My EDC Gear

One of the hot topics these days within the concealed carry community is your EDC, or Every Day Carry, gear. With everyone posting to theirs blogs and making videos covering their EDC gear, I thought I'd hop on the bandwagon and post mine, as well!

Firearm (CCW)
To start out with, I never leave home without my Smith & Wesson M&P9c in my N82 Tactical holster. In my (sometimes) humble opinion, being an armed citizen is not only a Constitutional Right but a duty. That's not to say I'm looking for trouble, of course. Quite the contrary! My legally-obtained pistol license is NOT a badge. I'll remove myself from trouble whenever possible. However, the presence of my firearm gives me an advantageous last resort if/when evil thrusts itself into my life. Anyway, I digress...

Knife
Second, in my left pocket is my trusty Kershaw Leek. I'm not a knife guy and won't try to pretend to be one here, but I LOVE this knife! It serves me perfectly!

Flashlight
I don't think anyone should leave their homes without a good light source. My EDC flashlight is 4Sevens Quark AA² Tactical R5. Yeah, it's a bit long, using two AA batteries, but that's exactly what I like about it. AA batteries can be found anywhere!

To round out the package, add my wallet, keys, and iPhone and you've got my EDC gear!

S&W M&P9c & Ammo

My much anticipated defense weapon is the Smith & Wesson M&P9c. The M&P9c is designed to be a concealed weapon, either by law enforcement or military as a backup weapon or by private citizens as their concealed carry weapon. It is mine and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

The defensive ammunition I carry is Speer 147 grain Gold Dot. (See picture below.) This is the ammo that most law enforcement departments issue so I figured if it's good enough for them to depend on then it's good enough for me to depend on.

I hope never to be forced to use my gun in a defensive situation but I sure am glad I live in a country where I have the opportunity to protect myself should I need to do so.

And the Winner Is ... REVISED!!!

My constant struggle with which new handgun to purchase has been driving me nuts. So much so that I've decided to make a FINAL decision. I'm happy to announce that is exactly what I've done. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I have had to reevaluate not only my choices for a handgun, but even the criteria I used to determine the winner. Thus, my new criteria is focused on home defense and concealed carry and less on competition. I've also had some concerns about safety with five children in the house.

Although I will be proactive in not allowing my kids access to a loaded firearm and training them on proper safe gun handling techniques, I still want as many safety barriers as practical. A gun with manual thumb safety sounds like a smart idea safety move, however, it isn't practical if/when I need the gun in a hurry. My choice for a defensive pistol is a firearm I had previously considered but dismissed it on grounds that it wouldn't adequately fulfill my competition needs. However, it fulfills my newly established criteria perfectly!

So my FINAL choice for a defensive pistol is none other than the Smith & Wesson M&P-9c. The S & W is small enough to conceal yet, with it's 12+1 capacity, it is perfectly capable of handling just about any social situation!

The Pros & The Cons

I've caught the nasty cold that has been running through our household and, as a result, I can't breathe while in the prone position. So I'm up WAY TOO EARLY this morning and thought I'd make use of the time. As I've previously mentioned I've narrowed my choices for a defensive handgun down to three choices, the Glock 19, Springfield XD(m)-9 3.8 Compact and the Beretta Px-4 Compact. I've already stated my needs in a previous post so I won't revisit that here. I thought I'd lay out the pros and cons for each gun to help me work this out so let's get started!

Often referred to by Glock haters as "firearm tupperware", the Glock has built the most solid reputation for reliability of any other firearms manufacturer in the world. Being in the same size range as the other two competitors in my selection for a EDC weapon, the Glock 19 sits right in between the G17 and G26. The G17 is simply too large for concealed carry and the G26 doesn't have the bullet capacity I'm looking for in a home defense weapon. Honestly, it isn't the prettiest handgun ever designed but I can't ignore it's reputation.

Even with it's sexier appearance, Springfield's XD(m)-9 3.8 Compact is gaining the reputation of being the "new Glock" in reliability. I'm not sure it has yet gained that title as the G19 has had decades of use and abuse in front of it. It is a better looking firearm than the Glock but it's not been put through the rigorous testing and countless hours of use as the G19.

The Beretta Px-4 Compact is the most attractive of the three finalists. There is something about the look of this gun that really stirs me up. And even though it's been available longer than the XDm, it has not gained the attention of the gun-buying public. I can't find many reviews on the Compact version that go beyond initial impressions. However, Beretta isn't exactly a no-name in the firearms industry either. I guess 400+ years of gun building helps to get the word out about you! Their reputation alone keeps the Px-4 Compact in the running with me.

