The countdown begins...

[jcarp02]

Just sent my CHL paperwork off in the mail today. Now the clock is ticking for me to get a weapon, holster, etc. Originally I had it narrowed down to the Glock 27 and the XD .40 SC. I then decided to look at the compacts over the subs and switched from .40 to 9 mm (mostly because of ammo prices since I am looking into doing some sort of practical shooting as well as carrying). So now I am looking at the XD 9 or the Glock 19, but leaning a little more toward the Glock. For the IWB, I was looking at the Comp-Tac. I know I'm probably opening a big can of worms here, but looking for recommendations on Glock vs. XD and/or Comp-Tac C-Tac vs. M-Tac. Also, anything else that I should probably look into getting to get started. Thanks!

[Teamless]

Glock vs XD - in my mind, the XD wins.
I like the feel of the XD over the Glock, and a nice feature is the back strap safety and the trigger safe on the XD as opposed to just the trigger safe on the Glock.
That was my wife's teetering point on getting her XD9sc, and she already had her Glock, but wouldn't purse carry, as she didn't like the idea of the trigger safe alone.

Another feature that is better (in my mind) is the dis-assembly.
with the Glock you have to pull back the slide 1/4 inch or so, and then with your other hand you have to pull down the 'lever'.
with the XD, you rack the slide open, pop up the lever and release the slide, pull the trigger, nice and easy.
Whichever of the 2, of course you will be getting a great weapon!

[USA1]

Comp-Tac C-Tac vs. M-Tac. Also, anything else that I should probably look into getting to get started.

Welcome to the forum jcarp02

Definitely check into Crossbreed SuperTuck holsters.
They come highly recommended from many members here including myself.

Oh, and a good Gun belt is essential.

[RPB]

look at the compacts over the subs

Why?

Capacity? Barrel length?

Why not a 20+1 round Glock 26 (17+3 mag, +1 in chamber) with internal laser, Advantage Tactical sights, and extended ported barrel? (and a variety of mags from 10, 11, 12 (10+2), 13 (10+3), 15, 16, 17, 17, (15+2) 18 (15+3) 19 (17+2) 20 (17+3) and have a spare 33 round in the closet and in the car? (or XD equivalent?)

Below is my every day carry.

Glock 26 is easier to carry than my Glock 19 since the fat slide is shorter.
(for deep concealment, just carry a Glock 19 mag and spacer, or 13 rounds with a Glock 26 mag and Pearce +3 extension ... or ... (I can't focus yet, new camera darn complicated settings lol)
I had this set on slow shutter night scenes ... I'll replace these with better pics later today.
Internal laser is off in these photos, but you know what a red dot looks like

[RAM4171]

A real gunbelt is paramount, I picked up a Galco COP series at the gun show for about $55 last year and it made all of the different in the world of comfort.

[RPB]

A real gunbelt is paramount, I picked up a Galco COP series at the gun show for about $55 last year and it made all of the different in the world of comfort.

ABSOLUTELY

I wear Comptac contoured, kydex reinforced, double layered, Velcro sewn inside (for Velcro clips under the belt; when I don't want clips showing on top of my belt)

[rmr1923]

new to the forum here, but figured i'd just post a response to this thread instead of starting a new one since it's more or less the same topic. i too sent my CHL paperwork on January 3rd and have yet to see an update when i log onto the DPS web site (still says they're waiting on my paperwork, and when i call the 800 number i get a busy signal after the 1st ring). does anyone know what the average waiting period is before a CHL is issued? my instructor told me anywhere between 2 weeks and 2 months, but i've heard of other people having to wait up to 6 months in years past. i also have a class b misdemeanor that should be expunged from my record (i was a juvenile and received deferred adjudication, this was 11 years ago), but i included the arrest on my application for the sake of full disclosure. i suppose this could delay the processing of my application but from what i've been told it shouldn't disqualify me from getting a CHL.

as for a concealed carry gun, i'm looking real closely at the Glock 27 also. i have a Beretta PX4 Storm subcompact that i originally intended to use for concealed carry, but the gun now belongs to my wife (after several trips to various gun stores, she said she feels more comfortable with the Beretta than the .38 special revolvers she originally had her eye on). i have an XDm .40 and absolutely love it, so that got me interested in their subcompacts but i just like the feel of the Glock better (it was the opposite on the full-size gun, i liked the feel of the Springfields over the Glocks).

