Ready to start carrying - any advice?

[SKS_Fanboy93]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. Some good info here.

 

[Charlie]

>
Yes, I always advise new folks to not start-out with too large of a gun. It is essential that you realize that "sometimes carry" is extremely dangerous. Therefore, carry all the time you legally can. Remember that a smaller gun, which is more comfortable to carry & won't be left home, is better than a too-large gun which won't be there when needed. Don't get too carried away by all the technical talk. ANY GUN is always a lot better than no gun !

I was caught unarmed by a violent ex-con ONCE; that cured me of the "I'll carry when I think I need to" mindset forever.

Invest in good belts ! Belts will "make or break" your experience. In recent years, I use GALCO belts almost exclusively. You'll end-up with a "holster box" just like the rest of us. IWB's are easier to conceal. Not knowing your type of weapon, can't advise further.

Good Luck & may GOD Bless !

leVieux
.

EXTREMELY good advice!

 

[SKS_Fanboy93]

>
Yes, I always advise new folks to not start-out with too large of a gun. It is essential that you realize that "sometimes carry" is extremely dangerous. Therefore, carry all the time you legally can. Remember that a smaller gun, which is more comfortable to carry & won't be left home, is better than a too-large gun which won't be there when needed. Don't get too carried away by all the technical talk. ANY GUN is always a lot better than no gun !

I was caught unarmed by a violent ex-con ONCE; that cured me of the "I'll carry when I think I need to" mindset forever.

Invest in good belts ! Belts will "make or break" your experience. In recent years, I use GALCO belts almost exclusively. You'll end-up with a "holster box" just like the rest of us. IWB's are easier to conceal. Not knowing your type of weapon, can't advise further.

Good Luck & may GOD Bless !

leVieux
.

"Remember that a smaller gun, which is more comfortable to carry & won't be left home, is better than a too-large gun which won't be there when needed."

I agree with this completely. If I were trying to carry around a full-size like some guys, I'd probably get sick of it and leave it at home. Pocket pistol is better than no pistol.

Also IMO, shot placement, faster follow up shots, and greater mag capacity pretty much trumps terminal ballistics every time. That's why I choose 9mm over .40 or .45 for both my carry piece and my HD pistol.

 

[Charlie]

Mag capacity, in my own opinion, is somewhat overrated. Twenty rounds is great but I'd think very few of what us honest, non-criminal folks would not need that many. The key is shot placement. That said, I carry nine rounds of .45 in a semi-auto or sometimes only five rounds of .357 mag. I do not feel under-gunned. Just my own personal opinion.

 

[SKS_Fanboy93]

Mag capacity, in my own opinion, is somewhat overrated. Twenty rounds is great but I'd think very few of what us honest, non-criminal folks would need. That said, I carry nine rounds of .45 in a semi-auto or sometimes only five rounds of .357 mag. I do not feel under-gunned.

9 round of .45 is pretty good. I don't want to ignite the 9 vs .40 vs .45 debate though.
I will say that I definitely shoot faster and more accurately with a 9mm.

 

[Charlie]

Practice at the range will make the biggest difference. Any caliber will do good if it's properly placed. More mag capacity just gives one more chances of getting at least one in the right place.

 

[Sam7sf]

I don’t have much to add as others have pointed you in the right direction. I will only add: Train and pack with what you can hit with.

Don’t buy a gun just cause it’s the hotness of the month only to find out you suck with it. I went back to packing service or full size depending on who makes it, not because of capacity but for being able to shoot better. In turn I not only can defend myself better but I can improve my odds of not hitting something or someone I don’t want to.

 

[Charlie]

I don’t have much to add as others have pointed you in the right direction. I will only add: Train and pack with what you can hit with.

Don’t buy a gun just cause it’s the hotness of the month only to find out you suck with it. I went back to packing service or full size depending on who makes it, not because of capacity but for being able to shoot better. In turn I not only can defend myself better but I can improve my odds of not hitting something or someone I don’t want to.

Exactly! If you can shoot well with a .45, use it. If you shoot better with a 9mm use it. Accuracy is the key.