So there you have it. I'd honestly like to buy each of these guns next month but the finances just won't allow it. So I have a decision to make. Do I go with the proven reliability of the G19, the hot 'new kid on the block' XDm-9 or the uber-sexy Px-4? I'm still undecided but if I had to make the decision today, I'd have to fall back on Glock's reliability.

Reality and Narrowing the List

OK, no more beating around the bush. At this time, I can't afford to have a specialized gun for every application. My firearm purchases, of which there will only be one in January, must be practical in that the chosen firearm much fulfill as many rolls as possible. So my recent research has focused on finding a weapon that can adequately fill the following needs:

• Home Defense
• Personal (Concealed) Defense
• Competition (IDPA)

With the failing economy and rising home invasions and other robberies, home defense has become a major concern for many. There is no way I can ignore the increased dangers in today's society. Turn on the news and you will likely see reports of home invasions happening too close to your home. I have a wife and kids I love and want to protect very much. A home defense weapon is a necessity.

You never know where or when evil may be thrust upon you. You're not safe anytime or anywhere. Therefore, I have chosen to carry a concealed weapon. So the weapon I choose must be small enough to be concealable, yet hold enough ammunition to deal with a threat.

Let me be frank: Buying and owning a firearm is not enough. Training with that weapon is the only way you can gain the skills needed to effectively use that weapon when the shit hits the fan. Training schools are all over the country. Nothing can replace professional defense training and this is something I will do when funds permit. The next best thing is something that can be both beneficial to your gun-handling skills and entertaining! What is it? Practical defense competition. In my opinion, the best organization that provides realistic shooting scenarios is International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). I'll be practicing/honing my shooting skills at my local IDPA club events as frequently as possible.

With these three factors in mind, there are still numerous options available. Of those, I have narrowed my choices down to the following three guns:

1. Springfield XDm-9 3.8 Compact - 9mm
2. Beretta Px-4 Storm Compact - 9mm
3. Glock 19 - 9mm

Each of these has pros and cons so more research is needed. I won't make my final decision when the purchase will actually be made. Honestly, if today were the day I'd pick the XDm but I have about a month and a half to study these guns so who knows what my final decision will be? On to more research….

H.R. 822 Update: Absurd Attempts to Kill Bill

Yesterday, November 16, 2011, the US House of Representatives passed HR822, the National Right-to-Carry Act of 2011, after defeating the TEN ridiculous amendments legislators tried to inject into the bill. Let's review them, shall we?

• Amendment No. 1—Rep. Woodall (R-GA):  This amendment would protect the rights of states that already have reciprocal agreements in place for the concealed carry of firearms to continue enforcing those preexisting agreements.
  • I'm still not totally sure why this amendment was introduced. Seems like a moot point considering the intention of the bill itself.
• Amendment No. 2—Rep. McCarthy (D-NY):  This amendment would specify that the legislation can only go into effect in states that have passed legislation enacting the bill.
  • Talk about a law-nullifier! Nice try, Mr. McCarthy!
• Amendment No. 3—Rep. Hastings (D-FL):  This amendment would exempt states from issuing a carry permit on the basis of state reciprocity which do not require individuals to apply for and complete a carry permit application in person.
  • Yet another law-killer! Silliness!
• Amendment No. 4—Rep. Jackson Lee (D-TX):  This amendment would require a state to create a comprehensive database to contain all permits and licenses issued by the state for carrying a concealed weapon and make this comprehensive database available to law enforcement officers from all states 24 hours a day.
  • Pure bureaucracy!
• Amendment No. 5—Rep. Conyers (D-MI):  This amendment would effectively gut the bill by “preserving” state laws with respect to eligibility for concealed-carry. 
  • Enough said...
• Amendment No. 6—Rep. Johnson (D-GA):  This amendment would require the possession or carrying of a concealed handgun in a state to be subject to “any law of the state that limits the eligibility to possess or carry a concealed handgun to persons who have received firearm safety training that includes a live-fire exercise.’’
  • Are you seeing a pattern here? Those gun-grabbing democrats really want to 'limit the eligibility' of as many people as they can using whatever means they can.
• Amendment No. 7—Rep. Cohen (D-TN):  This amendment would exempt from the bill any state law requiring a person to be at least 21 years of age to possess or carry a concealed handgun.
  • Although I'm pretty sure most, if not all, states already have this requirement in place, there they go 'limiting eligibility' again!
• Amendment No. 8—Rep. Jackson Lee (D-TX):  This amendment would require a person intending to carry or possess a concealed handgun in a state to inform that state’s law enforcement of their intentions at least 24 hours prior.
  • Really? So I can't defend myself if I have to make an emergency, short notice, run out of state? Thanks, Mr. Lee! What a swell idea!
• Amendment No. 9—Rep. Cicilline (D-RI):  This amendment would limit the bill from taking effect in a state until the State Attorney General, head of the State police, and the Secretary of State have jointly certified that the other state’s carry laws are substantially similar to its own licensing or permitting requirements.
  • WOW! Another neutralizing idea from a known gun-grabber! Shocking...
• Amendment No. 10—Rep. Reichert (R-WA):  This amendment would require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on the ability of state and local law enforcement authorities to verify the validity of out-of-state concealed firearms permits.
  • Yet another attempt to use bureaucracy to abrogate laws the leftist gun-grabbers don't agree with. Typical.

