Thread: How many people CCW here?

Originally Posted by MinATX

I've considered it quite a bit, but Austin is pretty safe, with a few exceptions. Right now I just keep my guns at home. Also, my only handgun is a Ruger Blackhawk 357. It's my favorite gun, but it's way too big to carry around everywhere. I'd also kind of stand out with my 270 or 30-30 slung over my shoulder.

If I move back to Houston, I'll definitely get a CCW, and a smaller gun for the purpose. My problem is I don't really care for small guns. My next will be a Colt Delta 45, or maybe a Remingtom 1100 12 gauge. I don't have a shotgun.

Those blackhawks are great shooters, I have a 44. They aren't much for concealment, but sure are accurate.

I've got a Colt Delta Elite Government and talk about a sweet round to shoot, love it! I just got it back from Trijicon and have only put a box down the pipe...it has promise though. Just think about if you can find shells for it locally...if you reload then it's not a problem to shoot. If you don't reload, I urge you to go with a .45 in the 1911 platform...much cheaper and readily available. Another option is to get the Delta and then build a .45 slide for it and you will have two guns with the same trigger pull.

Gotta have a scattergun, my old 1100 is by my nightstand with an 18.5" barrel. I still believe that the shotgun is the most under-rated short range (-50 yds) weapon & an excellent home defense weapon. I typically hunt with an 870 though. My next scattergun will hopefully be a side-by-side, it just seems that $, or the lack there-of, gets in the ways of my wants...dang it!

When I carry, I usually carry a S&W 642 loaded with .38 Spcl +P. I practice with it frequently to distances of about 15 yards. Unfortunately, I'm feeling the need to carry more often than I used to. I keep a Sig Sauer P245 at my desk, and a Sig Sauer P226 in 9mm by the bed. No kids in the house, so they are all loaded and readily accessible.

Originally Posted by MinATX

What I especially don't like about small guns is the lack of accuracy. For example, I once tested a friend's 32. At 12 yards, the bullets were all over the target. I normally hit 3 inch targets with my blackhawk at 50 yards, freehand. I know that self defense situations would normally be a lot closer than 50 yards, but still at 12 yards I expect a fair degree of accuracy.

Maybe my friend's 32 was just a piece of crap, and had more problems than just a short barrel without real sights. How does that Ruger shoot at about 12 yards? Is that a 38?

This Ruger is chambered for .357, but you can of course also shoot .38 with it. For a small frame revolver with not so good sights, it's plenty accurate, especially in single-action (which I assume is how you get your 3" targets at 50 yds. ;-)) - I've hit torso-sized steel out to 75 yds. with it, and I'm really not a great shot with revolvers. You should be fine at 10-12...

Smaller semis in .32 and .380 are not inaccurate per se, they are just much harder to shoot accurately. The sights generally suck, grips are smallish and hard to get a good hold on, and there is less mass to absorb recoil, so they tend to feel a bit jumpy in the hand and generally "uncomfortable" to shoot. At bad breath distance in a pinch, that doesn't matter so much, but beyond 10 yds., accuracy will be somewhat harder to achieve. I have worked with smaller women whose local gunstore talked them into buying a smaller "ladies's gun"... it fits their hand okay, but they have a bad time shooting it, and are very pleasantly surprised when it turns out that a full- or medium-frame pistol is actually much easier for them to handle!

I like this kind of "pocket pistol" (e.g. Keltec P32 or P3AT, Seekamp .32, Rohrbaugh 9mm, Kahr P380) as a backup gun, or primary when you really can't carry anything else... My preference for primary carry is no smaller than a Glock 26, M&P 9c or XD Compact - all too big for a pocket gun, but still easily concealed and easier to shoot accurately, with 10-12 rds. mag capacity, and the capability to use corresponding full-size mags as well.

I tend to carry a full-size Glock, with a S&W J-Frame revolver (similar to the Ruger above) as a backup.

Originally Posted by RNMike

S&W Chief's Special .38 Stainless W/+P+. It packs a punch and will always fire! It's a great belly gun!

Nice to have when you need it. Carried one on my ankle for 10 years as a back-up. Oh yea, easy to clean. Just don't run a whole lot of +P ammo through it, which was advice from S&W armorer.

Relatively new member on the forum here but longtime gun owner. I've had Florida CCW since its inception in 1987. I usually carry a full size Kimber or Champion size SA 1911, sometimes a HK P7M8. The last six years of my career I was the medical team for my departments SWAT team. Carried a Glock 22 during this time.

I am also a NRA instructor.

Originally Posted by StephenPGrasso

Relatively new member on the forum here but longtime gun owner. I've had Florida CCW since its inception in 1987. I usually carry a full size Kimber or Champion size SA 1911, sometimes a HK P7M8. The last six years of my career I was the medical team for my departments SWAT team. Carried a Glock 22 during this time.

I am also a NRA instructor.

just a quick question is your H & K P7 as much of a pleasure to shoot as mine? For a small pistol that thing is so accurate and such a pleasure to shoot. I wish it was more concealable.

Yeah, I love shooting the P7. I used to shoot it in IDPA but it would get a little too hot after extended firing. I honestly feel that the gun is very concealable. I carry it in a Matt DelFatti IWB holster while wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

WA CCW Carry an XDm 3.8 .40S&W when I can. Currently parked in MD, and well, my permit is not legal here. When at work in Virgina, after crossing D.C., I can't carry. After I find land on Virginia, I will carry again. Permit is valid there.

They did overturn the outright handgun ban in DC. did they not? I understand it's still very difficult to purchase one there.

Have to be a resident with a permit to own. As I am neather, it is illegal for me to even possess the gun.