Just got my carry license.. What to carry?

[Bear44]

Bigger is better for SD, but if it's not small enough to consistently carry it does you no good. My first advice is to rethink the way you dress. I have no problem carrying a 4 inch 1911 and two extra mags. However, it took a long time to find an IWB that I liked. I also wear pants that are specifically designed for carry and they have two concealed pockets for the mags. In warm weather I wear a nice T-shirt tucked and a button up that is meant to be worn untucked. Some times it's buttoned up and sometimes unbuttoned. That also gives me the ability to tuck the outer shirt in and wear a jacket when it's cool enough, then lose the jacket and untuck the shirt as the day warms up.

There are also IWB holsters that you can tuck your shirt over, but I have never found one that I like and typically you need to do some custom "tailoring" to the shirt for them to work well.

Whatever way you go with this, make sure the rig is reasonably comfortable or the novelty of carry will wear off very quickly and you won't carry nearly as much as you should. A decision to carry should be all or nothing. Either you do or you don't. You should have your weapon on you as part of your normal every day load. Wallet, comb, car keys, extra mags and weapon. If it doesn't become that way for you almost immediately either something's wrong with the rig or you're not committed to carry and should probably stop trying.

 

[Dr Larry]

There is already good advice here about holding a bunch of different pistols to see what fits and feels good in a static sense. Then rent some at a range and see what works there. Take someone knowledgeable with you or get one of the old hands at the range to help.
Once you pick a carry weapon, try out several different styles and makes of holsters for that pistol. Unless you plan to ankle carry (!), you'll need to get used to looser shirts to cover in warmer weather. I like my IWB holster.
Practice carrying all the time (where legal), even around the house. As noted earlier, it needs to feel "wrong" if you are not carrying.
GL.

 

[hildrethj01]

People are all wrong here..Carry a AS50 and nobody will mess with you.

 

[Bear44]

People are all wrong here..Carry a AS50 and nobody will mess with you.

OK. So one vote for open carry. LOL!

 

[Deleted member 20875]

nope, hi point is cheap pos

Would you volunteer to be shot by one.? Just cause they are cheap does not make them POS

 

[Bear44]

Would you volunteer to be shot by one.? Just cause they are cheap does not make them POS

True, it's all the other things that do. LOL

 

[Moondog1]

Keltec sub2k

 

[TattooedGunner]

Whatever you decide to get, get some training to go with it.

Personally I would recommend a Glock 19 or 26 with a hybrid holster but lots of options will work. A good belt makes a big difference as well.

 

[thorn]

if you're going to pocket carry, I can vouch for the Kel Tec PF9, but others have had bad luck with those. Mine eats anything I feed it and has never malfunctioned.

If you're going to carry inside the waistband, you can literally carry any weapon you want if you use a GOOD, STURDY BELT and a Theis or Crossbreed holster. I routinely carry a FN 5.7 (roughly the same size as a G22, in broad terms) and printing hasn't been an issue. I switch back to my PF9 if I have to wear a shirt tucked in.

I'm sure it's been said (I don't routinely read threads like this anymore), but you have to carry what you can use well. So long as you can hit with it, find a way to carry it.

Personally, I'm a capacity vs caliber guy, so my vote is more bullets for the win.

 

[GAGunguy]

I like my XDs, 45 cal, 5 round mag, or 7 round mag, plus one in the chamber. Its nice and thin, shoots great, good trigger, no safety to worry with.

Kydex IWB most of the time, or in the winter with a jacket I got a OWB leather rig.

http://www.springfield-armory.com/