What To Carry?

[VirgilCaine]

Lookin' for opinions. I have 4 pistols :
Beretta 92f 9mm
Taurus PT111 Millenium Pro 9mm
Dan Wesson K frame 357 [2.5", 3", 5", and 7" barrels]
Colt Combat Commander 45acp

Which one would you recommend i carry concealed?
I am very competent/confident with all of them. I shoot regularly, if not daily.
I have yet to purchase concealed holsters for any of these and would like input on that as well.

thanks for the input

[XavierBreath]

My obvious first response is to get your license prior to carrying concealed.

Of all the guns you listed, assuming equal reliability, the Colt Commander is the best CCW piece in my opinion. A Commander is easily carried IWB behind the strong hip. It's caliber works. It's flatness hardly ever prints if carried properly.

Most who carry have a couple of alternative guns. The Beretta 92FS is a difficult gun to conceal all day without printing. I'm not familiar with the Taurus, it might work, might not. The K frames don't really make sense when you could be packing a J frame. It would be easy for you to find a rationale for another gun.

As far as holsters, consider the belt to be as important as the holster and get good leather. You will spend less and carry more in the long run. Plan on paying $100 for the holster and $80 for the belt and you will not be surprised. In fact, $100 for the belt and $80 for the holster might be a better idea.

Here are some links.
http://www.miltsparks.com/
http://www.gokart.net/shop-utopia/kramer/
http://www.usgalco.com/Default.asp
http://www.smartcarry.com/

[Dwight55]

Virgil, I would second Xavier's opinion on the Colt as first choice.

That .357 is really a hard piece to easily conceal, . . . my friend has a Beretta like yours, and I would have a much harder time concealing it than my full size 1911 SA GI.

Equal and ditto on the belt and holster, . . . I also have a good shoulder holster for my 1911 and it is comfortable for long time use, balanced by two clips on the off side, is all leather and I really like it too.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Sir William]

I like the 92 myself. It is in unmolested form. That is important. Short or compact are not as reliable in my experience as their full size originals. I far prefer IWB holsters for concealabilty. They are comfortable. The shoulder carry is bulky and prints badly for me. The shoulder carry also flops around too much. I am not a fan of OWB unless you are law enforcement. The full size pistol, IWB holster and a good stiff belt are needed. There are many ways to conceal extra magazines. Two of the best are in plain view. I use a hard sunglasses case to conceal a magazine. I use a leather Case knife belt pouch to conceal a extra mag too. Check around and see what is normal on or in pockets, belts or around your environment. It is surprising what can be used to carry mags that looks completely innocent and normal.

[cje1980]

Sir William, What particular holster do you use to CC your 92. I have a 92 and I was thinking of carrying it just because it's about the most reliable gun I've ever had. I would feel pretty confident carrying a 92.

[Richard]

VirgilCaine, I can't tell you what to carry but I will tell you one I won't carry. I have no use for my Taurus PT111 due to its trigger (about 15 Lbs) and Taurus' total lack of customer service. They admit its trigger is crappy but will do nothing to improve it. Other than this, pick the weapon that feels best in your hand and you also shoot best. I went through a long process and I ended up with a Bersa Thunder 45 for car/carry. Why? It works for me. regards, Richard:D

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I'm a fan of the big old and slow .45 ACP, so with that said I will have
to vote for the Colt Combat Commander.

Best Wishes,

[12-34hom]

Colt 1911.

12-34hom.

[theberettaman]

For drop dead Bang everytime performance you should go with the 92.The 92 is no harder to conceal with a good high quality holster/belt than any other.I've concealed everything from a C&L 92 to an Elite II in an IWB Desantis Cozy Partner.
16rds of 147gr JHP keeps me cool in the summer and cozy warm in the winter.
:cool:

[Black_Snowman]

Another few sources for good holsters:
http://www.hbeleatherworks.com/
if he doesn't have a pattern for it
http://www.fist-inc.com/

[Sir William]

I am a solid Galco fan. I use a IWB horsehide that I have treated with olive oil. I use 115 gr Federal Hydra-Shoks. I have used Hydra-Shoks for years.

[sm]

My Criteria for CCW comes from what I was taught by my elders/ mentors.

Gun fit to shooter, in a platform reliable with the largest caliber shooter can consistently achieve quick accurate hits.

Yes I know many times we shoot and have confidence with different platforms and perhaps different calibers.

Credit goes to Mr. Givens and Mr. Hackathorn for this test in determining which gun is best for a particular shooter to carry for a CCW.

Take a pc of typing paper and fold in half, then fold again- quartered if you will.

Place this paper target at 7 yds. Now use what you would - or think you would be best with as far as cover garment, holster and fiream. Have someone time you and at the sound of buzzer fire five rds.

Repeat with other platforms, calibers, holsters, cover garments.

Time and group sizes will determine what works best for YOU at this point of Mindset, training, skill level.

As Mindset, training and skill level improves , one can and often does move up in caliber size for instance.

Besides the firearm and caliber , the holster and method (s) of concealment are revealed FOR THAT PERSON.

For instance lets say a student uses a 9mm Glock 26 the best for a bit. IF...IF they choose to consider a change with mindset , training and skill level they may find the 1911 style recoil does not bother them, they have trained to snick of safety and times and groups are smaller For THEM.

