Why?

[bdickens]

I'm curious and this is an honest question here. I'm not picking bones, just looking for an honest answer.

Why do some have different guns they carry at different times? Or sometimes this holster or that?

I know that a lot of us are prone to be equipment junkies and always want to try something new or different, but it seems to me it would make more sense to have only one carry gun and carry it in the same holster in the same place every time. That would simplify both training and logistics. One gun to practice manipulating, one draw stroke to practice and one type of ammunition to stock would eliminate any potential confusion.

Imagine if, God forbid, the balloon goes up and you're forced to defend yourself with deadly force. You usually carried a Glock, but today, you've got the 1911. You draw and attempt to fire a shot except you forgot to disengage the safety. Oops doesn't even begin to describe it. Or you are carrying your .40, need to reload but accidentaly put a 9mm magazine in your pouch.

Now, I understand the possible need to have a BUG, or to have a spare in case the main carry gun gets dead-lined, but why not have another Glock 19 (or whatever your choice is) for the spare?

Thoughts?

[seamusTX]

I agree with you on the type of action. Pick single or double and stick with it. For single-action, find pistols with a consistent safety action.

As to why people carry different pieces on different occasions, it's mostly about what you can conceal with certain clothes. If you can conceal a full-size pistol with an ample magazine, that is a more attractive way to go. If you have to wear a tailored suit to be in a dance competition, you might have to pack something more compact.

These are all personal choices of course. Everyone has to make their own decision.

- Jim

[The Annoyed Man]

Byron,

I don't know if my answer will apply to anyone else, here it is...

I own two completely different carry guns in different calibers of different magazine capacity with two different types of actions.

One is a 3" Kimber 1911 in .45 ACP, my regular daily carry, and the other is an H&K USP Compact DA/SA in .40 S&W. The Kimber has a 7 round mag, the H&K has a 12 round mag. The Kimber has an ambidextrous safety (I'm left handed), while the H&K does not. The 1911 is actually easier to shoot and is more accurate than the H&K, even though the H&K is bigger and heavier. The 1911 requires me to wipe off the ambi safety to bring it into play, while the H&K is carried safety off, decocked, with a long stiff double action trigger stroke. In short, they are pretty different pistols, but they both conceal about equally well.

However, they have one thing in common which is perhaps the most important element in the shooting system, and that is me. I never go to the range but that I bring both pistols. While I have never fired either of them "in anger," I have fired both of them equally. The round count through the H&K is a little higher, but only because I've owned it a little longer. But when I take them to the range, they get an equal workout. I'm not by any means an expert pistol shooter, but I do work to make sure that I am equally proficient with either pistol. In fact, since the main difference in presentation between the two is whether or not I have to wipe off a safety, and since it does no harm for me to wipe off a non-existent safety lever when drawing the H&K, it just doesn't seem like that big a deal to me that they are so different.

What it really boils down to for me is pleasure of ownership, which I get more of out of the Kimber than I do out of the H&K; and that is principally why it is my regular carry gun, and not the other. If my carry concerns centered on capacity, or on reliability in a muddy environment, for instance, I would probably make the H&K my carry gun of choice that day. The next time I go deer hunting, I'll probably being along the H&K instead of the Kimber.

Again, I can only answer for myself, and I might be crazy as a loon.

[78641]

it seems to me it would make more sense to have only one carry gun and carry it in the same holster in the same place every time.

I carry an HK USPc .45 IWB, and keep a full size HK USP .45 in the bedside table, for exactly that reason. I could see getting something small enough to fit in a pocket, but that's about the only reason I would buy anything else right now.

[aardwolf]

I'm curious and this is an honest question here. I'm not picking bones, just looking for an honest answer.

Why do some have different guns they carry at different times? Or sometimes this holster or that?

I wear different clothes at work and on the weekend. I wear different clothes going to the beach and going hiking. Different guns and different holsters are part of that, like wearing different shoes.

Imagine if, God forbid, the balloon goes up and you're forced to defend yourself with deadly force. You usually carried a Glock, but today, you've got the 1911. You draw and attempt to fire a shot except you forgot to disengage the safety. Oops doesn't even begin to describe it. Or you are carrying your .40, need to reload but accidentaly put a 9mm magazine in your pouch.

If you think that might be a problem for you then don't do it. Problem solved.

[petroleumag07]

I carry a Kahr CW 40 to work, when I must have business dress on. It is light, and therefore doesn't pull my dresspants off during the day. It is thin which helps me to fit into my already snug pants.

When I go to church, the mall, professional sporting events, or prisons on the day of an execution, I carry my ful size Kimber CDP II because I am typically wearing jeans or cargo shorts and a hefty belt. I like the accuracy edge I get with my 5" 1911 when i'm in more open areas than an office.

[Kerbouchard]

Variety is the spice of life. Do you wear the same pants and shirt everyday? Is there ever a difference between how your clothes fit?

Do you have more than one hammer? Or more than one saw? Why? If you only owned one hammer you would develop better skills with it, right?

A gun is a tool. That is it. As a human being I hope you have mastered the ability to use several different types of tools, or several different types of the same tool.

When I use a screw driver instead of a drill, I don't find myself looking for the cord or the trigger.

I have trained enough with my different pistols that I feel confident with any of them.

