There are some definite signs that you have the wrong concealed carry gun. Granted, much of what makes for the right concealed carry gun or a good concealed carry gun is totally subjective.
Much of what makes the right concealed carry gun is totally down to what’s right for YOU.
Plenty of folks carry a Taurus G2C. Lots of folks carry a GLOCK 19. Plenty of people are just fine toting a Government frame 1911. (I work for a holster company; I have the sales data to prove it.) You may commence the GLOCK vs 1911 argument in the comments if you desire.
With that said, there are some universal signs that you may have the wrong CCW gun. What are they? Let’s talk about that. Bear in mind that all of these can be ameliorated to some degree, but only so much can be done at a certain point.
Sights you can’t see.
Unless you exclusively use point shooting with your self-defense gun, sights that you can’t easily see are a problem.
Granted, point shooting is a viable combat shooting method up to a point, but it isn’t taught by many shooting instructors for the simple reason that the modern technique tends to work better.
If you can’t see your sights well, you’ll have a harder time with accuracy, and that’s what wins gunfights. We’ve likely all heard the old saw that “Speed’s fine, but accuracy is final.” There’s something to that.
Most self-defense shootings involving civilians – not police officers, not soldiers…civilians – take place up close and quickly. Therefore, you need to get on target in a hurry. If you need to shoot at greater than bad breath distances, tiny or hard-to-see sights can make that harder.
If your sights make a sight picture difficult, that costs time you can ill afford in the moment of truth. This can be fixed in many cases with a set of aftermarket replacement sights, but if you have trouble with the sights on your carry gun, this is a good sign they or the gun needs to be replaced.
The wrong caliber for you
 (Uploads) [Public domain], <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cartridge_comparison.jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a>)
If you find that you don’t shoot .45 ACP very well, then don’t carry a gun chambered in that caliber. If that means you have to ditch your .40 S&W pistol because it’s too snappy, then do it. That may also mean that a gun chambered in .44 Magnum isn’t a great concealed carry pistol for you, despite what you may have seen in the “Dirty Harry” movies.
Besides, he even admits in “Magnum Force” that he actually uses .44 Special because it gives “better control under recoil than a .357 Magnum with wadcutters.”
Say what you want, but this was a contributing factor (not the only one) in the FBI ditching 10mm and why almost all police departments now issue 9mm pistols as their standard duty weapons. Nine is cheap, effective, and easy to shoot, particularly with today’s much more effective JHP rounds.
If you don’t run a gun well because of the caliber, then you shouldn’t carry that gun in that caliber. You can switch to reduced recoil loads, of course (185-grain .45 ACP works very well…so do light .40 S&W loads) but it’s better to have a gun that you shoot well to start with.
Your gun doesn’t fit you
You shouldn’t have to reach too far to put your finger on the trigger face, nor should the trigger reach be too short. Your finger should reach the trigger shoe naturally, without strain or impediment.
This is one of the reasons 1911 pistols have stayed so popular; they’re ergonomically excellent. Ditto CZ pistols. This is also why GLOCKs, with their 22-degree grip angle are so polarizing.
You can make an almost-fitting pistol work, with swappable back straps and thinner or thicker grip panels, sleeves and so on. But a concealed carry gun that fits you right will be one you that you’re more likely to to shoot well, something that’s critical in a defensive gun use situation.
If it doesn’t fit, you should probably quit…carrying that gun.
If you can’t hit the broadside of a barn
You don’t like shooting it
There are plenty of CCW pistols out there that are compact AND pleasurable (or at least pleasurable enough) to handle and shoot. Since the handgun market for civilians is so large – because we’re one of the few countries that deems civilians worthy of carrying a concealed pistol – you can easily find one that you can afford.
It’s like the rest of your concealed carry gear. If your holster isn’t comfortable, and if you can’t train with it, you’re going to find excuses not to carry. If you don’t like your gun, you’re going to find excuses not to train with it.
It takes too much fettling
It’s one thing if you have a target pistol, family heirloom or beautiful barbecue gun that needs extra care to keep it in shooting condition from time to time. If your CCW gun needs too much attention…it’s just not reliable.
