Just for kicks... what is your pirmary carry gun, what do you load it with, and why?

[musicman]

The title pretty much says it all. I'm just curious to see what everybody carries, what ammo they carry in it, and what made them decide on that specific combination. The recent discussion about bullet weights spurred this on.

I'll start:

I usually carry a Smith & Wesson Model 64-4 Kframe 38 special with Ahrends grips on it. I load it with Buffalo Bore standard pressure 150gr hard cast wadcutters, or Remington 125gr+Ps. I carry this because right now it's the smallest gun I have! It was my very first revolver, and I have had this gun longer than any other in my collection. Sometimes I carry in an Uncle Mikes IWB, but usually just pocket carry.

I am also confident in the 38 special round in a defense situation and am very familiar and comfortable with this particular gun. In the summer I'll load those 125 grainers when there is usually less clothing to penetrate, but about now I switch to the heavier wadcutters. There's no hollowpoint to plug with them, and I am a little more interested in penetration than expansion.

But it sure would be fun to carry this!

So, guys and gals, show us your gun and tell us why you picked your ammo!

Edited October 22, 2008 by musicman

[Oh Shoot]

XD SC 9 and Kahr PM9, about 50/50.

Both with Remington GS 124gr +p.

Because I'm told that's what the Knoxville police carry, and ballistic tests on it show as plenty adequate.

Both guns have reliably eaten every brand/weight/shape I've fed them.

edit: oh, SHOW them...

Ok, here's actually same pic as my current avatar...I have also carried both the Ruger (.357 Golden Sabre) and the Charter (.38 Hornady regular pressure hollow point), and probably will some more, and can see you like wheelies, so left them in the pic

- OS

Edited October 22, 2008 by OhShoot

[Guest jwp]

I carry a CCA 1911 loaded with .230gr. Golden Saber. Why? Because they work.

Here's a pic of the gun.

[Guest bkelm18]

I carry an XD9SC with Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P Short Barrel. I like the ballistics I've seen on the GDHP.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

The guns I have with me 100% of the time...

S&W 642 loaded with Hornady 158gr XTPs

or

Glock 19 loaded with Speer 124gr+P Gold Dots

[musicman]

Hey Todd, is that a Hornady load, or some other brand using their bullet? Just the other day I saw one of the European makers, Fiocchi I think, loading that bullet in 357 mag. I didn't check to see if they had them in .38 special though.

BTW, just noticed the feedback, thanks!

[Guest Todd@CIS]

It's a Hornady load.

While it's not the "best" .38 load out there, I choose it because it is a good comprimise round. Lower recoil (non +P), low flash, accurate, and will most likely at least deform.

The Speer 135gr+P Gold Dot offers superior terminal ballistics, but the heavy recoil slows my follow-up shots more than I'd like. If recoil is not a concern, then the Speer load is what I'd recommend.

[creeky]

USP Compact - .357 sig (1998 Code Date, bought in 2000)

Why USPc? - Wanted to be able to carry 10 rounds (during the Crime Bill crap), wanted a safety I could reach without changing my grip, wanted a decocker, wanted something that fit my hand well. (It boiled down to the Sig 239 & the USPc. The added 2 rounds and the deal I got pushed me toward the HK.)

Why .357 sig - Chicks dig it and I need all the help I can get.

Seriously, I liked the ballistics and the fact at the time so many federal agencies and LE were moving to it. The idea of having .357 magnum performance out of an autoloader was also intriguing. There was also the tapered neck which only seemed to add in feeding... plus if the caliber failed to take off or ammo got too expensive I could always get a .40 Barrel and keep right on going.

125 gr. Speer Gold Dot : Always liked Speer when I was reloading a lot, plus some friends (Yes I have some!) that are LEO's said that was what they carried.

Mode of carry currently...

Blackhawk CQB Holster, and "Mexican" Carry

(Saving for a MTAC per Tungsten.)

[Oh Shoot]

It's a Hornady load.

While it's not the "best" .38 load out there, I choose it because it is a good comprimise round. Lower recoil (non +P), low flash, accurate, and will most likely at least deform....

That's what is in the old Charter Arms in my pic ... its actually one of the few JHP non +p .38 rounds still made, and I had to order it.

