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I'm still new to the whole CCW lifestyle and have read countless posts on this site about the different firearms members carry for various scenarios. Hot weather, cold weather, dressed up, dressed down.....etc. The odds are in our favor that we will never have to use a firearm for self defense. But, what if you do and in that split second that could determine whether you live or die, you thought you were carrying a Glock but it was a 1911? Don't misconstrued what I'm asking that one should only have one firearm or one should carry a Glock over a 1911 that was just an example and feel free to substitute any two guns you wish. I have a long list of short guns and long guns that I want myself. I've heard the saying, "Beware the man with one gun". The logic being that he probably knows how to use it. I think one could know how to use a multitude of guns but should we carry all of them? Personally, I carry a Glock 23, I know how to operate it at a respectable level. When I finally purchase a 1911, I probably will not carry it for self defense. Most of y'all have been carrying longer than I have and interested to hear your thoughts.

texanron wrote:I've heard the saying, "Beware the man with one gun". The logic being that he probably knows how to use it. I think one could know how to use a multitude of guns but should we carry all of them? interested to hear your thoughts.

I have heard the saying about the man with one gun, but I certainly don't believe it. I think that this kind of sage wisdom may apply to men like Jed Clampett, before he discovered oil on his land.

My advice is to carry what you like, and practice with all of them.

Personally, I don't like the idea of switching from one "style" of gun to another
every day or every week, or even every change of the season.
I carry two very different guns daily, but they are the same two every time.

Muscle memory is imperative to getting a gun into the fight quickly and without
having to think about the controls or lack of controls on that gun.

With much practice I have trained myself to disengage the thumb safety of
my 1911 while drawing it from the holster. By the same token, when I draw
my 5 shot revolver from my pocket, I instinctively just point and shoot with
no thought about the absence of a safety mechanism.

The point is to train often and build "muscle memory" with that particular gun
because when the time comes there will be little time to think about which
gun you're carrying today.

....IMO

IMO its hard to mix up what you are carring a glock vs a 1911. if you can fell 3-4lbs of weight on your side it must be a 1911.

texanron,

"CCW lifestyle"?

Without, I hope, sounding overly critical of your statement, having a CHL and carrying daily, doesn't for me at least, create a lifestyle.

What USA1 said is important imho.

"muscle memory"
I used to carry a PT-92, PT-58, and other guns with the 1911 type thumb safety.
Often I still carry a PT709 with a thumb safety in addition to my Glock.

Here's the funny part.
When I draw my Glock 26 or Glock 19, my thumb swipes off the imaginary thumb safety. (Better that way than not swiping it off on the others, I actually thought about getting the optional aftermarket Glock thumb safety years ago, decided I didn't need extra parts, but will always continue my thumb action ... I don't want to learn not to do it.)

I make it simple and consistent, DA/SA with a decocker for both my HK P30 (Compact) and PX4 (Subcompact), My PX4SC had the manual safety disabled. Loaded and ready by the pull of the trigger. My PX4SC is my EDC, unless it is night and the P30+TLR2 will get a hitch.

Glock 27 for 8 months out of the year and Glock 20 the remaining 4 months. I usually also have a snub nose on my ankle. I try to keep it simple with Glocks and revolvers.

USA1 wrote:Personally, I don't like the idea of switching from one "style" of gun to another
every day or every week, or even every change of the season.
I carry two very different guns daily, but they are the same two every time.

Muscle memory is imperative to getting a gun into the fight quickly and without
having to think about the controls or lack of controls on that gun.

With much practice I have trained myself to disengage the thumb safety of
my 1911 while drawing it from the holster. By the same token, when I draw
my 5 shot revolver from my pocket, I instinctively just point and shoot with
no thought about the absence of a safety mechanism.

The point is to train often and build "muscle memory" with that particular gun
because when the time comes there will be little time to think about which
gun you're carrying today.

....IMO

this is a wise man..........

I have 4 different carry guns in 3 different platforms. 3 of them are semi autos, and 1 is a revolver. Of the semi autos, 2 are 1911s and the other is an M&P45. However, the M&P has a thumb safety in the same place as on a 1911, the ergonomics are very similar, and drawing and firing it is pretty much identical to drawing and firing a 1911. So I don't really worry about the difference between the M&P and either of my 1911s. And the difference between those 3 and the revolver is the same difference that USA1 faces.

I think there's value in knowing how to operate many different types of firearms, and becoming really proficient with one or two.

For those of us who usually drive one car, consider how well you know what that car can do, your awareness of how much room you need to park, where the controls are located, etc. Now think back to when you rented a different car on vacation, and how it accelerates/brakes differently, and maybe you had to search for the headlight or windshield wiper controls the first time you needed them. You knew the basics of how to operate that rental car, but you probably weren't as proficient as with your own car.

Shoot Straight wrote:I think there's value in knowing how to operate many different types of firearms, and becoming really proficient with one or two.

For those of us who usually drive one car, consider how well you know what that car can do, your awareness of how much room you need to park, where the controls are located, etc. Now think back to when you rented a different car on vacation, and how it accelerates/brakes differently, and maybe you had to search for the headlight or windshield wiper controls the first time you needed them. You knew the basics of how to operate that rental car, but you probably weren't as proficient as with your own car.

Last year I rented a 2011 GMC Yukon for a day. I couldn't figure out any of the lights or temperature controls worked. I had to read the owner's manual to figure out how to put gas in it.

I happen to enjoy firearms so cross training is pleasant for me. That said, if I've been on vacation, when I return, I'll do a good amount of dry from my duty holster just get back in the groove.

The only handgun I own with a manual safety is a 70 year old M1911A1. It is still a great shooter but it does not do carry duty. EDC is a glock and bug is a LCP.

I carry either a Beretta Cougar L or a Stoeger Cougar 8000F. Only difference is the Stoeger has about ½ inch longer grip.