JReedEsq

I have a 7 year old and almost 5 year old. We are right at the age where at sporting events and birthday parties, I have noticed some parents let their kids go to the bathroom and/or concession stand by themselves. It may not be obvious, but I try to watch my kids like a hawk. My wife says that developmentally, it is good for kids to develop a sense of Independence. As far as I am concerned, they can do that with me watching from a distance. Statistically, I may be paranoid. I am 100% OK with that. It is just not that much trouble.

All ballistics talk aside, I don't stockpile massive amounts of ammo. I mainly shoot and carry 9mm. I plan on keeping a .40 around because it can almost always be found in stock. In a full size pistol, it is fun to shoot, but I greatly prefer 9mm in small pistols. I have considered dumping my .40 and having .45 as the back up caliber, but .40 is nice because I can use the same holsters and you can sometimes find crazy good deals on government contract overrun jhps.

Congratulations!  Now try and get as much sleep as you can while your wife is pregnant.  

  Since the Glock 27 is the popular off duty pistol, it is more like Glock 17 & 26 or M&P full-size and compact. 

Eric, I am with you I guess since I own Glocks and no M&Ps. The agents I spoke with indicated that the M&P is considered reliable but neither seemed to be eager to switch to another platform when so many of them have so many rounds down range with Glock. They may not all be firearms enthusiasts, but I get the impression that they have more range time than many LEOs.

I heard more than a year ago that there is internal push toward M&P. I predict that M&P and Glock are the only real contenders, with M&P favored as a quality American product and Glock favored as a proven, quality product that many of their agents are already comfortable with...

I don't think the issue is that the 9mm is more reliable, but rather, the OP prefers to shoot 9mm.  There are those that think the benefit of faster follow-up shots is worth the slightly smaller hole.  We don't need another caliber debate, but I used a 9mm conversion barrel in my Glock 27, and decided I was more accurate with 9mm (in a sub-compact pistol).  I had no function problems at all and I didn't do anything other than switch out the barrel and use a 9mm (G26) magazine.  I ended up selling my G27 and going back to a G26 as my EDC summer pistol rather than carry the 27 with a conversion barrel.  To answer the OPs question about reliability, I put at least 300 rounds through it with the conversion barrel without one malfunction.  I think it was reliable enough, but then again I never carried it that way.  I found the .40 slightly less fun to shoot but the difference in the recoil wasn't enough to make me think I couldn't effectively use the .40 for self-defense.  I am rambling now but I am trying not to exaggerate the way people do in caliber threads.  I have a preference for 9mm in the smaller pistols, but when you get to larger ones, I just can't feel as much difference in recoil, or my accuracy and I have a harder time making up my mind.  I guess that's why I have a 22 and a 17...      I should add that my conversion barrel was a Lone Wolf.  It worked fine even with Tula and other less than ideal ammo.  

  My paralegal has the SD9.  I was just looking at it the other day and was impressed.  The trigger in her particular pistol feels lighter than the 8lb weight listed by S&W.  I doubt she has many rounds through it and I know she hasn't modified it so she must have just gotten a good one out of the box.  It feels like a stock 5.5lb Glock trigger, just with a tad longer and less distinct reset.  The fit/finish and everything else on that thing blows away any Kel-Tec and most other options in that price range which feel very cheap in comparison.     My choices for a $300 pistol would be the SD9 for an all around pistol or the Ruger LCP for the person who doesn't own a small summer-friendly carry pistol.  

This is interesting since the Tnoutdoors9 YouTube test had much different results for the 165 grain Gold Dots. His test showed as good results as I have seen for a .40

A lot of pocket holsters will stay on the pistol when you draw.  All the fabric ones I have tried had the problem to some degree and the only leather one that has worked well for me was the D.M. Bullard one that we had for a Ruger LCR. The best leather holsters are OK but I really prefer Kydex as it is thinner, resists moisture, and can be made with a stiff hook to stay in your pocket with a smooth draw.  Check out Aholster.  I bought one for my LCP and my G26.  The one for my G26 has seen tons of use.  These holsters work great and he is in Tennessee.  This link should work now:       http://www.lefthandholster.com/

I pocket carry quite often and Kydex is the only way to go.

I never got it before having kids. Now that we have kids everyone gets vaccinated every year. Anything I can do do avoid having a sick child or children, I will do. Plus, being self-employed makes taking off work really difficult at times. Much easier to flex my schedule or work light weeks, but being out altogether can be terrifying.

This is absolutely ridiculous. DA's have more reason to arm themselves than people in nearly any other line of work. I am quite certian that I know at least a few Government lawyers that consistently vote Democratic, yet have firearms and HCPs.

