JReedEsq

I'd love to come but my schedule is crazy with work and family commitments. The only reason I shoot handguns semi-regularly is because I'm self-employed and sneak out of my office to shoot at lunchtime. I'd like to shoot my AR-15 outside so I'll watch this thread. I'm in the minority, but I'm actually more likely to show up if it's cold. If it's too warm I'll be tempted to mountain bike somewhere or to take my family on a hike.

+1 for the Glock sport/combat holster. I've purchased a few of them. They conceal well and the only complaint you find is that the retention is too tight which leads some people to use the larger one for the smaller guns. Another solution is to spray just a little Armor All on the inside to slicken enough for a smoother draw. The Glock holster is definitely the best buy for the $$. I also have a Crossbreed Supertuck, a Galco Summer Comfort IWB and I just picked up a Don Hume simliar to the GALCO slide holster shown above. For me the CB supertuck is the most concealable holster, the Galco, is easier to take on and off and sometimes more comfortable, altough it is thicker so it's not more comfortable if the pants aren't roomy, and . Personally, I can't just use one type of holster, I've got to have different ones for different clothes. Sometimes I need a higher ride to conceal better owb. Sometimes a lower riding iwb like my Galco works better. I only carry one type of gun (Glock); in the same position (5:00); but, for me, I've found that the same holster doesn't always work for every clothing combination. If I were starting over, I'd buy the Glock sport/combat holster first.

The lights are probably cheaper than you think. I used to do a lot of mountain biking in the dark and 10 years ago it cost $400-$500 for a good HID light set up back then. Now with LCD technology, you can have a set up that is just as bright for much less money and with lighter weight batteries. You gotta remeber that a LEO might have to pull someone over or block the road in foggy or rainy weather conditions. The best lights could be the difference between a 2 car interstate pile-up and a 10 car pile-up if you can see them from a 1/2 mile away.

I was in a gun store a while back and heard a this bit of wisdom: "they call it a 9 because you have to shoot 9 times... If someone gets hit with a .45 on any part of their body they go down immediately and down get back up..." I'm not trying to start a caliber thread but this was a little out there. It was the customer's statement by the way. The gun shop guy just said ".45 is a great caliber" and proceeded to show him some pistols. Fair enough.

I like the LCR too but 95% of my practice time is with a Glock. As a result I've developed the habit of "riding the reset" or letting my trigger finger go out long enough to feel the reset and then shooting again. As much as I like the look of revolvers, I'd personally hesitate to carry one because the last few times I shot one at the range I "short stroked" the trigger more than once, by trying to shoot when I hadn't let the trigger out long enough to reset. Nothing against revolvers, I'd like to own a few someday. Personally though, I'm a "system" guy. My carry guns usually are a Glock in the summer and a bigger Glock in the winter. If I wanted to carry a revolver, I'd probably carry an LCR in the summer and a 586 for the winter and HD purposes. I'm sure there are lots of folks on TGO that have been shooting long enough and often enough to maintain proficiency with different systems.... For instance they could carry a 1911, one day, a striker fired (Glock, M&P etc...) the next and a revolver the next and shoot them all well... I've only been shooting a few years though and I'm sticking with one system for now. It may seem like I'm rambling but here's my point: The two guns compared by the OP are different carry systems, which is the best??? Which ever one works more like the OPs other guns. If you shoot a 1911 then the Sig is the obvious choice. If you've had a lot of trigger time on revolvers than I'd definitely pick the LCR... Just a long way of saying the best gun for any individual is the one they shoot the best...

Personally, I don't OC except on rare occasions hiking. I don't have a problem with OC, it's just that I don't feel the need for the attention. I understand that some people believe they can change the impression of gun owners by showing the public that guns my be carried by normal, polite, clean, non-threatening individuals. The issue with Kwik is he does the exact opposite of what the "normalize gun ownership by OC" crowd advocates. He intentionally looks threatening. If he's not crazy... or a closet anti-..., and he really believes he's helping 2A rights, then I really really wish he'd just write a check to the NRA and be done with it.

+1; last I heard NY is part of the US of A.

It often takes litigation for the law to be "struck down".