You need to carry something you can rely on to work. A gun that goes bang every time you pull the trigger. If your car broke down every other week, chances are you wouldn’t have it for long, either. Do you want to risk you life on a carry gun you can’t rely on?
So, what do you think? Any other telltale signs you have the wrong concealed carry gun? Want to get into the caliber wars or the whole GLOCK vs 1911 thing again? We hope not; that’s been done to death. Sound off in the comments!
6 Ways To Know If Your Gun Website Is A Clickbait Factory
Well, where’s your list of six?
Well…
#1. Terrible Sights
#2. Awful Triggers
#3. Unsupported chambers and Likes to go Ka-Boom instead of Boom
#4. You paid $500 instead of $300 dollars
#5. Says “Made In Austria” and glock on the side.
And finally…
#6. Your leg develops a spontaneous leak, A.K.A. glock leg
And not for people that can’t follow simple instructions or have the memory of a goldfish.
I’m sure that I can count on the fingers of one hand how many people have needed more that 1 to 3 shots to get themselves out of a problem. I’ve had my pockets on my carry pants replaced with heavy canvas. My snubby is totally invisible. This is all fantasy land. You all are fantasizing that you’re in a movie.
You’re right. Normal day to day I carry a lady smith .357 in my pants pocket. She ain’t a lady. When I’m off on the motorcycle, I carry a 1911 Defender in a custom holster on my belt, because it’s easier to get to at 70 MPH.
if Dirty Harry uses ” a hi-speed special” why does the gun always kick like a mule?……
1: Its old and outdated
2: It doesn’t work reliably
3: It’s broken
4: It doesn’t belong to you
5: You cannot use it
6: Lists are easy
Click bait and an article that was written in 30 seconds or less.
Much like those click baits that say “Hidden every day items you MUST know”
Then its a list of crap millennials don’t know because they never had to do any physical work in their lives like stud markings on a measuring tape or the arrow on your gas gauge that tells you which side of the car the filler neck is on.
We’re doomed….
How about:
I can’t keep it concealed on my carcass?
1. It’s not a 1911.
There. Solved a ton of people a bunch of time.
It is some form of 1911. The most ergonomically perfect pistol ever designed except maybe a BHP.
My BHP hurts my hand to shoot. That little hump is exactly in the wrong spot. 1911 is much better. Plus the thumb safety sucks compared to a 1911.
That is why Sig invented the P220.
My XD45 is far more reliable and almost double the capacity of a 1911. Yes, I own several 1911s and carry my XD. Don’t give me that crap about a 1911 being more accurate. In a gunfight, minute accuracy is meaningless.
You make it so easy.
I forgot my EDC gun (9mm glock) in my work locker the other day. I had to carry my 1911 (.45acp) the next day. Came home from work carrying a 9mm Glock and .45 1911 at the same time…. by the time I got home the rift in the space time continuum threatened to consume the Alpha Quadrant. I put the guns in separate rooms in my house and the rift sealed. It was a close call. The government told me not to share this story, but the truth must told.
Lol😂😂
I “carry” a north american mini…but always try to keep something bigger…usually much bigger…. close at hand…
Same here. People can knock it if they wanna but it works well for me.
What happened to this site? Oh yeah, Farago sold it to this bunch of clowns.
I don’t know, “pieslapper,” it looks like most of the clowns are posting comments here.
Everything has a rush to print feel.
Even the gun reviews just seem to be a whitewash of another review, just change the company name and firearm, all high priced pieces and rave reviews with systematic detailed groups.
Everything here has sold out to money, adds everywhere and nearly every article tries to sell you something in some form or another, either by name dropping or extra details.
I recently replaced my CCW of close to 25 years (a Walther PPK/S in .380 ACP) with a Sig P365 in 9mm. The main reason was my aging eyes. I couldn’t see the sights anymore unless I had my prescription shooting glasses on. The Sig Day/Night sights are a huge improvement. That is what prompted the change, and in retrospect, I should have made the change a couple of years ago.
