a good choice?

[LoneWolf]

Hopefully I'll be getting my CCW permit within the next month or so. So now comes the question what to carry?
I currently have a Springfield XD9, and really love this shooter. Very accurate, never jams up, and love the safety system on it.
I may carry this most times, althought down the road I plan on getting a 45 cal also.
What I am wondering is what does everyone recomend for a smaller pistol to carry on light clothes days? In my mind I keep thinking, stick with XD pistols. The last thing one should worry about if needing the pistol is different safties and shooting habits.
Does anyone currently have the XD9 Compact? Is the marginally smaller size worth it? Or should I just stick with my current version and get the 45ACP XD9 now?
Another gun I had considered was the Walther PPK-S. I have always liked this little number, but other than to satisfy an itch, not sure on its carry use, let alone the 380cal stopping power.
Look forward to getting everyone's opinions, and I'm sure they will very across the board.

[BILLY D.]

Well I'm on the skinny side, 5'11" and 158# and I carry a 45 Officers acp during the summer and don't print. I usually wear a sleeveless undershirt and a sport shirt over that and bermudas for pants.

Now if you are on the pudgy side don't try this as you will look like a cobra that just swallowed a football. I always carry cross draw because it's more comfortable for me. In a typical winter scenario in this country you will be wearing some type overcoat and jacket or sweater beneath that. I don't like the strong side draw in this scenario. Too many layers of clothing to get through before you finally get to Mr. Lucky. Why I carry cross draw. I can use my left hand to lift the clothing layers, other wise I would be using my pistol hand to try to get through the layers often resulting in el pistola getting wrapped in clothing. Not a nice thought.

In due time you will find what works best for you. I'm not suggesting any of my methods as I worked on them for me. Mainly like Paul Hornung said "Practice, practice, practice."

Learn to use one firearm and one firearm only. You don't want to have to think when you face a bad situation.

Best wishes, Bill

[Andy L]

LW,
See the post I just made on the other thread. I really like my Taurus PT145. Just about the same size as the baby Glocks but the grip is longer and all my fingers will fit on it, unlike the Glock. And, it holds 11, 10+1, in 45ACP. Lots of firepower. Easy to conceal. Shoots great.

I like it alot, FWIW.

[Skinny Shooter]

Doug, I bought an XD-45GAP Service model and liked it alot. Sold it and bought an XD45acp Service model. It shoots like my 1911 and carries well in a Galco Concealable holster.
13+1 is nice. Am thinking of adding nite sites and a Lasermax guide-rod laser to it later in the year.
Check out the new XD45 Compact. Having the ability to use a shorter mag will help to conceal it. I didn't care for the slight play in the extended mag and went for the standard grip.
With that being said, if you shoot your 9 accurately and are confident in the caliber, load it with hydra-shoks or something similiar and you're good to go.
I prefer bigger holes though myself.

[LoneWolf]

Thanks everyone so far.
Skinny, I do pretty well with my 9, and will be loading it up with some extra punch for when I carry it. Just wasn't sure if I should pick up something a little smaller for carrying in the summer. I definately plan on picking up the 45ACP down the road. If it shoots as nice as my XD9, I love it.

[Andy L]

I usually wear jean shorts and tshirts in the summer. Same thing. Belt carry with a long tshirt untucked. Of course I dont own a suite so that doesnt come into play. LOL

[RUMLUVER]

LW,

Since you like the XD series and shoot it well I would suggest getting the the Compact 45 model. Reason being it feels, acts, and shoots like the other xd's so it is a familiarity thing kind of like slipping into your favorite pair of shoes.So when it's is time to draw the ol show stopper into action it will feel like it did all the other times you shot your 9 or your 45 before and the rest will be second nature. Kind of like slipping into that old pair of shoes it just feels right and the same every time you do it.

[LoneWolf]

Thats what I was thinking Rumluver. I do want the 45, but I need to see how much smaller the compact 9 is also. I'm more concerned about summer time carry.

[RUMLUVER]

The difference in size would only be in the grip diameter. The slide and grip length would be the same in both pistols.

[gold40]

Everyone has different beliefs, different physiques, and different needs.

After trying a dozen different CCW guns, I now carry a KEL-TEC P32 almost all the time. Its small, convenient, and adequate for my needs. Usually use a front pocket carry with a soft Uncle Mike's #1 pocket holster. Some may think it is too small, but it suits me just fine.

Better to have a .32 in your pocket than a .45 in the closet.

[jmarriott]

I have posted this before but now the model is going away so maybe you can get a real deal on one.

this is a fine compact 9mm. I want one for each hand.

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/index...tNumber=045002

and at 1.72 pounds with steel slide they point like a champ and can be carried safely with round loaded.

[Riposte1]

Far be it from me to tell folks what to carry. It is an intensely personal decision and, needless to say, a matter of life and death...yours!

But I do suggest folks give it more than a passing thought. Recently, on a public forum, a gentleman owned up to the fact that he was robbed at gunpoint and decided, "litterally under the gun" that his Kel Tec .380, located in his pocket was certainly not adequate to get him out of this situation. Long story short, the robber got not only his money but his gun and was quite aggitated. Though the man lived through this, it was none of his own doing - one thing I know from 30 years of L.E. work...you cannot predict what a criminal will do...most especially in these days!

It took my wife, of all people, to distill this down to its basic point when she said the man was "unarmed". I asked her to explain. She said "Having a gun does not make you armed. Having a gun and the will to use it makes you armed"...truer words were never spoken.

I hasten to point out that this is not a criticism. It took a lot of guts to publish that on the public forum and I think it was done in the interest of educating.

I might also point out that I have had 4 acquaintences who were on one end or another of a .380 during a fight (actually 5 since I interviewed both participants of one shoot out - who had become the best of friends, weird story). In no case did the .380 get the job done, and in two cases it probably would have been better had the party not had it at all.

By no means do I think it will fail every time, it is probably just coincidence that it has failed in 100% of the cases I have some connection with. But I do know that, if that was all I had, there would be very few cases in which I would be tempted to use it...based on those experiences.

Carry on!
Riposte

[RUMLUVER]

Riposte1,

May I ask what caliber and pistol you carry for self defence?

[Lycanthrope]

There is wisdom and there is internet wisdom......

Don't worry about platforms.....I shoot 14,000 rounds a year in the 1911 and never tried to swipe a thumb safety on my Steyr M40..........

Comfort is #1. Without that you won't carry.

Skill with the gun is #2. Carry with what you shoot well with. You need to trust the gun.

Reliablility is not on the list. I'll tell you why. ...

Reliability is dependent on YOUR firearm. Some Glocks are not as reliable as some 1911's. Don't make any generalizations.

MAKE the gun that you shoot the best..... reliable. Don't accept shooting a gun that you hear is reliable and then trying to make yourself accept that platform.

[Riposte1]

Originally posted by RUMLUVER
Riposte1,

May I ask what caliber and pistol you carry for self defence?

Sure thing sir;
My primary sidearm is almost alway a .45 ACP (though lately the one I have been packing as primary has actually been a .45 Super which also shoots .45 ACP).

My secondary varies. In the winter, especiall during deer season, it is often a .44 Magnum or a .45 Colt. In the summer it is another .45 ACP.

Press on,

Riposte