- OS

[DWARREN123]

Springfield XDm, 40 S&W, all black version. I carry 180gr JHP's, Magnus bullets, 7.5gr of Hodgdon Longshot powder, various brass and primers.

I carry in Don Hume holsters, either a JIT slide or IWB and carry either one or two mags depending on how I feel and clothing worn.

[enfield]

95% of the time, S&W 638, Remington +P 158gr SWCHP. Load picked for penetration and expansion.

The other 5% - SIG 239, .40 Remington Golden Sabres or a S&W M65 3" .357 with Federal 125gr HP's. Loads picked for the same reason.

No pics available.

[Guest cbrantl1]

When I'm by myself, a S&W M&P9 loaded with 147 gr Hornady TAP .

When I'm with my girlfriend, a Bersa Firestorm with Cor-Bon 90 gr. JHP. I do that because she doesn't like the M&P, but she can easily handle the Bersa. Should something happen to me, she, hopefully, can pick up the Bersa and use it to defend herself. She's taking the carry class on Nov. 1, so hopefully I won't have to flip flop the guns anymore.

[Guest pjblurton]

FN - FNP40

I have carried a .40 S&W of some type or another for the last 10 years. It just suits me. Not too big, not too small... This FN has to be the sweetest shooting .40 I've ever owned (and I've had a bunch). I keep it filled to the brim with Hornady Custom 180gr JHP/XTP.

Why? 180 grains with a muzzle velocity of 950 fps and 326 ft/lbs baby!

[Guest nj.piney]

i carry the star pd45 ,remington 230 gr. jhp in a don hume jit beltslide holster, why" because it works everytime .

[Guest clutepc]

M&P40 Compact in a MTAC currently with Federal Tatical HST 165gr

Wife has a S&W642 with Speer Gold Dots 125gr

[Guest SUNTZU]

I carry a Glock 19 with Hornady Tap, and a Bersa .380 with Corbon ammo. I keep my 21SF in the truck when I'm working loaded with Hornady XTP. Why? I haven't got over the new car smell of my permit, and I don't think I will.

The Glocks look like Glocks. The Bersa is two tone. McGoogle it if you want.

[dunndw]

1911 either a 4.25 Nighthawk Talon bobtail or 5 inch Nighthawk Talon loaded with 230 grain HSTs.

Because I like and shoot the 1911 platform pretty well, and reported and pictured expanded 230 grain HST rounds cover a quarter...that should be enough to stop a threat.

Pics of the bobtail

This is what the 5in looks like...

[Oh Shoot]

...

This is what the 5in looks like...

You need to get the safety fixed on that baby...deployment with that cable tie has got to be SLOW !

- OS

[TGO David]

Daily:

• Glock 19 with 15rd mag in Comp-Tac MTAC holster
  
• Spare 15rd mag in Comp-Tac offside holster
  
• Hornady TAP 147gr 9mm
  
• SOG Flash II serrated tanto or Gerber Fast Draw #G07161 knife.
  

The 9mm TAP load almost made it out of the gelatin, going 14.06 inches.

This recovered 9mm bullet weighed 147.3 grains and expanded to .558 inch.

[Guest nraforlife]

M&P40c in a MTAC or 5.11 undershirt (for real deep concealment). Remington 180gr GS. GS are in my wifes .38, and my .45's also.

[musicman]

I like that cutaway diagram of the GS bullet!

[greenego]

I am carrying a SP101 with 38 hollowpoints.

[TGO David]

I am carrying a SP101 with 38 hollowpoints.

The question regarding SP101's is whether you are capable of finding it with both hands. Are you?

(it's an inside joke)

[molonlabetn]

XD-9 SubCompact loaded with 115gr +p+ Gold Dot ammo from Georgia-Arms. Plan on buying some 135gr +p Federal Bonded HST once I shoot up the remainder of the 200rd I have of my current supply.

[Oh Shoot]

The question regarding SP101's is whether you are capable of finding it with both hands. Are you?

(it's an inside joke)

I have SP101 and can usually find it, using either hand, or both.

Please elaborate on joke, so can get good laugh, can use one.

- OS