OK. You have a choice, you are not limited by any "rules".

Common sense does prevail, so size does matter...

Baised on my own carrying experience, with proper dress, a person can carry a full size semi auto or a 4" S&W N frame with out difficulty.

However you might not want to carry something that big and heavy...

So my question is:

Assuming you could carry upm to a fairly large handgun... AND you tend to travel in harms way, and there is a pretty good chance you WILL need to use your handgun to save your life in the next month or two...

What would be your first choice...

Second question, if you could not have say the semi auto of your choice, what revolver would you pick??? Or if a revolver is your first choice, and you had to pick a Semi auto what would it be???

Heck, I live in a State with one of the lowest crime rates and I tend to carry a 1911 or S&W 325 when I run out to get a gallon of milk. If I believed I was going to stand a good chance of really needing a gun that badly in the very near future I'd get an MP5K or shorty M16 and a trenchcoat.

Realistically, I'd carry both the 1911 and the snubby .45acp along with extra extra magazines for the 1911 if I expected trouble.

Given the rules of your "what if" a lot of people will still be happy with a mini Glock in .40 and a few would still keep their 2" .38.

I do see the Art of the Revolver fading. By that I mean the mindset to carry a 2 3/4" - 4" six shot revolver with some means to reload it. Most young guys see the revolver as an archaic device and don't take the time to learn how to run one. I actually believe that most who opt for a 2" five shot plan to shoot three or four and run like hell. I'd have no trouble carrying a real revolver full time, but then again I've still got my first dinosaur hunting permit in a drawer somewhere.

Colt LW Commander or S&W 329 loaded with 44 Specials.

Perry

Smith and wesson 29 3 inch and a 1911

For normal low risk carry I'm happy with my Sig 228, but

quote:

and there is a pretty good chance you WILL need to use your handgun to save your life in the next month or two...

I"d be more inclined toward an OA-93, and lots, and lots of practice.

450:
your premise is a little ambiguous to me.
if you intend to go "in harms way" and there is a pretty good chance you are doing to have to defend yourself, what difference does the type of handgun make? unless you need to be covert, then why limit yourself to a handgun, when "going into harms way"? if you're going into a gun fight, take a real gun.

As a civilian I wouldn't go there!
If I was going, it wouldn't be w/a handgun as a primary weapon, that would be either a rifle or a shotgun.
Since I have to potential to go into harms way everyday, I carry a 1911 variant. I say that for two reasons. First, if you are going to be traveling armed, you should possess the mentality of "when, not if". Secondly, my profession.

If I knew I was going in harms way it wouldn't be a handgun.

More so I might just have to change my plans.

It's been ~90 degrees quite often around here lately. Typical trip to the store is shorts and a tee shirt of some variety. I don't have anyplace to hang/conceal 30 ozs. of handgun/holster/ammo. Or 20 ozs for that matter as the drawstring on my shorts just doesn't support it.

I'm still keen on my Kel-Tech 3AT and the alloy S&W. The pocket of my drawstring shorts can support it.

Come winter time much more supportive coat pockets are available.

Remember, it's only what you have with you that matters....not what is back in the vehicle.

And if I'm really expecting trouble? I either don't go or do so only on duty and bring my crew (with guns) with me.

I am assuming not long distances walking.

This time of year I'm likely to be in shorts
with T shirt-

(Unless the threat level is perceived high enough to change my dressing style)

Rohrbaugh 9 in a Wallet-Pal Holster dominate hand rear pocket

Keltec non-dominate hand front pocket.
___________________________________________

More heavily dressed- Hawaiian Shirt or vest

Above Plus--

1911 custom (commander size) waist band holster + mags
___________________________________

Expecting REAL trouble--

travel with partner whenever possible-

Add-

Rifle & Shotgun in vehicle-

staggered departure times.

Cover each other door to door.

Agreed,if we knew when and where,we would not go there.

As to rifles, well you just cannot walk around the City carrying a rifle.

The gist of this thread is, what semiauto, and what revolver do you consider best, IF that is all you will have with you.

Did not realize I had posted twice-- intent was edit to correct spelling, obviously hit the quote and not the edit

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
The gist of this thread is, what semiauto, and what revolver do you consider best, IF that is all you will have with you.

I'd be perfectly happy carrying a 1911 and have for many years. If I knew I was going to hang out in bad places I might want one of these:





But I'm very confident of my ability to keep bad two legged things at bay with John Browning's finest pistol out to 100 yards or so. I just wear shorts with a belt in the summer and an oversized T-shirt or button up that's unbuttoned.

I like my S&W 629 as a carry revolver but the 329NG has snuggled in there too by virtue of being very easy to carry, the moon clips are convenient and make reloads very quick plus it hits pretty hard (on both ends).

It's all well and good to say you wouldn't go to bad places but sometimes life brings the bad things to you.

My CCW instructor noted: "If you need a gun to go somewhere you wouldn't go without one, you need to change where you're going."

I could probably manage an AK and set up Claymores on the perimeter. But it's a whole lot easier to picked out a better class of venues.

