Do you carry different guns ?
If so, why ?
During the time I’ve been carrying, I have carried things like 1911’s, Makarov, Helwan, Colt Det Spl, and several other revs.
I took a course at FrontSight and got to thinking about what they told us - perform to no BETTER than 50% of how you train.
I also looked at other psychology data from over the years and began to think that if I train with and carry a revolver, under stress, I might present and my subconscious will be telling me REVOLVER. I will simply press the trigger.
Speed forward to today and I have a Colt Compact Officer 1911 in 45, which is fairly effective. I also shoot it reasonably well and for that reason, I carry it the majority of times. Besides, being smallish, it hides well.
There have been other times, like at formal events, I carried the Makarov – smaller than the Colt.
I had to put my Officer in the shop so for that time I carried the Det Spl. Uncomfortable since it is fatter than the baby 1911, but you do what you have to, to be safe….
Anyway, back to the mind game of different guns. I’ve spoken with many people, asking about their daily carry guns. I can’t begin to count the varied number of types EACH PERSON carries, so I ask them why they carry DIFFERENT guns. I get things like, I think THIS one is sexxy so I carry it today, but for dressy occasions, I carry THAT one, and for weekends, I carry any of these something else's; you know, I have QUITE A FEW guns so WHY NOT carry them all ?
Go back to the stress rule – you will only perform to NO BETTER THAN 50% of how you trained. And when you’re stressed, are you going to remember that you trained mostly with your Glock but today you have your 1911, which you have to TAKE THE SAFETY OFF ?!? So a THUG accosts you and you pull and pull and nothing happens bcuz you didn’t remember to take the safety off. By this time, maybe you will remember and prevail in the gun fight.
Maybe not….
After thinking about this, I decided that if I’m going to carry for my own safety, I should be able to function WITHOUT THINKING. After all, MY LIFE depends on it. As a result, I decided that all my carry guns should be the same platform so I sold the Helwan (with its stupid style safety) and the Mak went away, too (primarily since it uses strange ammo that I can't easily get so I'd be less inclined to train with it). All to be replaced with 1911s of various sizes - full size, Compact - and calibers.
I typically carry 4 O’Clock, IWB, butt fwd. At times a bit uncomfortable (depends on the chair I’m sitting in) and might print if I bend down so I try avoid those situations. Anyway, it’s how I train so I can quickly and confidently present without thinking. If I’m going to be in a formal scenario, I might use appendix or shoulder holster.
What are your thoughts on WHAT you carry and how you carry it ? Also, what type holster and in what configuration do you use AND TRAIN with ?