I 3rd Farm Bureau

I have a Gen 4 17 and I have always liked the M&P pistols.  I rented a full-size M&P sometime last winter and tried to do a back-to-back comparison test with my 17.  I shot an equal number of slow-fire aimed rounds and "rough sight picture" SD type shooting with both pistols.  I had very similar results with both. The rental gun I used was well broken in and had a good trigger.  I had slightly better slow fire with the M&P but better rapid fire with my 17.  I did have a couple of light-strikes with the M&P, but it was a rental so who knows if it was high level of filth or the reloads that you have to buy from TAC for their rentals.  I am certainly no expert but my opinion is that they are so close to each other that if I had either one I probably wouldn't bother switching.  I do like having one platform for holsters mags etc... Nice thing about the Glock line is the 19 which is probably the perfect size.  I shoot my 19 just as well as my 17. 

Congratulations! 

You have bought in a beautiful area!

I had no problems with a 9mm conversion barrel when I had a 27. I dropped in the barrel, used a 26 magazine and it was perfectly reliable. I wouldn't bother switching anything else unless you want to carry it with 9mm.

  I was at Anchor Park just yesterday, and like you, I was very surprised to see the sign removed so quickly.  

The internet will tell you that it can't be done but I love a G26 for pocket carry.  I have carried at various times a Ruger LCR, LCP, (still do occasionally), and a Glock 42.  The Glock 26 is by far my favorite.  It is in my pocket right now.  No it cannot be carried in every pair of pants.  I drop the the LCP for days I feel exceedingly lazy or for a few pairs of suit pants I have with shallower pockets.  

Obviously with this guys prior history and the fact he was intoxicated, it looks like he was primarily at fault.  That said, I would never recommend following someone to their residence.  Bersaguy referenced the good old days... While I am only 36, I would like to know when honking your horn at someone began to be interpreted as you want to pull off the side of the road and have a fist fight? Seems to me cars have always had horns and honking your horn used to mean, "hi, how you doing" or maybe it meant, "hey please stay in your lane", or it could mean, "stop picking your nose, the light turned green".  I have spent a bit of time driving small sports cars, motorcycles and even bicycles on the road.  Sometimes people don't see you.  Often you have to honk the horn to alert someone you are there.  Too many people these days think honking is a way to instigate a fight.  Don't people have better things to do with their time?  Further, most of these things seem to happen when somebody is in a hurry and either thinks someone cut them off or someone is in their way.  If you are in the hurry, how do you have the extra time to have an altercation on the side of the road?     Even when I began driving in the late 1990s, it seems if people had a disagreement, they would honk, yell, maybe make a gesture and then everyone went their separate ways.  In the last few years it seems like people following or chasing someone down has become more common and I just don't quite get it.  My wife (with both our kids in the car) had a guy chase her, honking and cussing, til she reached an intersection at which point he pulls on the shoulder to tell her he thinks she should have pulled out from a previous intersection sooner.  If he's in such a hurry how does he have time to follower her later.     2nd example:  A few years ago, I'm on the way to work when a heavy duty pickup truck towing a trailer with construction materials doesn't stay in corresponding lanes getting off of the interstate.  He's taking up half of my lane so I honk the horn at the guy because I have a busy day planned and I don't have time to be in a car wreck.  My intent is for him to pay attention and get out of my lane.  He honks back rolls down his window and begins screaming... Pulls up next to me at the next light and says something to the effect of "What the F is your problem?"  I could have been calmer but annoyed at this point, I say, "You need to learn how to keep your vehicle in your lane."  Again, I wasn't happy but I said what I meant.  Stay in your lane.  I was driving my wife's Cadillac CTS and she wouldn't be too happy if this guys equipment trailer smashes down the side of it.   Honking did not mean, "lets have a fight."  At this point I notice this guy is probably at least in is late 60s.  Not only do I have no interest in fighting on the side of the road, but this is a lose-lose... Am I gonna really be proud of beating up some guys Papaw on the side of Kingston Pike?  Alternatively, am I gonna get beat up by Grampa?  So he informs me he is going to "knock all the g*dd*mn teeth out of my mouth".  He follows me through several intersections on Kingston Pike and then left on Papermill Drive.  At this point I'm only a few blocks from my office and I decide I'm going to call 911 comes into my parking lot.  Thankfully he continued on and did not turn on to Weisgarber....   People are crazy... 

Can't dispute this at all so I acknowledge your point Garufa, but I don't think the area is thought of as "dangerous" like parts of East, South Knox, or even Mechanicsville.

It is also in close proximity to Sequoia Hills, which is the "high rent district" around here. And the Greenway is used by lots of Sequoia Hills residents etc... Apparently this kid faced some serious charges as a 14-year-old.

Back in 1998 or 1999, a friend of my wife says she got chased by a guy dressed head to toe in black. She was/is a competitive runner and was able to get away. This was apparently around the time of several rapes/sexual assaults. I don't think the surrounding area can be called a bad neighborhood by any stretch, but any Park with seclusion can provide an opportunity for people who are up to no good.