My TruGlo TFO sights on my EDC G32 and my EDC G43 are the bomb.
Best sights on the market for EDC.
My 1911’s are 10-8 NM or Novak rear sights and TRUE gold bead like the Cabot globular bead.
Can’t speak specifically on the PPK, but with most any black on black sight, a dab of white nail polish on the front is an incredibly cheap and easy fix. Pretty durable too and super easy to reapply.
whatever happened to that glow-in-the-dark paint that we used to put on our sights?
Not sure about ‘glow in the dark’ but there’s special sight paint you can get through Brownells, Midway, etc. The nail polish is cheaper.
I use to be able to handle / shoot any gun, but age (73) and health issues have now limited what I can handle and shoot. I love 1911’s but the .45 acp was getting too much for me to handle and I couldn’t rack the slide anymore. I haven’t been able to find a reliable one in .380 or 9mm. I’ve tried 2 different Springfield 911’s in .380 and 2 different Browning 1911 .380’s and all 4 guns were a piece of crap ! Even after sending them back to the factories and them sending me new guns, they were not dependable at all. JUNK ! My 2 carry guns now are Glocks……a model 42 in .380 and a model 43X in 9mm. Both of these guns are very dependable with no malfunctions and very accurate. Do not waste your time and money on a Springfield or Browning.
Can’t handle the 1911’s slide and want to go down to a .380? Try Colt’s Mustang or the “Government Model” .380. I have one and love it. It’s light, easily concealed in either my IWB or my Ted Blocker wallet holster, and as dependable as the full sized 1911. Add in some quality personal defense ammo and you’ve got a mean little weapon. Plus, this little weapon is a Colt.
can’t handle slides anymore?”……get a revolver!…..
Totally agree about the Colt. My carry piece is a Mustang+II, and I love it. Use a SoB IWB holster. Took a trip back to NYC many moons ago, and carried it around all day, in comfort and concealment. On the train ride back to L.I., my wife happened to put her arm around me, and felt the gun. Shocked look, saying, Did you have that on all day ? Yup, that’s why it’s called ‘concealed carry’.
After my two hundred rounds of break in, I had no problems with my SA 911. I’ve had it for a year this month and have probably put 1000+ rounds through it. I do, however, per factory recommendation, clean it thoroughly every 100-150 rounds. Maybe I was lucky?
A good friend of mine has a Sig P238. 2500 rounds and counting and he has only had 1 malfunction in the first 100 rounds but has been reliable since. I’ve shot it but I’d rather have a lighter gun but its seems it would be something that you might be interested in.
I understand the 73 year old man that can’t handle a 1911 in 45 ACP any longer. At 77 I can’t handle the 1911 any longer, for the same reason. I now carry a Ruger LCR in .357 magnum and load it with .38 specials. The magnum is four ounces heavier than the .38 special model, which helps reduce the recoil, even more. Still at seventeen ounces the magnum model is still light enough for pocket carry. With our aging population, this may be the direction a lot of older people and women are going to, because of all the new revolvers on the market, in the last two or three years.
Yea, I’ve thought about getting a revolver also….and, like you loading it with .38 h.p.’s. Right now, I’m comfortable with my Glock 43X, Glock 42, and Ruger LCP ll. When it gets to the point I can’t handle them or don’t feel comfortable with them, I’m going to go with a revolver of some kind. Thanks, Guys & Gals.
Number 7: Your gun is too big and heavy.
As a result, you don’t like the huge amount of weight that you have to carry. And you are not able to successfully conceal it.
For most people no gun is too heavy. If you aren’t an 11B or in the trades the difference between commonly carried pistols is in the noise of daily life. Beyond age an infirmity the people who say to heavy are generally people who carry a gun in the certainty that they won’t ever need it.
Within the realm of “reasonable” handguns, I agree that none of them are too heavy with the right holster and carry method.
‘Your gun is too big… and you are not able to successfully conceal it.’
Simple fix for that. A steady diet of Bud heavy and pizza and some 4XL t-shirts. Problem solved.
