Recommendations for Concealed Carry (Vanity)

Self | 18 Aug 2012 | Self

[JaguarXKE]

Vanity. Looking for thoughts/ recommendations on weapon for concealed carry.

[cayuga]

It is hard to beat a Model 60, get a pocket holster, drop it in your pocket, and go.

I have to agree with c-b 1. I carried a Model 60 everywhere for many years. My current go-to gun is similar, a Model 638. It’s very light weight, and in a Kramer pocket holster it’s easy to forget you’re carrying. The only problem with it is that my wife borrows it so often I will have to buy another one for me.

I’m a dinosaur and prefer heavy bullets, so it’s loaded with 158 gr. LSWCHP.

Like others have said, a lot depends on your situation. I would prefer to carry a larger handgun, but the ten summer months in Lower Alabama make that impossible. The big boys stay home or in the truck.

My opinion: pack the most firepower that fits your hand and that you can comfortably conceal.

As for ballistics: Bullet placement is King. Adequate penetration is Queen. Everything else is angels dancing on the head of a pin.

[suthener]

“Is this the XDs you’re thinking about? XDS

Says on the side made in Croatia? That’s surprising. What is it about the XDs that you like?”

Yes, that’s it. I have, like I said earlier, an XDm. Yes, they’re made in Croatia, and they are very well made, very good shooting guns. It was recommended to me by a friend who shoots competitive .45. I’ve been very impressed with it. Cosmetically, it’s the baddest looking gun out there in my opinion. So, what I like about the XDs is the quality, and how compact it is for a .45 (which is the caliber I carry if at all possible). The only problem with the XDm is the size. To me it’s too big and heavy for normal concealed carry.

[RC one]

I don't disagree. of course you would carry a couple of extra mags for the violent flash mob scenario. That being said, 13 rounds of .45 acp is extremely authoritative and will resolve “pretty much any situation you might find yourself in”. I like the jack ass rig because it holds the extra mags actually but I think I like blackhawk serpa style shoulder holder more because of the position it puts the gun in and the retention lock. The serpa sticks out too far on the hip though with a full size .45. There's an extra mag option for that too. that's the rig I'm going to be using come fall.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I think the consensus is that a gun you are comfortable with and that you will carry, is the most important criteria, but I would always complement a cc with an appropriate knife.

This is because a gun and a knife are indeed complementary, and for optimal self defense you need both.

The third side of the triangle is situational awareness, because a lot of situations are either “sneak up behind you”, “quick and in your face”, or “not sure if I should act or just stand here”.

For this I remember the desert rule: that people have died of thirst in the desert with a full canteen of water they saved.

[JaguarXKE]

I found some reviews of the XDS on Youtube. Looks VERY interesting! I like that it’s a .45 with some real firepower, yet still easily concealed. Looks like its getting good reviews from the vids I’ve seen, one of which did a direct comparison with the Glock.

[papertyger]

I traded off all my Glocks for XDs, save for one.

I consider them equals, but the ergonomics of the XD just shoots better for me.

The Smith M&Ps also deserve a long hard look.

All three pistols have all the right stuff in all the right places.

[papertyger]

Be warned....EVERYTHING new gets good reviews from the guys that just bought them.

[BooBoo1000]

I have a SW 44 Special that I think is the cat's meow.I had a chamois lined holster made for it, special belt with 24 bullet loops and it has never let me down.I load it 225 grain Keith semi=wad cutter, and they seem to work fine.

[BooBoo1000]

I have a SW 44 Special that I think is the cat's meow.I had a chamois lined holster made for it, special belt with 24 bullet loops and it has never let me down.I load it 225 grain Keith semi=wad cutter, and they seem to work fine.

[JaguarXKE]

Good point.

[papertyger]

If anything catches your eye, before you buy it do a google search with “problems with” appended to the search.....

[itzmygun]

Well, you seem to be wanting a few things rolled into one. Keep in mind that guns are tools, each meant for a specific job. Does that mean you can’t find one that satisfies two desires? No, but gain one feature and you will most likely sacrifice a little on another.

There are too many variables to what gun you should buy. Price, body size, strength, habits, temperament, how you want to use it - all of them could be factors.

But I can tell you things I’ve learned about selecting a gun.

First of all, never let anyone tell you that a gun is too much for you or that you’ll be in danger if you have a certain model. We all drive 2000 lb machines in traffic every day, making coordinated decisions each second. A gun is simple. Point and click. If you can learn not to smash into traffic or avoid driving off a cliff, you can learn to work any gun. Just treat it like what it is - a deadly weapon - at all times.

Go to a gun store with a big inventory and handle a lot of pistols. Then go back and handle them all again. You will know which ones feel right in your hand. Don’t compromise on this no matter how pretty a gun is.

