Conceal Handgun...What do you carry?

[Black Majik]

What's a good shotgun gauge that doesn't have too much kick, but still packs a punch, I'm guessing a 12 gauge?

Josh, a 12 gauge shotgun can recoil depending on what kind of loads you use. You can also use low recoil buckshot which would really tame the recoil. Pump shotguns usually recoil more than a gas operated shotgun, but inertia operated shotguns pack quite a wallop.

For something low recoiling, the Remington 1100/1187 shoots really soft. It's all steel (whereas Mossberg, Winchester, and Benelli use aluminum alloy) and gas operated. The heft of the Remington shotguns soaks up quite a bit of recoil.

But it's all subjective. I have a 20 ga. Beretta 686 over under that is very light. With regular birdshot it'll recoil as much as my heavy Remington 870 12 ga.

If you want to try out some shotguns, I'll be at Angeles Range this Sunday. You're free to try some shotguns out.

 

[jrs2]

I got news for ya. The neighborhoods with rich folks get robbed the most. Why would a robber waste his time in the 'hood stealing junk when rich people have all the nice stuff. My aunt and uncle were kind of on the racist side, like you, so they built a house in a wealthy area with no "people of color," as they put it. Well, it wasn't long before the security system was tripped. It typically happened every two years or so. If you live among rich folk, you are more justified to conceal and carry than if you live in the hood.

Rich neighborhoods are targeted more by professional thieves or bored kids who live there. The junkie living in the hood isn't going to drive to the suburbs where the first cop who sees him will pull him over. He'll steal from his neighbors.

Of course the whole point of carrying a concealed weapon isn't to prevent your house from being robbed, it's to protect yourself from violent crime when you are away from home. There's more of a chance of that in the hood.

It's really just part of the old Boy Scout motto 'Be prepared.'

 

[techno]

I get asked alot why do you carry a gun?? do you plan on shooting someone??

To which I reply, no I did not buy a handgun to shoot anyone, in fact I hope to never have to...

But you better be prepared to pull that trigger when you pull it out 'for protection'. I'm betting one of two things happens when a bad guy sees you reaching for something, he sh!ts himself and runs or he shoots first. You have to make a split second call.
In my opinion if you did not buy the gun to shoot someone in self defense (when warranted of course) then you should return it to the store. Otherwise you run the risk of making a bad situation 100x worse.
Coming from Australia and like our Canadian friend posted earlier, I have not grown up with the gun culture that exists in this country, so I feel absolutely no desire/urge/fear to carry a weapon of any sort for protection. But if I did feel that carrying a firearm was necessary I would be asking myself am I prepared to kill someone with it? Sitting here at my desk at work I think 'f@*k yeah, I'd empty a full mag into the worthless hunk of shIt' But at that time, who knows.

BTW, if I was going to buy a handgun my preference would be a Browning Hi Power 9mm.

 

[Gromulus]

Handgun Choice

Now I remember why I can relate to (most) of the members of this forum!

I have more handguns (and long guns) than I care to count. What I carry usually depends on what I am doing, where I am going, and what I am wearing that day.

My "usual suspects" are a Glock 23 (40 S&W) or a Ruger SP-101 (.357 Mag). At times I may carry a full size 1911 A1, Colt Commander, or Taurus 85 (snub nosed .38).

Of course at home and camp I have more options in amost every caliber from .22 to 44 Mag.

I concur that it is not so much the round (although there are worse and better for every caliber) but the placement.

 

[mikehinthehouse]

But you better be prepared to pull that trigger when you pull it out 'for protection'. I'm betting one of two things happens when a bad guy sees you reaching for something, he sh!ts himself and runs or he shoots first. You have to make a split second call.
In my opinion if you did not buy the gun to shoot someone in self defense (when warranted of course) then you should return it to the store. Otherwise you run the risk of making a bad situation 100x worse.


BTW, if I was going to buy a handgun my preference would be a Browning Hi Power 9mm.

