Looks like a fairly realistic carry from Armando Arriaga who says he likes to keep size down and have some redundancy in his choices. The Smith and Wesson M&P Shield in 9mm is a popular choice of carry gun, understandably so. After thousands of rounds and no deep clean both of my personal Shields, a 9mm and a .45 ACP, have kept on running – and they’re accurate, too – so you could say they’ve proven themselves.
Do you prefer to carry a gun well-known for its reliability or would you rather use a less common model?
I’m a Glock guy through and through but my recently-acquired Shield in 45 is now my primary EDC. Accurate and reliable – what’s not to like?
Sig 226 for years, but now way too heavy (OWG) So LC9 or LCP. Both IWB and OWB and for that special occasion my LCP in a Galco shoulder holster. Love that ZT. Too much $$ so I carry my Leek. Don’t use a watch. Have a cell. Do Have a mechanical pocket watch for the special dress up ( w/SH)
The “cell phone as timepiece” thing seems inconvenient. To get the time, you have to dig your cellphone out of wherever it is and wake it. With a wrist watch, you twist your wrist a few degrees. One is definitely way more effort and hassle than the other.
I do not like that pocket watch with attached bracelet at all, it appears that it would be quite bulky in the pocket. I’d rather have a pocket watch with wrist straps
Holy crap! That was funny.
I had to go back and forth between the photo and your comment 3 times!
“The frisbee kept getting bigger and bigger. Then it hit me…”
PS Whats w/the whistle? And what kind of dog?/s
People carry whistles so if they’re in a car wreck and can’t yell or something they can signal. Or if they go off a ditch or something.
Mando,
Nice loadout. I broke the handcuff key in the Uzi Pen in an old pair of American Standard cuffs, but they sent me a replacement key free of charge. I like the Bersa Thunder .380 and the Ruger LC9S for concealed carry in warm weather. Both are reliable, accurate and don’t break the bank. I like carrying the Walther PP, but I don’t like the idea of engraved police property room markings in the event I have to use it.
My daily loadout:
Bersa Thunder .380 or a Ruger LC9S in Uncle Mike’s holsters
Two extra magazines in the left-side “phone pocket” on Taclite Pros
Hornady Critical Defense ammunition
5.11 Traverse belt
Cheap father’s day gift wallet from U.S. Polo
iPhone 6
Casio GShock
Cold Steel Mini Tac
Infinity Blades OTF with glass breaker
5.11 double duty pen
Nebo Redline flashlight
Gerber Dime
I rotate out between two different Berettas but mostly a Px4 in .40. On occasion I might carry a 2″ Rhino in .357 but I don’t trust it as well as the Px4, so it is generally regulated to range duty.
I used to rotate between two glocks but now I carry one S&W. Still putting it to the test weekly because that’s all the time I have to train with it, but so far, I love it and don’t see any reason to go back to Glocks.
I also keep my other items generally the same. I am fairly new to EDC and concealment, so it took about a year to get comfortable and learn what I needed/use regularly, along with the just in case items and separate them from excess bulk. It also took me that long to carry comfortably every day and be proficient with what I carry.
It wasn’t cheap to do so. I enjoy the Kydex holsters and making sure I have a plan on how to grab items one handed if I need to. Train and keep training. Reliability is costly sometimes, and at first, being able to maintain those items can be too. Most people cannot do it daily, but even at home dry fire drills and such are a huge help. Carry light and familiar, but carry what YOU need… not what others insist you will need.
There are still a couple items I need to add to my EDC… like a RATS tourniquet and some bushcraft skill sets when all these cool smart devices and battery powered tools fail me. I did not grow up with that kind of lifestyle, so I have no shame in admitting that I am acquiring it, slowly.
I would recommend a C.A.T tourniquet, and not the made in China junk the real thing. I think saving a life is worth the $20 to $30 you’ll pay for the C.A.T.
Now if you’re familiar with the RATS, or if you practice and you like it and trust it then fine.
My EDC is a Kahr pistol of some sort 95% of the time. My CW380 lives in the cargo pocket of my scrubs during the work day. When I’m in regular clothing,it’s a Kahr CM9 IWB(or another 9mm Kahr).
But I also have been known to carry a G43 or a G26.
There is great benefit in choosing a quality, reliable handgun AND sticking to a familiar manual of arms. I won’t even carry a 1911 because I think simple under stress is the best way to go. No safeties—just draw and pull the trigger.
i carry in the same type of holster in the same position no matter what pistol I have.
The Shield has been one of the most popular guns here on every day carry.
It would be very interesting if TTAG would actually analyze which guns appear in what order of popularity.
“and they’re accurate, too”. I have yet to shoot a firearm that is not accurate. I am not as accurate as I would like to be, but it’s not the gun’s fault be it with a subcompact or full size handgun, or a rifle.
Good article. Esp. about those who don’t ca reload or a back-up piece
One is none,two is 0ne.
Did Dan Z. die or have a stroke?
It’s 10:45 the next morning, and no TTAG first-post-of-the-day!
(I’m Jonesing, here…)
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