I had to wait to get my P229 SAS GEN2 40S&W. Its a smooth fast draw weapon snag free. It was worth the wait at the time some GOVT department bought every one made. A hot and heavy 9mm P+ 127 gn. recoil was actually a bit more than my hand made .400 Lehigh XD 115. About .3 lbs. No difference except the 9 must use a over or + Pressure round and my round is standard pressure. If you want smaller, than a nine is hard to beat. But today’s modern bullets the .380 is also a very good way to go. The closer you are the less you need. Even a snub nose 38 or once called a “belly gun” is all that’s needed, ask Oswald:). My hope is there is distance and I can attempt to retreat to cover. Hope the aggressor decides to give up and leave. If we had open carry I would use 10mm Auto with 6″ barrel. I prefer to point and shoot and the longer barrel is easier for me to stay on target. I started out dry then got a revolver and used blanks. After awhile I started using 22 shorts. But this was a long time ago. If you have never seen stupid people with guns please watch.
As a NRA instructor for several years, I’ve seen sooo many NEW shooters come to the class with what someone else either “liked” and “said it would be great for them to get, too.” Or, husband or boyfriend telling the little woman what she “needed.” Usually, although well intentioned (probably), that ain’t how it should be done.
Spend some time with an UNBIASED and KNOWLEDGEABLE INSTRUCTOR at the RENTAL COUNTER. Work on the basics…weight, grip, trigger reach (as the OP mentioned), how to actually prepare to fire and actually (DRY FIRE) pull the trigger.
Compare carefully all of the details of fit and comfort before ever actually firing a round.
If it’s not both comfortable and fun…there probably won’t be any practice time.
Without some instruction dedication to practice time, you’ve just wasted your money and brought home a liability.
I mentioned “unbiased.” Some instructors don’t believe in “different strokes for different folks.” Dedicated sales people of one brand or another get locked in to their product line. I understand that…but, sometimes they just don’t have the right fit. They’re wrong if they try to “make it fit” for you by radically adjusting away from natural grip. What works for him probably won’t work for her is usually accurate. Personally, I strongly recommend a relatively small caliber revolver for anyone who is not going practice FTF/FTE, tap and rack drills at least a couple of times a month with a semi-auto. I know lots of folks blow that off…but, it better be 2nd nature if you need it.
Even if you are a somewhat experienced shooter…review the fit of your CCG from time to time. Things may have changed more than you know and some bad habits may have crept in.
What this guy said
Amen. A bunch of you forgot to say amen to the gospel of the right gun for you.
Agreed! I teach mostly women and have had too many show up to class with a gun somebody else thought they should get that was totally wrong for them. There is no ‘one size fits all’ handgun. I’ve even had a couple of sessions with the employees at a well-known chain store about selling guns to women and how to help them find the right one. Makes me mad that too many want to hand a newbie a hammerless snub-nosed revolver because it’s light and has a pink grip. Ugh!
So…..if you basically ignored any and all recommendations on the interweb and bought something that your uncle Jimmy needed to get rid of…..you might need a new carry gun.
I do disagree with “you dont like to shoot it”. If it is painful, of course you want something different.
However, some guns just feel a little awkward. For me it’s a double stack glock. I never feel I am totally in control of the gun and I’m just hanging on.
What this does is make me very aware of my grip, sights, and presentation. And I actually shoot them pretty well.
So I guess the “cant hit a damned thing with it” is probably number one of the flags to look for a new Roscoe……just not from your uncle Jimmy.
That’s how I feel towards most striker fireds. I just don’t like the trigger, the ergos, and they all rattle a bit too much. Other then the M&P. That’s the only striker fired I actually like.
I want to carry a S&W 686 with a 9″ barrel (if there is such a thing) so when I pull it out for self defense the bad guy (1) has a heart attack from seeing such a monster and (2) dies from the one bullet I fire.
Festus,
I really like your style!