Glock 17 or other high capacity 9mm, 9x21 or 9x23. Seeing as my 9x21 is a race gun I would take my Glock 17.
revolver would be my Taurus 357 mag 2" barrel.
Peter.

Rick R

I have a similar 1911 magazine carrier made of leather that carries 6 magazines.

It was made by Milt Sparks and I think he called it "the Six Pack".

Here is another 1911 tip, a Pelican 1020 Micro Case will carry 6 loaded magazines, keeping them dust, dirt, sand, and liquid free.

quote:

Glock 17 or other high capacity 9mm,

Glock sux, and 9mm don't make it.

It would depend on the weather temperatures. On normal temp down to bitter cold days, I would carry my 5" custom 1911. On really hot days or for a quick trip to the neighborhood grocery store I will slide my Kahr CW40 into my right hand pants pocket and a spare mag into the left. I can't see any situation that would restrict me to carrying a revolver.

465H&H

quote:

Glock sux, and 9mm don't make it.

I don't like Glocks either. What's your beef with 9mm?

As to the topic at hand, I carry a Taurus 605 most days. I've comfortably carried 1911's and a GP141. If I knowingly needed a firearm I'd take a rifle. You made "rules" after all.

Some one once said if you shoot me with 9mm I'll stick it up your ass. The response was not with a bunch of holes in your lungs.

One doesn't want to get shot with any thing let alone a 9mm. Those who dispair the 9mm most likely have not been shot.

Having seen several people get shot and die rather quickly with a 22rf, I have no dought the 9mm will do the job.

I have yet to find anybody who hates the 9mm willing to take the first shot from one.

quote:

What's your beef with 9mm?

Paraphrasing a Prison Warden: "I see a lot of gang-bangers in here with 9mm wounds. The only place I've ever seen a body with 45 ACP wounds is in the Morgue."

I have a couple 9mm semi-autos. Hell, I even have an NAA in 32 ACP. If I'm going to "pack heat," I'm going to pack something capable of keeping me warm. -- If you catch my drift.

That would be 45 ACP, .357 Mag., 44 Mag. or a long gun like an AK, shotgun (Rem. 870), lever carbine, or a scoped rifle if I'm really out in the boonies.

I'll pack a 32 ACP if I'm going to the Opera. But I don't go to the Opera much.

JD, How many of those 9mm scars are from cheap FMJ's, and how many are from modern hollow point ammo?

First we put on the SWAT vest.
Second new shoulder rig, with FA 83, .500 JRH.
Second inside waistband, weak side, Thomas Perfectionist FA 83 .475 Linebaugh.
Third strong side, iwb with High noon Kimber custom II by JRH Advanced gunsmithing in 45 Super, along with I'll have to figure out how to carry 6 mags;-)
Thunderwear Detonics Combat master in 45 Super.
Ankle holster PM9 Kahr.

That actually gives me some fun ideas for a set of pictures....
right pocket 360PD, with .357 mag, pocket holster.
Left pocket two cans of pepper spray, and Beretta 950 jetfire.

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
JD, How many of those 9mm scars are from cheap FMJ's, and how many are from modern hollow point ammo?

I'm not the Warden . . .

GS

See if you can find some pictures of Chic Gaylord, when he was "packing".

Earlier this month in NYC a BG was shot 21 times !! After a week he was released from the hospital !! Some in the 'hood said he was shot 'too many times ' .
Carry an M4 with a high capacity pistol as back up.

Glock 20 filled with CorBons.

No question.

I carry an custom combat Commander year around. Shorts and T shirt in th summer. A couple of wek side spare mags.
And occasionally a Smith 649 if I'm going to Miami. I use with er Adnrews or Galco lether, IWB. No problem concealing either gun, but the .38 is in a pocket.

You gotta wear a belt with your shorts. Draw strings don't cut it for carrying an effective firearm.

During the winter, I occasionally carry a Smith mod 57 (.41 mag) with 175 grain hp's. Shoot them with that, they stay shot.

quote:

Originally posted by Antelope Sniper:
JD, How many of those 9mm scars are from cheap FMJ's, and how many are from modern hollow point ammo?

In the most famous shootout in modern law in forcement history the 115 grain jacketed 9mm hollow point failed to give adequate penetration and is the reason that the FBI and many other law inforcement agencies got away from the 9mm.


Make mine a 45 it sure as hell ain't going to shrink...

Based upon your potential combat zone venture I would opt for the most reliable 1911 45 acp I could find. Then have a GUN smith massage it for added insurance. Loaded with 230 grain Ball.

I really like the new Night Guard 44mag. I would load it with the low velocity Hammerheads. Big and slow. Because your in a combat scenario your hearing is going to be as important as your eyesight so no eardrum shattering High velocity ammo.

"the 88 Magnum...shoots through schools"

Perry

Smith, 629, 44 Mag. 240 gr. SWC at about 1500 fps and we don't need no designer ammo.
Make a great big hole and blow most of the organs out the exit wound.