Why do You carry? And what?

3288 Views 112 Replies 70 Participants Last post by Twobits, 9 d ago

Rexposeidon

Discussion Starter · 23 d ago

I've noticed a few forums here asking about different reasons for carrying revolvers only or bigger more capacity semi-autos etc.
Each of us has a real and very personal reason for carrying. I'm a student of people. I'd really like to see the what's and why's behind people's ideas.
I won't judge You your choice but I will ask questions challenging your thoughts. Seriously, you do you. Will you share why with me?

Thanks!

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Rexposeidon

Discussion Starter · #2 · 23 d ago

Of course I'll go first;

I carry a Taurus 856 with Altamont Rosewood grips.
Why: I believe in escape, fall back to the Castle. Regroup, assess and follow through as needed.

Oh yeah since this is a Ruger site: the Fall back to load out is a pair of P91s, a PC4, multiple 10/22s in various configurations, a shotgun and the .300 Savage when I really, really need to reach out and touch someone.

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JohnnyDollar

· #3 · 23 d ago

When I CC, generally it's a Walther PPS M1 in .40S&W.
It's thin, fairly light and I can shoot it well.

-one of my considerations has always been that in the unlikely event that I am involved in a shooting,
if the police end up confiscating it or holding it for some reason, it's nothing fancy, sentimental or hard to replace.

If I am open carrying, it's could be a 1911, Beretta 96 Brigadier or Ruger Service Six.

Although, as we head into summer, if I am working in the brush,
a Taurus Judge is handy for rattlesnakes.
Nothing tells a snake to leave me alone quite like a .410 shotgun shell.

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maddmatter1970

· #4 · 23 d ago

You asked openly "why do you carry and why" but I assume you meant "what do you carry and why". If so, you can edit the thread title with the three dots to the right side of it.
I carry many weapons at different times for a varity of reasons.
The sites General theme is Ruger, but it is not exclusive to Ruger. Most honest, safe, responsible gun owners understand a varity of gun manufactures excel at different items, and therefore, a person will have a varity of brands, and everything is welcome, here, even glocks..... more or less But Ruger has done most things bestest

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Rexposeidon

Discussion Starter · #5 · 22 d ago

Hahaha madmatter1970! Thanks for the edit request! Funny how I thought I had written it correctly.
It's the whys behind the what that's actually the more interesting to me.
Thanks for participating both of you!

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bearcatter

· #6 · 22 d ago

Do you mean 1 - why do we carry at all, and what do we carry? Or 2 - why do we carry what we carry? I'll go for Door Number 2 making more sense. There's really only one reason to carry...

I don't carry often, I'm lucky to live in a low crime area. When I do it's a NAA Guardian .32 ACP. Because IMHO it's the best of the smallest handguns. No sense in carrying 2-3 pounds up against my hip when 1 pound in my pocket will do the job well enough.

I'd like to be able to carry a compact sized Zastava .32 in cold weather, but nobody makes a suitable holster. All I've found that fits is two strong side OWB. It's a near clone of a Colt 1903, which also doesn't have a good carry option.

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brnwlms

· #7 · 22 d ago

@Rexposeidon, I am going to move this to the CCW subforum, and I would recommend taking a look through the many threads on this topic.
That said, I carry a Dan Wesson Valkyrie in .45 ACP. It is a 1911 CCO, which is a commander-length slide on an officer frame. I am able to carry it all day, every day, and do, to work, on weekends, dress cloths at work and church, shorts, you name it. Of course the key is a good holster and even better belt. Many may wonder how I can carry such a “big” gun, but the gun shape is more important than just pure size. First off, a single stack 1911 is really flat, so it doesn’t bulge out and create strange shapes under a shirt. Second, the longer barrel helps provide a gun that is much better balanced on the belt because of the length of barrel below the belt (carry at about 4 o’clock). And the shooter officer grip frame helps keep the size reasonable above the belt.

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scubadad

· #8 · 22 d ago

I carry because I am to old for hand to hand combat.

Carry rotation includes a Dan wesson guardian, Sig legion 220 sao or a Ruger sp101. I think I still have an lcr in 357. My son borrowed it over a year ago and he seems to like it so it probably won't be coming home.

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Corndog

· #9 · 22 d ago

Trigger Air gun Gun barrel Revolver Gun accessory

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Angry Hippo

· #10 · 22 d ago

These days I carry a Kel-Tec P32. Weighs something like 11.5 ounces fully loaded, including the cheap nylon pocket holster.

Easy to bring along for the ride and has enough capacity (7+1) and firepower (14"-18"~ penetration) to make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Ugly as sin but so is the business it attends to. Only controls are a trigger and a magazine release. Will lock back on empty. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

Trigger Air gun Gun barrel Gun accessory Font

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laidlerj

· #11 · 22 d ago (Edited)

I carry a gun because I don’t have an armed security team, like all the anti-gun and “defund the police” politicians have.

WHAT I carry depends a lot on the weather and social situation. If the weather makes a coat or bulky jacket reasonable, I carry a Springfield XDm 10mm in a shoulder holster. If it’s too warm for a jacket, I will either carry a Sig 365XL in a fanny pack or, if it is a more formal occasion, a Ruger LC9 or LCP, depending on the dress code.

