Gun purchases thread.

Excalibur · #1 06-08-2016, 06:16 PM

Me personally, I've never been a fan of DA/SA guns. For beginners, I've always advocate a gun with 1 type of trigger pull, not 2. Be with DAO, SA or Striker fire.

StanTheMan · #2 06-09-2016, 09:15 PM

I've always personally liked calling ones like the SIG P228/P229 'intermediate' pistols as 'compact' just seems a bit misleading and exhaustive for me (anything not as big as a full-size is a compact? Bah, tell that to car companies). That said, I'm personally not into Glocks, not because I think they are bad (on the contrary) but because every one I've tried, NONE have felt good in my hand, just can't get confident with drawing and wielding them. Of course I have stubby fingers so any hi-cap is going to be a problem. As Excalibur said, physical attributes come into play for sure.

Some of the single-stack Glocks caught my eye but I still don't prefer that aesthetic or striker fire. I actually like the rebooted P225, but I do agree the overall size might be a tad large still, even if it is a bit flatter. I agree generally that an IWB and/or pocket gun is likely going to have to be something more on the smaller side. Not everyone can hide a larger gun so well, no matter how much they try.

I do think you make a fair point about not limiting yourself YNH and personally like your choice (beautiful SIGs by the way) but I think Excalibur said it mostly. It's all about what concessions you want to make where. And of course, mindset, your evaluation of things. Me, I'm not looking to be any hero, so I'm not looking for a larger piece with 15 rounds at the ready. I'm the guy that would happily carry a snub at this point. As I go forward that might change, but not the mindset I have right now nor going into the near future.

Excalibur · #3 06-09-2016, 09:28 PM

Carrying a gun for me and a lot of people is never about "being a hero" or being a cowboy. It's plain and simple. I carry because it is my right. To be able to defend myself. It doesn't matter what I carry because I have a right to choose.

I don't wake up in the morning, put my gun on and pray for a gun fight. It's just part of my everyday attire and has become second nature. Sometimes I forget I am even carrying a gun, but whenever I feel in danger, I know it is there ready to go.

StanTheMan · #4 06-09-2016, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

Carrying a gun for me and a lot of people is never about "being a hero" or being a cowboy. It's plain and simple. I carry because it is my right. To be able to defend myself. It doesn't matter what I carry because I have a right to choose.

I don't wake up in the morning, put my gun on and pray for a gun fight. It's just part of my everyday attire and has become second nature. Sometimes I forget I am even carrying a gun, but whenever I feel in danger, I know it is there ready to go.

No, I got ya. I would think all of us on here are like that, because we're not mall ninjas and armchair warriors - Which I have to say I've been around too many of those in the past and still see that type from time to time. Can't stand that shit. Anyway, not meaning anything by that statement, just that I like keeping things simple, and that weighs in to most things, this included. Here, as you said, just looking to defend myself should the need arise. That's it.

StanTheMan · #5 06-09-2016, 09:52 PM

Back to business then.. I like your recommendations and tips. I've checked your holster suggestions for the IWB stuff and they mostly look good - Admittedly I lean a bit toward to OWB, though. I often wear two shirts (undershirt and a button down short sleeve - Dickies work shirt or similar) so I think concealment on an OWB isn't too hard, while IWB I might have trouble with effectively deploying when the need arises. That and again, I might go for a not-so-small carry piece. Been looking/thinking about it a bit more seriously in recent months.

While I admire Yournamehere's method, I don't think I'd be able to pull it off. And people carrying full-sizes IWB? I've seen it done, but.. Bah.

Excalibur · #6 06-09-2016, 10:03 PM

OWB is the most comfortable because you don't change your pants size. You can OWB carry pretty much ANY handgun. Hell, if open carry wasn't so much of a social problem, I'd be cool with open carrying from a drop leg holster (the holster will still need to be a kydex type because I hate the old school pouch type with a belt strap.)

Concealing OWB depends largely on the holster, what kind of gun and your shirt. I said it before, I wear a button shit when I OWB my G19 and it hides pretty well and I have a large body. But a button shirt lacks variety in your everyday attire if you care about fashion. I kinda like to change my literal tone every time I go outside instead of the same types of shirts I rely on.