[propellerhead]

... it seems to me it would make more sense to have only one carry gun and carry it in the same holster in the same place every time. That would simplify both training and logistics. One gun to practice manipulating, one draw stroke to practice and one type of ammunition to stock would eliminate any potential confusion.

That makes perfect sense to me.

I use an XD9 5" for target practice and IDPA.
I have an XD45 4" for home defense.
I carry an XD40 3".

Each pistol operates the same way.

[red2000vette]

What if your wife cooked you the same meal (say pork chops) every day. That'a all - just pork chops. Never anything else. Pork chops, pork chops, pork chops. Shopping would be simple. Never the risk of botching the recipe. No need for an an expensive assortment of exotic kitchen appliances. No need for a multitude of cook books. Relatives would cease stopping by unnannounced for dinner. Would life be good???

Just ask you dog. Purina one every day. Day in and day out. Always the same thing. Do you think he minds. If he could talk I bet he'd say, "Look, buy all the guns you want". "Shiny ones, blue ones, 1911 ones. Please, just throw me a pork chop every once in a while".

Ahhhhhhhh. The spice of life!

[gregthehand]

When I go to church, the mall, professional sporting events, or prisons on the day of an execution, I carry my ful size Kimber CDP II because I am typically wearing jeans or cargo shorts and a hefty belt. I like the accuracy edge I get with my 5" 1911 when i'm in more open areas than an office.

I take it the parts I bolded were meant to be a joke right?

[Liko81]

Beware the man who only has one gun; he probably knows how to use it.

In the general case, you should use one and the same concealed carry weapon in the same mode of carry (holster, position) as often as possible. There are however instances where your primary carry will not work. This could be due to clothing (what works with a suit may not work with a shirt and tie and vice versa), social surroundings (if people are going to be hugging you, they'll find a waistband holster and you should thus avoid it), your planned activities (an ankle holster doesn't work well for running, and neither does a clipped IWB holster really), etc. In addition, it makes good tactical sense to always have more than one gun available and have at least one that can be accessed by each hand or while in different postures. If you're sitting in the car, you cannot easily reach a weapon in your waistband either because of the seatbelt or simply because you're sitting. You CAN, however, reach a shoulder holster relatively easily, IF you have the use of your right arm.

You begin to see the complexities involved in choosing ONE weapon carried ONE way. It may be impossible to to find one method of concealed carry that ALWAYS works.

[M9FAN]

Variety is the spice of life. Do you wear the same pants and shirt everyday? Is there ever a difference between how your clothes fit?

Do you have more than one hammer? Or more than one saw? Why? If you only owned one hammer you would develop better skills with it, right?

A gun is a tool. That is it. As a human being I hope you have mastered the ability to use several different types of tools, or several different types of the same tool.

When I use a screw driver instead of a drill, I don't find myself looking for the cord or the trigger.

I have trained enough with my different pistols that I feel confident with any of them.

[rm9792]

I carry multiple pistols but they are all 1911's. I do carry my Kimber Pro CDP (4") about 80% of the time. I treat my 1911's like women do purses, whatever fits my mood. I have a Hicap Kimber I carry when going to a bad part of town for simple quantity of firepower. I have polished nickle for my blingy days (did I just lose my mancard?). I have other styles of .45 but as you mentioned I do not want to be in the thick of it with an HK USP on safety and thinking 1911. For deep concealment out comes the 3" 1911. I also prefer an all black gun at night with night sights.
As far as holsters I carry both IWB and OWB. I prefer OWB but it is not always possible.

[Liberty]

I have only 2 handguns, My primary carry is a Ruger Stainless P95. I wear it with a cheap but effective Don Hume JIT at a proper 9:00 Its an outside the waistband rig. I also own a Beretta 92fs It goes into a real cheap uncle MIkes. the advantage to to this holster is that it covers practically the whole gun and it has retention. Sometimes I will carry it inside the waistband small of the back. This is a good way for me to carry when I plan on being physically active. The uncle Mikes offers a little extra padding to protect the gun and the inside the waist aspect hides the 5 inches of barrel well. I travel a lot and the Beretta goes into the door panel an the Ruger goes on hip.

Both guns are 9mm and can fire using each others ammo and mags in a pinch. Safeties are in the same place and they point very simular. I feel that a double action only wouldn't be a problem, as long as I continue to practice sweeping a nonexisting safety.

[flintknapper]

You CAN, however, reach a shoulder holster relatively easily, IF you have the use of your right arm.

Or left.....or Strong or Weak side.

A person can easily draw from most shoulder holsters with either the strong hand or the weak hand, it is just one more thing I like about them. This generally applies to cross-draw holsters worn about the waist (in front) also.


Occasionally, I'll carry my Ruger SP-101 instead of my P-13, but I am so used to shooting either... that the differences in operating them should not cause me a problem.

The original poster makes a good point however, if you are one of those "gun of the week" type persons who has a different weapon on every time I see you, consider this question: In times of great stress...will you be able to effectively bring your weapon into play? There may not be time to fumble even the smallest amount.

Just make certain you are intimately familiar with any weapon you choose to carry for self defense...and try to keep your weapon choices and your practice with them as homogeneous as possible.


Just my .02 on it.