So there you have it. All ten of these amendments seem like feeble attempts to render this much-needed-legislation virtually impotent. But I'm not delusional. I understand the long, tough road this bill has in front of it before it sees Presidential ink. I just wanted to point out the absurd ideas the anti-gun crowd attempted to thrust upon the American people in order to achieve their goals.

Now, on to the Senate...

This Changes EVERYTHING!

I know I've been wishy washy on which weapon to carry, but I've just learned about the new Beretta Nano which should be hitting the gun shops ANY DAY! I think I've found a winner!

TADA! A Final Decision!

Sorry I've been away. Pressing personal matters have been occupied my time and thoughts. Nothing has changed; I just decided that blogging would be benificial to my intellect and sanity so here I am! Deciding on a carry weapon has plagued me for some time now. Lately I've been tossing the idea of a larger calibered, compact-sized weapon as a carry weapon for some time but that wasn't my original plan.

My initial decision to carry included a small pocket gun. Specifically, I wanted the S&W Bodyguard 380 but as my mind had time to contemplate which firearm would be best for me I turned away from that plan and fell into the "bigger is better", or even more "bigger is necessary", trap. At one point, I was foolishly convinced I could pull off concealed carrying a full size semi-autopistol but, as time went by, I realized it just wouldn't be practical for me to carry a full-sized Glock 17 or Springfield XDm-9. So then I decided on a sub-compact model, either the Glock 26 or Beretta Px-4 SC. I was then convinced that was as small of a gun that would, if necessary, allow me to effectively put a bad guy down.

But today I was listening to episode 138 of the "Handgun World Show" podcast and the host, Bob Mayne, said something that stuck. He was talking about gun/caliber size for concealed carry and commented that the idea that a 380-chambered weapon was laughable, if not dangerous and that you must carry a larger caliber gun was nothing more than 'Internet Rambo junk'. I won't attempt to quote him him here, but he wanted to disspell the notion that a .40+ is required to adequately defend yourself in a gunfight. I thank Mr. Mayne for waking me up and pulling out of that Rambo mentality. Although my primary carry weapon will be a semi-auto (I have fallen madly in love with the Glock 19), I no longer buy into the ridiculous idea that the .380 is unsuitable for personal defense. With today's defense ammunition, although I pray the day never comes that I have to pull my weapon to protect my life or the life of another, a .380 equipped with modern defense ammunition WILL stop an assailant dead in his tracks.

So which weapons have I chosen? For a pocket .380, that, again, is up for debate. Although I am looking at other weapons, I'm seriously looking at Sig's P238. For a compact carry/home defense weapon, I have decided on the Glock 19. I figure it will serve me well in that role and even the IDPA matches I so badly want to get involved with!

Of course, these decisions are subject to change without notice and likely will change by the time I make my purchase.

Sig P238

Glock 19

 

Remember, Decisions Are Never Final

You just never know what your decisions will be until you're face to face with them. And such is the case in my quest for a CCW firearm.

To bring you up to date, I had narrowed my choice for a Concealed Carry Weapon down to two candidates, the Glock 26 and the Beretta Px4 Sub Compact. Although I do still stand by my initial choice, the Glock 26, I have been hearing some awesome things about Ruger's SR9c. So now the debate inside my head continues on.

I have, however, decided on the home defense shotgun. I'll be tricking out a Remington 870 Tactical 12-gauge. More on this in an upcoming post!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Although I'm still several months away from that glorious day of purchase, I have made a decision on which pistol(s) I want to own. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'd narrowed my decision down to either Beretta's Px4/Px4 Sub-Compact and the Glock 17/26. I'll admit here I really want the Px4 SC. I think it's a sexy little pistol and it's big brother is just as cool! Both manufacturers are very reputable, however, sometimes a new product doesn't work out as well as a company anticipated. And that is what has influenced my preliminary decision.

