Picking out a classic carry piece

[Dub]

my 2 most often carried pieces. the Sig 938 the majority of the time

 

[Richard Coody]

Well i believe the reason most quit carrying is especially with summer clothing it is difficult to conceal and uncomfortable to carry. The compact autos are nice but you really need quite a bit of practice with one to be comfortable operating it. A S&W airweight 38 special is safe and reliable. It still is a bit bulky to carry.

That pistol isn't going to do you much good if you don't have it with you. I carried a freedom arms .22 for years. Now that is certainly comfortable and easily concealed. Is the .22 a man stopper. Better than that .45 in your truck.

Bond arms makes some really nice derringers in some man stopping calibers with some really nice carry features. Easily concealed and comfortable.

I am 65 years old and have had a pistol toters license since i was 18. Never once in all those years have i felt the need to pull a gun but i have certainly been in situations where it was comforting to know it was there. I would feel terrible if i was ever in a position where i was helpless to protect my loved ones.

My thoughts are my carry weapon will never be an offensive weapon. Just a last resort when retreat is not possible. Killing another human being is a terrible thing. Something you will have to live with the rest of your life. Not to mention the legal consequences.

 

[284winner]

Not sure about classic as too me, classic identifies the old small hammerless revolvers. Today's classic too me is Glock everything. Using one for my duty pistol for decades, it has been the most dependable pistol I've ever owned since the change over from the S&W revolver our department used. The biggest and most important difference was capacity (firepower). Today we find the ammunition quality and bullet reliability so good that the 9mm is the new 40. I love the 10mm/45 caliber pistol but for practical carry the 9 cannot be beat. I still believe the .380 lacks the power to do its job if an assalaint is wearing several layers of clothing during cold weather. I'm chose the Glock 43 and even the better option, the 43X. It's has a longer grip and carries 10 rounds in the magazine. The difference from the 43 is amazing. Having a bit larger hand, it fits me well. No need for the magazine extension to carry your pinky finger. The Glock 43X is my Classic carry pistol 90% of the time.

 

[Twicepop]

IMHO, I'd recommend a S&W M&P 2.0 in 9MM. It's only a tad larger than their Shield model, it holds 15 rounds in the mag plus one up the spout, and is available with a manual safety as well. The grip angle and the controls (slide release and safety) are in the same place as the venerated 1911. Also if you're not married to that soccer mom, tell her to STHU and mind her own business.

 

[Mr.Spradlin]

The Springfield Hellcat is a nice one to carry. Also other popular ones we sell at my real job is the Sig P365 SAS, Kimber Micro 9, Sig 938,
Glock 43. Not many revolvers being sold these days.

 

[ballisticdaddy]

My two carry pistols are Sig P365XL and the M&P 2.0 shield both in 9mm. Both are 1" wide at the butt end but the Sig has a 12 round capacity and feels better in my hand. The Hellcat from Springfield is another option although I have not yet got one in my hands yet.

 

[Pawnee Bill]

Hey all,

I am looking at picking out my first CCW and after trying out many modern concealed carry pistols I've discovered that I dislike the vast majority of them. From glocks to Rugers to walthers to the sig p365 to some of those mini 380 1911s, I just don't like them or reliability of the rental I tried was poor. I found a remington r51 for a good price and it felt great in the hand, but that has gone like most r51 stories. Nice gun, not reliable, waiting on repairs. Given my general distaste for more modern options, I want to try and figure out what may be some reasonable options from decades past.

I am in a set of circumstances that means I need a fairly small and thin pistol, as I work customer service in Northern Virginia and I don't feel like having a soccer mom go off on me because she sees I have a gun. Something along the lines of a pocket pistol I suppose, as my work uniform is pretty strictly a tucked in polo with jeans or khakis. I'm comfortable with .32acp or .380acp, or 9mm so long as the barrel is around 3.5".

