My New Concealed Pistol

[Grandpa1]

Since I started riding again I decided I needed to start carrying a concealed weapon. I am a retired CHL instructor in Texas and due to health reasons I had let my license expire. I had to do a complete new license thing again.
I couldn't decide what I wanted to carry so my son and I went to a gun show in Conroe Texas. There were millions of people there it seemed like. Impeach obama signs everywhere. I felt at home.

I decided on a Ruger LCP 380 Automatic. I took it out and shot it and I love the little gun. It's real light and fits right in my Levi's front pocket with room left over.

I carry my money clip in the pocket with it but there's not much money in it so that probably doesn't count.
The Ruger has a magazine that holds six rounds and if you want you can have one in the chamber making it seven in the weapon. It warns you not to leave one in the chamber because if you drop it the gun may fire.
The new gun cost less than $300 but ammo is real expensive.
It's a neat gun!

[Bruce]

That LCP 380 is a nice piece -- I always carry mine with 7 in it.

[Veritas44]

Dittos & +1 to the Daily Carry LCP
Like AmEx except when the XDs needs a day out

[captdanwh]

to carry a weapon that does not have a round in the barrel is like carrying a baseball bat to a gun fight. if and when you draw your weapon it has to be ready to shoot other wise you lose. unless you have been in the position of a defender you do not know how you will react even though you think you do and things happen so quick you do not want to be trying to get a bullet in the chamber, believe me when i say this.

[Grandpa1]

Being a retired Concealed Handgun Instructor in Texas I only taught the people what the laws are and what will happen if they shoot someone. I taught them about safety and what I would do in any situation if they asked me.
I never got into what they should carry or how they should load it. If they asked I would first ask them what their common sense told them.
They left my class knowing the laws and how to safely handle and shoot the weapon they brought to class.
Down here in Texas we like to make up our on minds about what we want to do and if it's legal we generally do it.
As far as advice I always tell them about Hannibal's advice as he was following his mighty elephant herd in 218 BC as they were crossing the Alps. He looked down then stopped and turned around and yelled to his men "Watch where you're stepping!"
Now that's good advice!

[2006gold]

Nice looking and appears very compact. Toting a .380 myself with Critical Defense ammo and an extra mag.
Never leave home without a pistol, be it the .380 or the .32.

[wiredgeorge]

Toting a 380? hehe... what does your 380 weight unloaded? 15 oz.? Toting is carrying a HiPoint .45 ACP on your belt. 7 lbs is toting hehe (just a joke... sorry but the word toting and a .380 just tickled me).

[msocko3]

99% of the time when I'm on a motorcycle trip I'm carrying my LCP stoked with Hornady critical defense, nice compact light gun.

For kicks I weighed 3 of my carry guns.

Ruger LCP full mag = 11 oz
Springfield XDS rounds in the mag plus one in the pipe = 25 oz.
Kimber Ultra crimson carry full mag = 30 oz.

FWIW I always carry with one in the chamber.

[wiredgeorge]

If you ride and carry, I suspect you had best have one in the chamber with a semi-auto... don't know how you would chamber a round which takes two hands otherwise. How you carry is a personal issue and I personally don't care how other folks do it as it is their business. I prefer a 1911/.45 ACP cocked and locked with FMJ ball ammo. While a 1911 CAN fire hollow points and other personal defense ammo, personal experience has taught me it likes FMJ the best. To be honest, I have never tried firing while riding (I can shoot with either hand) but I doubt you could hit much while moving especially if the other party were moving such as in a vehicle. There are few situations where it would be safe to discharge a handgun from a bike while moving... unintended targets and that sort of thing.

[tom w]

the department I work for issued the lcp to deputies for back up guns. they are good ones .
I went to the beretta nano 9 for a little bigger gun and it has a safety in the trigger to stop the problem of the drop- fire.

it is a little bulkier to carry. still fits in my back pocket. and inside of my vest pockets.

[Gold Rush]

I've had my CHL for several years now. Use to carry a Ruger P95DC but it's really too large to hide so I went looking for something smaller. The owner of one gun shop asked me if I knew the first rule of a gun fight. Being a bit of a novice I said no. He response was: "Get you hands on a loaded weapon!!" I bought a LCP (VERY NICE) and several boxes of ammo from him and the LCP full of personal defense rounds has been in my pants pocket every time I leave the house. Sometimes have to stow it for legal reasons but it goes right back in my pocket ASAP...

I truly hope the need never arises but one never knows.... REMEMBER WACO and many many more.....

[tom w]

a couple of times in the last few years I have been in tight situations were things could have went bad and I wasn't armed. when in places of adult type entertainment( beal and burbon street) it just feels better to have it and not need it. there is safety in numbers as well. In my inner circle of friends that travel together 4 out of the 6 of us are armed 99% of the time.

