What is your favorite all-around concealed carry handgun?

Question

I wouldn't trade my Ruger P-97 .45 ACP for the world, although I wouldn't be totally opposed to a 4-inch .357 magnum.

BTW this gun (p97) has NEVER jammed on me for failed to feed with any style of bullet I feed it. Very accurate, too with a full length guide rod. (I also think the decock-only is genius).

Answer 1

Kimber Ultra Carry II
Night Sites
230 Grain Hydrashock

Light, 7+1 (If I need more than 8 rounds... I'm in the wrong place) and occasionally carry a mag in the 5-11 pants pouch, depending on where I'm going and for how long, etc.

This will fit in to the 5-11 shirt pocket

Carries well on the hip, or Fanny Pack

Accurate. Used it for some IDPA matches and did quite well. About as well as I have done with the TLEII I use for IDPA.

I added some Hogue Wraparound grips... feels great

Answer 2

It depends on HOW I carry that day.

My Always Gun is an S&W M-640 .357 Magnum 5-shot snubby. It fits in a pants pocket, or sporran pocket without a bulge, when I use a pocket holster.

For a belt gun, concealed of course, I alternate between three different handguns and two different holsters.

#1 is an Italian copy of the grand old Colt Model P in .44 S&W SPL. It has a 4.75" barrel. I sometimes carry it in a fannypack holster, but for belt use, I've found very few holsters better than a Bucheimer Concealer.

#2 is an S&W M-686, L-Frame .357 Magnum, with a 4" barrel. It also often rides in a fannypack holster, or the Bucheimer Concealer.

#3, and least frequently carried, is a Colt Stainless Officers' ACP, in .45 ACP. It is a 3.5" barreled pistol with a six-shot magazine. While it sometimes rides in my sporran or fannypack, it most frequently rides in a Tex Shoemaker Belt-Slide.

I used to have a 4" M-19 S&W. I condider the M-19 to be one of the Premier Packing Pistols of all time. Unfortunately, an old boy just waved too many greenbacks in my face for me to resist.

Doc

Answer 3

Before going into L.E. I carried a S&W 422 with a 6" barrel for many years as it was light and very accurate. Some people gave me grief for not carrying a "real"gun till I'd dump 11 cci Stingers into a buisness card at 15'. And explain that more people die from .22's every year than all other calibers combined and also even 1 hit in the face beats 6 miss's with a.44. Of course now we have to carry our duty weapon 24/7/365 ad I've come to love my Glock22 with 180 Gold Dots cause it shots where you look and NEVER jams.

Answer 4

I've carried concealed: 1. Colt Detective Special; 2. Beretta 3032 Tomcat; 3. Glock Model 20; 4. Glock Model 31; 5. Ruger P-89 & 6. Colt Python (4" barrel).

For sheer comfort the Dick Special & Tomcat are hard to beat. In an inside-the-pants holster I 'forget' I'm carrying that little .38 Detective Special. The Tomcat rides well in a wallet holster. Only downside, both are smaller caliber than I prefer. I might just start using the Federal 147 grain +P+ in the Colt & Fiocchi 60 grain hollow points in the Tomcat (these are the hottest loads I can find for each pistol), or I may just start carrying my 10mm all the time or... Maybe I'll just buy me a .50 cal.

Best.

H

Answer 5

My 3 favorites:

Taurus 605, .357 Magnum, 2.25 inch barrel, 5 shot

Russian Makarov, 9mm Mak, 10 shot

Colt 1911 Gold Cup, .45 ACP

Answer 6

I have a Glock 30 and feel the same way about it. .45 ACP, Night sights, 10+1 capacity handles +P ammo, goes bang every time, and has no safeties, levers, etc. to deal with under stress or snag on clothing. Also fits in my blue jeans pocket. I also have a 4-inch S&W .357, but it's larger and has only a little more than half the firepower.

Answer 7

.380 Bersa Thunder (they also market a Bersa .380 CC (concealed carry) they are very light, very safe, and very reliable firearms at a reasonable price. While the .380 is certainly not a .40 or .45 (it's a short 9mm), I know that I can shoot it well in an emergency, and that most people would be able to shoot it well over a .40 or .45. Lack of recoil, low carry weight, and conceilability make it a great choice.

The Kel tec 9 is also a great choice.

Answer 8

For something lightweight, I'd like to get ahold of one of the new Springfield EMP pistols. It's a smaller 1911 that holds 9 rounds of 9x19, which isn't so bad here, the limit on magazines is 10 rounds. But yeah, I like the 1911 action, shoot my friends 1911, Browning HP, and Spanish Star BM pistol.

For personal defense, though, I was considering one of the S&W exotic revolvers. Revolvers don't jam or have feed issues, but capacity is a little more limited. Also, it looks less threatening when held in front of a jury.

Answer 9

Kimber 1911 .45 acp

Answer 10

I love my Glock 19 with 124gn federal hydroshock but its a little to big for the summer. I'm thinking of a K9 Kahr or maybe the MK9. I have a Kel Tec P3AT which with the belt clip gives a good bit of piece of mind. Not the gun to go fight with, but the one you are glad you have when the fight comes to you.