Seems like 10mm would be a better comparison.

I used a Glock 19. It was my first handgun. Any quality Glock, XD, Ruger, S&W, Sig, CZ etc... will be more accurate that you are so it really won't matter. I'd only shot my G19 a few times before the class and I scored 100%. If I were retesting today I think I'd either try to have the smallest hole in the class or do it left-handed. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying I'm a great shooter. It's just that the test is easy for any reasonably coordinated adult. Then again, most self-defense shootings are at very close range so the safe gun handling is probably the most important part of the class anyway. Show up sober, follow directions, be safe, are use a proper grip and you'll pass. If you haven't shot in a while, now is as good a time as any to review the basics like grip and trigger pull. Practice dry-firing safely with an unloaded weapon a few minutes every day and you'll probably have one of the smaller groupings.

Glock 17.

This is what I'll do. As usual, I am over-thinking something.

I sense a little thread-drift here but what the heck. I share some of your concerns. That's why I keep a separate light on my dresser. I've also made my first pistol light purchase inexpensive see how comfortable I am with this set-up vs a separate light. Honestly, I like the fact that the pistol light keeps my finger on the light switch and not on the trigger when/if I'm walking around. If I hear my dog barking at 2 AM and I think it's because there is a cat on my porch, I can use my handheld light and keep the pistol pointed at the deck. If glass is breaking at 2 AM; I'll leave the light on the dresser and grab an extra magazine.

OK, last night I had my first ever FTF issue with one of my Glocks. I've had a Glock 19, 26, 17 (4th gen) and 22RTF for a few years and they have all worked with every kind of ammo I've tried and even as a new shooter I've never had a problem with limp wristing etc... I recently purchased a Streamlight TLR-3 and tried it out on my Glock 22 last night with a variety of ammo. I was aware of reports that various LE agencies had malfuctions with the combination of a Glock 22 and a tactical light. It's widely circulated on many forums that the addition of the light on .40 caliber glocks can somehow stiffen the frame, causing the slide velocity to change just enough to cause feeding problems. Apparently a few LEO agencies actually switched back to G17s from G22s because of this problem. I searched and searched and couldn't find the problem reported with 9mm Glocks, .45 Glocks, or with 4th gen .40s. I also found two solutions. The first is that some people only have the problem if they overtighten their lights. I noticed that my streamlight packaging has bold instructions to hand tighten only. I followed this instruction and I was optimistic that the lighter weight of the TLR-3 and the light tension would keep me from having problems. The second solution was updated magazines from Glock with stronger springs and different followers (marked "8" or "9"). So I get to the range, put on my light, load a magazine with 180 grain Federal and had two failure to feeds in the first magazine. Sure enough, it's marked with a "5" on the follower. It looks like a brand new magazine but I think I got it online cheap so it was problably "new old stock". My other three mags are marked "8" and I didn't have one issue with them. I fired about 40 rounds of the 180 grain Federal fmj, two or three magazines of 135 grain HST; one magazine of 180 grain Golden Saber; and one magazine of 165 grain Gold Dot. No issues at all. Still, I went home and put the light on my G17 which is where it sat all night til I took it off to carry the 17 today. Anyway, here's my question: Brownells and Midway etc.. Don't have #8 or #9 followers in stock and even if they do I run into the problem shown here: Glock Magazine Follower - #8 .40 - Top Gun Supply This says the new followers won't work in the older magazines. Should I only use the light on my G17 or should it be OK with the 22 since I had no problem with the newer magazines which Glock changed to address this issue? I prefer to carry my 17 (26 in the summer) and use leave the 22 in my bedside "quick safe". Why? Because the RTF 22 sometimes gets snagged on sportcoats etc... which isn't good if you like to stay concealed. I don't want to get this thread side-tracked on caliber but I usually have the G22 stoked with 135 grain HST as my HD pistol and with 180 grain Golden Sabers for hiking. What do the TGO experts have to say? Can I replace the follower in the old mag or not? Does anyone have a lot of trouble free rounds through a G22 with a light? I'm not asking about a caliber discussion or for opinions on Glock in general. Please don't tell me "you're always better off with something that starts with a 4" or "you're lucky you haven't shot yourself with that stupid plastic gun". I just want to hear experiences of whether the updated magazines solved the problem and whether or not I can use a new follower in an old magazine.

