Several of you have been asking the question “What do you recommend for carry?”.
Well, that’s kind of a big question, and it has a lot of answers. Choosing a CCW gun is an intensely personal decision and all we can really do is advise you on what to look for in your carry gun, and talk about what we ourselves carry.
Which is what we’re going to do today. I rounded up some of our writers and asked them what they were carrying, and here’s what they came back with.
Note: This isn’t all the writers, but we’ll be updating in waves so be sure to check back in for more of our personal carry choices.
David’s Carry Guns
Glock 19 (Customized)
My carry choices are because I’m in California and have limited access to modern pistols. Since I’m effectively trapped in the early 00s, my carry guns are a bit dated but still good to go.
I make up for that by heavily customizing most of my guns.
My Glock 19 is the base G19 frame that I have then taken a Dremel on to grind away the finger grooves and cut myself a double-under cut in the trigger guard.
It also has a Magpul magazine well for easier reloads, a Strike Industries extended magazine release and a whole new slide assembly.
The slide is an American Tactical Arms ATA19 Badger Stripped Slide with RMR optic cut. I have no over arching reason I picked this slide, just that it was the right price, had an optics cut, came in OD green, was in stock, and had front serrations.
A Holosun 407k V2 GR tops off my slide, I do not run irons of any kind on it because I want an unobstructed sight picture and I trust my green dot.
Internally, I run a APEX trigger assembly with a Tyrant CNC trigger shoe. Brownells Glock 19 barrel, and stock Glock slide internals.
For magazines I carry a Magpul 15 round mag in the gun with a Glock 19 factory magazine with a +5 baseplate as a spare.
I carry my Glock in a Dara holster.
Bersa Firestorm
My Firestorm is much less tricked out but I normally only carry it when I need to be as low-profile as possible or I’m wearing something that makes a Glock 19 a bit impractical.
The only change I’ve made to my Bersa is that I’ve removed the magazine safety so that the gun can fire with or without a magazine in the mag well.
A DSG Arms holster is what I normally carry the Firestorm in.
Beretta 92FS
I normally only off-body carry my Beretta, sometimes this is the only thing I carry and sometimes it’s combined with one of my carry guns on my person.
Generally, I carry the Beretta in my 5.11 RUSH MOAB 10. This is a super convenient and handy bag that I use for things like walking around industry events, over night trips, or light-medium day hikes.
Something I love about it is a dedicated CCW pouch that is large enough for a full sized pistol. It’s loop lined inside the pouch so you can mount a holster in it or run it without one like I do. Access is just hook and loop so it’s easy to get into.
All the while it’s pretty hard to spot if you don’t know the bag and know it’s there.
This provides a safe, easy, and accessible way for me to carry more firepower than I normally would.
I also use this when on long road trips, just set tha bag next to me in passenger seat and it’s easy to get to snacks, water, or my gun.
Modifications I’ve made include Wilson Combat G10 grips, 14 # main spring, shortened trigger reach, extended magazine release, and a stainless steel recoil guide rod.
A 15 round NATO magazine lives in the gun with up-to two 33-round Beretta happy sticks in my bag.
It’s a bit heavy, but when I carry off-body I come loaded for bear.
Travis’ Carry Guns
CZ P09
I have two carry guns, but I don’t carry them at the same time. Recently I’ve taken to carrying a full-sized gun. My gun of choice is the CZ P09 in a strongside OWB holster.
I alternate between my HTC light-bearing holster and my Alien Gear Cloak Mod OWB holster. I prefer the larger gun due to its full-sized grip, its longer sight radius, and well, 21 rounds of 9mm are comforting.
I stopped caring about printing and started carrying something I felt gave me the sharpest edge. I’ve upgraded the trigger with a Cajun Gun Works short reset kit and have put a few thousand rounds downrange. I’m confident in the gun as a platform and run it with the decocker.
Walther PPS
My second gun is my alternative in situations where I can’t carry a full-sized gun due to dress requirements and do something subtle. I go with the classic Walther PPS. It’s 9mm with a long grip, it’s superbly thin, and provides me 9 rounds of 9mm.
It’s not quite a pocket pistol but with my Clinger Gear No Print wonder I carry discretely and comfortably. The Walther is a simple, no-nonsense concealed carry gun that’s plenty modular.
You can swap the backstraps for comfort, as well as the magazine size for a flush or extended fit.
Both guns have never let me down, and hopefully never will.
Parting Shots
There we have it, folks, our first round of author carry guns. We’ll be regularly updating this with the other author’s carry guns, as well as the editorial staff’s selections, so be sure to check back in as we add things.
Hopefully, this has given you some inspiration for your own carry choices and will help you out when picking one for yourself. Whether it’s your first gun or your fifth.
Once you’ve gotten your carry gun, check out our Best Concealed Carry Holsters and also Best CCW Insurance Review.