My short list so far is an old 380 model 51, an FN 1910, a CZ82 or CZ83, or a S&W 6904 as a larger 9mm option. These all of course have pros and cons and I'm not settled on any nor have I had the chance to handle any of them as of yet. With this virus going on, God know when I'll be able to go by a few gun shows to look for them.

Do any of you have experiences with these hand guns for better or worse, and are there any solid choices I'm blatantly missing? Any feedback or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Classic Carry Guns = 1911 Gov't and Commander, S & W J,K or L frame. I didn't see these in your list.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Remember if you only have one, you may have none. I would go lw pocket and ankle(encase you are forced to go to the floor) easier to draw from ankle on the way down. Never hesitate.

 

[drover]

to the OP - given your clothing restrictions I recommend the Ruger LCP 380, put it in a pocket holster and it unnoticable. I have tried the small revolvers and some of the other compacts but the LCP is the only one that I have that always is with me, most of the others have too much bulk to be concealable.

drover

 

[Mickey D]

Hey all,

I am looking at picking out my first CCW and after trying out many modern concealed carry pistols I've discovered that I dislike the vast majority of them. From glocks to Rugers to walthers to the sig p365 to some of those mini 380 1911s, I just don't like them or reliability of the rental I tried was poor. I found a remington r51 for a good price and it felt great in the hand, but that has gone like most r51 stories. Nice gun, not reliable, waiting on repairs. Given my general distaste for more modern options, I want to try and figure out what may be some reasonable options from decades past.

I am in a set of circumstances that means I need a fairly small and thin pistol, as I work customer service in Northern Virginia and I don't feel like having a soccer mom go off on me because she sees I have a gun. Something along the lines of a pocket pistol I suppose, as my work uniform is pretty strictly a tucked in polo with jeans or khakis. I'm comfortable with .32acp or .380acp, or 9mm so long as the barrel is around 3.5".

My short list so far is an old 380 model 51, an FN 1910, a CZ82 or CZ83, or a S&W 6904 as a larger 9mm option. These all of course have pros and cons and I'm not settled on any nor have I had the chance to handle any of them as of yet. With this virus going on, God know when I'll be able to go by a few gun shows to look for them.

Do any of you have experiences with these hand guns for better or worse, and are there any solid choices I'm blatantly missing? Any feedback or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

I would buy a PPK. Get a new one made in Ft Smith Arkansas. I carry a 365 sig. carry with a 12 round mag in it and a 15 round mag in my pocket. 12+1 and 15= 28 9mm.

 

[powderbrake]

Here is the one that started it all, the Seecamp 380. It is the smallest 380 you can find with 6 shots. It is a great pocket pistol, and at $595 it's now $400 cheaper than when I bought mine about 10 years ago.
http://seecamp.com/products.htm

http://seecamp.com/overlays.htm overlay pics, showing size related to other pocket guns.

The advantage of a small gun is that it is lighter, and will more likely be carried. In this case, the next best bet is the Ruger, as it is much lighter.

 

[338 dude]

Hey all,

I am looking at picking out my first CCW and after trying out many modern concealed carry pistols I've discovered that I dislike the vast majority of them. From glocks to Rugers to walthers to the sig p365 to some of those mini 380 1911s, I just don't like them or reliability of the rental I tried was poor. I found a remington r51 for a good price and it felt great in the hand, but that has gone like most r51 stories. Nice gun, not reliable, waiting on repairs. Given my general distaste for more modern options, I want to try and figure out what may be some reasonable options from decades past.

I am in a set of circumstances that means I need a fairly small and thin pistol, as I work customer service in Northern Virginia and I don't feel like having a soccer mom go off on me because she sees I have a gun. Something along the lines of a pocket pistol I suppose, as my work uniform is pretty strictly a tucked in polo with jeans or khakis. I'm comfortable with .32acp or .380acp, or 9mm so long as the barrel is around 3.5".

My short list so far is an old 380 model 51, an FN 1910, a CZ82 or CZ83, or a S&W 6904 as a larger 9mm option. These all of course have pros and cons and I'm not settled on any nor have I had the chance to handle any of them as of yet. With this virus going on, God know when I'll be able to go by a few gun shows to look for them.