My vote would be for a M&P FS in 9mm. Ambi slide release; low recoil; and plenty of rounds w/o a reload.

If, in fact, the media reports are correct that he was subject to an Order of Protection, it was illegal for him to have firearms in his possession anyway...

I got the Caldwell's for Christmas but haven't gotten a chance to try them out yet. Hopefully I'll sneak out of my office and visit CCA tomorrow.

The LCP I had shot everything fine but I only fired it well-lubricated and I never tried any steel cased ammo through it. It is fairly well-known on the web that there were feeding issues with Fiocchi JHP that was a little too long overall for the LCP. I read about this after I had bought a box (since the Fiochhi XTP JHP shoots very well for me in my Glocks). It felt rough when handcycling and didn't feel as if it would feed so it became range ammo. I put tons of lube on the rails and all 50 rounds went off no problem. I think the key to these pocket .380s is eliminating friction. Both the LCP I had and my current P3AT have jammed when trying to rack the slide if you don't do it semi-forcefully. Seems to me the steel cased ammo just isn't slick enough. The first box of 50 I put through my P3AT was Tula because that's all I could find. I had one malfuction per magazine. Since then it's been flawless. I've shot the green box Remmington FMJ, WWB, and the brass cased Monarch from Academy all with no problems. The only JHP I've tried is Hornady Critical Defense which I'll probably stick with since it has good reviews, it is super-slick, and it shoots well for me.

Gen 4 doesn't need an extended mag release and comes with 3 magazines instead of two. Thus, the prices really are comparable. The differences really are subjective. Play with the triggers. Some gen 4s have stiffer out of the box triggers, but I prefer the rtf grip and the larger magazine release. Get the one that feels best to you and then forget about the differences.

+1000. The Glock 26 really is a sweet spot for a pistol that is easy to carry, easy to shoot, reasonable capacity and a service caliber. It is sooo much easier to shoot and shoot quickly than any of the .380 pocket pistols. My range time with my G17 carries over to the 26. It is just alot more comforting to have eleven 124 grain Gold Dots that I can put on target than to have seven .380 rounds with a long reset and nearly no sights. My G26 is my usual summer gun and my go-to for descreet carry in the winter. Precisely why the P3AT is a niche gun for me. I keep it for exercise or to stick in my pocket when I'm mowing the yard etc...

