .32 H&R Mag

[lostone1413]

I carry a XD Sc 9mm I carry it with a 16rd mag plus two spare 16rd mag. I also Appendix carry. Makes it fast to get to and about the only way I can get made if they pat me down

[HeavyJ]

I switch back and forth from a Glock 17 to Steyr M9. Both loaded with Speer Gold Dot 124gr.

[Stinger]

:) Always carry enough gun! Here's my cheap Glock -

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/Me_2U/GlockG-213-1.jpg

I've been having terrible accuracy problems with it, too. Next time I'm just going to have to spend more money and get something decent! ;)

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h39/Me_2U/Typical16yardRapid.jpg

[BIGGKIDD]

A Taurus 24/7 .45. It accurate enough for me not too heavy since its made out of space age materials and has a stainless barrel. As long as you don't stuff the mag the weight is not bad. If your fully loaded 12 in mag one in chamber its a bit heavy. Its NEVER jammed. I prefer to tuck it in the back of my pants, It doesn't lend itself to a shoulder holster its not well balanced when fully loaded and tends to turn a shoulder holster at odd angles. I still use a shoulder holster from time to time mostly if I am working or taking a long walk.

2ND carry piece is a .44 MAG. Super Black Hawk with hand loads. It a real heavy beast 7.5" barrel all stainless great hunting gun but HEAVY and big. But good to over 100 yds. And if you need it for close up you can just reach out and smack something like you've got a base ball bat in your hand.

Larry

[Mac_Muz]

Ouch ... Larry, you just might want to go with factory ammo for any carry piece you would consider man to the the beast with.

The law is a funny creature, and rollin yer own loads for defence is a sin as it is seen by law.. This is just so you know ok?

We CCW guys don't shoot to wound, we don't shoot to kill either, but we do shoot to stop.

We try to use the same ammo the local cops use, so we don't get a bad rap for some hand load which would be considered cruel and inhumane.

If you were to ask me I would say use what ever load suits you and serves the purpose on bad guys, but I don't get to make the rules.

A jury is another very strange critter if you ask me. They somehow find some real odd balls to say these are your peers.. Yikes!! look the hell out now!

I am 55 and have longer than shoulder length hair, and so I gotta wonder if I would suit you as a peer?

I know when I see "suits" I do not identify with them. To me they are rubs and yuppies, all into finacial gain. They push and shove papers all day long, while I spin wrenches push dirt, cut trees, and build with rocks.

I am nothing like them, don't understand them, and don't need 3/4er's of what they got, what ever that is.

Almost none of them can do things I do commonly, but I get to work for them. Some of those tales are funny, but way to far off topic.

I was concerned you could be in deep kimshee however with those rolled loads you make..

[BIGGKIDD]

Mac Muz

I carry federal if I am not hunting. You are right some of these laws are a joke, but I try to abide by them. I haven't carried the .44 as CCW its just to big. I use to have the long hair too but as it gets thinner on top I have cut it shorter. ;) Sorry I didn't state that well in my first post hand loads for hunting and factory for any thing else.

Larry 8)

[Mac_Muz]

LOL, My first carry was a Ruger Super Blackhawk, and the guys that made verbal threat to me and my 2 year old son were sure unhappy I had that.. I was a wicked heavy thing in a ungainly home made shoulder rig, but it worked. No shots fired. in fact I only made a motion towards it, and the holster did the rest.

[Crash]

S&W 642 in the right front pocket, loaded with Speer 135 gr Gold Dot +Ps (the "short barrel" load). However, I may change to Corbon 110 gr DPX +Ps as soon as I can find some.

Crash

[Old_John]

I just switched.

I went from a Ruger SP101, .357, 2", in a Galco OSW High-ride Pancake holster to a Ruger GP100 .357, 3"
carried in a Simply Rugged OSW Sourdough Pancake
holster.
Each loaded with 145 gr. Win.STs
Heavier.........

[fishercat]

I went from S&W 65-3 357 to a Glock 23 (more rounds ,lighter carry)

[FL_Jet]

My wife and I both carry NAA mini revolvers in .22 Mag. If I ever need hers or if she ever needs mine there is no confusion and no learning curve to shoot it since they are identical except for the serial numbers. I am looking to purchase a couple of Makorav pistols to ride around in the truck and jeep as dedicated vehicle guns. And again, identical guns for both of us, so that there is no confusion if I need to use her Jeep (and therefore, her vehicle gun) or vice-versa.

