How many guns to settle on a carry weapon?

[volkstrm]

Well where do I begin? I used to carry my sig,226 in 40s&w or 357sig most of the time but now I carry one of my CZ,75 in 9mm. Fall & winter the full size 75BD then the 75 compact or the p-01.

[Spats McGee]

For semiauto: 4
For revolvers 1

I grew up in a house where shotguns were used far and away more than anything else, primarily for bird hunting. We had a few pistols and rifles, but they were used for plinking more than anything else. So I really grew up knowing very little about pistols, in spite of having a couple. Around 2010, two things happened: (1) I joined TFL; and (2) I got my CHCL. My first EDC pistol was a Springfield Armory GI model 1911. I wanted nothing to do with plastic pistols back then, and I wanted a carry gun 'in a caliber that started with a 4.' Besides, I'd wanted a 1911 for about 20 years. Initially, the gun was kind of a jam-o-matic, but my gunsmith squared that away.

Sometime over the next few years, I realized that I wanted a pocket pistol. I love my 1911, but I don't want to have to wear a cover garment when it's 103* outside, and I don't want to OC to Home Depot. So I picked up a Ruger LCR in .357 Mag. I think I fired 2 cylinders of .357 Mag through it before deciding it'd be OK if I carried .38s in it. Still have it, still carry it. I'm more of a semiauto guy, but it's a great little gun.

I carried the 1911 for about 3 years, but finally decided that it was kind of heavy. By then, I'd been hanging around here long enough that I decided that maybe, just MAYBE, I could try something in plastic. After several threads and lots of guidance from other TFL members (maybe on THR, as well), and plenty of overthinking, I bought a Gen 4 Glock 19. I named her Gretchen and carried her for 3-4 years, as well. I'd call her 'a very good gun,' but not 'Perfection.' I put about 2K rounds through her, had a slide lock spring break at about 400 rounds, and she ran like she should.

Anyway, after 3-4 years of carrying the Glock, I decided that I wanted to go even smaller. My daily attire is moderately dressy, and I wanted something that was just a bit easier to hide. I'd had my eye on the S&W Shield. In 2017, Shield prices went into free-fall as S&W geared up for the introduction of the Shield 2.0. Between that and a promotion by S&W, I picked up: (a) a S&W Shield 1.0, 9mm, with 2 mags; (b) 2 spare mags; (c) 3 more mags, ordered elsewhere; (d) 2 boxes of Hornady Critical Defense; (e) a magazine loader - all for less than $350 (if memory serves).

I'm at 3 years now, and am about to make another switch, this time to a different Shield. (Now that I put this in writing, though, I'm beginning to see a pattern.) I've long thought that the 1911 is almost the perfect size for a carry gun. However, when I made the switch to the G19 years ago, I pretty much decided to give up thumb safeties on my carry guns. And I've been awfully impressed with my Shield. I'm about 750 rounds in, and it's actually been better than my Glock. It runs, without fail, no matter the ammo, no matter if I've cleaned it, no matter, no matter, no matter. It's probably more accurate than I can wring out of it, and it handles recoil surprisingly well for a gun of its size. But I got to nosing around on the interwebs and realized that the S&W PC makes a Shield 45 with a 4" barrel..... It's almost the exact same size as a 1911 Commander, and it's a Shield. What more could I want?!? (The answer, as it turns out, is "A Shield that feeds properly.") I'm about to send my Shield 45 back to S&W, because it won't feed properly. I'm ~300 rounds in, and it's still not good enough for carry. That said, once I get it back, I think it will be my EDC, and my Shield 9 will go to 'Sunday-go-to-meeting duty,' for when I wear real dress clothes.

[2damnold4this]

In addition to the number of guns, I wonder how many different holsters for each gun people have tried before settling on a favorite?

[ms6852]

Though I have a variety of firearms I automatically picked a full size 1911, probably due to familiarity from using one in the military for a couple of decades. Though I had purchased revolvers and semi-autos, this were bought before I ever considered getting a license to carry as I never carried conceal. Once I got my permit to carry conceal I bought a Springfield 1911 for that specific purpose. Now recently at least 2 years ago I went through a mid-life crisis and felt I needed a change and now carry the 686* with 3" barrel.

[rodfac]

One if you do your homework, and borrow/rent enough possibilities; Two if you don't. Rod

[mikejonestkd]

I went through a similar process as Spats, going from a full size 1911, to a glock, a J frame, and now a gen 1.0 9mm shield.
I rarely carry, due to work and school restrictions, so a Shield will probably do me quite well for quite some time.

[jr24]

Honestly, I still haven't fully settled. About 90% settled with the option for a lighter gun in the hottest summer months.

But to get to this point? Geez, a lot.