Beretta is a reputable arms maker with decades of experience behind them. Perhaps it's experience that leads a company to become somewhat compacent, relax and let quality control (QC) slip a little. Although I have no evidence that this is what has occurred with the Px4 SC, I'm going to write it off as such. Beretta has such an awesome reputation as a top teer firearms manufacturer that I can think of no other reason why they are having the troubles they are having with their Px4 SC. Although it is known to be a reliable shooter, admitted barrel problems and numerous complaints regarding them shooting low and to the left are common when you do a little research on the weapon. With all those complaints and nothing but positive reviews about the Glock, the choice was an obvious one.

My every day Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) will be the Glock 26 unless Beretta corrects the known issues with the Px4 SC. I will then likely reverse my decision and go with the Beretta. I love the Px4's superior capacity (13+1 compared to the Glock 26's 10+1) and, of course, the super sexy look of the Px4! Although there are dozens upon dozens of rave reviews of the G26, I recommend watching "hickok45's" YouTube Glock 26 review. He pretty much says it all for the G26.

And unless I change my mind and purchase the Px4 SC, my primary Home Defense (HD) gun will be the famous Glock 17. In addition to HD duties while at home, I will also be using the G17 for IDPA events. This is something that will improve my gun handling skills plus it's something I've always been interested in and am very excited to get started!

Why I Will Carry!

If you're anything like me, you carry for one of three reasons (I carry for ALL three of these reasons).

Reason #1: Because if push comes to shove, I will NOT permit some low-life puke to steal my life away from me. No way.

Reason #2: My handgun is my safety net. It's my 'final resort', and it's my guarantee that I'll ALWAYS have control.

Reason #3: Most importantly, I don't want to EVER leave my family defenseless or 'up the creek' without a paddle. I am their provider and protector, and I see it as my DUTY to do so. If that means I work my tail off, I do it. If that means I carry a GLOCK 26, I will do it.

Guns & the Love-Sick Mind

Guns. I miss them. I had a safe full of them before I was married but, my love-sick mind allowed my then finacee to convince me to sell them off because she didn't feel safe around them. Well here we are 14 years later and I really want to get back into shooting again. And with my wife's approval, I am going forward with my plans. This time, however, instead of focusing on shooting skeet and deer hunting, my interest has drifted more toward a self-defensive purpose, handguns and practical defense shooting. So what to buy and why?

I've recently had the opportunity to shoot several different types of pistols, all of which I like! Within the last month or so, I've shot a Beretta 92FS, Beretta Px4, Ruger .357 revolver (can't remember the model), Springfield 1911, and an assortment of Glocks in varying calibers. Before I shot the Glocks, I was sold on the Px4. That thing shot like a dream! It felt great in my hand and I shot quite well with it. But then I got to shoot some Glocks. It's safe to say I really like them. There is nothing about the G17 or G26 I can complain about. I have two applications for handguns, concealed carry (self defense) and competative shooting. These two different applications have two different requirements.

A self defense weapon intended for concealed carrying should be powerful enough to stop a threat, but small enough to actually conceal. After some serious consideration about size, dependability and stopping power, I've narrowed it down to either the Glock 26 or the Beretta Px4 Sub-Compact. Both weapons have rave reviews and both are toted as being highly reliable. I'll admit, however, I am starting to lean heavily toward the Px4. Although I doubt I'll carry with the safety on, it's a nice feature to have when needed. The Beretta also carries 13+1 where the Glock is 10+1. Those extra 3 rounds before a reload might be the difference between winning and losing. And when it comes down to an armed confrontation, I cannot afford to be the loser.

The requirements for the pistol I need to shoot the types of competitions I want to shoot vary only slightly to my CCW weapon. The specifics can be found in the IDPA Rulebook. Basically, it needs to be a production full-sized semi-auto pistol. The full-sized weapon I'm debating on is either the famous Glock 17 or Beretta's full-sized Px4. I can use either out of the box for IDPA shoots, carry open and even slip on a gunlight for low light situations. Whichever I choose, there are certain minor modifications that IDPA allows but the only one of those I intend to utilize is a sight change. Even if I opt for a gun light accessory, I want "night sights" to cover that time between when normal sights work fine and a gun light is needed. (Both guns will have the same sights.)

Whatever decision I make, I want both the sub-compact and full-sized versions of the gun. Familiarity is important if/when it comes time to draw my weapon in self-defense so it only makes sense to shoot guns as close to identical as possible. So if I go Glock, they will both be Glocks and if I go Beretta, well, you get the picture.

So the debate rages on in my head. I continue to research and read the written reviews and watch the YouTube reviews. I guess I won't make the final decision until January when it's time for the purchase. Oh, and I will also be reacquiring rifles and shotguns. All in time.