Purchasing a new defensive carry handgun

[hard h2o]

I was stating he shot a 1911 a lot. If he's used to it why would you go with a different gun.... Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I can handle pretty much any firearm. Just because I have experience with the 1911 does not make that my best option. In rifles I own Weatherby, Savage, Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, Ruger. Variety is the spice of life.

I will someday own a 1911 again. For the price, size, capacity, personal feel... I think the Smith is a great option for me. I have researched, shot, and handled quite a few. Not all of them. Some were ruled out due to size, price...

I did not consider Glocks. Personally I do not like products that have a certain fandom. I like PCs. I do not like Apple computers. The fandom and idolization kind of puts me off. I do own an iPhone only because the thing works great.

[Holland&Holland]

I was stating he shot a 1911 a lot. If he's used to it why would you go with a different gun.... Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I can handle pretty much any firearm. Just because I have experience with the 1911 does not make that my best option. In rifles I own Weatherby, Savage, Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, Ruger. Variety is the spice of life.

I will someday own a 1911 again. For the price, size, capacity, personal feel... I think the Smith is a great option for me. I have researched, shot, and handled quite a few. Not all of them. Some were ruled out due to size, price...

I did not consider Glocks. Personally I do not like products that have a certain fandom. I like PCs. I do not like Apple computers. The fandom and idolization kind of puts me off. I do own an iPhone only because the thing works great.

Right S and W, no fandom there at all.

[Ghost]

My favorite carry gun is far and away one of my Colt 1911's. However I think the magazine limitations of the 1911 make it not the best carry gun choice.

[INOR]

I prefer 9mm without question. For concealability and comfort of carry I prefer single-stack 9mm. After a couple of years struggling with an M&P, I have no desire to hike down that rutted road again and went with a Walther PPS, now PPS M2. What a truly excellent 9mm gun for concealed carry.

I have a PPS, first gen too. Bought it when Cabela's put in on super sale a week before the M2 dropped. The first gen is really quite awesome and makes a great carry gun. But the M2 looks great! BTW....carry mine in an Alien Gear IWB holster. Love it. Provides very deep conceal.

[hammAR]

-drink tequila: I do not drink (lots of coffee thought)
-smoke cigars: don't smoke. Little known fact. A "celebratory cigar" does not rate you as a smoker for life insurance.
-have two balls (or ovaries): last time I checked I had both balls
and don't:
-live in their mothers basement: Own my house. Mom and dad are passed on to their great reward
-use hand sanitizer every-time they touch anything: I am not a germaphobe (having military experience, hunting and fishing it is hard to keep germ free)
-and don't get confused about which bathroom to use...................: I can use whichever I feel like on a given day. Obama said it was OK. The ladies room at Target is very nice.


Do I pass the test or am I forever relegated to my neutered S&W M&P 45C?

4.5 out of 6..........
good foundation with some room for growth -
and that will come with experience...........
besides your M&P is the correct caliber.............

[hammAR]

My favorite carry gun is far and away one of my Colt 1911's. However I think the magazine limitations of the 1911 make it not the best carry gun choice.

It is for self-defense not an effen deployment..............
8+1 should be more than enough............
you can always carry an extra mag..........

However, I will admit that due to age and feral-youth "crowd" sizes -
that I have converted my EDC to a double stack - 14+1 - saves relaoding time .............

[Amazi]

I was stating he shot a 1911 a lot. If he's used to it why would you go with a different gun.... Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

I can handle pretty much any firearm. Just because I have experience with the 1911 does not make that my best option. In rifles I own Weatherby, Savage, Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, Ruger. Variety is the spice of life.

I will someday own a 1911 again. For the price, size, capacity, personal feel... I think the Smith is a great option for me. I have researched, shot, and handled quite a few. Not all of them. Some were ruled out due to size, price...

I did not consider Glocks. Personally I do not like products that have a certain fandom. I like PCs. I do not like Apple computers. The fandom and idolization kind of puts me off. I do own an iPhone only because the thing works great.

If that's how you feel why would you ask for options???? If you don't like things that have fandom followings no gun will be to your liking or really anything.

The only gun I can think of that people don't argue over saying is the best or worse is the desert eagle 50ae.

[Ghost]

My favorite carry gun is far and away one of my Colt 1911's. However I think the magazine limitations of the 1911 make it not the best carry gun choice.

It is for self-defense not an effen deployment..............
8+1 should be more than enough............
you can always carry an extra mag..........

However, I will admit that due to age and feral-youth "crowd" sizes -
that I have converted my EDC to a double stack - 14+1 - saves relaoding time .............

As I said, you see me carry and I'll have my 1911. If I were to replace my 1911 and pick what I think is the best carry gun it'd be a double stack 9mm as its better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it. Some bad guys take a lot of rounds before they aren't a threat anymore.

[hammAR]

It is all about shot placement................

[LePetomane]

I would second the thought of going through ThunderJohn. It's great to support local businesses, that benefit not only our second amendment rights, but we should always take care of our own first. Just my 2¢..

Ditto. John and his wife run a first class operation. I don't know how his prices compare to other shops but there is a lot to be said for dealing with the same person whenever you go in the store.

[Randygmn]

It is all about shot placement................

Easier said than done. 8+1 might be suitable for one attacker in a fairly static engagement. Since police hit on average on about 25%, that should be how civilians calculate too. In a dynamic encounter, multiple attackers, in perhaps low light, having higher capacity is key. Which is why double stack 9's are so very popular. No one has ever said after a gunfight, "gee, I wish I was carrying less ammo".

[andrewP]

No one has ever said after a gunfight, "gee, I wish I was carrying less ammo".

^
Exactly this.

If your clothing choices/requirements mean you can't go past a single stack or a really small pistol, that's one thing. If, on the other hand, you can conceal something that holds a lot of bullets without it causing excessive discomfort, then IMO it becomes a case of "why not?" unless you take it to reductio ad absurdum levels.

This shouldn't be taken as me suggesting that the 1911 is a bad choice, but realistically, unless its user is good enough to *always* hit the central nervous system, it's a 1-2 bad guy gun, whereas a double stack 9mm like the ubiquitous G19 is more like a 3-4 bad guy gun.

[ttousi]

all S&W on sale

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=56561

[xd ED]

It is all about shot placement................

Easier said than done. 8+1 might be suitable for one attacker in a fairly static engagement. Since police hit on average on about 25%, that should be how civilians calculate too. In a dynamic encounter, multiple attackers, in perhaps low light, having higher capacity is key. Which is why double stack 9's are so very popular. No one has ever said after a gunfight, "gee, I wish I was carrying less ammo".

Any idea how many DGU encounters have been 9+ rounds?

[hammAR]

This is such a broad question that the only way to begin to tackle it is by ignoring it, because it’s difficult to find reliable (read: independent) statistics on self-defense by law-abiding citizens and not law enforcement officers.

General rule of thumb - if the total shots fired goes past 3, you are in serious trouble.
Further, defending yourself against multiple assailants is a losing proposition. period.

What’s important is that you train and practice with the gun you carry everyday. If your gun only has two shots in it but you feel confident you can defend your life adequately with just two bullets — that’s your choice. I’m not going to tell someone carrying a 5-round concealed carry revolver that he’s not doing right. If that man feels confident that his revolver will help him get through a self-defensive shooting, good deal.

Remember that a carry permit is a learner's permit; something to make you want to learn how to survive the encounter, which in reality is more important than "popping the perp." Here’s some realities you’ll be facing: each incident will be unique to you and your training. Stress on the training. Train with the gun you most reliably feel will get you through a gunfight.

You can do what and how you want.........that is your choice