May I suggest a revolver with a 6-inch barrel in .44 Magnum instead? That will almost certainly give anyone a heart attack from seeing that monster. And since that hand-cannon will launch full-power 180 grain hollow points at something like 1,600 fps (over 1,000 foot-pounds energy at the muzzle!), I am pretty sure anyone who absorbs one of those center-of-mass will be taking the room temperature challenge, thus satisfying your second requirement.
Disclaimer: I am a .44 Magnum revolver fanboy and always carry a .44 Magnum revolver (with a 6-inch barrel) when I am camping, hiking, and hunting.
My couch gun is a .44 mag Blackhawk (50th anniversary model) with a 6-1/2″ barrel loaded with PMC 180gr. hollow points. Partially because it’s about as pretty a gun as I’ve ever owned and partially because it’s got to be damn impressive when someone’s pointing it at you from 2 feet in front of the bridge of your nose. Add the obligatory ka-click of the hammer and you’re in serious shit your pants territory.
Never underestimate the psychological impact of a firearm’s visual aesthetics 😉
Brown pants are better than opting for ventilation.
Governor Le Petomane,
I also load PMC Bronze 180 grain hollowpoint cartridges when I am concerned about human attackers. They come out of a six-inch barrel at 1,600 fps which is devastating.
@u_s – they’re also one of the cheapest .44 mag loads out there, so there’s no reason not to practice with what you shoot.
“(2) dies from the one bullet I fire.” Followed immediately by a trip to the emergency room to set your broken wrist/forearm bones and address the gash/skull fracture on your forehead and testing for traumatic brain injury… Find yourself an old AMT 22 automag with 6 1/2 inch barrel, looks impressive and can cause some serious problems for the intended target just don’t point it at their face…
MadMaxx,
In the event that you were referring to my suggestion of carrying a .44 Magnum revolver with 6-inch barrel, you can avoid the mythical levels of recoil with a full-size revolver, a ported barrel, medium power loads, and proper technique.
I have literally taught a 115 pound woman to shoot that revolver comfortably.
Actually my response was a joking reply to the original post (why I placed his #2 reason in quotes) I’m very proud of your ability to teach the meekest among us to get in the game with equality and have no inclination to disparage your carry choice or that of anyone else.. I personally carry a Glock G29 (10mm) with extended (G20) mags which provide more stability as well as 6 extra rounds.. I carry 235 grain hard cast lead rounds that will punch a hole through a wild hogs skull and scramble it’s brain. I own a 44 magnum but it is far too valuable as a home defense gun to carry daily (never know when you might need to shoot some asshole through a solid oak door, a wall or an engine block:).. I also have and occasionally carry a Ruger P90 and a 1911 both in 45, I have a couple of 9mm and yes an AMT automag in 22 magnum hell I even have an 1860s era working Navy Colt in 44 caliber black powder. I am not an auto vs revolver participant as I firmly believe and understand that each has its place and use.. To each his own.. God bless America and the freedom to choose..
For someone who goes by the name Maddmaxx I’d think you’d poo-poo the .44 mag for being too weak, not powerful.
Doh! I see from your second reply this was in jest. My bad.
i was trying to play nice, besides you can’t fit a LAW in a concealed carry holster and underwear carry is definitely out…
Ditch the 9” barrel and buy a Ruger Alaskan, essentially a snub nosed 454 Casull or 44 Magnum. It will be heavy and a little hard to conceal, but not impossible. The yawning chasms on the business end of either are almost guaranteed to cause cardiac arrest before you have to pull the trigger. I. live in a Constitutional carry state, so concealment and permitting are optional.
Try a Performance Center .460 with a 7.5″, or go up to 10.5″, 12″, or 14″ if that’s too short. After you shoot the first 5, you can bludgeon the rest.
Just buy a Walker Colt replica. Most bad guys don’t have a clue about guns.
You haul that monster out of its concealed backpack carry and pulse rates will elevate.
you want a scary-looking gun that intimidates by appearance?…try a taurus judge defender
I like the raging bull myself….
there is lots of it here…
This was a good article, thank you. I’ve had the oppertunity to try a wide variety of guns from buddies and nice folks at the range. With time we all do figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Can you conceal it?