I'm sorry for your loss Robert. I thought this was a really neat thread but I haven't had time to respond to it unitil now. I was raised in a home with no guns. Not necessarily an "anti-gun" home, but although he used to enjoy .22 rifles, my Dad hasn't owned guns in more than 30 years. My Mom was always a little scared of guns and never acted like she'd want one in the house due to a tragedy in 1957 when she was only three years old. My Grandfather, as a Captian in the US Army, was stationed in Germany during the reconstruction and was killed at a firing range when someone supposedly dropped a pistol on the ground causing a ND. My Grandmother would never discuss it but her brother, my great-uncle, was an enlisted Marine in Europe at the time who tried to find out all he could about the incident. He told my Uncle, (a Coast Guard vet) that he didn't think the story added up. No one knows for sure, but when I started buying guns my mother asked me several times if every gun I buy is "brand new" and she has asked if my pistols are "drop safe", and if I keep them locked away from my kids etc.... My uncle has stated that he doesn't think there is anything wrong with a 1911, (which he trained with in the CG), except that it's not a shotgun which he carried when they boarded ships for inspections etc... and that my Grandfather may have been murdered. Anyway, I wasn't raised with guns and didn't think I'd ever become what I'd call an enthusiast. I had an employer when I was a student at MTSU who I still stay in contact with periodically and my be on TGO. He's a deer hunter and second amendment proponent. He challenged my to go shoot pistols with him and not enjoy it. He took me out one day and let me fire his 1911, S&W .357, and, I think, a Beretta 92, about 15 years ago. I really enjoyed it although other hobbies and lack of funds kept me from shooting again. He started my interest in firearms but I didn't buy one for at least 10 years. When I graduated from law school I initially did family law, personal injury and a little bit of criminal defense before I took a job working with contracts and real estate for a bank. My wife is not a gun person at all but I always told her that if I ever got back into dealing with criminals, drug addicts, and pi$$ed off husbands all the time, I intended to buy a handgun and get an HCP. Three years ago, I started my own practice and began dealing with all sorts of "interesting" characters, going to "different" parts of town and dealing with a lot of folks with substance abuse issues. Right off the bat, I was representing some grandparents who were seeking custody of grandchildren due to major drug problems with certain family members. Immediately, I began getting semi-threatening voice-mails etc... Then a lawyer I know had a disgruntled client show up at his house. I could go on and on but the real inspiration was a former client of mine. He's in prison now and I can't share the story other than to say he made threats against lots and lots of people, and since he's got a violent history, it makes it harder to ignore. My wife quickly changed her stance on guns, I've had an HCP for two years, have taken a few classes, had some private training and now I carry nearly everywhere but Court. My interest is defense-focused. I've got 6 guns but don't consider myself a collector, I'd like to say I'm a shooter but I'm not what I'd call good. I'm just a guy that wants to take at least a class a year and be proficient. Someday when my kids are older and I've got more spare time I might be a collector since I do really like revolvers, I appreciate the history of certain guns, and it would be neat to experiment with different platforms. For now though, my guns are tools and during the next few years I plan to learn three platforms (Glocks, my AR, and my 870) and I plan to stick with what I have so I can focus on shooting and not the weapons. I think it would have been neat to grow up hunting or sport shooting, but I think my focus may be a little different since my inspiration comes as much from some unpleasant folks I've dealt with as from the pleasant ones.

Anybody try painting the front sight on their LCP/P3AT?

I just shot my P3AT on Thursday. I think the pocket .380s are mechanically capable of accuracy but you'd have to buy or reload a lot of .380 to shoot them to their potential. I can do maybe a 4" group at 7 yards if I take the time to find the front sight each time and focus on pushing straight back which can be difficult since the LOP is so short and the gun jumps around a little in my hand. I actually shoot my P3AT significantly better than the LCP I had and I think it's because the rougher texture keeps it from jumping so much but I still have a problem finding the front sight. That's definitely the biggest limitation for me. If I do anything remotely close to rapid fire, (say a second or two within each shot) my groups are probably 7-8" or so, and usually low since I don't find the front site easily. As for the front site, I've thought about painting mine with hobby paint but just haven't gotten around to it. I usually carry a Glock and the only time I carry my .380 as a primary is if I'm running/cycling or doing something else where the weight of a better gun would keep me from carrying. I got rid of my LCP because I found it unpleasant and wasn't happy with my accuracy. I ended up picking up the P3AT just to have something to carry while exercising and although I've been tempted to move up to a PF9 or a Ruger LCR (with one of the huge front sites), I just don't think they're small or light enough to serve role of my P3AT. I really want to like the LCR and it's probably light enough for a cycling jersey pocket, but not light enough for running. As far as casual carry goes, I can just about always carry at least my Glock 26 and if I'm wearing pants that will carry an LCR I could probably carry my mean green 26. Sorry for straying off topic but I've been round and round in my head about keeping or dumping my little .380 and I just don't think there's anything that I'd replace it with for the purpose it serves for me. I don't love it but I I probably wouldn't really be too enthusastic about any of the small pocket pistols and, mine has been reliable for me. It seems all the .380 pocket pistols are "hit and miss" when it comes to reliability. Since I've got one that works, I'll probably keep it.

Greg Lambert actually works as a Court Officer at the City County Building. He's a nice guy but he's never been one to shy away from controversy. You've got to consider the source of this article and the bias behind it.

Dolomite always seems to have the down low on everything! This will likely be my last transaction with them. They haven't responded to me at all. I don't have time to sit on the phone all day to return a $12 holster. I guess if they never response I'll just have to buy a 10mm. That's the only logical thing to do right? By the time this is over, their little oversight will cost me several hundred dollars. It would have been so much cheaper to buy from someone else.