Occasionally, I get asked “Are you expecting to need a gun?” My answer is that I carry a gun for the same, reason people have fire extinguishers - they’re not EXPECTING to set their house on fire, but if it happens, a fire extinguisher would come in handy.

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rice paddy daddy

· #12 · 22 d ago

We live rurally, nearby are three small towns.
This is a very low violent crime area, in fact I'd wager that unless you are involved with drugs or another man's wife your chances of gun violence are slim to none.
I simply do not need to have a gazillion shot Glockmiester.

My carry weapons range from a J frame .357 magnum, to an LCP2. With some others in the mix. Charter Arms Bulldog 44, Taurus .38 Special, Colt Police Positive Special, S&W K frame 4".
My absolute favorite at the moment is a Walther PPK in .380.

Oh, I have other handguns to be sure, but I don't carry a 1911 (for example).

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Fugum

· #13 · 22 d ago

I carry because I believe I am my own first responder. That, and I live on the outskirts of the recent winner of murder capitol of the US, New Orleans.

My CC of choice is usually a 9mm 1911, Springfield EMP gets the nod most days, but I am taking a liking to my XD-S Mod.2 OSP

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Lefty_Red

· #14 · 22 d ago

I carry because I am legal to do so. And I take my safety, the safety of my wife and friends personally. I don’t fret over it, but I do keep a comfortable level of situational awareness about me.

I carry anything I can put in my pocket and can shoot accurately. Currently, it’s LCP Max or LCPII Lite Rack. I no longer yearn for a “get into trouble” weapon and keep them down to the “get out of trouble” arena.

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1911 Mitch

· #15 · 22 d ago

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WHY? :: I carry pretty much 24/7 because I have no clue when and where trouble may present itself. Fugum's beloved N.O. is in driving distance. When they get bad weather, they love to come up here. Next time you are in town, hit me up Fugum. I will buy you a basket full of peaches and take you to our local range for some trigger time!
WHAT :: Colt New Agent in 45 acp

Webbing Bag Fashion accessory Baggage Personal protective equipment

Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory Metal

WHY this particular hand gun :: I can place 8 rounds center mass at bad breath range in less than three seconds, or place those same rounds center mass @ 25 yards free hand if I don't rush.

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1911 Mitch

· #16 · 22 d ago

Lefty_Red said:
... I no longer yearn for a “get into trouble” weapon and keep them down to the “get out of trouble” arena.

^^^THAT^^

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LimaCharlie

· #17 · 22 d ago

Why I carry and what I carry are dependent on what I am doing that day and where I am going. In the local area, I usually carry a 4" Colt Python 357 magnum or a 5" 1911 in either 45ACP or 10mm with two reloads. There is city on one side of our home and Christmas tree farms and other farms on the other side. I am as concerned with four legged critters as two legged. A mountain lion killed some goats about a mile from our home. Black bear are frequently sighted in the area.

My wife's family came to Oregon in 1847 on a wagon train and homesteaded. She has elderly relatives living in Portland Oregon. When we visit them, we usually go before noon and try to get out before 3 pm. I usually carry an FN FNX-45 Tactical 45 ACP or Glock G40 MOS 10mm with spare fifteen round magazines.

When I carry in the local area woods with potential black bear encounters, I usually carry a 41 magnum or 44 magnum revolver with speed loaders. If I am in brown bear territory, I usually carry a 454 Casull revolver with speed loaders.

I often carry a pocket gun as a secondary or backup gun for contact distance self-defense. Sometimes, I add a long gun and reloads in the vehicle depending on where we are going and what we are doing.

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DQL5150

· #18 · 22 d ago

JohnnyDollar said:
one of my considerations has always been that in the unlikely event that I am involved in a shooting,
if the police end up confiscating it or holding it for some reason, it's nothing fancy, sentimental or hard to replace.

Excellent point JD!
No CC "rotation" here. I choose one simple (DAO) piece, loaded to the gills, that is reliable, I'm practiced with and I can ditch if necessary. Whatever your choice, practice often and gain muscle memory. I hope I, and all of you, never have to present.

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Rexposeidon

Discussion Starter · #19 · 22 d ago

Nice! I'm definitely tracking a lot of what you all are saying, and not saying about the why.

And I know the struggle is real when choosing between something that works, conceals, and if you lose it you're not heart broken.
I know for myself, my pattern of life has also changed in light of recent events. I find myself moving towards the more economically gentrified locations and avoiding any unnecessary trips into the "asylum" as referred to by Wonko the sane.
Do any of you find yourself doing the same?

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Brandi

· #20 · 22 d ago

I carry because when bad stuff happens there's no one there to save you but yourself. The government won't be there and the police won't be there. Seems like most operate under this delusional idea that there's going to be someone around to protect them should a bad guy want to hurt them or they think if they just give the bad guy whatever he wants he'll just leave them alone. Most people have no concept of the horror that's out there. It breeds complacency and stupidity. Almost every victim of crime I dealt with as a police officer said "I never thought it would happen to me". I suspect most murder victims had the same thought before the end.

I carry because very bad people exist and there are way more of them out there than you would guess. I carry because I'm aware enough to know that nobody but me will be there to save me should I need saving.

As for what I carry, it depends on a lot of different factors at the moment.

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