Yes or no. Pretty much sums it up. Wardrobe and body type are the biggest factors.
If you can owb, do it. Don’t buy into the owb fear-mongering.
I sure get having crappy sights. Need an upgrade on my lowly Tauruses and my AR15. Getting old sux and my eyesight is fading. Lots of irons in the fire…
former water walker,
I highly recommend Nikon’s M-223 1-4×20 rifle scope for your AR-15 rifle/s.
They are compact, produce excellent images, and have fantastic eye-relief. Perhaps best of all, you can set them to 1X magnification (which really isn’t any magnification at all) for home-defense. I have one and really, really like it.
former water walker,
Friendly hint: said scope is on sale right now at Natchez Shooters Supply for $149.49 which is an incredible value in my humble opinion. (Shipping will add an extra $10 or so.)
What do you use the AR for? Tons of options for sights. I have always something that works with standard iron sights, not flips downs, in case of optic failure.
My Gold Cup fits me fine. When shopping for a full size 9 mm, I looked at a CZ 75 B SA but found it was a bit too big and the trigger break wasn’t crisp. I ended up with an S&W Performance Center M&P 9 that I shoot with the smallest backstrap.
I was impressed by the P365 I rented. It fit my hand well and was comfortable to shoot with 115 grain loads. Trigger take up is a bit crunchy but that didn’t affect my shooting and it diminishes with use. The break isn’t the proverbial glass snapping but it’s far better than most striker fired pistols including several with supposedly “good” triggers.
If you’re a newbie and need a gun now I’d recommend a GLOCK Brand Glock 19. You’ll figure out all the rest later.
And what you will “figure out later” is that you just paid over $500 hundred dollars (and that’s before you replace the poor sights and trigger) for a $300 hundred dollar gun that is inherently flawed.
The S&W Sygma glock fixes some of those flaws and costs $300. It’s still not great but its better than a real glock. And at a more reasonable price point for what it is.
1: You don’t carry it.
I know I have the wrong concealed carry gunm. However I learn best by my mistakes, so until that happens I will stick with what I got.
I’ve got quite the collection of small pistols before I found the one that I really will carry every day “;^)
It’s a feature not a bug.
I’d love to carry a P226 but it doesn’t fit my hand or conceal anywhere near as well as my P225.
The P225 just fits my hands a lot better and I can operate it weak hand only, strong hand only, and clear malfunctions with either hand (which I practice regularly).
For UNCOMMON SENSE(my phone sux too). Thanks for the advice! I’ll google it but if it’s more than my rifle it ain’t happening😏
Glad you are still using google, makes all your rants seem… pretty hypocritical.
Here is reason #7. If you pocket carry have you ever gone to the range and done live fire practice? If you are too uncomfortable to do that perhaps you have chosen the wrong carry method if not the wrong pistol.
” If you pocket carry have you ever gone to the range and done live fire practice?”
Of course. If nothing more than to get the draw right so that the pocket holster hook catches the edge of the pocket leaving the holster behind. That and the finger out of the guard until on target. Get the timing right and it’s as quick as most concealed carry methods and quicker than some. After all I can have my hand on the grip of my pistol without raising any suspicion…can you?
The draw from a pocket is almost as problematic as appendix carry if you don’t have a pocket holster or you get that finger in too quick. Proper equipment and practice is key.
Also practice reholstering by completely removing the holster from the pocket with the off hand. Then place the gun back in the holster before inserting back in the pocket. Is reholstering as easy and safe for you?
Bully for you sparky. I really don’t care that you do it. The point is there are people who don’t feel comfortable live firing pocket pistols yet carry them anyway. If someone isn’t comfortanle pulling a gun with a live round out of the their pocket at the range, and we know such people exist, they shouldn’t be pocket carrying. I would wager that a majority of people who carry in any mode have never live fired from the draw if only because they don’t have a range that allows it.
No real disagreement…..still the first rule of a gun fight is to bring a gun.
Even if you haven’t practiced.
