CC Weapon Escalation

[Timber Wolf]

Just how much gun and how many rounds is proper for CCW? I started out years ago as a new CCW license holder carrying a High Standard .22 Magnum Derringer. Two shots and no reload. Went from that to a NAA 5-shooter .22 Magnum in a pocket holster with 5 loose rounds thrown in the bottom. Ten shots, pretty well armed and a considerable step up from two, a 500% increase! Next was a S&W Model 38 with a speed strip in the off pocket. Still just ten rounds but of considerably larger diameter and weight. Next, but just briefly, was a S&W 642 with the same load-out but now in +P so a little more power.

Along the way I also periodically carried a S&W 3913 with no reload and a S&W 4040 PD with a spare mag. For some time I had a S&W 457 as my “Truck Gun” with a IWB holster next to it but never actually carried it. After all that was a Glock 27 with a 10 rounder installed and a 9 round mag in a pocket. 20 rounds of .40 S&W, we are getting somewhere now. I actually carried the G27 with a G23 mag equipped with a spacer when walking the dog around the neighborhood when absolute concealability was not an issue, which would make for 23 rounds total. This was not only my carry piece but replaced the 457 as my “Truck Gun” as well.

These days I am back down to 22 rounds while dog-walking as I have switched to a .40 S&W Springer XDsc with a 12 round spacer equipped XD mag and a 9 rounder in the pocket. The reason I asked the escalation question is, I figure I might as well be carrying a full 12 round mag as my reload instead of the shorty. I mean if 22 rounds is good, isn’t 25 better?

Or should I be just carrying more gun to start with? Go with a .45 or even a .357 Magnum? If .357 Magnum gets the nod then am I o.k. with my Speed Six or should I get a SP101 5-shooter or a snubby 686+ 7-shooter? Or an 8-round N frame behemoth? Or just bag it all and slip my Combat Commander in my waistband Mexican style and call it good. Damn, my head hurts just thinking about it all.

[W.E.G.]

How much gun you are WILLING to carry, always boils down to how much threat you are likely to encounter.

Like when I'm in dirty old man mode, going to lunch at the sub shop in the whitest of the white part of town, and my biggest worry is that my pants might be too tight, I'll carry my old 32-20, and no extra ammo at all.

When I'm going to the 7-11 in my neighborhood after dark, its the G22 and two extra mags, with high intensity flashlight, a folding knife, and a flexi-cuff. Thinking about adding the G26 too, in an ankle rig for those rare outings.

You should have two or three choices to work from.

Pick the one that's best.

[hagar]

I try never to be too far away from a 30 round AR15. These days a CW9 with no extra mags during the day, and my G26 with nitesites, 12 rounder plus a 15 round (with extended grip) magazine at night.

[tac-40]

I follow Murphy's Law - The most important part will decide to break at the most inopportune time. I carry a spare mag for any semi I carry plus nifty Surefire flashlight and my S&W SC360. If I am just going with the SC360, then I just carry several speedloaders, JIC. I usually have a can of OC with me, since it is more politically correct around here when used against 4 legged critters.

[jnc91]

I carry an XD 45 Tactical and 3 spares in my Maxpedition Jumbo. Just sling it over my shoulder and go.

[emcroy]

Summer, G17 in Bladetec IWB and extra mag 124 gr +p Win. Ranger or Colt Combat Com. also in a Bladetec IWB with one or two extra mags 230 gr Win. Ranger.

My Springfield Operator duty weapon goes with me in a Hellwig holster and a couple eaxtra mags with the 230 gr under a coat in the winter sometimes. I would not even consider carrying a .22, .38 spec. +p would be absolute min. You can kill a man with a .22, but can you stop the fight fast enough to save your life ?

[cpd109]

G23 with no spare mag- if I can't resolve the problem in 14 rds, I don't need to be there, or need to be on the range more.
Summer time, I carry a Kahr K40 with a spare mag for 13 rds. I carry Winchester SXT, or whatever they call it now, in 165 grain.
It's one gun or the other.

[Survey Punk]

Commander, but only if .45.

JB

[V guy]

Encounters of the bad kind are rare and you are only never really prepared for the variations.

One time unarmed I was approached by two guys looking for money in Syr--- after dark in an unlit lot under the interstate highways. Same parking lots are used for Upstate Medical Center, so about as typical as you get.

I had no gun--screwed. I went to my backup plan and that was the crazy psycho guy--- that for some reason I am able to mock up pretty quickly. I leered like a vampire at them,grinned and kept walking, shoulders all humped up-- ready to use my briefcase or whatever.....they left. Luck I guess.

