In the winter because of the thick winter garments that clog the h-speed hp of the 9mm and 40sw and make them fail to open I pefer a little more bullet mass. Also in the winter with more sweaters ,sweatshirts and coats it makes it easy to pack more gun. Whats your winter ccw and why?
I tend to only change what I'm carrying based on activity and not weather. If I'm at work, it's the Keltec P-32 because I'm not carrying. :gah:
If I'm walking in the park, it's the Makarov because it's light and small. It's also the only OWB pistol I have and it's more comfortable to walk with I think.
All other times I have on my Kimber with 2 extra magazines. Now that I have it broken in and trust it, it has replaced my Px4 as my carry piece. The Px4 has moved to nightstand duty.
When IDPA first came on the scene, I used to belong to the gun-of-the-month club. I tried shooting a different gun each month in an effort to find what worked best for me.
An interesting thing happened as a result, my accuracy went down and my times went up. After I’d fooled around doing this for a while, one of the older shooters struck up a conversation with me. He’s the one who made me realize I’d joined the gun-of-the-month club, and he asked me why I was switching guns so much. I told him I was trying to find what worked best for me while gaining proficiency with several different guns.
He gave me some advice that was very simple, but made a lot of sense. He told me all I was doing by switching guns was screwing myself up. He also told me that if I ever had to use my gun “for real” everything I did with it needed to be instinctive. He said I wouldn’t have the luxury of taking the time to realize which gun I had with me and then thinking about how to make that particular gun run. He also told me I’d have more than I could handle just processing the situation and trying to execute tactics, the gun handling had to be automatic. He told me to just pick a gun, or at least one type of gun, and stick with it until it had become an extension of myself.
I’ve picked one gun I carry both winter and summer, and I carry it pretty much the same way both winter and summer. I picked the gun I carry because I thought it was the best self-defense tool I could apply to most situations, not because it was small or more convenient to carry or was the minimum I could get away with carrying wearing thin summer clothing. I picked it for carry because, over the years, it has become as familiar as an old friend, and everything I do with it has become an automatic response.
So, I carry the same full-sized gun in a larger caliber both winter and summer. I know this is not what most folks will decide to do, but it works pretty well for me.
Harold, You just can't ignor them "older" shooters.
My dad used to tell me >> 1."experience is the best teacher" and 2."you NEVER learn anything by talking,you learn by listening". I used to laugh at him(behind his back)back then,but now I feel that he was right.
When I wanted to start doing some extreme accuracy type of shooting,I would drive 100 miles to the state and nat'l benchrest matches. I would talk to anyone that would be kind enough to share their ideas on the subject. Same for the IPPSC stuff. I learned allot from the older, experianced shooters.(but sadly not enough to ever beat them)
For CCW,one weapon,one load, works for me. I find myself doing things while competative shooting that is very instinctive. And that's good. -------
I have two guns that I will alternate as my main carry gun, a S&W 640 and a USPc in .45; I'll carry whichever one I can can conceal best. I carry the USPc decocked/safety off, so I don't have to fumble with a safety.
I prefer to carry my USPc year-round, but that is extremely difficult to do in the summer months.
Betty what do you carry in the 640? I too like the 45acp,but as stated the summer makes it harder to conceal. Then its the J-frame in the pocket. My G36 makes a good wintergun . My waist lenght Carhart makes draw a snap on the strongside IWB one handed. As you stated in the heat of the moment I just like a pull and shoot system with no levers or safetys to fumble with. Allso the same with the SW M-66 2.5" RB 357 mag. or the J-frame. The OLD LSWC-hp +P Load works good year around the same with the 230 45acp -HP. They perform as expected with light or heavy winter garb. IN the freezing cold the J-frame in the outside jacket pocket is fast and deady. One can keep a hand on it without alarming the average John &Jane Doe. But many a time the street thug has got the message by my body sign that spelled a high price to do the crime. The thug as as well as a street savy CCW knows what this means. Danger flashs in the perps eyes and mind and he knows the price he will pay.
I do not plan to change my belt carry weapon (G26), but once I can afford it I plan to add 1 or 2 Centennial-style snubbies for the pockets.
Also, I think the expansion issues you're concerned with will be more related to bullet type/design than caliber and weight. For example, check out the available loadings of Speer Gold Dots and Cor-Bon DPX (very expensive).
A non-expanded HP round will penetrate similarly to a FMJ, so I don't think changing to a heavier bullet really addresses your concern.
seems there was a post about this just this week wasn't there
i carry 45 year round unless it is somewhere i need more power or a small 38 package
1st mag is 230 jhp if it gets uber cold i will carry ball as back up and sometimes just ball as people have 3-5 layers of clothes on
the new hornady xtp rounds in +p look pretty nice and i have been using them as a primary carry bullet have not had a chance to test them out in the uber cold weather
I carry 642 always. I walked today and had it in my front coat pocket with my hand actually holding the gun. My coat would hender me from getting to it quick in my holster.. I'd prefer not to switch up..
I carry the same 2 guns- XD 45, and a Glock 26. I've changed my ammo to use either Corbon Pow'rball, of Federal Expanding point full metal jacket. These are designed to expand regardless of the clothing.
Start with a major cal. and you will be get to go any season. The old rule of 38spec ,9mm min. still applys. For me in the auto the 45acp and the J-frame 38 LSWC-HP. Cute small 22.25,32,380 give up alot! Rule number one have a gun,rule number two know how to use. And have one reload.
In the winter because of the thick winter garments that clog the h-speed hp of the 9mm and 40sw and make them fail to open I pefer a little more bullet mass.
I carry one of several guns, usually the largest I can conceal comfortably. That means when I'm wearing a suit coat, jacket or full-on winter coat, I'm more apt to go for the 1911 OWB in my Wilsom Combat holster.
If it's dockers and dress shirts at work, I'll go for the S&W 38 snubbie and pocket holster.
So - yes, I carry the 1911 more when it's cold outside. It's not due to the weather though, it's due to the opportunity created by my pea coat. :smile:
doesn't change I figure if it doesn't open I hit'm with ball ammo if it does open all the better
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