For heaven’s sake at least have it in a proper holster and don’t carry anything else in that pocket.
My wife asked me why I was carrying my everyday carry gun at home. I told her, “decepticons.”
She laughed. I laughed. The toaster laughed. I shot the toaster.
Good times. Good times.
I would add is it legal in your state… yes, I know, shall not be infringed. I am a true believer in that phrase. But should you need to defend your life with a firearm in one of the restrictive states or with a local DA who seeks heads to mount on the wall of their future higher office, there are enough solid options around to not run afoul of the law.
For instance, In Virginia, where I live, the concealed limit in a handgun is 20 rounds.
What about the “open” limit.? 😉
Call me old. What is the “new technique”? Why is it superior over point shooting? Especially in CQB/street range. Get it out and shoot, NOW! range.
The rest of the article was ok, but old hat to most of us.
Maybe good advice for new shooters.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to carry anything larger than a .22. I think just shooting it at the problem person would scare them enough to make them run off. Heaven forbid actually killing someone. I think the criminal justic system would take care of ever seeing a person that tried to do harm to someone. Let them go to court and take their punishment instead of actually trying to kill them yourself. I don’t think you could live with yourself knowing someone died by your own hands.
” I don’t think you could live with yourself knowing someone died by your own hands.”
It gets easier each time until eventually it becomes 2nd nature, some people just need and often beg to be killed.. Your faith in our court system is commendable however the reality is that more criminals walk every day with a slap on the wrist than truly receive the “justice” they deserve especially in these days of “sanctuary” cities where rapists are set free to go back and terrorize their victims again or go out and murder three elderly women.. You should take comfort in the knowledge that should your life be threatened by one of those animals there might be someone willing to do the hard stuff close enough to help you.
unless they shoot back…then you’re in deep doo-doo!…
I’m alive and happy about it.
Cartridges suitable for self defense should be able to stop the attacker from continuing his attack. (That’s why .380 is considered a reasonable minimum today. You should not depend on scarying him with a .22, it may just make him more angry.) Killing him is an unfortunate possible side effect that he brought on himself when he decided to attack an innocent person.
On the other hand the lowly .22 killed a lot of people. Shooting your attacker with one doesn’t guarantee that he will live. But it’s not the best for incapacitating him right now.
Breaking news; Glock makes a 1911, breaks the internet. Film at 11.
Just watched an hour of local and an hour of national news, it’s nearly midnight, did someone not get the memo?
CCW remember? AZ heat, light clothes, 6′ 230 lbs, former Marine. Sig P290, DAO, 9mm, TruGlows, Hogues, 8 + one (extended), 3 finger grip. Tucks IWB with Sticky just fine with light covering shirt, indistinguishable. Simple and it fits.
are the sticky tucks for flareup prevention?
Primary EDC 1/2 the weight of a 1911 empty, 10+1 .45 ACP, Tritium/Fiber Optic sights, 4-pound trigger and a nice fit in the Galco holster I’ve carried it in since day one.
The backup/social gun weighs 1 pound with 6+1 and holster. Locked breach .380 (Colt DAO) that I can consistently hit an oil can with at ten yards. (when I can find oil cans that aren’t collector’s items now)
The 1911 platform is still my all time favorite handgun, that I carried for years. Now at age 77 my Ruger LCR works best for me. The short sight radius and double action only, is now my concealed carry gun. It hurts my arthritis hands to load magazines, operate the slide and field strip for cleaning. We have an aging population and a lot of them must think like I do, considering the number of new revolvers on the market.
@ Phil Witte: What you need is a UpLULA magazine loader to spare your arthritic fingers. Greatest thing since sliced bread.
The author does not live in the real world. Video’s of police shootings show that a large amount of time neither the cops or civilians use their sights on their handguns. Its point and shoot and shoot fast because they are in a life or death situation. I remember one traffic stop shown in Columbus where the Cop and the bad guy shot it out at less than a couple of feet. Neither side scored any hits despite more shots being fired than the Battle of Verdun. The bad guy then just jumped in his truck and drove away. The cop was too shook up to follow him. The bad guy mad a successful getaway that day too.