[jcarp02]

rmr- I sent my paperwork off the same day and it is still saying that they are waiting for my paperwork too. Glad I'm not the only one.

I ended up rented the Glock 19 and loved it. I bought one right then. I had originally looked at the subcompacts, but when I talked to the guy at the shop, he said everyone he knew that bought a sub ended up getting an extended clip for it to get a better grip. When you do this, it's ends up being the same length as a compact.

[rmr1923]

rmr- I sent my paperwork off the same day and it is still saying that they are waiting for my paperwork too. Glad I'm not the only one.

I ended up rented the Glock 19 and loved it. I bought one right then. I had originally looked at the subcompacts, but when I talked to the guy at the shop, he said everyone he knew that bought a sub ended up getting an extended clip for it to get a better grip. When you do this, it's ends up being the same length as a compact.

isn't the barrel of the Glock 19 longer than the 27? i suppose it may not be that big of a difference, and the piece that would probably print the most is the gun's grip under your shirt anyway.

and about the paperwork, i decided to try my luck and emailed the CHL office yesterday to make sure they'd received everything and that nothing was missing, i got a response back within a couple hours, and when i logged on this morning they'd updated my status to show everything had been received and the only things pending were the background check and fingerprints . i emailed that person back (kissing foot a bit i suppose) and thanked them for their quick response, and told them that if they needed any additional info to give me a call any time, they responded back to that email within 10 minutes. maybe kissing some butt will speed up the processing of my application, most likely it won't... can't hurt to try though.

i'm afraid my application will be held up for 2 reasons.. 1st is an arrest that's been expunged from my record (happened 11 years ago when i was a juvenile), i included it on the application and i'm expecting them to ask for more info on that. 2nd is my list of residences over the past 5 years. i've moved 6 times in the past 5 years and i couldn't remember the exact months we'd moved from one place to the next, so i'm wondering how much detail they look into there.

[jcarp02]

The barrel of the 19 is less than an inch longer, but they say that the barrel doesn't matter when you're concealing anyway. The only thing that matters is the grip printing. If you put the extended mag on the 26 or 27, it's the same link as the 19 and 23. Also, for me, I liked the 19 better because the grip is slimmer. I actually had an easier time with the slide release and mag release on the 19. Everyone I talked to that carries a compact or even the full size 17, say they have no problems concealing either one.

Right after I posted that reply this morning I logged back on to the DPS website and they had it updated just like you described. I had green checks next to everything except Application, Fingerprints, BG check, and obviously, the license. It says the app was received, but there is not a check by it. Is that the way yours looked?

Not knowing the dates of when you lived where shouldn't have an effect on how long it takes. The background check just goes by county. Even if you've moved 10 times, if you were in the same county it takes just as long as if you lived in the same place. Some counties take longer than others. Hope you get everything worked out with the arrest.

[rmr1923]

Right after I posted that reply this morning I logged back on to the DPS website and they had it updated just like you described. I had green checks next to everything except Application, Fingerprints, BG check, and obviously, the license. It says the app was received, but there is not a check by it. Is that the way yours looked?

yeah that's how mine looked, says application received but still the yellow triangle/exclamation point next to it

[rmr1923]

Not knowing the dates of when you lived where shouldn't have an effect on how long it takes. The background check just goes by county. Even if you've moved 10 times, if you were in the same county it takes just as long as if you lived in the same place. Some counties take longer than others. Hope you get everything worked out with the arrest.

as far as the arrest goes, i'm not too concerned about it being a disqualifying factor (class b misdemeanor, deferred adjudication and it should be off my record now, and it was 11 years ago) so much as it just lengthening the time it takes to process my application. my instructor told our class that, in general, the background check for CHLs is about the same as what they look into when you're buying a gun, so if you've had no trouble buying guns then there shouldn't be anything in your background that would disqualify you from getting a CHL.

[jcarp02]

Right after I posted that reply this morning I logged back on to the DPS website and they had it updated just like you described. I had green checks next to everything except Application, Fingerprints, BG check, and obviously, the license. It says the app was received, but there is not a check by it. Is that the way yours looked?

yeah that's how mine looked, says application received but still the yellow triangle/exclamation point next to it

That makes me feel a little better. I was starting to think I didn't fill the application out right.