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I'm sure that the OP's decision was made long ago, but I'm waiting outside a Courtroom to do my job, so I'll vote for whichever one you have more spare mags for.

This is probably true for the black bears we have around here. I've been hiking with a Glock 22. The chances of a bear attack in the smokies are so remote that I feel more comfortable with a weapon I'm familiar than I would with a big bore revolver. Out west or up north I'd think a shotgun with slugs would be the way to go.

I agree with the earlier posting that shot placement is far more important than caliber. Unfortunately, shot placement is why I recently traded away my LCP. It was completely reliable and I wouldn't rule out the possibility that I might own another. Unfortunately, however, I couldn't shoot it anywhere near as well as my Glock 26. It could be that I spend a lot of time practicing with my other Glocks, but the G26 seems to occupy a real sweet spot between shootability and concealibility. With cargo pants it will pocket carry just fine.

+1 for Tifosis; I've had high-end glasses from Smith, Spy, and Oakley and while the optics are a smidge better, they aren't worth the price premium over Tifosi. I've got at least three pair of them.

Maybe consider the M&Ps as well.

I've seen this happen...

Just extra mags.

Anyone purchase anything from PKfirearms.com. I'm dizzy with the array of AR options, but they have a mid-length RRA A4 upper,16" chrome-lined barrel (1/7 twist) for $499 with charging handle and bcg. Is this a decent enough deal? They also have one for $599 with a 12" YHM diamond rail. I shoot mainly handguns and I'm not sure how much time I'll make to shoot this thing so I'm thinking of getting the $499 one and avoiding any fancy optics or tactical do-dads for awhile. I like quality but I also want to start simple.

YUP

Generally, yes.

Back to the point of this post. I agree with Mike that probably any factory ammo is fine. I would lean toward carrying whatever JHP that your local PD uses instead of going with a non-HP defensive ammo.

Check all my previous posts. I don't do personal attacks. I'm just pointing out that it's not a good idea to make ill-informed generalizations about an entire profession based on the actions of a small minority. Just trying to inform and educate. When people use the term "trial lawyers" it means lawyers who litigate. Those of us who go to Court and argue cases. It does not mean anything about their political ideology. This is Tennessee. I know way more conservative lawyers than liberal ones and more and more lawyers I know have an HCP. I'm just trying to offer some helpful information.

Before you get to the rules of protocol, why don't you start with the rules of grammer.

Not trying to attack you at all. Just trying to make a point that you really should be careful about stereotypes. You made a blatantly ignorant comment about an entire profession. That is not a personal attack. I've seen police officers that I despise. I've seen police officers that I think are the some of the greatest people I could ever hope to meet. I've found I get along with them better with them if I assume they could be the latter instead of the former. To the point of the post, I agree with Mike's comments that it is probably a good idea to use a stock gun and stock ammo.

