Wasn’t sure where to post this, the Lounge or here, but since I am talking about “outdoors” in a way and “bullets” …

Talk about guns has me wondering what others here carry for CCW - (those living in states where it’s possible, anyway). Virginia is still a pro-2A state for the most part.

I've never fretted too much about “stopping power.” In fact, in my car, I’ve forever kept just a little ‘80s Beretta 21-A with a 7-rd. backup magazine, wood grips, a classic little gun. (I love the pop-up barrel—makes it easy to clear).

On my person, over the years, I've tried everything from .380 to .40 in semiauto and up to .357 in revolvers, but none of those for very long – just always too heavy and bulky for me. For a few years, it was my Beretta Mod. 70-S in .380 – small enough (and so darned sexy), but a bit on the heavy side. It just became too cumbersome. Then on to tiny compacts like the Glock 42.

But I’ve landed now, for the last several years, on an old-school Smith & Wesson Mod. 37 revolver “Chief’s Special Airweight” in .38 Special. A great little J frame and *very* lightweight. Limited to 5 rounds chambered but I usually carry a 6-rd backup strip. (This revolver is lighter than most of the modern-alloy Lightweight .38 revolvers being made today – I find that amazing. With the standard wood grips, it weighs just 13.3 oz. empty and 15.7 oz. loaded! Decades old technology—go figure).

I keep telling my son (carries a Sig P365 9mm, 12 rd. mag and before that a Glock 17), Once you go wheelgun, you’ll never go back. But he won't hear it – he wants his “stopping power” and “capacity.” And my brother often carries an FN Five-seven! Shee-ite. But for simplicity and ease of use, you can’t beat a revolver. They rarely malfunction: just keep pulling the trigger. I used to love to listen to G. Gordon Liddy go on about the merits of a wheelgun.

Don't get me wrong, I love my semi-autos too—and the bigger calibers. Very much. But for regular carry...

It’s so light and comfortable in an inside-the-waistband holster (just got a new one I really like) I can almost forget I’m carrying it. I usually carry appendix and I can safely move, sit, get in and out of a car or tight restaurant booth with zero problems or discomfort. And it doesn’t print at all.

What do you guys carry? Just curious. Happy to hear your choices and reasoning. I’m probably in the minority, with my small revolver, and it get it; it’s all good.

Thanks! Gary


A few pics.

With Swiss Army Knife for scale:



In holster with backup strip (coins for scale):



And in hand.

Think Coach would agree with me on this one. I carry my BB gun. Bond Arms Snakeslayer with 3" .410 BB. Works on all sorts of critters.

Glock G43.

Sig P938 the picture with the butt up is how it sits on the back of my belt.

Glock 43, and with a few mods from the Glock Store, it shoots with my Glock 19. Love my Glocks. My EDC in the woods is a Glock Model 20sf in 10mm with a Diamond D Guide Chest Holster. Fire power is the name of the game.

Pap

Gary--

An S&W 642 with the shrouded hammer and non-tacky G10 grips weighs in at 15.5 ounces empty.

I guess you have Ed Lovette's book "The Snubby Revolver."

Larry

Gary,
My daily carry pocket rocket is a Sig P 238.Alot of times I also
have my S&W 642 loaded with Federal nyclads.2 is better than 1 and that gives somebody 12 chances to change their mind.

Sig P225 (import from Switzerland) or G43, depending.

Rob
Depending on where I'm going I carry my Sig P 225 too.
They are sweet!!!

Speaking of this thread, friend of mine in Las Vegas has a G43 that he's selling with good IWB holster and a mag or three. So far I know it's the (coyote?) tan color and he had the slide cerekoted to color match.

He's getting me a list of details and his asking price, if anyone is interested.

Depending on where I will be pretty much dictates my choice.
Down to GA for the quail hunt,the Bond Texas Defender in 410 for both the two legged and slithering problems.

But for the most part,a North American Arms PUG or Back Widow is pretty much the 24/7 piece.

Rule number 1 is to have piece.

40 years as an LEO has proven to me that the bad guys will run away at the first hint of resistance or sight of a piece with a person determined to use it.

What ever your choice is,it is a good choice.

Wayne

Seacamp .32 in a Sneeky Pete....extra mag in my pocket...carry it everywhere...nobody asks any questions, looks like a cell phone holder

:-)Rocky

Bond Arms Texan in my 4-wheeler compartment.

1911 in my truck console.

Kimber Micro 380 in my "Man Purse" brief case.

Good stuff here.

I like that little Seacamp, Rocky.

And I agree, Wayne, something is always better than nothing.

And here too, it's about shot placement. If you can maintain your head and stay calm, a .22 LR in the right place will shut the lights out on anyone.

It seems to me, so many of the younger guys, esp, worry too much about that big bad crazy dude hopped up on PCP. But what they don't seem to do enough is practice, practice, practice.

And Larry, I don't have Lovette's book, but it looks like a good read.

Thanks, Gary

22LR can save you from a bear attack!

You just need someone else to kneecap and you need to do this before the bear starts chewing on you.

Well,
If we are talking about cars/trucks...then, that's another story....Sub2k with 3 extra 33rnd mags...and a box of ammo under the rear seat(in a carry pouch)....19X with 3 extra mags in the center console, and a Glock 42 with 2 extra mags between the armrest and the side of the console(open), in a "stickey" holster....going to be swapping out the 42 with a 43X when I and catch a good deal on my local web site...need all to be 9mm....sometimes folks ask me "what are you so afraid of" my response.."not a damn thing"...except maybe the weather...there's never a replacement for practice!!!

:-)Rocky

Rocky
If you join the Glock Shooting Sports Association, you get a Blue Label coupon for each years subscription. That knocks off over $150 from retail.

Pap

Escapement,
As an experiment with my officers,I demonstrated the power of a 22 magnum from a North American Arms mini revolver.

I took a plastic gallon milk jug and filled it with warm water and took it out by a sand berm. One shot into the jug from about a foot away sent water in all directions.

And yes,practice is the key element here. The vast majority of SD ranges are 10 ft or less with most at near contact.

Ed Lovette's book The Snubby Revolver is very good as well as No Second Place Winner by Bill Jordan. Bill Jordan,in that book goes into a good amount of detail of the lightweight snubby in 22 magnum. And this was before the North American Arms mini revolvers!!!

Wayne

Yes, before NA Arms, there was a High Standard 2 shot in .22 and .22 mag. I shot a hollowpoint into a water jug at 5 ft and blew it to smithereens. Sold it for the NA Arms 5 shot, better concealed and more shots. I put it in ny shirt pocket, no one knows.

A similar to Pap.

My NAA .22LR/.22Mag Sidewinder Convertible we all talked about in another thread awhile back

Warren,
I had never seen a Micro Might before,never knew that they existed.
Looks pretty much like the Dixie Derringer that Charter Arms had out sometime ago.

Blades & Barrels,
All of those NAA minis seem to be made with the precision of a Swiss Watch.

Problem with owning one is that they seem....."to multiply"

Wayne

Wayne,

Found this at a local Gander Mountain before they closed. Wasn't a very pricey piece. A buddy of mine dressed it up.

Warren,
Definitely a very nice piece.

Wayne

Wayne,

Not easy to load, wish it had a swing out cylinder like Dave's.

I just came back from the "Northern Border Wars"and had shot my NAA Black Widow often.

Slow on the reload but still not really that bad.

Now that I am back,I am sending my Model 3 Randall back to Orlando for some custom stuff (name etch,compass,thumb notches).

Wayne