Next time I was in a place that guns are not allowed, at midnight with an amt backup .380.
Hispanic gang comes around the corner--about 10 of them. I was pounding on the door and it just opened as the gang got to me and recognized me as the mark they wanted. I would have been dead either way if that door had not opened.

Mad Max at the thunderdome's disarming scene is about where my brain works now. I suggest that making good karma on a daily basis is the best defense.

[hagar]

Originally posted by V guy
Encounters of the bad kind are rare and you are only never really prepared for the variations.

Depends where you live. I spent 5 years in upstate NY and never had a hairy encounter. I move to AZ and within the first 3 or 4 years I had to pull a gun at least 6 times. That I left there without shooting someone was a miracle (for them). My coyote hunter buddy shot a drugged up punk that broke down his rear patio door at 3am on a Sunday morning after beating him to the ground 3 times, and finally shot him at point blank range with 2 ounces of copper plated bb's (our coyote load). Left quite a mess..

Lived in SC for the last 7, and the only time I thought I needed a gun (and had my G26 on me) was when I stopped on I20 somewhere in GA on the way to the airport at 4am to drop my sisters off. We had breakfast in a Waffle House, and all of a sudden 5 gangbangers came in looking for trouble, acting up and making rude comments to the customers. One of them told my sister he wanted her jacket, and she told him to come get it. She is a BIG girl, about 6'2", took about 5 years of karate, and I would not mess with her. When we moved outside I separated myself from them, as I did not want any stray rounds hitting them in case of a gunfight, told them in Afrikaans to hit the ground if things happened, and held the G26 in my right hand under my left armpit. The gb's must have seen or realized what I was doing, because all of a sudden they were not that brave anymore. Fortunately the staff at the restaurant called the police, and just about that time they showed up in 2 cruisers, and started harrassing the bangers. My sister told them they made rude comments to her, but she did not want to press charges as she is leaving the country. Either way they spread the bastards out over the hoods, did not find any guns but did find some nasty looking knives. We were in a hurry so did not stick around to see what happened.

[JohnnyMac]

Originally posted by W.E.G.
When I'm going to the 7-11 in my neighborhood after dark, its the G22 and two extra mags, with high intensity flashlight, a folding knife, and a flexi-cuff. Thinking about adding the G26 too, in an ankle rig for those rare outings.

I know there are some skivey areas in your town, but damn brother, what part of Alexandria are you in? I remember when the 7-11 over by Beacon Hill was a 24-hour freak-show (and that was back before 7-11's were open 24-hours). It was also a notoriously easy place to use a "questionable" ID.

JMc

[tigerfans2]

Originally posted by W.E.G.
How much gun you are WILLING to carry, always boils down to how much threat you are likely to encounter.

Like when I'm in dirty old man mode, going to lunch at the sub shop in the whitest of the white part of town, and my biggest worry is that my pants might be too tight, I'll carry my old 32-20, and no extra ammo at all.

When I'm going to the 7-11 in my neighborhood after dark, its the G22 and two extra mags, with high intensity flashlight, a folding knife, and a flexi-cuff. Thinking about adding the G26 too, in an ankle rig for those rare outings.

You should have two or three choices to work from.

Pick the one that's best.

"Did you use enough dynamite there Butch?"

[1MOR]

Glock G26, 17 rounds in extra mag. Total of 28 rounds. Should be enough for any situation unless the Japs decide to invade.

[Deltaten]

Meh!

The perennial Commander and two spare mags. Anything else is just too bigga decision ta make

Like sum1 said... they'll find me in front of the safe LOL
On rare occasions when I dress for the party; I *might* sport one of the Gerbers or the TOPS. Better ta be light and fast than burdened down with 4 or 5 pounds of iron.
Tune up yer Adidas and leave the extra brace of pistolas ta home. If ya know yer going inta some shite...take the biggest cannon ya can tote

[L Haney]

Originally posted by Deltaten
Meh!
If ya know yer going inta some shite...take the biggest cannon ya can drag by the pintle

FIFY

[brunop]

El -

Glad you're still around.

I'm two guns and two knives since my diamond business was robbed. I wasn't even there that day, but they said they'd come back and kill everyone (court testimony) since someone fired a shot at them.

Still waiting with 34 rounds of 9mm.

[2336]

A Kahr CW45 and extra mag when I'm out and about. At the house I have a Taurus PT1911 and extra mag in the nightstand and a CAR-15 with 30rd mag next to the bed.