I didnt say I wasnt prepared to shoot someone if needed be, and I would never pull it out unless that was the case... My point of that statement was that I hope I never have to use it on someone.


good choice on the Glock Gromulus!

<a href="http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn268/9100076/?action=view&current=glock.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn268/9100076/glock.jpg" border="0" alt="glock"></a>

 

[Thai]

Re: Handgun Choice

I concur that it is not so much the round (although there are worse and better for every caliber) but the placement.

For me, Speer Gold Dot 147 grains...9mm (http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_prsnl.aspx).

 

[session_road86]

 

[T?@\7]

I got news for ya. The neighborhoods with rich folks get robbed the most.

I disagree completely.

 

[oxfordethan]

I just applied for my CCW about a month ago. Here in Mississippi you have to wait 120 days from the time of application for your license to come in. I tend to change what I carry in my vehicle (no permit required to carry in a vehicle in MS..."extention of your home.") depending on what I have most recently shot. I've got a Colt King Cobra .357, which is way to big and heavy to CC; a Ruger P90 .45, heavy and big; Right now I favor my wife's Taurus .38 snubby ultralite. I'm looking at a Kel-Tec PF9 (9mm) as my next handgun. Suppose to be the thinnest and lightest 9mm on the market. Any opinions on the PF9?

 

[Thai]

I'm looking at a Kel-Tec PF9 (9mm) as my next handgun. Suppose to be the thinnest and lightest 9mm on the market. Any opinions on the PF9?

Check out the Kahr PM9.

 

[eskimochaos]

if i ever get a gun its going to be a barrett m107 50 caliber sniper rifle so i can vaporize any tool that attempts to steal from/hurt my family.

 

[alaskaman]

The reasons for carrying.....?

Just a question (without judgment). I don't carry a weapon though I can easily qualify to own and carry one. I shoot trap and have in the past won awards doing so. As an ER nurse, I see most of it, from Watts to Chicago. We carried in the Arctic for bears (always circle the runway three times) and my Inupiat friends are not shy about weapons or grenades for that matter and neither am I. That said, could I ask what situations do you guys/gals feel you could confront that would require the carrying and potential use of a concealed weapon?

This is a question unrelated to the Supreme Court (clears throat) or any other issue of right/wrong. Having been in many situations where a weapon would be wise (none of which was in an urban city) I am curious.....Thanks.

 

[Thai]

Re: The reasons for carrying.....?

Just a question (without judgment). I don't carry a weapon though I can easily qualify to own and carry one. I shoot trap and have in the past won awards doing so. As an ER nurse, I see most of it, from Watts to Chicago. We carried in the Arctic for bears (always circle the runway three times) and my Inupiat friends are not shy about weapons or grenades for that matter and neither am I. That said, could I ask what situations do you guys/gals feel you could confront that would require the carrying and potential use of a concealed weapon?

This is a question unrelated to the Supreme Court (clears throat) or any other issue of right/wrong. Having been in many situations where a weapon would be wise (none of which was in an urban city) I am curious.....Thanks.

It's pretty funny that you like to show off your "nurse" title on a public car forum...i think that you're the only medical person on this forum that likes to throw it out there....

Well, here is a potential situation where CHL maybe helpful: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39194

Other situations: mall shootings, lonely highway breakdown (not in a Toyota of course!), car jacking at stoplight (or parking lot), church (!!), etc..

BTW, as an ER Nurse, you may want to ask your colleagues the same question...you may be surprised to find that many of them do carry a handgun to work (if they will even tell you)...(even though it is against the law)....

 

[alaskaman]

I was saying that I see a lot of wounds. Sorry it made you defensive. Its not an ego thing for me. If you have a problem with RN's you should handle that in the appropriate way, not on a forum like this in my opinion.