An older person with arthritis may find they have to go to a Revolver because the DA/ SA they used to use - the hands are not what they used to be.

Individual decison IME / IMO

[SIGLOCKAUR]

Different situations may limit what you can carry/conceal. But as a general carry weapon of those you mentioned I would go with the Commander. In fact I'm wearing my S&W 1911 Sc "Commander" right now. Very flat,
great ergonomics, easy trigger, potent round, just a good all around choice. And no I am not one of these .45 or nothing types. I think any of the service sized rounds with good hollowpoints and tactics will serve you well. IN a medium to smaller gun I just prefer the "roll" feeling of .45 recoil compared to the "slap" of say a .40 or .357 Sig.

[Gary L. Griffiths]

Depending on your frame size, I'd go with the Combat Commander or the Taurus. I presume you've fired them all enough to consider them utterly reliable with the loads you carry and that you can shoot them accurately.

FWIW, Richard's experience with the old Taurus Millennium series weapon is not pertinent, as the Pro series has a much lighter trigger pull.

[VirgilCaine]

Alright, good info. I'm leaning toward the commander. BUT, do you guys feel safe with the hammer back and only the slide safety engaged?. Whats nice about the 92f is the decocker. I would hate to put a 45 slug thru my butt cheek :p . does the slide safety ever become disengaged while IWB? are the other saftey features on a commander fool proof? just curious.

I carried a 1911 while in the army, but NEVER had one in the pipe unless ready to discharge. We went to 92f's shortly after I arrived in berlin.

thanks for the help!

[XavierBreath]

I feel perfectly comfortable carrying cocked and locked. I figure if my pocketknife doesn't spontaneously open and stab me, my gun won't spontaneously go off safe and shoot me. For the 1911 to fire, both the thumb and grip safety must be off. If it's a Series 80 gun, the firing pin plunger must also be depressed. That's significantly more safety than a decocker, IMHO. The real safety is in the gun handling.... Don't sweep yourself with the muzzle on drawing and reholstering, and keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. That holds true with any gun though.

I do use a single sided safety on my carry 1911's. I like the Ed Brown single sided carry (sometimes called tactical) thumb safety. A lot of folks prefer the stock Colt teardrop. Your thumb safety should engage and disengage with a positive snick. If it does not, you, or a decent 1911 smith can make the dimple in the thumb safety/plunger engagement surface a little better fitted so it does. FWIW, mine has never gone off safe unintentionally. Others may have different experiences.

If you like, do a test.....carry your Commander, for however long you feel you need to, unloaded, but cocked and locked. If it goes off safe, figure out why and correct it, or go DA.

Some people do not feel comfortable with C&L carry. If you do not, a DA auto would be a better choice than an empty chamber on a 1911 or Condition 2 carry.

[Gary L. Griffiths]

I figure if my pocketknife doesn't spontaneously open and stab me, my gun won't spontaneously go off safe and shoot me.

Had that happen to me! :eek: Had an "automatic" (politically correct switchblade) knife in an outside pocket on the cargo pocket that my Kel-Tec P-32 was in, in its wallet holster. Sat down in an armchair, and the arm pressed my leg enough to open the knife in my pocket. Didn't cut me, but nearly ruined my pants. :o

I don't hesitate to carry Cocked & Locked, or even Cocked & Unlocked, but always use a thumb-break holster with the strap between the hammer and firing pin. Carrying Cocked & Locked in a pocket is highly dangerous, IMHO.

[XavierBreath]

"Had that happen to me! "

I knew somebody would come along..... ;)
My knife is a Kershaw Onion. It's also automatic, but with a lock. Makes it cocked and locked.

[Bullrock]

I took my new Taurus Millenium Pro 9MM to the range shortly after I purchased it along with my Glock26. I put a 2 mags through the G26 then tried the Taurus. The Taurus felt and fired very much like my G26 (extended mags.) The trigger action was very close between the two guns, there was a tiny bit more recoil with the Taurus and they weigh about the same. While I carry my G26 every day, the Mill Pro is a close next choice.

The difference is, the Taurus carries 12 in the magazine and one in the pipe, is a DAO, but has a manual safty, a full grip and is prettier in SS. It works for me in a Galco Cop 3 Slot holster. Different strokes for different folks. I'd carry the Taurus. Sorry to tell you what you already know...

[dairycreek]

Of the firearms on your list I would recommend the Colt Commander as being the best overall concealed carry weapon. There are a ton of good holster makers from which you can choose. In my personal experience I have had good experiences with FIST (leather) and Comp-Tac (kydex). Each of these companies has a lot of holsters from which you can find one that meets your needs at a reasonable price. Good shooting;)

[Ozzieman]

You need to look at a few things. How comfortable will you be with the gun cocked and locked or in number 1?
Its the proper way to carry one and if you cant live with that you have a problem. There are many holsters, some that will keep the hammer from making contact with the firing pin if the gun is accidently discharged. But there slow compaired to open top but safer.

MY VOTE, would be with the gun that you
1. feel most comfortable and shoot best with.
2. Have the most experance with.
3 and last. What you can conceal best.

What the rest of us think really dosent matter.