 

[craigntx]

I like deep cover pocket carry with camo pants from propper or Rothco. My g26 comes out easy.
When its jacket season I'll use a galco or bianchi belt rig and maybe a g19, g19x. Maybe a g17.
Or maybe my miami classic shoulder holster..

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

Practice Practice Practice know your weapon.
Ftf drills fte drills drop mag clear reload.
No matter what you carry spare magazines. Period.
If you carry 45 that shit is heavy. 9 I don't know about. I carry 45 3 spare mag.
But I accept the weight. But like 99% here said your not here for a extended battle.
Imho it's for escape.
But if it jams etc you got to know what to do.


Carrying is serious business and now you have to ask yourself are you truly ready to take someone's life...??? You must reconcile yourself with this Period. Because if you are not don't carry.

The ramifications of this world change your life forever.
P.s the law is important but thought is paramount

 

[Charlie]

I have more than one .45 1911. The one I carry 90% of the time is a "Defender" with a 3" barrel and a shorter grip. It has some recoil but I've been shooting it for many years and feel very comfortable with it.

 

[SKS_Fanboy93]

Practice Practice Practice know your weapon.
Ftf drills fte drills drop mag clear reload.
No matter what you carry spare magazines. Period.
If you carry 45 that shit is heavy. 9 I don't know about. I carry 45 3 spare mag.
But I accept the weight. But like 99% here said your not here for a extended battle.
Imho it's for escape.
But if it jams etc you got to know what to do.


Carrying is serious business and now you have to ask yourself are you truly ready to take someone's life...??? You must reconcile yourself with this Period. Because if you are not don't carry.

The ramifications of this world change your life forever.
P.s the law is important but thought is paramount

If de-escalation is possible, I would greatly prefer that route, and I'm not just saying that. If it's a choice between drawing and firing on the bad guy, or myself or a family member being injured or killed, I'll draw and fire without a doubt.

I thought about carrying at least one spare mag, and I might, but I'm thinking that if I need more than 10+1, I'm either a terrible shot, or I'm in deeper shit than a pocket pistol can resolve.

 

[rotor]

I didn't go back and read from the start of this thread but if I'm not mistaken, long guns may be carried in a rack that is visible. Am I correct?

Don't need to be in a rack, can be open, exposed and loaded.

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

If de-escalation is possible, I would greatly prefer that route, and I'm not just saying that. If it's a choice between drawing and firing on the bad guy, or myself or a family member being injured or killed, I'll draw and fire without a doubt.

I thought about carrying at least one spare mag, and I might, but I'm thinking that if I need more than 10+1, I'm either a terrible shot, or I'm in deeper shit than a pocket pistol can resolve.

Point but what happens when you have a mag problem or ftf t fte and you in the middle of some shit? Do you holler time out so you can clear your weapon ?
Or do you drop mag clear and move on?
What happens if your mag fails and you have only one
Asking for a friend

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

But sorry I'm a old head one is none and you can never have enough

 

[SKS_Fanboy93]

Point but what happens when you have a mag problem or ftf t fte and you in the middle of some shit? Do you holler time out so you can clear your weapon ?
Or do you drop mag clear and move on?
What happens if your mag fails and you have only one
Asking for a friend

That is indeed a valid consideration. I'd expect anything I carry to be able to cycle hundreds of rounds of the shittiest ammo (I test with steel case, crappy JHPs, and the ammo I plan to carry of course) without a single failure, which my P11 has done. But anything is possible.

 

[Charlie]

Don't need to be in a rack, can be open, exposed and loaded.

Thanks!

 

[kyletxria1911a1]

That is indeed a valid consideration. I'd expect anything I carry to be able to cycle hundreds of rounds of the shittiest ammo (I test with steel case, crappy JHPs, and the ammo I plan to carry of course) without a single failure, which my P11 has done. But anything is possible.

What's the old saying the best plans don't survive first contact

 

[Sam7sf]

Sks, ditch the keltec. This is your life we’re talking about.

 

[rcvasquez]

I keep mine in it's holster unless Im on the range or cleaning. The holster is it's new home. I also take my holster off put it in it then attach it to my belt. Since I'm not an leo I don't see the need to reholster while it's on my belt. Seems that's when most nds happen.