Started with a P225 (and have a line on getting one next summer, it'll be nice to have one again) then a P220, 1911, a whole slew of Glocks in many calibers, a CZ P07, a number of Sigs again (226, 229, 245), back to 1911, back to Glock, back to 1911 again, 226 legion, Glock, then finally settled on a Wilson EDC X9.

it's possible I'll go back to a lightweight gun, like the Glock 19, again next summer.

[mrt949]

SIG 365 ,SW 40 C ,Ruger sp101 357.

[zoo]

I can’t settle on one firearm any more than I can settle on one pair of boots. Generally speaking though, a Sig P365 and Tecova Ropers.

[1911_Hardball]

Originally Posted by zoo

I can’t settle on one firearm any more than I can settle on one pair of boots...........

^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^
My choice of carry on any given day depends on:
weather
my mood
what I'm wearing
my mood
what is most handy
my mood

[hounddog409]

Went through a bunch early on. Glock, Kahr, Springfield,etc.

I finally found it.

Smith M&P 9c. Summer, winter, whenever. Carry it everyday.

[rickmelear]

Lots. Settled on a Glock 43X but still carry a Kahr P9, upholstered in my pocket on occasion

[rwilson452]

Funny you should ask. I have several “carry guns”. I always go back to my original, my colt 1991A1. The same 1911 frame I carried for my many years in the Navy. An old friend.

[GarandTd]

My current is a hammer fired DA auto. Maybe working on a striker fired option, but TBD.

[stephen426]

Originally Posted by rodfac

One if you do your homework, and borrow/rent enough possibilities; Two if you don't. Rod

With that kind of mentality, you either never take the plunge, or never change guns even though there are better options out there.

[Mannlicher]

I have been buying and trying since 1961. The jury is still out.

[ifithitu]

I rotate my revolvers and pistols to this date.I will say I EDC my Sig P365, 90% of the time since I bought it a little more than a year ago.

[jimbob86]

Two ..... 1911 5" Government model clone .... at 40 oz, I decided it was too heavy ..... went to a Springfield EMP after a year .... still toting same, 12 years on ....

[loknload]

I started carrying back when I turned 21. My first and only carry I could afford back then was a Smith Md#37. 38 spec. Carried that for years.
As time went and money changed so did my handguns.
Today my carry stable is 5handguns that fit me well and Ibshoot well plus they are some of my favorites. I have acquired many over the years and tried the ones I thought would work but these 5 came up on top...
1. Ruger LCP .380
2. S&W #36 .38
4. Glock 27 .40
5. Beretta Cougar 8040
That’s my carry list and for the most part at my age and travel my main is the LCP.
Have the Glock out this week for something different!

[Big4Freedom]

Yes, went through many. All great in their own way. For me, after prob ten years of carry, really came down to size/smooth edges for my own comfort/ability to conceal. I can learn to shoot anything well with practice, even if not my first choice in feel or trigger. I’m not the guy who wants to IWB cc anything larger than subcompact size (glock26/7, Lc9s, p365). I have found my ruger LCP gets most carry, due to size, during t shirt/shorts weather, p365/Lc9s, rest of year. Large, full-sized in owb paddle holster when in the woods. Weight, thickness, and bulk are the things that ultimately determined my ccw choice(s).
Good luck

[AK103K]

I seem to have a diferent outlook on this. I choose what I shoot best with, and would give me the best chance at anything that might come up, and then figured out how to carry it.

For the past 40 some odd years now, thats pretty much always been a full sized gun, and the same gun, in the same place, day in, day out.

I started with Colt 1911's and carried them for about 25 years. Switched to SIG P220's/226's/229's for awhile, and then to a Glock 17.

Im not real big, and have carried skinny to fat to almost skinny again, and have never had any issues doing that.

[Willie Lowman]

When I first got my CHL I carried my Glock 22. It was too big to conceal well and I traded it for a Glock 23. A few years later I found a used Glock 26 at a pawn shop. I have carried the 26 for about 8 years now and have no desire to switch.

[Black Wolf]

I have only been carrying, constantly (adult and off property) for 26 years. So..... I have yet to find that perfect carry piece. How many have I been through? Way more than I want to admit. Hell, I just found the right wife about 12yr ago (been through a couple of those too).

That said, I do like variety (in guns, not women) and tend to "rotate". Also, now that I live in a place with actual seasons, I have warm and cold weather guns (cold weather guns are much bigger. Think M9A3).

I dont know if I will ever stop trying new carry guns. I am done getting married tho :-D

[Jack19]

Several hundred, since the 70s.

Finally settled.

[Kevin Rohrer]

I've been shooting 1911s in God's Caliber since I was 10-years old. Never saw a need to carry anything else, except for a BHP in .40cal occasionally.