Carrying advice

I always pocket carry. In cargo shorts I carry a G26 with a G19 mag and a X grip adapter in a desantis pocket holster or a Ruger

$16 SP101 CRL "Sparkle" Cleaner and Stain Remover - 8 oz. Bottle

SP101 snubby in a Desantis pocket holster. When wearing jeans I pocket carry an LCP Custom in a Desantis pocket holster. When Hog hunting I carry a 3" GP100 in a belt holster. Just my .02

 

I carry the same...except in a 45 caliber...goes everywhere i go

 

In the pocket, it's hard to beat a S&W 642. Revolver reliability, super light (15oz), affordable (~$400), and +P 38 Special beats .380 hands down. Carry mine in a Nemesis holster.

All that being said, I've been eyeballing an XDS45.

 

I went to shoot straight today, I was told the LC9s was a terrible gun for carrying. He suggested a Glock 43, a NTS Stealth, and Smith and Wesson 40 - 3.1in. I loved the deal of all three, the trigger pulled nice and was hard enough that I'm not going to feel uneasy carrying a loaded gun with one in the chamber. Any thoughts on the three?

For those who think I don't opinions, they help a lot. I want to make sure whatever I buy I'll like.

 

I've had about 20 pistols and currently about 12 the LC9s is the most comfortable concealed carry pistol I've every carried I forget its there. On just a regular iwb leather holster. Its slim and rounded.
Don't get me wrong there are things I don't like, I think the factory sights are lame. And just haven't gotten around to getting some replacments.

 

The only one of those 3 that I've shot is the G43 (my edc) and i love it!

All I've done is added some night sites.

 

I carry either ans LCP custom with hogue grip and belt clip or a SHIELD 9mm with Viridian light(also with belt clip).Both guns carry very light and easy to conceal in winter i carry my XDM 45.

 

"The Glock"? Which one?

You have compacts (19/23/32/38), subcompacts (26/27/29/30/33), and single stack subs (42/43). Not to mention the full-size options. If you're looking for something that's larger than an LCP but still shootable, I doubt the 26 is going to be too large for you. And if it is, the 43 would be perfect. The concealability between it and an LCP is negligible, but it is exponentially better in terms of ergonomics, trigger pull, and functionality.

 

Glock 43, I looked at one today, as well as a shield and a S&W 40. Loved them all, just can't decide which I'd like.

 

Go to a range that rents pistols and get some real trigger time with each. That'll really let you feel what's going to shoot best.

The best gun for you is the one you shoot. If something carries well, but you hate shooting it, you'll put off practicing. Find the gun you'll actually put in time with.

 

Another thing is getting a shootable pistol. I've got everything from a .32 to a .45 for CC. I think the one that has the least room for use is my .40. In a really small pistol, I'd rather have the extra round and handling of the 9mm and in a larger pistol I'd rather have the power of the .45. Seems strange because on paper the .40 has everything going for it. I just have a hard time finding a niche for it in actual use.

I've got a P239 in .40 and have never really cared for it even though it is a great pistol and great round. I think maybe the reason is the .40 just doesn't fit my needs like I thought it would.

 

Springfield XDM, XD Mod 2, XDS. I only stick with my XDM 3.8 sub compact 9mm in kydex iwb. What ever you decide to go with just make sure your comfortable with it and practice with it. Big responsibility.

 

I took the ccw class last week. My permit should be in next week. Held and shot a few guns and ended up ordering a S & W shield. Seemed like a good combo of size and i was fairly competent with it. Im getting the 9 mm.

 

Well you got past the first step, a class.
While there is much more to it then that, we'll talk about the second step, the gun of choice.
I absolutely hate 9mm. I hate the .380 a little less. I like a .40 s&w but absolutely love a .45 acp. Find a caliber you like then a handgun in that platform, or find the platform
You like a caliber you like.

A 9mm is very fast, I see most pass throughs present with a 9mm. As such, a pass through does not end with as much damage or hemorrhaging. Hemorrhaging is blood loss and blood loss is stopping power. A .380 will have less of a chance of pass through but cause less damage, allowing suspect to absorb more rounds. A 40 is a larger bullet then a 9mm of course and slightly slower and heavier allowing a better chance for suspect to stop the bullet. A 45 acp is much slower and much heavier. Pass throughs may still happen but at a much less percentage. A 45 also leaves one hell of a wound channel and some incredible hemorrhaging. I got into a shooting in 09 with our dept issued 9mm and after 2 hits, 6 more rounds and 2 of those being hits the dept began to ask why the first two didn't do anything. Since then we have moved up to 45 and every police involved shooting since then has ended immediately concluding suspect being hit.

I have seen people shot in the face by issued 45 rounds and fall like a sack of potatoes and the eyeball hanging out, then the next night say a guy shot in the same spot in the face over a drug deal with a .380 and was still talking, was transported and lived.

So some things to keep in mind, I'll carry a 380 off duty before a 9mm due to he fact I want to do my part to eliminate pass throughs on innocent bystanders. I'll carry a 45 before I carry one of those. If it's too hot to hide my 45 I'll carry a pocket 380, so needless to say, I wear what I can to hide the 45 as much as possible with current events.

After you decide all that, do some shooting under pressure and see how you do.

 

Some of that has to do with choice of ammo as well. 9mm has a fairly broad range of bullet weights available. The 147gr bullets are usually 200fps slower than the 115s. Some even slower. I like the heaviest, slowest bullet I can get in the 9. Federal makes a fairly slow 150gr load that delivers. Of course I prefer my .45 and that's what I will have with me if I think there is a greater chance I'll need it.

 

I have the M&P40C and love it but really only carry it on me in the woods. If I carried on the daily, I would use my kimber .380 micro carry which is definitely a pocket pistol but has crimson trace laser built into the grips and is very accurate for such a small piece. Found it new on sale for $750 and got my M&P40c for around 400 out the door.
Really it all depends on how you feel when you hold and/or shoot the gun. Feel is everything. It has to fit in your hand and eventually feel just like an extension of yourself. Sounds funny but if you're not familiar with every inch of your gun and comfortable with being able to confidently use it when you intend to, then why are you carrying a gun in the first place? Go for feel more than looks.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/micro-rcp-lg-1
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57955_757781_757781_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

 

The 9 can be had "relatively" slow, but still non comparable to a 45. You can show me all the numbers hat are printed, once your on the sending end of a 9mm and see that it's not working, be developed a hate hate relationship. Even the best 9mm self defense rounds, which we carried can't hold a candle to a defense 45

 

This... I fully understand that a .380 is less than ideal. However, I've yet to see the knife that I'd trade it for. And an LCP is as easy to carry as a knife, and not much heavier than some knives. I actually forget about it sometimes. To me, that means it ALWAYS gets to go with me with out being a hassle, in a Dessantis pocket holster. I'd put it up against any gun left on the nightstand.

 

Obviously bigger will almost always be better. I've seen and helped treat over 400 bullet wounds from various rounds from .22 to .50 and know every one is it's own unique experience. I much prefer my .45s but they are not always practical. Any gun is better than no gun.

 

What a crock of shit.