For those of you blessed to carry concealed, what do you carry, and why?

[LouAvul]

My primary carry piece is a Sig P239 DAK SAS in 9mm. It's about the largest weapon I can carry concealed in warm weather. The mag holds 8 w/1 in the pipe.

You?

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

.380 Seecamp...

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Tijeras_Slim]

They’ve had that line on their guns since shortly after WWII.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

[Cuttnhorse]

True, but you will find yourself on your state’s radar.

I was recently stopped by small-town,(pop 300) police and given a warning for a minor traffic issue. Officer checked my insurance and drivers license and came back to my vehicle and asked me if I was carrying a loaded firearm in my vehicle? He told me that when he ran a check I came up as a CCW permit holder and that he would, “appreciate, as a courtesy, being told that I had a firearm in my vehicle.”

I told him next time I would. So they know.

[Jaxter]

Lately I’ve been mostly carrying my Ruger SR-9c (9mm) in a IWB holster. In colder weather I carry either my S&W Sigma .40 or Kimber Ultra-Carry II .45 in paddle holsters. The hardest thing about carrying concealed for me is finding a good holster.

[JoeProBono]

[I see my hands]

Got a pocket holster for Ms. Elsie at the Dollar Store. For a buck! Very well made, the material, piping and stitching just doesn't wear or tear, weight: zero. It's amazing how perfectly it fits.

[LouAvul]

You carry a COP? That’s actually a quite collectable firearm.

[Copenhagen Smile]

Really! That I didn’t know. I just assumed it was my liberal state without really looking into it.

[LouAvul]

he would, “appreciate, as a courtesy, being told that I had a firearm in my vehicle

Here in Oklahoma whenever a citizen w/a CCW comes in official contact w/a LEO, we're required by law to inform them (that we're armed). As far as being on the state's radar for a CCW, I wouldn't worry about it. The only I would worry about in that regard would be if I were to be purchasing numerous military type weapons that would red flag me to the ATF.

[2111USMC]

Keltec P11 in 9mm. 12+1

In cooler climes, CZ82 9x18mm Makarov or Taurus “Falcon” service revolver in .38 special.

[2111USMC]

Dang! Now I gotta wipe the drool off my keyboard.

I love CZs.

[aimhigh]

Here in Oklahoma whenever a citizen w/a CCW comes in official contact w/a LEO, we're required by law to inform them (that we're armed)

Stupid requirement. The LEO should automatically assume the person is carrying, because if the person's intentions are evil, they will lie anyway.

[Free in Texas]

I carry a black subdued finish Colt Commander .45 in a Jim Burke holster. Throw in two extra mags in a old Bagmaster mag pouch and I’m good to go. I carry this pistol because I’ve had it since ‘83 or so and I trust it (I’m a 1911 kind of guy). I carry in general because I like living.

[mickie]

Joe, I am left handed. Can I buy any gun or should I buy a gun made for left handed women?

[2111USMC]

That one would be pretty effective for one shot.

2nd and 3rd shots would be more difficult due to cycling the bolt with a broken wrist.

:)

[phockthis]

I hear that the clock 40 cal, model 27 is only 6” by 4” and carries 9+1

[LibWhacker]

Here in Oklahoma whenever a citizen w/a CCW comes in official contact w/a LEO, we're required by law to inform them (that we're armed).

I really hate that requirement. I can easily imagine a cop who was having a bad day, or just a generic a***ole of a cop, going off on you and claiming that you were threatening him, simply because you informed him that you were armed. In fact, I think there was a thread on FR not too long ago about exactly that type of incident. The cop in that case was ultimately fired. But still, the poor innocent citizen might have lost his life that night.

I'd like to know which states, if any, do not require you to inform the cop you're armed.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Can I buy any gun or should I buy a gun made for left handed women?"

For the most part handguns/sidearms are ambidextrous and made to be fired either right or left handed. Some grip panels, especially in target oriented pistols, may have a thumb rest on the left side of the weapon intended for a right handed shooter, but in general, these are easily swapped out and replaced with either flat panels or with left handed grips (with the thumb rest on the right side of the weapon). For a CCW, you're normally looking for the thinnest, smallest, lowest profile features so that's not an issue.

Rifles on the other hand, can be a bit more problematic. Bolt action rifles are made specifically for left or right handed shooters. Most semi-automatic rifles eject the spent brass to the shooter's right, although most newer ones have features that deflect the brass so that while not optimum for a southpaw, they can still be used without any real adverse effect.

If you're interested in purchasing your first firearm, or even just your first CC firearm, I'd recommend you read voraciously, call around to local ranges/ shooting clubs and see if they offer any classes. I'm sure there are any number of FReepers in and around your area who would be more than happy to take you to a range and try out some various weapons.