Carbon Archer from post 19: "Sorry guys, being once bitten twice shy! I know that this doesn't apply hear! Maybe some insight! My brother inlaw is a patent attorney, West Point grad. We both grew up in North Jersey,(I know!) We have had this debate over and over again! I don't know if you all know what it takes to be a patent lawer, (I didn't) graduating from West Point with a degree in electrical engenerring, then law school, and then patent law. He also worked with Glock to help other companys from copying there patent, going back I think it may have been S&W with the sigma. (If my memory serves) He knew that I was a far right wing guy who competed with 1911's he always said, "Don't use a pistol that you modified for competition for self defense!" He told me that the trial sharks will have a field day with that, even if you were in the right! Then I questioned- "Why did you modify your pistol?" "Were you looking to get into a confrentation?" "Where you looking for someone to break into your house, or threaten you? So you could "Get them" ? After that, He reminded me that the majority of trial sharks are left wing libs. looking to get a civial suit to get all kind of money, hense What was his name from South Carolina who cheated on his wife with cancer? John.....? He also reminded me that you may have been right in your defense of your self and your family, all it takes is one shred for the shark to blow out of the water to get you for the rest of your life, even if you were in the right! I had another debate about the ammo! Hollow point or polymer filled tip? Go with the filled tip, I use Power ball! Again as he said, in the court of law, why did you use a hollow point? Were you looking to kill some one? As his studies have been stated, he testified that the polymer tiped ammo are the best on the market! 1. Shark can't call them a hollow point! 2. They work better, especially with heavy clothing! 3. Power ball and glasers are made to dump all there energy into a wall or something. So that they can not penitrate a wall and hit someone else. This establishes that you are safety concerened! Ok! Keep it Stock! Keep you comp guns for play! Don't carry them! You may be right in the court with criminal charges, not with civial suits!! Ok, my 2 cents and off the soap box! Sorry for the rant! I would hate to see anything happen to a good person doing the right thing and a money hungery shark comes along and takes everything away, because you had a trigger job!" Where the hell do you get the idea that most trial lawyers are "libs" and "sharks"? Aren't you forgetting that most of us are small business owners? How about the fact that it takes a lawyer to argue against every lawsuit you disagree with? I hate to say you don't know what you are talking about but the garbage you are spewing is just about as ignorant as the folks that believe every LEO is out to violate their rights, or every HCP holder is a trigger-happy nut-job just waiting to shoot up a school.

My cover-up is a 2-yr-old and a wife who's 7 months pregnant. I'm sure I just look like a guy who's protective of his family.

Hey guys I thought I'd resurrect this thread to report my first open carry incident. The wife and I took my 2 year old son hiking in the Smokies on Saturday. Because I carry the kid in a backpack with a big waist strap, my options are pretty much limited to pocket carry or a thigh rig. I've been a little nervous about the thigh rig because I never OC, and especially since they still have the no firearms signs at the trailheads. I usually wrap a light rain jacket around my waist to be inconspicous until we get further up the trail. Well this Saturday we noticed a ranger was taking pictures near the trailhead. She was just up the trail we were planning to start on (Schoolhouse Gap) and I was curious as to what was going on to see if an animal around or something. She was very friendly but just said she was taking investigation photos and didn't comment further. She wished us well and didn't mention my full-size Glock at all.

This (a dropped 1911 pistol) is the reason that was given to my family for the death of my Grandfather. He was an active duty Army Officer who was stationed in Germany during the rebuilding post WWII. He was shot near a firing range in Germany in 1956, either before or after some type of training exercise. My Mother was only three years old at the time. My great-Uncle was a Marine at the time and tried to get more information on what happend but he either didn't find anything out or didn't share anything with the rest of the family. This is part of the reason that I grew up with no guns in my house. It is also why I'll probably never own a 1911, and why I'll never leave a shotgun with a round in the chamber. ***Edit: Sorry to go so off topic. None of my handguns have a safety. I treat every gun as if it's loaded, and I'm always concerned about guns being "drop-safe".

I prefer to buy local when I can. I won't pay a huge premium, but as a small business owner myself, I definitely prefer to support the little guy.

There is no best. Holsters are subjective. I use a Crosbreed Supertuck and an Aholster pocket holster for my G26.

Maybe you should get a pocket gun. Just something to slip into your pocket when you're hanging around the house or otherwise "not carrying". My wife is not really a gun person either, so I try to avoid making her wait on me by slipping my LCP or G26 into a pocket if I'm in a hurry.

Mine has issues too. It takes a little nudge to knock the laser out of alignment. I'd play with that first.

I bought some in 12 gauge. Just because...

I would almost bet it's a mag issue. I've had exactly one malfunction out of my LCP and it was with the Fiocchi JHP ammo that was posted on several forums as being too long for the LCPs mags. Even with that stuff I ran a box of 50 with just one issue.

I'm not sure about your problem but your wife's comments show that "percieved recoil" is just that, "percieved". I find my Glock 22 to be way easier to shoot than my LCP.