[retread83]

Advice I received from an ex Marine Recon and SWAT LEO.Alternate FMJ and hollow points in a semi-auto.

[dano309]

kel-tec pf9 is what i carry.....very easy to conceal.....don't print much...very thin....can put in pants pocket or vest pocket very easy......

[msocko3]

If you ride and carry, I suspect you had best have one in the chamber with a semi-auto... don't know how you would chamber a round which takes two hands otherwise. How you carry is a personal issue and I personally don't care how other folks do it as it is their business. I prefer a 1911/.45 ACP cocked and locked with FMJ ball ammo. While a 1911 CAN fire hollow points and other personal defense ammo, personal experience has taught me it likes FMJ the best. To be honest, I have never tried firing while riding (I can shoot with either hand) but I doubt you could hit much while moving especially if the other party were moving such as in a vehicle. There are few situations where it would be safe to discharge a handgun from a bike while moving... unintended targets and that sort of thing.

Maybe I'm lucky, I haven't had either my Kimber or XDS jam shooting HP ammo. IMO I'd rather use a hollow point with hopes of it expending all its energy in the target vs passing through like FMJ ammo would do. I've picked FMJ ammo out of the rail road tie back stop we use, aside from the rifling grooves in it there was little to no deformity.

[2006gold]

Toting a 380? hehe... what does your 380 weight unloaded? 15 oz.? Toting is carrying a HiPoint .45 ACP on your belt. 7 lbs is toting hehe (just a joke... sorry but the word toting and a .380 just tickled me).

Glad you enjoyed. Do happen to be looking for a easily concealable .45. Haven't decided on one as yet. Will probably wait until the next gun show rolls around

[wiredgeorge]

I have carried a 1911 for many years but also have a Taurus PT111 Pro. That little 12+1 double stack 9mm is a great gun and when I do carry it, use hollow points. I don't like 9mm for use around the home due to its higher ballistic speed making it more capable of going through walls... It is lighter than the 1911 but I still like a .45 (mine is 8 + 1). For a bug, can carry my PT22. Now that is a pocket gun. It is actually reliable using mini-mags and if you run out of .45 and someone is on top of you, a .22LR would at least discourage them a bit. The thing weighs under 15 oz. I believe with a full mag so my pants don't droop. In a pinch, I could shoot THROUGH my pocket as well. A real nice 9mm carry gun is the Bersa Thunder 9mm. Their 380 is super accurate and very reliable. I had one of their .45s and it wasn't as light as it should have been... probably about the same as a 1911. Shot fine though... Not a fan of .40 in a lightweight gun due to the recoil causing muzzle rise and taking you off target for follow ups.

[Urlawyer]

I have carried since the first day Texas allowed CLH carry, therefor thru the years I have carried a Wilson Combat 45, a Colt 45, a Para Night Hawg 45, a Colt Pocket 9, and a Seecamp 32, all simi-auto.

I bought a Kimber Solo 9, which I have not carried because it had a lot issues. Kimber replaced with a another but it also has feeding issues.

I an currently carring a Ruger LCR 357, 5 shot and a 5 shot strip.
i don't worry about feed jams or a bad round. Further, it is very light, goes right into a pocket and has a great trigger.

[jimmykusmc]

Let me start off by saying no one weapon is right for everone. Pocket guns ie LCP, LC9, Sig 938 or even the Glock 42 has one major problem when your riding. It is in your pocket. Ever try and get in your pocket at 65 MPH. Well there is a solution if you wear a leather vest. If you wear a leather vest one can take a left over piece of chap leather and sew it inside the vest. If you have two seams you can sew it right on the seams and it can not be seen from the outside. That is step one Step 2 is lay your carry gun on the leather and trace its shape on the leather. Once that is done sew the line you traced and your piece will fit like a glove. Leave a little excess and you can fold it over. Attachment 24043

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I have carried a 1911 for many years but also have a Taurus PT111 Pro. That little 12+1 double stack 9mm is a great gun and when I do carry it, use hollow points. I don't like 9mm for use around the home due to its higher ballistic speed making it more capable of going through walls... It is lighter than the 1911 but I still like a .45 (mine is 8 + 1). For a bug, can carry my PT22. Now that is a pocket gun. It is actually reliable using mini-mags and if you run out of .45 and someone is on top of you, a .22LR would at least discourage them a bit. The thing weighs under 15 oz. I believe with a full mag so my pants don't droop. In a pinch, I could shoot THROUGH my pocket as well. A real nice 9mm carry gun is the Bersa Thunder 9mm. Their 380 is super accurate and very reliable. I had one of their .45s and it wasn't as light as it should have been... probably about the same as a 1911. Shot fine though... Not a fan of .40 in a lightweight gun due to the recoil causing muzzle rise and taking you off target for follow ups.

Bersa thunder is one of the best guns for the $$

[Illini_Triker]

Carry a S/W bodyguard 380 small and works great