The popular holsters of the "tactical crowd" seemed to be :

Raven -
Bravo Concealment
High Threat Concealment

The store bought every man type:

Blackhawk Serpa - Had a Serpa for a while
Safariland - I really like it's GLS holster
Fobus

Com-tac seemed to be nice

With a bunch of minor ones like:

On Your Six Design (I mentioned this as my G43 holster)
Contact Concealment

Some guys want to carry ALL the spare mags with them. I'm just happy with 1 spare mag, a full size G17 mag with a +2 extension. I'm going to try out other brands like Taran Tactical but they are expensive at 30 bucks a baseplate.

I don't carry my gun with a weapon light attached. I prefer a hand light in my other pocket. Also holster choices and clothing are limited even more with a weapon light attached.

StanTheMan · #7 06-09-2016, 10:23 PM

Agree about the light, myself. Also I don't care about fashion in most of everyday life so that's not a worry so much with me. But a good point to bring up still.

I had forgotten about Safariland.. I guess I had thought they went away or something. Silly me. Definitely will wanna hit them up.

I'm a tad divided on open carry. I don't share the ostrich mentality most people do, particularly when it comes to firearms. Seeing a guy with a holstered gun doesn't give me disgust or disquiet - If anything when I know the guy/gal's armed that helps - I like to know things so there ya go. And being an honest and generally open dude I don't mind letting others know either. No ambiguity. That said, the inherent tactical advantage to concealed is always a valid point. Not that any of it matters though since not many places allow it for handguns if at all (including where I live now). Bah.

Yournamehere · #8 06-10-2016, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

The popular holsters of the "tactical crowd" seemed to be :

Raven -
Bravo Concealment
High Threat Concealment

The store bought every man type:

Blackhawk Serpa - Had a Serpa for a while
Safariland - I really like it's GLS holster
Fobus

Com-tac seemed to be nice

With a bunch of minor ones like:

On Your Six Design (I mentioned this as my G43 holster)
Contact Concealment

Safariland is hardly an everyman holster. It's definitely not on the same level as Fobus (rivets) or Blackhawk (shoot yourself in the leg). They are THE brand for active retention duty holsters and overt carry rigs. You'd be hard pressed to find a cop that doesn't have a Level II or III holster that they make, or a drop leg that isn't a 6004/6005 or variant thereof. They have their quirks like the suede lining coming loose and the fact that they aren't made in America, but their manually activated hood design and their ALS button combined with their overall build quality is better than any competing designs on the market in my opinion.

I also wouldn't necessarily put HTC in the highest bracket simply because they don't have the notoriety or brand recognition like Raven (MD/Costa bump) and Bravo (we ripped off Raven's designs, marketed with youtubers and charge half the price with half the lead time). Their stuff seems to be just as well made, though, but I won't know until I buy their products.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excalibur

I don't carry my gun with a weapon light attached. I prefer a hand light in my other pocket. Also holster choices and clothing are limited even more with a weapon light attached.

That's the great thing about the XC1. It doesn't make the gun that much bigger or bulkier, so having a good WML for a concealed gun becomes really feasible, which is not the case with the X300U or TLR-1 or lights like them. If you can OWB a Glock 19 or P229R or something similarly sized or bigger, you can carry it with the XC1 and not worry about additional printing or sticking beneath a shirt line or something. I don't think it would adversely affect IWB either but I can't say for certain.

There's a lot of controversy about using WMLs at all, but regardless of the drawbacks, they are the easiest, most effective way to illuminate a target while maintaining a good two handed grip on a gun. I used to just carry a Surefire 6PX Tactical with a Thyrm Switchback for a tactical light to use with a gun out, but I still don't find it to be 100 percent effective, although it's pretty close. Now with the XC1, I can use that for gun applications, and the 6PX Tactical for searching without muzzling people or something like that. Plus, I have a dedicated lower lumen EDC light for everyday stuff. I realize I'm the exception to the norm when it comes to EDC, carrying 2-3 lights and a compact gun which may or may not have a WML, but it's easier than you'd think, and worth it because of the capabilities at your disposal.