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On the subject of carry guns.
At the risk of offending some, I offer some comments on this subject that I see discussed a lot. These area just my opinions, of course. I’m not trying to talk down to anyone. I’m not saying I’m the ultimate gunman and therefor have the standing to tell everyone what’s best. Just my opinions.
I think being armed is a good thing. Recent events, we as armed citizens need to squeeze out a lesson, an inspiration maybe, to do what we can to be ready for any...G'damned.... thing. Not just recent events—just the daily news, going back as far as you like—armed citizens, that’s a good thing.
I'm not a tactical ninja guru by any stretch, and I think collecting fine guns and holsters is a great endeavor, I do it, but may I suggest, do that as a separate thing apart from being ready. Find one combo that you think will work and start working with it. Be armed, be safe and proficient. Most of all, be ready in your mind. Everywhere you go, make a game out of "what if". Don't worry about scratches on your carry gun. Don't worry about what grips look best. Don't let trends and tactical bad-assery marketing dictate your choices. Don’t compromise on safety, comfort, reliability, in order to carry something impressive. As John Farnam says, “I don’t have guns to impress my friends, I have guns to impress my enemies.” Don't fret holster wear on the finish-- it gives your gun character and is part of your credential package: "shooter!" Don't subject yourself to analysis paralysis with regard to caliber, magazine capacity, "latest and greatest". Don't have a "carry rotation" where you switch guns and action types and holster types every week—sorry, but that's mental masturbation. Get a decent gun, decent mags, decent carry setup: secure, discreet, comfortable, and some extra ammo. Buy ammo and shoot it, instead of buying more guns (more guns is good, but I mean if you can’t afford both). Don't delay, don't hold out for "perfect", perfect being the enemy of good enough. You can get perfect later if you want….. your experience, as it accumulates, will re-direct you sometimes to something new.... cool. Have something and let it be something you become confident in, extremely familiar and proficient with. "Fear the man with only one gun, for he knows how to use it"-- there is a ton of weight to that old bromide. Collect the many, sure, if you can. Let one stand out. Let that one be the tool, and the others be the collection. Decide on “the one” and get married to it for carry purposes. If you can, keep it temperature-stable: 98.6°.
I know we can’t all carry all the time. Work situation, family situation, legality. If you can’t carry all day every day, even if you choose not to, it doesn’t make you uncool or a bad person. But if you do, I think you owe it to everyone within range of you at all times, to be as safe and proficient as you can be. If you can fit a red-dotted Staccato into your daily life and into your pants, more power to ya. If it has to be something "not impressive" and inexpensive, good’nuff, if it is secure, discreet, and you run it well. Whatever you can afford and fit into your situation is much better than something else left at home because you can’t sit in the car with it or are worried about the big bulge being spotted. Maybe don’t buy the next gun and spend that money on more ammo and range time, maybe even a class or two. Finding your limit and learning how to bust through to the next level is confidence-building and…. fun.
There is a lot of great advice in this. Over the past 10 years I have settled on the compact 1911 as my daily carry, first was a SAC's worked over compact and for the past 7 years a Wilson ULCC. The ULCC is in 9MM, I'm a little north of 10K rounds on it now. I have had people question spending that kind of money on a EDC but the way I look at it, its been less than a cup of coffee a day.
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That sux!
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years ago. It is Ledloy, that is a type of mild steel with 1/3 of 1% lead added to improve machinability. It's not what I would normally choose for any gun part but honestly it will suffice for this, even the blast face of a comp, since it's "only" a .45 ACP. I will turn it to fit inside the comp's bore, step it to the comp's outer diameter, and sliver braze it in, then match it to the comp on the outside.