Do any of you have experiences with these hand guns for better or worse, and are there any solid choices I'm blatantly missing? Any feedback or recommendations are greatly appreciated.

GLOCK They are the most reliable of any pistol I’ve ever had but I would go with the smaller single stack version and considering your uniform I believe your best option would be an ankle holster

 

[dogdude]

Cant believe theres no love for the airweight smith 38spl. It would be hard to top one when you factor firepower/weight.

Dusty, just got back from town with my Airweight (shrouded hammer) in a Uncle Mikes IWB holster.
Love this lil guy

 

[dannyjbiggs]

I most favor the Ruger LCP9s, 9mm. This pistol is only slightly larger than its little sister, the Ruger LCP .380; yet a world of difference in whallop! The LC9s will take +P ammo. Liberty Ammunition UltraDefense USM49 50 grain 9mm claims a velocity of 2,000 fps with an energy level of 450 fps. That's just a little lower than a low-grade .45 cartridge. Cost is well under $300.

Dan

 

[1lnbrdg]

I have tried them all and based on what you are asking I would say new a Ruger LCP....retro/older model a Colt Pocket Hammerless. Either the 1903, which is a 32acp or the 1908 which is a 380acp. Both guns are identical in size and I am not a big fan of the 32 so I carry a 1908. They are very accurate guns, but I have to say that John Moses Browning must have had some awesome vision because the drawback to these guns is the little tiny micro sights.
The LCP is vey reliable, reasonably accurate and cheap enough that you aren't out much if you don't like it. It too has somewhat poor sights, but little tiny highly concealable "deep cover" carry guns are not lung range weapons anyway and I gotta wonder just how important sights are anyways.

Edit: if you really want accurate and don't mind going a little bigger Gman hit the nail on the head with a Kahr PM...

LCP2 has a better trigger IMO.

 

[agr516]

Cant believe theres no love for the airweight smith 38spl. It would be hard to top one when you factor firepower/weight.

I agree. I thought I liked the Ruger LCR until I picked up a S&W 642-1. Perfect for ladies and men alike. I have large hands and it is by far the most comfortable subcompact that I have held.

 

[agr516]

to the OP - given your clothing restrictions I recommend the Ruger LCP 380, put it in a pocket holster and it unnoticable. I have tried the small revolvers and some of the other compacts but the LCP is the only one that I have that always is with me, most of the others have too much bulk to be concealable.

drover

LCP in pocket holster is a great option for maximum concealability. I have used one for years when concealment is priority. A .380 auto is pretty far down on my list of what I would prefer to have in my hand in a defense situation but it sure beats having nothing but a pocket knife and fistful of car keys because I left my bigger pistol at home.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Plus they work every time you pull the trigger, As a carry weapon for someone that doesn't want to put in the work to learn to clear a failure to feed or a jam of some sort, they are hard to beat.

I think the opposite. I've had more problems with lint getting lodged in between the cylinder and frame of my revolvers and binding up the cylinder when it needs to turn than I have had problems with autos. Even with a pocket holster lint still seems to find its way in there.

Although lint does pose a slight problem for my autos it doesn't do it as bad.

 

[stork]

If you want THIN, small & lightweight then you want want a Kahr. Poly frame, Striker fired, double action only, semi-auto. The "P" series have all forged metal parts & come in different cartridges/calibers available. Excellent concealled carry pistols.

Good emphasis on THIN! No tell tale bulge. I used to carry a Colt 1911 compact (steel frame) & found myself leaving it in the truck because of the weight and bulk. Not so with the Kahrs. I've also tested the 9 with a multitude of loads from 2.5 gr BE and 115 gr cast RN to a 147 Fed Hydrashock all mixed up in the same magazine. Have yet to have a malfunction.
Al

 

[Richard Coody]

Bond Arms
https://www.bondarms.com/

Wonder what a .410 shotgun shell would do at close range!

https://www.bondarms.com/#myModal