Maybe because cops are not the epitome of supreme training? Yes, continue to never use the sights, ever. That’ll make sure you’ll always be perfect and never miss, or worry about missing. I would bet everything I own that there’s plenty of cops who do the complete opposite: ie, use sights, make hits, and do it quickly.
For every dumb cop video you find, I’ll bet you I can find 3 of someone using the sights, hitting what they’re shooting at, and doing it faster.
just hope it’s not in the middle of someone’s back as they’re running away….the best advice for employing a firearm is “when in doubt…don’t”….
“The bad guy mad (made? it’s your quote) a successful getaway that day too.” Sooooo.. did they sell all the radios and helicopters in Ohio? I can see two scared shitless individuals busting caps and not hitting anything but I can’t see the guy getting cleanly away after shooting at a cop… In most states there would be a statewide manhunt involving all agencies and probably the FBI as well until that asshole was caught… If this was on video they had the vehicle, tag number and probably the perps face.. Vlad, are you makin’ stuff up again?
I recommend the gun Walter MItty carried which was a huge Webley-Vickers automatic in the super day dream nightmare blaster caliber .777 nitro express. Its quite impressive to see the 20 ft muzzle blast burn down trees , grass and bushes as well as permanently making deaf everyone in the radius of 10 miles. You will never go wrong with a big bore blaster, Walter Mitty guarantees it and would he lie just because he works for the gun rags?
Brand of gun, model, caliber, holster, position of carry…all meaningless for the most part.
It’s far more important to find one, practice with it and CARRY THE EFFING THING.
Sam I Am might have an XYZ GLOCK carried in the ABC position in a EFG holster, while Thing One and Thing Two have the identical set up and it sits at home with the rest of the toys and is wholly worthless.
The point Im making…a person could have an horridly expensive grand piano and not be able to play anything while another person has a beat up hand-me-down piano he got from his grandmother and he can play it beautifully. Far too much emphasis on gun and caliber. Find something you like, practice practice and practice THEN CARRY!
if you have a taurus curve on your left hip…
Still carrying my 1911 .45 after 40 years! 9mm kills the body but .45 kills the soul..lol.. only takes 1.. 2 if they are running fast!
Would not carry a .45 open, makes a nice target. Concealed, it makes a nice impression. Love a .45, but in more of a military context. However, for a home defense firearm, it’s right up there with a 12 gauge shotgun.
I have given up hope that Mr. Hoober is capable of learning, but I cannot just let this error slide. It’s in a bullet point in bold faced type, for crying out loud!
Fettling is: the material with which the hearth of a puddling furnace is lined, usually a dolomite or refractory mixture.
The word for which this ‘professional’ ‘journalist’ is apparently grasping for, but without success, is “fiddling”… maybe.
fet·tle
/ˈfedl/
verb
gerund or present participle: fettling
trim or clean the rough edges of (a metal casting or a piece of pottery) before firing.
NORTHERN ENGLISH
make or repair (something).
Incorrect:
“Definition of fettle
(Entry 1 of 2)
: state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form —often used in the phrase in fine fettle
Definition of fettle (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb
: to cover or line the hearth of (something, such as a reverberatory furnace) with loose material (such as sand or gravel)”
-https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fettle
if it pokes out when you unzip your fly.
My Bersa Thunder .380, since 2005, in a slider holster, safety off (holster covers trigger), 90 gr hollow point in chamber, 6 more in mag. An absolute, if I have to, weapon. Zero at 25 yards. DA/SA.
If you can’t properly conceal the gun/holster combo with your normal attire, you carry it at risk of violating some state laws if its opserved. Try different carry positions, holsters, or gun.
with enough ammunition, you can learn to shoot pretty much any gun reasonably well. even micro pistols. so not being accurate (accurate enough for a DGU) with a gun is almost always the shooter’s fault.
the way you know if you have the wrong carry gun is simple: if you don’t actually carry it.
Where can I go that is reasonable and find the right gun for myself regarding conceal and carry?
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