[Ocala]

Carry F.E.G. hungarian made 9mm Like a ruger and carry 2/ 22 rd clips and 2/ 14 round clips so 72 rds hehe but lots of others if the SHTF ;D

[Eastex]

I bought my wife a Walther PPK in .380. She hated it, I love it. It's small in my hand, but a nice shooter, and easily concealed.

[Stolen_Moments]

Glock 29 for winter. Springfield Armory XD 40 cal. S&W subcompact for warm and hot weather. And the backup, plinking weapon is a Walter P22 in 22 LR

[Malamute]

When up on the mountain where the grizzlies live, I carry a Ruger 45 with heavy 325 gr handloads, and a Browning 1886 carbine with heavy Barnes 400 gr loads. When down off the mountain, a Winchester 94 (pre-64) carbine, and a Smith 24 or 29 with medium powered loads, or, ocasionally, a Smith 19, tho I REALLY don't like the noise level of the 357 for the power level delivered. I take the dogs out daily in the hills. When driving or in town, the same low country guns ride on the seat or along the front of the front seat. The bear country guns are usually in the back also.



"The law is a funny creature, and rollin yer own loads for defence is a sin as it is seen by law.. This is just so you know ok?"


I don't mean to be argumentative (Not sure how else to say that!), but I've never heard of any laws against handloads for self defense or any other purpose. Do you have any information about that? What state, or what the wording of the law is?(I use handloads for most purposes)

I've also seen the discussion about using handloads for self defense being an issue in a self defense shooting, but so far, nobody has been able to show any documented instance where this has happened, or changed the outcome of the decision if it was a legal or proper shoot. It either is, or it isn't justifiable, and the loads has no bearing on that.
Just curious.

[lewis56us]

Just bought a couple of months ago, a Springfield Armory 1911 GI Champion. Recently took the class and got my CCW. Still getting used to carrying all the time. I have an IWB nylon holster from Ace Case, and a belt hoster from Uncle Mike's. The IWB holster rides on my right hip and the belt holster usually is in front of left hip in a cross draw fashion under a loose fitting shirt tail. All depends on what I'm wearing that day.

[Badger]

I've recently started carrying a Glock 21 in a Blade-Tech holster. I'm looking at a Glock 35.

[NowKnowYe]

Summer Carry is S & W 642 .38+P Snubnose Revolver.
Winter Carry is Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum Snubnose Revolver.
Spring/Fall Carry is Mossberg 500 20 ga. Shotgun (under 30" & under a duster coat). :o ;D :-/

[Dawgus]

Glock 22, Colt srs 70 commander lw, Ruger sp101, or at times a Walther tph in the back pocket

[AARTY]

Malamute, There are no laws, that I am aware of, that prevent the use of Handloads for self-defense or for use in a firearm used for CCW. The reason it is STRONGLY suggested that you use factory loaded SD rounds is that a defense or prosecuting attorney can very easily make comments to the jury like "The Defendant made these bullets specifically to kill my client/the deceased" do a search on Massad Ayoob. He is a firearms instructor/police officer/writer who has been used as a professional witness in several cases involving SD and officer involved shootings. When it comes to juries in areas where there are anti-gun sentiments or just plain ignorance(which is the majority anymore) Perception is more persuasive than fact. One rule of thumb Ayoob gives is to find out what the LEO's in your area use as Duty ammo and to use that type of cartridge for CCW or SD. The reasoning behind this is to counter the attorney statements mentioned above.

[AARTY]

BIGGKIDD, I have had no troubles balancing my 24/7 in the shoulder rig with a full load. It rides butt half down which is easier for me to grab on draw.

[Malamute]

AARTY, I'm familiar with Massads writing, I've read his work for years, and respect his work and experience.

In discussions of the handloads question, it's come up on forums a number of times, but so far as I know, nobody has been shown an actual case where it made a difference.

Maybe I'm spoiled also. In Wyoming, even the liberals have guns. I reckon it would be considered "gun friendly" here. I got stopped by a Wy HP officer (way back in the 1900's), when he came up to the vehicle, I mentioned that I had a pistol on the seat, he asked to hold on to it while he did his thing, came back, handed it back to me (still loaded and in the holster), I put it on the dash, and we talked guns, hunting, trucks, etc for 15 minutes. Most of the local cops I know are shooters and hunters. If a prosecutor or lawyer in Wyoming tried the "home-made-more-deadly-ammo" routine, they'd likely not last long in office after that, or be laughed out of the courtroom.