You can read a million things about any gun, good and bad. People are opinionated, and will not always be truthful with you, even if they don’t know it. When you find a gun you think you want to buy, research it thoroughly on the internet, giving more weight to the opinions of those who actually use and test the gun. I bought a CZ-97B and loved it until I found out that it was fickle about ammo. Now it sits in the closet.

This is the WORST thing that can happen. Once you feel a gun is unreliable, it will become a paperweight. I can’t tell you how to avoid that - even pricey, normally reliable guns can have eccentricities - but don’t sweat it too much. Just do one thing: find a deal. Guns keep their value. As long as you don’t overpay, you can always get your money back. Don’t just walk into the first gun shop and say, “I’d like to buy this gun.” Be patient. Shop around. Use sites like GunsAmerica and Gunbroker to get an idea of what you should be paying. Then deal. It’s like buying a car. Most good gun stores will work with you. Gun shows are even better. Those guys have invested in a weekend to sell guns. If it comes down to Sunday afternoon and they’re looking to make one more sale before they pack up, you might get a heck of a deal.

Oh, and if you want the PERFECT gun, look for a Kimber SIS Pro .45 ACP. I just bought one, and it’s the best gun ever! haha.

[taxcontrol]

Rule #1 - gun beats no gun
Rule #2 - shot placement beats big bullets
Rule #3 - he who shoots first, normally shoots last
Rule #4 - the more you practice the less you bleed

Corollary #1 - the gun that gets left home because it is:
too heavy
uncomfortable
not concealable
... is the same as no gun (see rule #1)

Corollary #2 - a .22 that hits beats a .44 mag that misses. Don’t buy a gun that you can’t shoot back to back shots accurately

Corollary #3 - The best gun in the world wont do you any good if you cant get it out of the holster and into the fight.

Corollary #4 - Use the range to improve your skills with accuracy, clearing jams and malfunctions, post fight checks (look left and right, check behind you, ask if everyone is alright). At home AND WITH DUMMY AMMO, practice draws and speed drills.

[RBK]

Check out the Star PD http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=301124801

Or the 44 Bulldog http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=300972346

Both are pretty concealable but pack plenty of punch.

[RCFlyer]

I looked and tried for a long time and ended up with:
- medimum size carry: Glock 19 with SuperTuck holster http://crossbreedholsters.com/SuperTuckDeluxe/tabid/90/List/0/ProductID/1/CategoryID/1/Level/1/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

- small size carry: Kahr CM9 is fine (cheaper version of PM9) with MiniTuck holster http://crossbreedholsters.com/MiniTuck/tabid/91/List/0/ProductID/6/CategoryID/1/Level/1/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

Must get a gun you will carry. Unless you live in a dangerous environment, 7 shots of 9mm is fine, lightweight, and you can carry it almost everywhere wearing almost anything. Got my PM9 on now and it’s my most used of five carry guns. Glock 19 with heavier clothing.

Both guns are fun to shoot. 9mm is a great bullet for self-defense (get the extra power +P or +P+).

CrossBreed holsters (listed above) are extremely comfortable for in the waistband (10% discount for NRA, military, police, etc.)

[Nathaniel]

If you don’t shoot regularly, there’s a lot to be said for a double action revolver in 38 Special or 357 Magnum.

[Vinnie]

I second it. Airweight .38 or .357 w/ .38 ammo. Practically foolproof. Stiff trigger, no safety or magazine release to fumble with.

Kick feels about like catching a hardball with bare hand but it’s something you won’t be shooting often.
Easy carry in a pocket holster, loose pants.

[JaguarXKE]

If you don’t shoot regularly, there’s a lot to be said for a double action revolver in 38 Special or 357 Magnum.

Well, I do take my P-38 (9mm) out to the range some, so I'm not totally without some shooting experience. I don't want to carry the P-38 because it's a WWII era heirloom from my father. By the way, my P-38 is identical in appearance to this one, except I need to make a correction. Mine is a "Mauser-made" Walther P-38. Where this Walther has AC42 on the side, mine has byf43, which according to some research indicates it was actually made by Mauser:

[41Thunder]

Although it’s pricey, I was introduced to the Kimber Ultra Raptor II in stainless. It’s a sweet compact .45 that fits very nicely in a IWB holster and tucks cleanly out of sight. It’s capable of sub 3” groups at 25 yards and is capable of handling a wide variety of ammo. You could pick up pair of Glocks for the price of one of these but I have to tell you once it’s in your hands you won’t want to put it down. The trigger pull is crisp and clean at about 4lbs. The tritium night sights are excellent in low light conditions. The frame is lightweight aluminum with a stainless steel slide. Empty it weighs around 25oz. This one got my vote for best carry piece.

[Titan Magroyne]

I wou;d so love to wrap my hands around one of those (PMR 30). KelTec makes butt ugly guns, but their innovation makes them one of my favorite manufacturers.

Am also drooling over their new double-tube shottie, but no way I can afford any more toys that go bang these days. Dawgonnit.

The PLR is nice, a real firebreather, tho.