What do you think about our choices? Any questions for our authors? Let us know in the comments below!
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Update this. The Glock G43X is seriously in the game now! Definitely becoming a favorite!
I may be a Springfield fanboy but nothing tops the Hellcat to me.
It absolutely disappears (smaller than a lot of .380s), has amazing factory sights, and the flush mag fits 11 rds of 9mm.
My BUG / alternate EDC is my Springfield XDs .45 3.3 with Truglo sights. Love that one and it packs a whallop.
IDPA / USPSA is my XD-m 4.5 Tactical Elite.
Walther PPS in 9mm and Alien gear IWB, spare mag in pocket. Slim, comfortable, and if you need anything more you shouldn't be where your at!!
S&w M&P Shield in 9mm. Get it without the safety, less to fumble with, your index appendage is the safety. Great shooter, very comfortable size and weight, doesn't print. Goes bang everytime I have pulled the trigger. Load it up with some quality defensive rounds and you are good to go.
winter carry with full clothing is an FN-FNP.in .45ACP. Summer carry is a Ruger SP-101 in .357 Mag on a high hip leather snap holster. my fancy clothing /going out is a Sig P230 in .380. use the tool that fits the situation, don't use a sledge hammer for finnish work.
Brandon must have a better job than me since he brands the Glock 19 "affordable."
I'm a new CCW, and Travis' comment, "... stopped caring about printing...," raised an eyebrow. Most training info I've seen emphasizes the concealed aspect as almost as important as the gun choice itself. I'm carrying a Ruger 9E because it actually IS affordable, can be concealed without dressing like a hobo (OWB Stealth Operator compact holster) and provides the peace of mind 17+1 capacity brings.
My newbie status means I'm still angsting about people noticing a hint of print... but I'm trying to get over that.
Great article; I'm looking forward to seeing entries from the other writers. Heck, I'm a writer and would be happy to contribute as I walk this path and learn the ropes.
I have an SR9C as my CCW and I love it. 10±1 or 17+1. I know it's similar to the 9E so I have to say you picked a great gun by a great company for a very reasonable price.
I can't say for sure what Travis meant about not caring about printing, but I'd be willing to bet that he's come to realize (as will you) that the Vast majority of people won't ever notice if your shirt is clinging to your side-arm....hell a lot wouldn't notice if you were open carrying. As for the goblin thugs that you might encounter, I doubt many of them would notice you were printing either as they tend not to be the brightest bulbs in the box if you know what I mean.
Now having said that, there are (or used to be) some states/municipalities where printing can be considered "brandishing" and get the legal carrier in trouble, but I'm pretty sure those are few and far between these days.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bobo. It seems like the world is divided into two opinions on carrying: One should never, ever print, or one should make a reasonable effort not to print, follow sensible guidelines for concealed carry, and get on with life.
I am working toward adhering to the latter as being the most sensible option.
Well, to each his own, but, I will NEVER own or carry a Glock. I have had too many cop friends tell me horror stories about their Glock carry days and why they will never carry one again.
Edward, I'd like to know why your Cop friends would never own a Glock?
I'm retired LAPD and carried a lot of different guns in both uniformed and undercover assignments. If I could only have one gun it would be a Glock, probably a Glock 23. Know why, because it always, say again, alway, goes bang. On top of that they are lightweight, hold a bunch of bullets, have less felt recoil and did I mention, they always go bang.
No Jeff, the one you had always went bang....Glock's while at one time were typically more reliable then other guns, don't always go bang, and weren't/aren't the mythical firearms people make them out to be (some even went kaboom or went bang when you didn't intend them to) They also weren't/aren't any more accurate then other pistols.
These day's, there are plenty of "plastic fantastic" pistols out there that are as reliable and accurate (or more so) then Glock's and a lot of them simply feel better in the hand. The Biggest thing Glock has going for it is the aftermarket support.
Having said that, I'm not saying they are bad in anyway and I do own a Glock that's never given me an ounce of trouble but it's also one of the few guns I Would consider selling or trading for something else I was interested in.
Ed, like Jeff, I too would be interested in hearing what your LEO friends said as to why they wouldn't own one....
BoBo, you're smok'in your socks!!
If a gun "went kaboom or went bang when you didn't intend them (sic) to" then you screwed up dude!! Guns do not shoot by themselves, and if you think they do then you should not be carrying one.
As to accuracy, all modern day handguns are capable of scoring in a gunfight, if they don't it is the driver's fault.
Glocks are carried by the majority of the Law Enforcement agencies in this country. That has to say something. Glocks always fire, say again, always fire, on top of that they hold a bunch of bullets, are light weight, have less felt recoil than most other hand guns and look cool!!!
Again, tell me about your LEO friends who are down on Glocks..I would like to know why.
Sorry BoBo, the last sentence was directed to Ed,