 

[alaskaman]

..........I have asked my colleagues, the men rarely carry, the women always carry whether it be a gun, mace or a knife. That said, the women feel victimized by the increase in assaults and sense that they are living "in a jungle". The men, feel that they can manage their situations by other means and few, if any carry....that said have you ever encountered a situation in your life where you were glad that you had the weapon...just a question.

...ps. sometimes I think that you are trying to start a fight. just my opinion. no takers here boy.

 

[Thai]

I was saying that I see a lot of wounds. Sorry it made you defensive. Its not an ego thing for me. If you have a problem with RN's you should handle that in the appropriate way, not on a forum like this in my opinion.

It's fine if you like to mention your job...everyone on this forum has one. Nurses are cool in my book...just found it funny in your case. Sorry. BTW, how did you come to the conclusion that i have a problem with nurses?? Just because i found you funny??

The men, feel that they can manage their situations by other means and few, if any carry....that said have you ever encountered a situation in your life where you were glad that you had the weapon...just a question.

...ps. sometimes I think that you are trying to start a fight. just my opinion. no takers here boy.

Men manage their situation in your neck of the woods?? With what? Street fighting? Talk their way out? Play patty-cake??

Don't know about your neck of the woods, but attackers don't carry a whiffle bat to attack you anymore...every punk has a gun nowadays and with less intelligence comes less inhibition to use one on you and your love ones.

Sorry, i don't like to leave it up to chance whether the attacker will shoot me or not. It's not just myself i am protecting, it's my family. Have i been in a situation that has threatened my (or my family) life?? No, and i hope that i will never be in one. CHL is not a license to kill...it is a license to carry a weapon that you can use to PROTECT yourself and your family against imminent danger...it is a last resort thing.

So, yeah, i will avoid a confrontation if possible...for example, if i see something suspicious or dangerous coming my way, then i turn the other way and walk away. However, if there is no other way out, then i would like to have something to defend myself (and others).

boy? Well, maybe you should learn to READ the topic at hand....:

 

[alaskaman]

For the record sir.

I don't plan to respond to what I consider hostility right off the bat in your messages in the future. I would rather enjoy this forum than engage in this type of childish exchange. I appreciate your insight but the price is to high in my mind. out.

 

[Thai]

For the record sir.

I don't plan to respond to what I consider hostility right off the bat in your messages in the future. I would rather enjoy this forum than engage in this type of childish exchange. I appreciate your insight but the price is to high in my mind. out.

Cool. BTW, you can learn more about the law, restrictions, and purpose of the CHL by going to the class. I learned quite a bit by going to the class.

 

[Elusive]

what do i carry?

Well, i own a XD 9mm. I do not carry it as i do not intend to use it. I have a coworker who carries a sub-compact 9mm that i have had "the conversation" with. I could easily disarm an attacker and end the situation without having to take a life.

Personally i enjoy firearms, but not for personal protection. I choose to protect myself with my hands, legs and feet. I have trained in several martial arts styles and currently training Krav Maga. I have to say that for real world scenarios, Krav is the way to go.

http://www.krav-maga.com/definition.html

 

[Cybercannon]

My one eyed dogs that bark: .357sig, though it's a bit big for CC. I've got a concealed hammer .357magnum I'll use for that.

Others I have are a 12 gauge, 30-06, and a few other things.

What isn't with me is in a safe. If someone's sophisticated enough to break into that in a reasonable amount of time I can't imagine why they would be wasting their time on my place. Some just steal the whole safe and break into it later, but I've seen them bolted to the floor from within.



As for the arguments above, I'm a physician/engineer and I fail to see how profession is even relevant. Maybe some people think it lends credibility to their comments. That being said...

I've also seen many GSWs on my rotations. That's what led me to carry. Several of my attendings and collegues carried. I'm sure many more do who don't say anything about it. I don't tell anyone I know.

As for why... Columbine and Virginia Tech are supposedly "gun free" zones. The people who respected that rule were the victims.

I'd rather have it and never need it, than need it and not have it.
Cliche', yet very very true.

Or as my uncle would say, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.