J frame gets me to my shotgun…and maybe my rifle
Good reading in this thread.
I think almost half the reason I carry a retarded expensive 1911 is to have something to show and talk about with my 1911 freak friends.
This is my thinking as well, except for when I drive cross-country. I can control my environment at home and am comfortable with 6 rounds of 380 in an LCP (or no gun at all). When I’m driving out of the area, I carry my G19 with 15 rounds on tap and a spare mag in the car. It’s not unusual to also have a carbine in the trunk with 4 loaded 30 round mags.
Andy
I would like to wear a helmet while driving. My commute isn’t far from Mad Max. I have a spare snell sa2005 but I might start driving like I was on a road course…
Perhaps there is a market for a helmet designed for the daily grind? Fewer lines on them face, better ventilation. Can’t do much about mussing hair though. The women would certainly never go for it.
I doubt there is a law forbidding it, but there could be. Motorcycle helmets are probably better about keeping peripheral vision.
I can’t help but think of the old Chips episode with the car insurance fraud guys. (They wore helments)
I carry my Gen5 G19 15+1 with spare G19 mag (sometimes a G17+2 mag) but I’m totally comfortable when I carry my G43 w/+1 TT extension (7+1) and a spare mag with a TT +2 (6+2). I’ve pulled it twice but never had to use it.
Im curious to how many people here have had to seriously draw their firearm? I carry my G43 + 1 mag for personal protection but mainly when I’m out with my wife and kids places. There is a lot of riff raff in S. Florida. Just recently at a kids park in a nice area- 2 pieces of trash were stalking children. When approached they got up and walked away. They had zip ties in their back pocket. A park ranger chased them down in his golf cart… but they got away. Apparebtly they have video and are on their tracks. Trafficking is huge, keeps your kids close. That being said, I’ve never once encountered a event where drawing my firearm would be warranted in my life and hopefully stays that way. Sometimes I wish I would be there…
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I marked, “7-10,” because I’ve never felt undergunned with my 1911s, although I have never felt like it’s been overkill carrying a comp’d, RMR’d, U-boated G17 with 19-round magazines, either.
I could probably get away with a little pocket 380 or a G43, because, like most people who carry them, I will probably never need it.
But since I can carry a full-size pistol, I do. And when you need a gun, you really need a gun.
Oh, I’m pretty sure that the things that usually kill you in a lethal car crash will usually kill you even if you’re wearing a K pot and rifle plates, too.
Yep, getting ejected during a rollover and cushioning the vehicle with your body is probably going to hurt, bad, no matter what you are wearing.
If you are belted in properly and have a new enough car that has airbags all around, you can survive some pretty gnarly crashes.
Indeed.
I have twice. No shots fired.
depending on what i am carrying for the day, i have anywhere from 13 to 30 rounds on me… usually 1 mag + a spare, right now when i am at work, i carry my G43 6+1, plus the spare mag in my pocket…
One blatant draw. Carjacker saw it and walked away.
Also have “prepared” to draw a belt gun a couple times. (Blade slightly, clear cover garment)
Have put hand on pocket gun (obviously looked like I was grabbing a gun) a couple times.
In the above cases the threat clearly understood what was about to happen and backed off.
I have covered a door at high ready with a pistol while unknown person banged/yelled at it.
As a LEO I only drew twice IIRC. (Short career) Didn’t actually point it at anyone.
All of these events have been enough pucker factor and post event adrenaline to keep me alert.
Damn! Yes it does happen for sure and the thankful few I’m sure are glad they had them. You can shoot all you want at the range but real life is different. Anyone had to investigate a late night noise? Adrenaline and hair standing up on your neck isnt something that’s controlled easy unless people have been in that situation before.
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I prefer to carry a pistol with decent capacity like 15+1 or better. My CCW is a Gen4 G19 and I’m perfectly comfortable with it. I live in a great area and for the most part, work in great areas. However, I sometimes have to work in some very seedy parts of town and the capacity of the G19 puts me more at ease.
I have never had to draw on anyone but came close and was at ready twice that I can recall.
I think my list is fairly short. I don’t go out at “dumb times doing dumb things around dumb people”.
Your surprise reminds me of talking to a relative about driving on the interstate. He says, “oh sure I’ll bet you folks are 55 mph every time!” I thought he was kidding at first but he wasnt. I told him 70 mph in the far right lane is the minimum to not be a traffic hazard and receive extreme censure by fellow commuters. I try to keep it to 80 mph and get passed countless times every day.
He’s been in rural Maine his whole life so he doesn’t understand an 80 mph commute, daily shootings and car crashes, and the constant threat of human attack.
Yea, I’m jealous of him. If I live long enough I’ll retire to that life.
I just bought a 3” GP100 in 10mm (6 rounds) and I’m quite content with it and a reload in my normal AO. In some of the areas we transit near my MIL’s residence my VP-9 (15 +1) backed up by my XDs 9mm (8 +1) with reloads seems insufficient. It just feels like an area where you need to bring an AR and friends with ARs.
I was an LEO for over 30 years, I couldn’t guess how many times I drew a gun. Twice that I can remember I was starting to sqeeze the trigger but both times the perps got religion and went prone. I never fired at anyone.
My main EDC is a Glock 31C or a Glock 22. I voted that. For yard work or hot and muggy I carry a S&W 640 357 mag loaded with 5.
All this talk about spare mags and capacity. Who all carries a BUG? 
For my “Situations” and where I live, I carried a 17+1 TP9v1 for months before switching to a Glock 26 12rds with a 17rd reload IWB as well.
Nowadays, I carry the CZ P-07 with 17+1 and a 17rd reload. Is 35 rounds overkill in 99% of situations? Absolutely. But, I have the space, the mag and mag carrier offset the weight of my firearm (when my surefire light is in it’s holster on the same side) it helps create a very balanced belt.
My chiro is a gun guy, and he has lauded me for making sure to balance out my belt. FWIW. :meeting:
I don’t have many issues with concealment (I am a bigger guy, and that helps) but working through my EDC options, the Glock has it’s specific roles such as carrying when I travel for work. Anytime I have to fly to another state/carry reciprocation or I get called into the office here locally, I switch to the 26 as the holster I use is lower sitting.
TL;DR: Use what is best for your own situations. At the end of the day, capacity helps, but is not a “requirement” for majority of all areas and situations. 10+1 is my, personal, absolute minimum.
Aside from a couple “late night noise investigation” type incidents that ultimately turned out to be nothing, during which I had a handgun/long gun ready, I’ve never had to draw a firearm.
In fact the closest I’ve ever come to drawing a gun in response to a perceived potential threat was when I was out in the woods one time and suddenly heard the tremendous commotion of something crashing up the hill toward me. Figuring that a moose or a bear was going to appear almost on top of me I recall my hand hovering over my G23 (which I was still carrying at the time). then I heard some distinctive clucking sounds and it turned out to just be a bunch of wild turkeys doing a great impression of something much bigger as they moved through the undergrowth.
Everyone knows Billy Connolly is from the UK and therefore would have no idea how to shoot a pistol, let alone six.